Teva Hurricane XLT2 Sandal Review: My Latest Go-To Summer Shoes

Back in highschool, my friends would laugh after I’d manage to interrupt a shoe inside weeks of shopping for it. None of us quite knew why it was happening. Were they too low-cost? Was there something mistaken with my feet? Was I jinxed?

This curse followed me into college, until it was lifted by a pair of red Keds. Finally a shoe I could wear hard all day, daily. After finding the Keds in my college and post-grad years, I’ve discovered other shoes which have served me well through later chunks of my life too: from the day-to-night-to-hike leather Clarks of my late-20s to my long-walk pandemic Nikes. I learned to be loyal and fewer frugal, repurchasing similar pairs yearly or two.

This 12 months I entered my Teva era with the Hurricane XLT2 sandal—and I’m never looking back. Comfortable, versatile, and flipping cute, these are my go-to shoes for spring, summer, and beyond (seriously, I’m deciding if I can get away with the socks-and-Tevas look come winter). Listed here are all the explanations you might end up enamored with these sandals too.

How the Teva Hurricane XLT2 Fit and Feel

Boy, oh boy, are these cozy. I can walk all day in my Tevas without my feet feeling achy. I even have high arches, and ever since my fave Clarks were discontinued, I’d been on the lookout for one other sandal with arch support. The Hurricane XLT2’s footbed is constituted of lightweight and versatile ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, which provides good cushion and support—in addition to effective shock-absorption that keeps my right knee brace at home. The wide velcro straps are adjustable at three points for a comfortable, blister-free fit, and my toes are free to wiggle around and splay out (perfect for hikes with wet or rugged terrain).

It took a day or two to essentially break in and get the straps excellent, but once they’re set, so are you. Now all I even have to do is release the velcro on the ankle with the intention to slip my foot out and in. Finally, the neoprene cushion within the heel strap is my favorite little touch because it prevents that annoying chafing above the heel common in a number of outdoor sandals.

Style

Tevas had their moment within the ’90s, one other resurgence back in 2018, and a current surge due to everyone’s love of the ugly shoe. For me, Tevas will eternally embody Colorado cool girl vibes due to my college best friend, who rocked everlasting Teva and Chaco tan lines (considered one of the few drawbacks of the shoe).

The Hurricane XLT2 is available in greater than 10 different colours and patterns, from muted pinks and greens to vibrant psychedelic prints. I selected a sunflower yellow, and the millennial in me is pleased that they’re colourful and chunky enough to match the throwback Gen Z aesthetic while satisfying my need for stability and luxury. Irrespective of what I’m wearing—a patterned jumper, a silky maxidress, or mountaineering shorts—I immediately achieve that laid-back summer spirit after I throw on these shoes.

Performance and flexibility

I don’t have a automotive, so I walk, bike, or take the train all over the place. This implies my shoes should be my best friends. Since I purchased these Tevas five months ago, I’ve felt like I could wear them anywhere. Vienna, where I live, has every kind of terrain, from hard paved sidewalks to rough cobblestone paths to muddy trails. I sport them in the town and on hikes within the Austrian countryside because they’re durable, lightweight (clocking in just below one pound), and have solid traction for a sandal. I wear them for swims within the Danube because they’re quick-drying and close-fitting. I wear them out to dinner because they appear cute with a beaded anklet and summer dress. And I’m going to proceed wearing them until it’s too cold out, because they’ve yet to indicate any signs of tear and are beyond comfortable.

Two downsides though: The deep grooves of the rubber tread make it easier for small rocks or dog poop to get stuck, and the velcro straps can catch plant debris and pet hair. But these are minor annoyances, especially since they’re super easy to scrub.

Bottom Line

With its cushy midsoles, grippy rubber outsoles, and secure straps, the Hurricane XLT2 sandal earns its comfort and sturdiness accolades. Greater than a mountaineering sandal, it’s great for strolling around town, water sports, music festivals—really any type of sunny-day activity. I mean, I packed three pairs of travel shoes for a monthlong trip down the East Coast—including walking around Latest York, camping in Maryland, and kayaking in South Carolina—and ended up only wearing my Tevas (a packing fail, but a giant win for these bad boys). One pair should last me through my five-year shoe phase (just in time for me to recycle them through the TevaForever program) and select a brand new color for an additional Teva chapter.

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