It kind of sounds like an oxymoron, doesn’t it? Hey, let’s climb through rocky, possibly treacherous terrain with our toes and other areas of the foot completely exposed! But fear not, wilderness friend. These sandals, like all hiking gear, are made with purpose. Those who create hiking sandals understand that it’s just not another day at the beach.

Hiking sandals are perfect for light summer hikes, especially the ones where you might cross a creek. The sandals are far lighter in weight than any hiking boot could ever imagine. They don’t weigh you down, and they let your feet breath when it’s hot outside. And when you do get the sandals wet, they will dry in a jiff.

However, there are some cons involved when wearing next to nothing on your feet. With all that exposure, it’s possible for pebbles or other unwanted debris to pop in for a quick for a visit. The best way to avoid this is to wear socks (forget the fashion police!) or stay away from particularly rocky areas. Typically if you buy a pair of great-fitting sandals, you shouldn’t have this issue.

Another downside to wearing such freeing footwear is that it overexposes your feet to the elements. Your feet might get too dry or maybe even sunburned if you don’t properly prepare them prior to your journey. But you needn’t worry because you already packed your sun protection after reading “Bare Essentials: Five Hiking Must-Haves”.

NRS makes hiking sandals in a variety of styles for both men and women at affordable prices as does Portland-based Keen, who offers these sandals in kids’ sizes, too.

So, it’s A-OK to venture into the wilderness with your feet tucked safely into a sturdy pair of hiking sandals. But it’s *never* OK to hike barefoot. Not even if you’re Britney Spears. For example, the fairly anticlimactic video below shows that hiking barefoot atop a blanket of autumn leaves isn’t unbearable, but it’s still a little silly and a lot of dangerous. DRFMDRGND9XN