Why are chacos so popular

However, there are some areas where this is not the case such as the straps, buckles, and sole. Tip: Chacos soles are replaceable for example. A big plus. People prefer different things when it comes to fit too. Do you want them to be super well-fitting and tight so you can hike in them over mixed terrain? Or are you planning on just lazing at the beach and walking around town in them? You need to decide how much you want to pay and what you are getting in return.

So, decide what you are willing to pay for the thing you may wear daily while traveling, or only once a year on that beach vacation. Chacos produce one hell of a robust sandal. And for many hikers, campers and even people around water — these are the sandals they swear by! Why do people love these babies so much? They are kinda built like a hummer! At least the hummer of the sandal world. That means they are solid, durable and will last you for years.

And just a quick side note, they also repair almost any part of their sandals , including sole replacements. Something I wish I could do with all my favorite and worn in shoes and sandals. These Chaco sandals are also awesome for any kind of water activity. In fact, that is why the company started. So they specialize in this. The footbed is specifically non-slip, so if you hike through water, raft or even an inflatable kayak , these sandals are great.

One big downside is that Chacos sandals are quite heavy when compared to Teva sandals. Weighing 1. However, one reason I prefer Chacos is the footbed. Instead, you have to work it in over time. In , Chacos replaced their Vibram sole with their own branded one. They want to offer the best gripping outdoor sandals, so they made their own! For some people, Vibram the renowned Italian sole maker is the only way to go — because they are renowned for having insane grip.

However, Chacos have built a solid sole and their focus on grip in wet conditions means it might even be better than the classic Vibram everyone else uses. Chaco Sandal Strap System the straps also go inside the sole to form a loop.

I prefer the ones without the toe loops, though. I looking for light and basically day use sandals. I have kinda narrow fit, if it matters anything. Thanks for your reply. Drives me crazy. I urge you guys to goto Etsy or other website to connect with local sandal makers outside the western commercial conglomerates.

You can usually find just as good if not better quality products there. Greece has a long tradition of making sandals and a very original style, so do the Turks. It has a rotating swivel rivet that allows the back support to swing around which turns it into a slipper.

I had them install two extra loops on either side to tuck in the leather back straps if you unhook it so it looks like the natural design. I also had them upgrade the sole to an ultra light material with hiking treads. Its beautiful, Ive gotten tons of compliments and I can wear it on the trail or to dinner. Leather sandals pretty much never have any arch support or padding either, which for many people makes them really uncomfortable to wear when you have to be on your feet for several hours at a time.

There was a HUGE shift once Wolverine bought them out, for the first few years the quality went down the toilet. This caused HUGE issues with delamination of the foot bed and the sole- an issue that was so easily solved.

Fast forward a year, Peoria is shuttered, and everything is now off a number. They decide to again try and go for cheaper material, this time targeting the strap that goes under your heel, connecting the strap around your heel and the rest of the straps around your foot. Within months the strap is wearing out and breaking. The best part about Chacos 10 years ago was that they were simple. We spend that trip mending her broken wrist and chatting with her about Chacos, where they had come from, where they were currently and so on.

Typically we form quite a bond with guests on our river- but we never did hear from her again. How is this a problem that cannot be solved? Your email address will not be published.

Sign me up for the monthly newsletter! Notify me of follow-up comments by email. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Skip to content Consider for a moment the icons that have emerged throughout history that have come to represent a once great, but now flailing, and ultimately doomed creature , whose glory days have long since passed, having missed out on one opportunity after another, and are merely circling the drain of hopelessly inevitable collapse, denying their hubris and encroaching fall to the bitter end.

Like a giant, lumbering beast, oblivious to all around him. And they suffer from a few very annoying, easily solvable problems: Chacos stink. At the end of a long day in the sun, removing them from your feet will result in the release of one of the foulest odors known to man. But this problem can be effortlessly solved by simply adding an antimicrobial treatment to the footbed.

Chacos are heavy. Very, very heavy. When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more. It was the late s, and whitewater and fly fishing guide Mark Paigen stood in a boat somewhere in western Colorado, looking down at his wrinkly, grit-covered feet.

While he suffered in wet running shoes all day, a few of the guides around him were wearing Teva sandals. He loved the idea of sandals made from synthetic materials rather than leather, because they wouldn't trap water and would let his feet dry in the sun.

In the last 30 years, Paigen's take on the sport sandal, Chaco , has become a cult-favorite among outdoor adventurers around the world. It took a background in custom shoemaking, a focused design plan, on-the-ground testing, and good old-fashioned word-of-mouth in tight-knit outdoors communities to get Chaco off the ground.

Today, it's soaring, helping to drive growth for its parent company Wolverine Worldwide and regularly delighting fans with new styles and colors. The company even released a new monochrome collection that falls in line with today's colorful chunky shoe trend, partnering with retailers like Urban Outfitters to take the brand beyond its outdoor-community roots. In a blog post for Tread Labs , Paigen explains that to take sport sandals to the next level, he knew he wanted the following components:.

He made some pairs for himself and liked that the pull-through strap stayed secure to his feet, and that it was easy to remove sand simply by dipping his feet back in the water. When he took clients out on fly fishing trips, they inevitably asked him about his sandals because they trusted the experience and expertise of a guide. Paigen traced these early Chaco customers' feet on paper and built them custom pairs. As the whitewater community grew in the '90s, so did talk about Chaco.

Paigen met with a pedorthist, or a footwear specialist, to talk through how he could meet requests for an open-toe design the original Chaco design had a toe loop, a design you can still find that could still hold the foot securely. Thanks to those meetings, where Paigen learned the footbed also plays a role in securing the foot, Chacos today feature superior arch support, a hallmark of the brand.

With the sandal design finalized, all that was left to decide was a name. Chaco now sells many different sandal styles.

Some with multiple straps or toe loops, others that look more like traditional flip-flops , and even a handful made from leather. The midsole is thick, and thicker at the arch, with a highly contoured, textured footbed. The uppers consist of a strong and quick-drying polyester jacquard strap and a buckle to help make strap adjustments.

I've been wearing Chacos since I was 12 — I got my first pair for a big whitewater rafting trip and my summers away at camp, and I wore them every weekend hunting for sharks teeth in the creeks where I grew up yes, I am actually a small swamp monster. They're the ultimate outdoor sandal; the base is thick enough to keep your feet removed from tiny pebbles and dirt, the grippy footbed keeps your foot secure enough that you won't slip and slide, and the straps are adjustable and dry quickly.

If you're planning to spend a lot of time outdoors, there's no better option — and don't forget to show off the funny tan line they'll give you! It's sort of a right of passage in the outdoor world. Also, I'm officially trying to make Chacos a fashion thing — I mean, everyone's wearing chunky sandals right now anyway. As far as sizing goes, the jury's kind of out.

Chacos tells you to size up if you're in between sizes. I sized up to an 8 because I'm a 7. The size 8 is fine, but I think the arch takes up slightly too much surface area for my foot, and there's a little more area in the toe than I need, so I had to pull the strap really tight over the top of my foot to keep it from moving around. The midsole is made from lightweight and flexible EVA foam, which feels cushioned and bouncy. Chacos have a high arch, with a thicker midsole at the heel than Tevas.

If your feet have high arches, they'll be more comfortable in Chacos. The midsole is made from PU foam, which is a little heavier than EVA foam, but has a longer-lasting bounce.

While the outsoles have different designs, both Tevas and Chacos provide strong traction, allowing you to walk across all types of terrain — smooth tile, rocky trails, slippery rocks, and more. Both shoes are excellent lightweight footwear options that won't weigh you down as you trek miles and miles on your travels or hikes.

Tevas are lighter. One pair weighs 1 pound, 4 ounces. Chacos are heavier. One pair weighs 1 pound, 5. Sport sandals, like all shoes, can be a reflection of your personal style. You'll be able to choose from a variety of colors and patterns from each brand. Tevas come in many neutral and bright colors, as well as prints. Some styles are part of limited-edition collections, but if you aren't able to find the one you want on Teva's website, you might have better luck checking another online retailer such as REI.

Chacos also come in many neutral and bright colors, as well as prints. The brand also features limited-edition collections. To ensure your pair never gets mixed up with another person's, you can create a custom pair. This process lets you customize everything from the main strap to the logo badge.

You can even upload your own image as a print or add embroidery. After trying the sandals from Teva and Chaco, we've learned they're both very comfortable and supportive. But you should use the following points to figure out which pair you should buy. Buy Tevas if: You have flat or less arched feet, you don't mind Velcro straps, and you want a softer footbed. Buy Chacos if: You have high arches, like the look of the single-wrapped strap, and want a more "dry" feel.

There are also more color and pattern options thanks to the customization feature. Sign up for Insider Reviews' weekly newsletter for more buying advice and great deals. You can purchase syndication rights to this story here. Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting.

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