The world is huge

Don't miss any of it

Travel news, itineraries, and inspiration delivered straight to your inbox.

By proceeding, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

X
Photo: Xero Shoes

The Most Lightweight, Versatile Summer Sandals

Traverse the trails, the urban jungle, and the waves with a single pair of go-anywhere summer sandals.

It’s easy to take the heft out of your luggage when packing such footwear essentials as each Umara Z-Trail sandal weighs little more than four ounces. And at just 10 millimeter thick, the entirety of the sandal rolls as small as a fist.

The shoemaker, Xero Shoes, guarantees their product with a 5,000 mile warranty.

Price and Where to Buy: Available for $80 on Amazon and Xero Shoes’ website.

How It Rates:

  • Usefulness: 10/10. It’s a travelers dream to find a single pair of footwear that’s versatile for many activities, yet light.
  • Value: 8/10. $80 teeters on the expensive side for sports sandals.
  • Durability: 10/10. These sandals are well constructed with high-quality materials, and the company backs them with a 5,000-mile guarantee.
  • Cool Factor: 8/10. Comfortable, barefoot-like feel.

Final Verdict: The Umara Z-Trail sandal is best suited for the ultra-light packer—a backpacker, even—that needs attire versatility without the clunkiness of various pairs of footwear.

Patricia Magaña is a Senior Editor at SmarterTravel. Follow her on Instagram @PatiTravels and Twitter @PatiTravels.

Editor’s Note: Reviews are based on usefulness, portability, durability, value, and “cool factor.” Some review products are sent to us free of charge and with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions, positive and negative, and will never accept compensation to review a product. If you have any questions or comments concerning our reviews, or would like to suggest a product for review, please email us at [email protected].

(Photo: Xero Shoes)

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

Top Fares From