Chaco Women's Zcloud X Sandals (Open Box)

these are my third pair of chacos. i also have the z/2 clouds and the z/volv1. the z1 megaz slot in bewtween both. the Z/2 clouds are beefy and burly and a bit squishy. the toe loop adds stability on the trail but are more difficult to get in or out of. mine needed a bit of break in. the zvolv is not as trail-ready but will suffice on a moderate hike with a path that isn't too rocky. they are more city/beach sandals with a lower-profile outsole. they are super comfy but the lighter and thinner outsole/midsole means less weight-bearing ability. the buckles occasionally need re-tighteneing but the converse of that is wide latitude in terms of tightness. you can adjust them to be loose or not so loose easily. enter the megaz cloud sport. first thing you notice is the wider/thicker band. to me, this meant less adjustability but better overall fit. the buckle sits up a little higher on your foot and the dier straps offer great stability even without the toe loop. there are two things you need to know if you are considering these rugged sandals. 1) wear them in the shower and get them wet before wearing first time. this will speed up break in time and help dial in the best fit. the straps have a bit of flex in them but may be tight out of the box. as they dry when you walk around they will conform more to the shape of your foot. 2) there's a trick to putting them on. step 1 -- slide your toe under the forefoot strap. step 2 -- slide the backstrap around your heel. step 3 -- adjust the z-strap around the middle of your upper foot. step 4 --tighten the buckle. this can all be done in under a minute in practice. Chacos have been iconic sandals for river rafting, hiking, beach wear, travel, etc. they allow your foot to breathe and flex while offering stability, durability and traction. the shoe feels more natural than the Keen Newport/H2 and is podiatrist-certified, albeit without the closed toe. The Keens are just ok for hiking and trails. they flex decently but the hybrid outsole is siped not lugged. The Chacos feel more comfortable and have a more trail-ready outsole which may be slighly worse on concrete and asphalt but more grippy on river rocks. I would rate the arch support as superior in the Chacos due to the Luvseat footbed, which is remarkable given their light weight and breathability. Both the Chacos and the H2s are good in and out of water, but it's easier for small pebbles and debris to get trapped in a closed-toe sandal, although you do get a bumper to that protects against impacts. To sum up the comparison, i would say the Chacos are slightly more outdoor purist, while the Keens are ever so slightly more urban. Both offer great support and confortability, with the Chacos being more breathable. The Chaco footbed feels a little better on youur foot and doesn't get as sweaty (the Keen upperss are reinforced with neoprene which subtracts a bit from breathability along with the closed-toe/fisherman-style design, and the footbed material feels mushier. The Chacos are overall more minimalist, and the Megaz Cloud Sport edition is a good iteration of the Z-strap design. There are very few sandals which can effectively function as trail shoes comparable to a lightweight, more breathable, water-friendly hiking shoe, and these are at or near the top of the list. They'll support more weight than the zvolvs, lowdowns or original Z/1s and the thick outsole/midsole combo inspires confidence for long hikes and technical trails, along with the stable yet flexy straps. Finally, these are good-looking, aesthetically-pleasing sandals. I wouldn't call them dressy, but they can at least be worn with a range of outfits. would purchase again, especially at a discounted price.