There are few trips where slipping a pair of sandals into your suitcase isn’t a good idea. You’ll want them for the beach, for hopping from room to dinner, for lazy strolls along cobblestone streets. But then there are more active breaks—where your cute leather strappy sandals simply aren’t going to cut it. When I took a trip to Wyoming last year, I left my stylish sliders and fisherman’s sandals at home and packed something less flashy: a pair of Teva Original Universals.
Being an American brand, and as a Londoner myself, I wasn’t especially familiar with Teva sandals when I departed for my trip—in fact, I packed without much thought. I hadn’t even tried them on, which did make me slightly nervous given how much I knew I’d be wearing them over the next week. But when I arrived at the ranch and put them on for the first time, I realized: Everyone around me was already wearing these. I mean, everyone—this specific brand too, not just a similar style. When the trip leaders recommended footwear for the day’s activities, it wasn’t “wear sandals,” it was “wear your Tevas.”
Quickly, I understood why: they’re genuinely a really good outdoorsy shoe. Launched in 1984 in Arizona, the design hasn’t needed improvement since. The quick-dry webbing (now made from recycled plastic), cushioned midsole, and grippy rubber outsole all do exactly what you want them to. They adjust at multiple points for a secure fit, and the hook-and-loop fastening is far quicker and less fiddly than a buckle.
There were a few things that really made them a winner for me (and, clearly, everyone else). Firstly, they’re incredibly lightweight—far more so than your average leather sandal. They slid easily into the side pocket of my luggage, taking up almost no space, and they’re just as easy to throw into a day bag if you want to swap out hiking boots for a swim while on the move. On my Wyoming trip, we rode into the mountains to camp for a few days, packing everything onto the horses, so it was really important to travel light—not to mention, my horse appreciated my bringing along lightweight footwear!
