Runners are a particular bunch, but trail running shoes typically look the same: tread on the outsole, some level of cushioning beneath the foot and a pair of shoelaces that lock the upper down. This summer, however, Teva changed the game.
Billed as the first-ever high performance trail running sandals, the new Teva Aventrail are trail-ready sandals designed for runners. Just like a standard pair of trail running shoes, the Aventrail boast a nylon plate for propulsion, an engineered knit upper for stability and a rubber outsole with moderate traction for decent grip. But, in what I consider a stroke of genius, you can ditch those socks and let your tootsies go wild.
As an outdoors and fitness writer with more than two decades of experience, I’ve spent the last four weeks testing the Aventrails at least a dozen times. Due to some hip injuries, I don’t run long distances any more but still enjoy a good 3- to 4-mile run. I’ve taken these sandals trail running up our local mountain, hiking with my daughter and even walking around the campsite. While I don’t think they’re perfect, they’ve pleasantly found a place in my weekly rotation. Here are my thoughts.
Teva Aventrail Sandal
With a 6-millimeter drop and a sizable 33 millimeters of cushion beneath the heel, the Aventrail is in the sweet spot for runners who like a decent amount of cushion with a moderate drop. Note that this style flew off the virtual shelves on Teva's site, so sizes are limited, but you can also shop them at REI and Amazon.
Plush EVA foam in the midsole adds comfort and the engineered knit upper adds a touch of stability on easy-moderate terrain. While the rubber outsole isn’t as tacky as Vibram Megagrip (more on that below), it’ll do the job for a lot of folks.
What I liked about them
Once upon a time, I was a dyed-in-the-wool trail runner who believed I needed to be able to run a half marathon at any given time to be considered “in shape.” Thanks to some labral tearing and thinning cartilage in my hips, those days are gone. But I still enjoy a 5K jaunt up our local trails at a plodding pace. For many runners, the Teva Aventrail aren’t going to be enough of a trail running shoe. But for recreational runners like me who just want to get some movement with a lot of versatility, they’re a decent choice.
They’re breathable
Let’s start with the obvious: Running in sandals feels a little weird at first, almost like running naked. I’m 42, so I’ve been running for literal decades, and this is the first time I’ve ever done so without anything covering my toes. Mentally, it tripped me up — especially when I hit the singletrack. I kept looking down to make sure I didn’t smash my toe on a rock or get it caught beneath a root.
But gradually, I adjusted to the new nakedness on my feet. Once I did, I found I actually loved running in sandals. Why, yes, it is more breathable. Not only can you ditch the socks (though you can wear them if you’d like), but the Aventrails have a minimalist design and sock-like fit that stretches around your ankle. There are plenty of cut-out areas like around the “sixth toe” on the outside of my foot, leaving my feet with tons of room to breathe.
I also appreciated the design, which provided my toes with ample room to spread out. I don’t necessarily have wide feet, but I prefer a roomier toe box and was known for cutting out the side of my trail running shoes back when I used to run ultra distances. With the Aventrails, you get that added space without having to contend with a sloppy-big toe box. What a win.
Plusher than your pillow
If you like the pillow-soft cushion made famous by brands like Hoka, you’ll love the immediate feel of the Aventrail sandals. Teva uses a combination of EVA foam and supercritical foam in the midsole. Supercritical foam is pretty cool: It’s made when gas is exposed to high pressure, morphing it into a shapeshifter that acts like a liquid and a gas simultaneously. At this point, they add the historically plush EVA, creating a foam that has gas bubbles evenly spread throughout.
End result on my feet: a lightweight feel that’s squishy whenever I bear weight. During my inaugural test run up a local spot called Red Hill, I tackled 1,000 feet of climbing in one mile. The descent is steep and I could feel the shoe absorbing some of the impact with every step.
Of course, this squishiness comes with a tradeoff: responsiveness. The Aventrails are really soft. While their tech specs do include a nylon plate for enhanced propulsion, I’m not sure they’d be a go-to option for fast runners who need to hit scheduled tempo or speed workouts. But for a recreational runner like me who just plods along and barely looks at her watch, I appreciated the cushioned ride.
More versatile than a chameleon
As a jill-of-all-trades but master of none, I like to do a lot of things — and that’s exactly where the Teva Aventrails shine.
Yes, Teva spent two years designing these sandals to target the trail running market. But they also work exceedingly well for river trips, hiking adventures and around the campsite. I personally have a closet full of hiking sandals — everything from Bedrock and Chaco to Forsake and Teva’s uber-popular Hurricanes — but I found myself grabbing these again and again for day hikes.
Unlike the other hiking sandals, the Aventrail’s cushioning provides enough support for me to be on my feet all day while carrying a heavy backpack. But it’s a forgiving type of support that works well as someone with flat feet. The sandals don’t make me feel like there is a golf ball stuck in my arch — something I’ve experienced in other hiking sandals with too much support.
As a result, I’ve found myself pulling these on in the morning when I take our daughter to summer camp. Then, I’ll keep them on for a quick run after drop-off, as well as our after-camp hike down to the river for popsicles. Sure, I could definitely do all of those things while wearing traditional trail running shoes, but it’s sure nice to wear the Aventrails when the mercury soars above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
What I didn’t like about them
For experienced runners who routinely log double-digit mileage, the Teva Aventrails are not as dialed-in as a traditional trail running shoe.
Moderate traction
Teva uses a proprietary rubber (called Spider Rubber) and shallow lugs that do the job, but are nowhere near as grippy as the offerings by Vibram — and don’t hold a candle to the industry standard, Vibram’s Megagrip. During grit-covered sandstone descents and mucky climbs, I definitely noticed my feet slipping more than I’d prefer.
But, not everyone needs traction that’s stickier than glue (because it also comes with a price penalty). So again, it depends on the type of runner you are or want to be. If you’re fine with jogging around a gravel path or climbing 500 feet of your town’s mellow singletrack, you probably won’t notice a difference.
Looser fit over longer distances
I’m a big fan of the knit upper and think Teva did a fantastic job of creating a shoe that wears like a sandal but still holds your foot in place like a running shoe. However, I did experience some difficulty cinching the upper onto my foot once I’d been on the trail for awhile. I’m not sure if it’s because my feet were sweaty and sticky or if trail grit had soaked into the webbing. Regardless, I found myself wishing for a pair of socks whenever I got above the 3-mile mark to avoid occasional friction on the buckle touch points.
How they compare
While Teva touts the Aventrails as the first-ever performance trail running sandals, there are other running sandals out there — but almost all of them come from the barefoot movement and are not specifically designed for running. The Luna Middle Bear sandals ($120) use the beefy Vibram Megagrip outsole for top-shelf traction, but don’t have much in the way of cushion or support. The Shamma Elite Warriors ($100) are similar, albeit with a Vibram Newflex sole and even less beneath your feet. Earth Runners has been around for awhile and has a cult following in the barefoot world, with its Alpha Sandals ($89) leading the pack as its trail running sandal of choice. Like the Elite Warriors, the Alphas are very minimalist in design and basically act as a foot covering to protect your soft feet from the harsh realities of the trail.
Bottom line
The Teva Aventrails aren’t for everybody, but they will make a lot of people happy. If you’re a serious trail runner who covers long distances, trains for races and travels over technical terrain, the Aventrails won’t be enough of a shoe for you.
But if you’re a recreational runner like me who enjoys mellow runs to stay active or wants one sandal to do it all (with a little bit of cushioning), the Teva Aventrails are a great bet.