Teva Men's Northridge Sandal

I had the Zilch size 10, I wear size 10 normally and it was way too big on my feet and the chafing was painful after 30min of wearing them. Plus, they're way over prized.This new Northridge is the redesign much needed. The absence of big toe strap makes a huge difference in comfort. I wore them all day at Sea World from the morning to the night without any problem. You just might have buy at least half a size smaller. I went the whole size smaller which is 9 and it fits like a glove (which it should).In my opinion, they best looking and feeling minimalist sport sandal you can buy.

I was curious about the whole "barefoot" show/sandal concept, and after trying these, I'm still unsure. They're very light, and minimally padded, with minimal drop. They're great for running out of the house quickly, or for a pair to pack in my luggage when I have to be mostly wearing hard shoes. On the down side, the plastic straps don't fit quite as well (or wear as comfortably) as the usual leather/nylon that other Tevas use.

Don't bother with these if you have wide feet. The straps aren't long enough to be comfortable. I gave these to a friend with narrow feet and he doesn't like them. The thin lining that the foot rests on immediately started to separate after getting wet. A good pair of sandals shouldn't fall apart in wet conditions.

I’ve been through several brands but Teva has been the best. I liked my Teva Hurricanes for a couple of years. Then I used the Terra Fi’s for 10 years because I liked them better. And I still go backpacking in them.The Northridge --- I wear them all the time now (except for backpacking) --- even to church in my suit! I have black sandals so they don’t stand out too much (with black socks). I’ve done some 5 mile hikes in them on gravel roads and my feet still feel good. I can get a 2nd thick sock on for cooler days and not squish my foot because of the adjustable straps. I can go downhill for 3 hours and not get hammer toe. I did buy ½ size up for a little extra toe protection. Just remember to cinch them tight when walking and you won’t get blisters. Uncinch when resting for that slipper feel.The Northridge’s feel like minimalist shoes. They’re light and airy. I do wear socks all the time with my sandals to my kid’s dismay. That way I never get blisters on long hikes. Anyway, my feet have felt superb after wearing these sandals. In the morning I can’t wait to get out of bed and put on these sandals.

If you're used to minimalist zero drop shoes... then summer is an interesting challenge. I've got lots of pairs of full coverage shoes, but I was looking for something just simple, that didn't make my teens too uncomfortable to be seen with me (gladiator sandals or toe shoes were a no) , just no fuss, slip on, wear. And for me, I had to be able to run in them, so flops were out. These are perfect for that, you can wear them as flops if you choose, or pull the back up without unstrapping it. I find myself reaching for them before anything else. Plus, if you're conditioned to minimalist shoes, it's so nice for packing that these can be your daily shoes, water shoes, hiking shoes, & running shoes.

Teva has made two sandal models that fit my needs which is the thinner the better, because most sandals are designed with heavy soles and bulky. I previously bought a pair of Teva Zilch. I like them a lot--thin, light, minimal straps, and the straps are comfortable, even for runs on the trail. However, the big toe loops make the big toes tired for after awhile after walking. So when Teva introduced the Northridge, I bought them right away. Now I have both, and enjoy them both!

These are great minimalist sandals in my opinion - very flexible with a wide toe area that is of course still adjustable. The straps feel great, they're smooth and you won't even notice them unlike other brands or the traditional old school Tevas. These should also be very durable, the pictures don't do the quality of construction justice - clean stitching, tough yet flexible "spider rubber" soles. For those of us who are minimal but practical

I owned a similar pair of Teva's which had a toe loop, but couldn't find them anymore so I bought these instead. I think this shoe was actually designed for minimalist running, but as a lightweight sandal it's very usable. I was worried it was a little tight at first, but it easily stretched out. Easy to get in and out of. The straps don't irritate at all. I walk around on carpet, sidewalks, grass, streams, gravel all with the same comfort and stability. I love wearing them.