Chaco Z1 Sandals : Do Anything Footwear

Right out of the box, I had my doubts about my new pair of Z-1 sandals from Chaco.

It wasn’t the styling—the sandals flashed a “cool” factor that was off the charts with a funky design on the webbing. Construction looked sound, and the aggressive tread looked ready to handle anything that I could throw its way.

What threw me was the weight of the footwear. Although I have a large shoe size, any sandals I wear are generally the welcomed exception to my heavy shoes. The Z-1’s seemed just a bit weighty. Fortunately, this was forgotten almost as soon as I made the necessary sizing adjustments and slipped the sandals onto my feet. And speaking of the adjustments, the Z-1’s are 100% customizable to your unique foot shape and desired level of strap tightness—a feature I enjoyed immensely due to the weird shape of my feet.

From the first steps I took in the Z-1’s, I knew I had found my preferred summer footwear, and just in time. I was heading out the door on a transcontinental trip and didn’t want to be bothered with shoes that I knew would sit in my suitcase. I needed some sandals that could take me from an airport to a sandy beach to the hotel restaurant and lounge…and be able to take any conditions in between that I’d likely encounter.

The Z-1’s were perfectly fit for all of these tasks, and there was a bonus payoff—my feet never felt tired during the trip, thanks to the sandal’s well-designed trademarked “BioCentric” contoured footbed. I also noticed after a splash through the sea that the webbing lived up to their promise of drying quickly, a benefit of the soft polyester straps instead of nylon. I’ve always liked having a choice, and Chaco gave me one with the option of one of three different outsoles. My sandals featured the all-terrain “Terreno” sole—50% thicker and deeper lugged than the Chaco’s most popular sole, the “Colorado,” originally designed for river use. If you expect to find yourself in a wet and slippery environment like a boat deck, their “AquaStealth” might be the sole for you.

Upon my return home, I didn’t want to shed my new Z-1’s, so they accompanied me into my backyard for a huge list of household chores. Even as I climbed an extension ladder to make some roof repairs, the sandals gave me a level of confidence that I might have previously reserved only for a pair of work boots.

A custom fit and functionality not found in many sandals—it’s a combination that Chaco has mastered with the Z-1 sandal.

Bottom Line: Don’t let a first impression throw you…the Chaco Z-1 sandal might just be the ultimate summer travel and adventure footwear. A few ounces that I might have sacrificed in the name of “lightweight at any costs” might have led me to overlook what has proven to be a great pair of sandals. --G.P. (August ‘05)

Price: $90-105, depending on sole type

Manufacturer's Site: www.chacousa.com

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