Teva Men's Original Universal

When the price is right, these are a durable and fashionable outdoor sandal.

The Teva Universal is a staple in the outdoors industry. I purchased my first pair three years ago for $8CAN in a sale bin during the winter at a store up north in Sudbury. When I bought them, I thought they looked goofy, but I wanted them as I am an avid canoeist, and constantly had issues walking in shallow water with flip-flops on. I wanted something that would look similar, and act similar to flip-flops, but secured to my feet better. 

When I first wore them, I found them to be very uncomfortable and almost cast them away. I persevered on my way and slowly found them to get better and better. I then tried wearing them while walking in half a meter of water, and they molded to my feet very quickly. 

Soon, I began wearing these sandals daily, and my love for them grew more and more. I had endless adventures over three summers in different regions across Ontario. It is now to the point where I have worn them out, and recently purchased the identical pair, this time for $25. 

I must admit, these sandals do not offer the best arch support, so if you are someone who has sensitive arches, these might not be the sandal for you. The footbed will mold to your feet and provide support in that way, but be sure that it will be enough before buying.

As far as pricing goes, I have seen them priced as low as $8 and as high as $60. I can't see myself buying them if they are more than $30, so if you come across them on sale or discounted, take it as an opportunity to give them a try as a low cost, functional, and durable sandal. They aren't as fancy as Chacos, but they surely aren't as expensive.

I bought these in the late 1990s. I moved to Texas and I wanted a breathable footwear for school and for water sports. I purchased these and I have used them in every creek and stream in and around water in Texas. I am doing the same thing in any water in Virginia.

They are a simple shoe—a two-piece rubber bottom, attached to that a half-inch wide web strap with Velcro. I learned about the shoes in Backpacker magazine and read the ad and  saw them at an REI. I saw them tried them on and purchased a pair and the rest is history.

I had options many times to get new sandals and upgrade to other brands and styles. I saw no need to upgrade. These are meeting my use and purpose. I use these for canoeing and kayaking and anything by water. I took them to the beach in Virginia Beach last year. 

The things you need to check is the wear of the bottom of your sandal and the webbing with the Velcro. Really not much to them, but pretty good use of materials that will last the test of time...  

Background

I am a member of a trail club and a long distance hiker. I have been backpacking and hiking since I was 13 years old.