What do we think of the Teva Aventrail sandal and shoe?

Here at Wild Things we love a good trail shoe, so when Teva wanted trail runners to try out their new Aventrail sandal and Aventrail shoe, it made sense for them to come to us. Five Wild Things VIP members were chosen to try out the new footwear. Here’s what they had to say.

Andy: “Grippy, peppy and cool”

Aventrail sandal

First time running in any sandals, and I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I forgot I had them on. The feel is not too different from wearing normal trail shoes, just a lot cooler. Splashing through winter puddles is a refreshing surprise!

I've run 80k in the Aventrail sandals on dry winter days, fashionably wearing socks with the sandals. The grip is outstanding on gravel, rocks, dirt and muddy trails. There is the right amount of cushioning in the bouncy foam to absorb impacts without taking away too much of the trail feel. And the nylon plate is an added bonus to give a sense of pop when striding out!

The fit is true to size, which for me was a downside—the padding is good, but I have wide feet. While the sandals felt secure and my feet didn't move around, my pinky toes were squished by the front straps regardless of how they were adjusted.

In fact, my only concern with these sandals has been the front straps, but perhaps it’s a common issue with sandals in general. When running up steeper hills, the sandals had significant flex where the front straps meet the sole, which puts painful pressure on the big toes. Not a problem if your trails are flat or rolling, but perhaps not the shoe type of choice to train for a mountain race :)

Overall, a fun choice of footwear that I'll bring out for shorter, flat summer trail runs - grippy, peppy and cool. 

Allie: “Stable in slush, wet clay”

Aventrail shoe

My “straight out of the box” impression was that these shoes are cool! Great colours and a retro vibe. A big bonus if style is important!

I used the Teva size guide and next time around I’ll go a size up from what was recommended because they are tight in the toe. The Velcro straps make adjusting the tightness easy, and being able to do this around the heel is a bonus. During my time running with these shoes I never had a problem with the Velcro wearing loose. The sole is cushioned but still allows me to feel what I’m running on so that I can be responsive to terrain. It has some stiffness which did loosen up over time, but I was able to run on sealed stretches, which I’ve found difficult in some other trail shoe brands with much stiffer soles. My feet and ankles always felt supported when I was running, whether I was on steeper trails or easier paths through the botanic gardens.

I tested these shoes on the hills around Dunedin in some terrible weather. I was stable in slush, wet clay, and crossing deep puddles and streams, as well as feeling grip on slippery sealed roads and rockier trails. On all of the occasions I went out in bad weather my feet stayed surprisingly dry, and were also warm – a real winter bonus.

Simone: “From the hills to the beach to the pub”

Aventrail sandal

This was my first time trying a running sandal and I was impressed. The Teva Aventrails are super comfortable and feel stable to run in. Plus, they look really cool - I just adore the chunky pink sole!

The only downside for me was on more technical trails. I found myself needing to tighten the straps a few times and I didn't feel quite as sure-footed as in my regular shoes. However, this could also be a sizing issue, I think they're better suited to wider feet than mine.

Overall, the Aventrail isn't going to replace my trusty trail runners, but it's still a great addition to my shoe wardrobe. I see myself wearing them for long summer hikes, easy runs, and those days when you want to go from the hills to the beach to the pub in one pair of shoes. Bring on sandal season! 

Jordan: “The longer I was in the shoe, the better”

Aventrail shoe

On arrival and opening of the box the startling vibrant colours of green and blue really do catch the eye. The shoe is light to hold, and with Velcro instead of laces, the shoe is able to open wide for the foot to comfortably be inserted.

According to the Teva shoe fitting guide my recommended size was a 10. The shoe has a narrow toe box in comparison to my usual shoe, so a half size longer would have been perfect to allow a little bit of movement give for the toes when descending on the trails, which is something I do enjoy.

For my first test run we had plenty of rain and mud on the trail, and I thought this would be perfect for the shoe. The kids were asleep in bed and I was excited to get out the door. I’ll tell ya what, those velcro strapping systems, well that saved me a good amount of time instead of tying laces so I was able to get out of the house in record time! Optimising time on the trails #winning. 

I was surprised at how well the grip held up on the trail with the amount of mud present. The shoe was very responsive on the mud, I felt comfortable and able to hold a good pace, trusting the shoe’s grip while rock-hoping and root-jumping without needing to slow down for fear of slipping or twisting an ankle. On the flat, the shoe allows for an ‘aggressive’ rocker which keeps the feet rolling onto the toes and causing the body to naturally gain momentum and speed with minimal effort.

Most of the runs I managed in these shoes were 8-12km with around 300m elevation and I felt fast and in control. My longer run was 18km of trails. Honestly, during this run I found the longer I was in the shoe, the better they felt, the more comfortable they became, and the more responsive they were. The grip did its job, preventing slipping. The upper mesh kept the feet 'breathing'. The Velcro strapping actually held up pretty well and was able to provide the foot with the correct tension/ support it needed. The foam of the shoes allows for a cushy ride, it gives the feel of the trail underfoot but still protects from any sharper objects on the trails. 

Overall, I am happy with the shoe’s performance, I do wish that the shoe was half a size bigger. 

Kev: “Great in snow”

Aventrail shoe

My first impressions of the shoes were how light they were, and an interesting Velcro fastening system. When I first put them on, I found the heel area a bit loose but after a couple of kms they were good - a nice snug fit all round.

Since first strapping them on, I have done just over 220km with 4600m of elevation. I've covered as many different terrains as I could. I've started in minus 5 degrees and finished in 17 degrees on various days, from snow to sunshine. Overall, I found the Tevas were great in snow, mud, streams, rocks, tussocks and anything soft. On the harder packed trails and roads they made the balls of my feet really sore after a couple of kms. I tried thicker socks but no difference. Maybe some better innersoles may help?

I loved getting out in the hills with the Tevas and found I trusted the grip even on the most technical rocky hills. I was most impressed with the Velcro system and the tread still looks like new. Thanks to Wild Things and Teva for the opportunity.

VIP Discount

You can get 15% off all Teva products with your Wild Things VIP membership.