Chaco vs. Teva: We tested the 2 most popular hiking sandals to see how they compare

Strap design and materials

An easy way to tell Tevas and Chacos apart is their strap designs. Tevas (featured above on the left) have straps that line the sides of your feet, while Chaco straps wrap across the tops of your feet.

Teva straps support the tops, sides, and ankles of your feet and have Velcro to allow for fit adjustments. They're made from water-friendly, quick-drying webbing that's made from polyester, nylon, and recycled PET.

Chaco straps include a buckle, criss-cross each other, and are actually one long, continuous strap. This gives your feet the feeling of being wrapped. You adjust the fit at each part of the foot by pulling that area of the strap. They're made from water-friendly, quick-drying polyester jacquard webbing.

Footbed materials and feel

The footbed is what your feet are in contact with all day as you wear these sandals. Here's how the footbeds differ:

Tevas feel soft, smooth, and cushioned.

Chacos have a slightly textured footbed that feels drier.

Midsole and arch design

Depending on the shape of your feet and the level of support you want, you'll like one brand more than the other.

Tevas have a lower arch and make you feel like you're walking closer to the ground. I have fairly flat feet and found Tevas to be more comfortable than Chacos. The midsole is made from lightweight and flexible EVA foam, which feels cushioned and bouncy.

Chacos have a high arch and a thicker midsole at the heel than Tevas. If your feet have high arches, they'll be more comfortable in Chacos. The midsole is made from PU foam, which is a little heavier than EVA foam but has a longer-lasting bounce.

Outsole

While the outsoles have different designs, both Tevasand Chacosprovide strong traction, allowing you to walk across all types of terrain — smooth tile, rocky trails, slippery rocks, and more.

Weight

Both shoes are excellent lightweight footwear options that won't weigh you down as you trek miles and miles on your travels or hikes.The weight difference is almost negligible, but there is a small disparity.

Tevas are lighter. One pair weighs 1 pound, 4 ounces.

Chacos are heavier. One pair weighs 1 pound, 5.2 ounces.

Color and pattern options

Sport sandals, like all shoes, can be a reflection of your personal style. You'll be able to choose from a variety of colors and patterns from each brand.

Tevas come in many neutral and bright colors, as well as prints. Some styles are part of limited-edition collections, but if you aren't able to find the one you want on Teva's website, you might have better luck checking another online retailer such as REI.

Chacos also come in many neutral and bright colors, as well as prints. The brand also features limited-edition collections. To ensure your pair never gets mixed up with another person's, you can create a custom pair. This process lets you customize everything from the main strap to the logo badge. You can even upload your own image as a print or add embroidery.

The bottom line

After trying both sandals from Teva and Chaco, we learned that they're both very comfortable and supportive. But you should use the following points to determine which pair you should buy:

Choose Tevas if you have flat or less arched feet, you don't mind Velcro straps, and you want a softer footbed. We also tested the Tevas Zymic and found it to be our favorite comfortable walking sandal, so the brand has proven itself twice as a solid option. Tevas cost less than Chacos at about $75, but you may be able to find them at lower prices during other retailers' sale events.

Choose Chacos if you have high arches, like the look of the single-wrapped strap, and want a more "dry" feel. There are also more color and pattern options thanks to the customization feature. Chacos are the more expensive option at $105, but can be found for much less on Amazon or Zappos.