Teva Universal Trail Sandal – Built for Every Environment

Eliza Lockhart

Teva has released the Universal Trail sandals $99and the crowds are stoked! Inspired by their Original Universals, these feature recycled materials, a burlier tread, and fashion-forward colorways. They are designed to appease both city dwellers and mountain folk through their versatile and comfortable components.

Teva Universal Trail Sandal chilling on a rock

As Teva progresses with their environmental consciousness, they further their technology by creating straps made of 100% recycled plastic. Each pair of sandals prevents 4 plastic bottles from ending up in the landfill. The Universal Strapping System™ uses traceable REPREVE® polyester yarn by Unifi®. These straps are also lined with Arieprene® padding to make these comfortable for the whole day.

Sandals by some of Tevas competitors rub your feet as the webbing dries. If you get them wet the webbing stretches then as it dries is shrinks giving you sores (I’ve had some nasty ones). The extra padding is a huge help here and makes these super comfortable and safe for your feet even as they’re are drying.

And the sandals aren’t just good for the environment, they’re good for your feet too! The extra padding and cushy sole make for some incredibly comfortable sandals that you can stand in for hours on end. The contoured EVA midsole provides arch support and the EVA footbed gives extra cushion for your foot.

Teva Universal Trail Sandal

I have found that because of this the heel strike zone is softened lessening the impact on your foot. Your average sandal doesn’t provide much of a buffer between the ground and your foot which leads to foot pain. The Universal Trails dampen any hard steps protecting your feet from hard and rough surfaces.

The 2 adjustable velcro straps across your toe and in front of your ankle ensure a snug fit making them feel like they were custom made for your feet. They keep the sandal from flopping and lock down the sandal so its secure on your foot. The velcro also makes these sandals easy to take on and off.

Teva Universal Trail Sandal

The VIBRAM® Mega Grip outsole is made for both wet and dry surfaces. The versatile tread makes all surfaces, from the sidewalk to the trail, slip free and stable. I’m really pleased with how the burly tread is compatible with these light sandals. Typically it takes a pretty chunky, clunky sandal to have this much tread, but Teva has done it again by combining the reliable tread with low profile shoes.

I like to take these sandals on light day hikes due to their comfort, traction and light weight (only 10.5 oz per sandal!). They perform like champs in the water too! Lots of my friends use these for whitewater rafting since they’re so comfy and hold up to some serious abuse.

And, since you will find yourself wearing these all the time, you will be happy to hear that these feature Microban® which provides some odor control for your stinky, happy feet.

Bottom line: these outperform their minimalist look. They have a simple appearance but can handle any occasion.

Eliza Lockhart

Eliza Lockhart

Growing up snowboarding and hiking in the bitter cold winters and humid summers of northern Vermont, Eliza learned how to beat up gear and quickly became infatuated with new technologies. After moving to Colorado in 2015 to pursue a degree in recreation and outdoor education at Western Colorado University, her passion for the outdoors grew exponentially. Soon after, she picked up rock climbing, telemark skiing, backpacking, canyoneering, and is slowly learning to love rafting. Through these learning processes, Eliza began to understand the importance of the right gear and hopes to share her experiences and knowledge with others through Engearment.

Now working for Beacon Guidebooks as the ‘Wearer of Many Hats’ (yes, that is her official title), Eliza has learned the ins and outs of the outdoor industry. She has also worked on marketing teams, as a photographer, media coordinator, outdoor instructor and as a wrangler. She is especially excited to encourage other women in the outdoors and is an advocate for diversity and inclusion.