The Best Travel Sandals: A Teva Hurricane Drift Review

The Best Travel Sandals: A Teva Hurricane Drift Review

This summer I took family trip to Savannah, Georgia and Wilkes County, North Carolina. The weekend before this trip, I spent in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. The month prior, I visited Salem, Massachusetts, Providence, Rhode Island, and Long Island, New York. Over the summer, I went to the pool several times, spent a lot of time in my yard and garden, and did casual sightseeing in DC. And for all of these I wore what I believe to be the best travel sandals.

Needing Comfy, Supportive Sandals for my Fussy Feet

I have fussy feet. I have dealt on and off with plantar fasciitis for a decade. My feet are wide and high volume. I tore my Achilles' at the beginning of the year and still have stiffness and sensitivity on the back of my ankle/top of my heel. I have short toes, and my pinkies love to slip out from sandal straps. And being over 40 and going through perimenopause, my feet are more sensitive than ever before. In summary, I can't throw on any old shoes and get through a day on my feet.

My Experience with Teva Sandals

Two summers ago, I tried a pair of white Teva Hurricane XLT2 sandals and was surprised that they fit my feet. I never had luck with Teva sandals before, but the Hurricane sandals had a molded footbed and the straps were slightly different. I wore these sandals to death and they looked it. I every hack I could find online but the fabric straps just got too grimey to be used beyond the garden and backyard.

The following summer, on a Hurricane high, I bought the XLT2 Ampsole and chose a tan color that was very close to my skin tone and would be less likely to show dirt. While these fit, the flatform sole was heavy, and when the shoes got wet, they got even heavier. After a canoe trip that left me walking a half mile in sand with what felt like weights strapped to my feet, I never wore them again.

The Teva Hurricane Drift

This year, I decided to try the Teva Hurricane Drift, another Teva sandal with a molded footbed, but the entire shoe is from the same molded EVA. As it is one piece (with classic Teva Velcro to adjust the ankle strap), there is no way for water to get in and add weight. It also means these shoes are super easy to clean.

I have had EVA Birkenstock sandals and like them (especially for the arch support), but walking distances in them is terrible. They squeak, get slippery when wet or sweaty, and stretch out. They're best for the pool or any situation in which you may usually wear flip-flops.

I worried the Teva Hurricane Drift sandals would be the same but for some reason they're not. They're awesome. So awesome, I have walked multiple 25,000 step days in them without a single blister, hot spot, or plantar fasciitis flare-up.

What Makes the Teva Hurricane Drift Unique

The Teva Hurricane Drift has strategic ribbing and texture inside the straps and on the sole to prevent the slippage I experience with EVA Birkenstock sandals. The adjustable ankle strap fits comfortably around my thicker ankle, but can easily fit a more narrow or thicker ankle.

The Velcro stays, even through hard wear, water, dust, and dirt. This ensures a more secure experience. The rubber sole has grip and traction, the midsole is cushioned to offer support but also comfort, but the shoe is still super lightweight and flexible.

These shoes don't take up a lot of space or weight in your travel luggage. You can bend the straps to fit into a smaller space, and they will spring back. These can be your shower shoes, your beach shoes, your pool shoes, as well as your casual sandals and day walking shoes.

These sandals can walk a half-mile to the beach, walk through the sand, and be rinsed in the waves. You can walk your sandy feet back to your beach house and hose them off and have them ready for your next adventure. They can go from the lake edge to push off a kayak to an hour in the craft, and then go several blocks from the lake to a restaurant for lunch.

And because they are all one color and free of logos and visible Velcro, they look nice enough to wear with a pair of trousers or a dress.

Wearing the Teva Hurricane Drift in A Variety of Conditions

I went to Savannah, Georgia in August. My family and I walked all over that city in that brutal heat and humidity. One day I wore my HOKA sneakers, one day I wore my Birkenstock Bend sneakers, and every single day after that I wore my Teva Hurricane Drift sandals. They were more comfortable in the heat, more accommodating as my feet swelled, and just as good on cobblestone, hills, and sandy paths.

Because the Teva Hurricane Drift is so simple of a design, I wore them to a fancy lunch with my daughter in Savannah, styled with a maxi dress and straw hat. I also wore them with a linen sundress for a nice dinner in Rhode Island.

I am not afraid to ruin a cute look with comfortable shoes, especially when on travel. However, these sandals blend quite nicely with my wardrobe for casual and nicer situations.

I went to Providence, Rhode Island and ended up walking up College Hill in my Teva Hurricane Drift sandals. No discomfort, the shoes were sturdy and supportive as I walked a hill so steep I couldn't see the end of it.

In Salem, I thought we were walking a couple of blocks so I put on my red leather and cork Birkenstock Arizona sandals. It ended up being about a half mile and I ended up with blisters on the arches of both feet. The only shoe comfortable enough to do some serious walking the following day were my Teva Hurricane Drift sandals.

In November, I went on a long weekend getaway to Curaçao. I packed sneakers, gold dressy sandals, and my Teva Hurricane Drifts. I only wore the sneakers once and never wore the gold sandals; the same Tevas I wore all over the U.S. in the summer was the perfect choice for my Curaçao packing list.

As long as it's warm enough for sandals, you will see me wearing these shoes. And if I have any travel in the foreseeable future, my Teva Hurricane Drift sandals will be one of the first items I pack.

The Best Place to Buy The Teva Hurricane Drift Sandal

The Teva Hurricane Drift sandal is available at a range of retailers, but not all that carry the Teva brand. I got mine at Madewell, I've seen them at Free People, Zappos, REI, and ASOS. However, at this time of year, these retailers are sold out of a lot of sizes and colors.

I recommend shopping the Teva website directly, where you will find the most extensive selection of colors and sizes. Teva offers a 30-day return window. Purchases of $50+ have free shipping, and returns are free. All links above this section are to the Teva website to ensure the best selection.

How do the Teva Hurricane Drift Sandals Fit?

I am a size 8 in most shoes, and especially with sandals I need wide width. The only sandals I own that aren't wide width are Birkenstock and Teva. Teva Hurricane Drift sandals only come in whole sizes; Teva recommends sizing down if you are a half size. Considering how these fit me, I would agree it would be smartest to size down for the best results with your Teva sandals.

What Colors Do the Teva Hurricane Drift Sandals Come In?

The Teva Hurricane Drift sandal comes in an extensive array of colors and some two-color swirl options. It appears that while Teva carries the Hurricane Drift sandal each year, they switch up some of the color options. I found that from February to September, Tevas are the same price most anywhere. When winter arrives, you may find sale prices to be varied.

• Teva has the best selection of colors and sizes. Right now they have lavender, aqua, black, and birch/off-white as well as four swirl combos.
• Zappos carries the Hurricane Drift and separates the swirl/Huemix option to a different page. Here you can find all the options including kid sizes, which are $10 cheaper may work for those with smaller feet.
• Free People appears to have exclusive colors of these sandals. I linked to a page that has both the solids and the Huemix swirl options. I really dig the leaf green color they offer!
• Amazon has an incredibly extensive selection of colors. Mixing current and previous season options, you can find discontinued colors and a range of prices.

In Summary…

While these sandals may not be perfect for all feet, I am so impressed by how well they perform for me and believe they are the best travel sandals. I am tempted to buy another pair in a color, but have decided to wait until next year. There's no need, my Teva Hurricane Drift sandals look almost new after a summer of hard work! Have you tried the Teva Hurricane Drift sandals? What has been your experience?

With spring break and summer right around the corner, this 2023 review of the Teva Hurricane Drift sandal has been updated for 2024 with additional places I've worn the shoes and updated links to where to buy them online.