The Best Walking Sandals for a Tasmanian Summer

The best walking sandals hold your heel in place with a back strap, support your arch, adjust as your feet swell, and grip on wet footpaths. Most sandals do one or two of these. The ones below do all four, and we fit them every summer in our Hobart store.

• For long walks, travel and bush tracks: ECCO Offroad or ECCO Offroad Roam
• For Birkenstock fans who walk a lot: Birkenstock Milano, the Arizona with a heel strap
• For walking around town: Birkenstock Arizona, ECCO Gruuv Sol or Wolky Medusa
• For support designed by a podiatrist: FRANKiE4 Rome
• For room to spread your toes: Duckfeet Bornholm
• For wide feet or orthotics: Naot Evora and Klouds Elegance, with Ganter arriving soon

Read on for what to look for, how each pick compares, and how to get the fit right.

What makes a sandal good for walking?

Podiatrists agree on four checks. Use them in store or at home before you commit to a long walk.

1. A strap behind the heel

A heel or ankle strap is the biggest single difference between a walking sandal and a casual slide. Without one, your toes grip with every step to keep the sandal on. Over a long day, that gripping tires the muscles of the foot and can change the way you walk, adding strain to your feet, knees and lower back (Bustle, podiatrist Dr Anne Sharkey; Keystone Podiatry).

2. Arch support and a deep heel cup

A flat, thin footbed offers little more support than walking barefoot. A contoured arch supports the middle of your foot, and a deep, cupped heel holds your heel steady so the foot doesn't slide around (NBC Select, podiatrist Dr Tek Fish). Flat sandals without a cushioned heel also put more stress on the heel on hard surfaces, which can lead to heel pain (Keystone Podiatry).

3. Straps you can adjust

Feet swell in warm weather and over a day on your feet, so you need straps you can loosen and tighten as you go (Which?). Adjustable straps stop tight spots that turn into blisters, and thicker straps hold the foot more securely (Vionic, podiatrist Dr Jacqueline Sutera).

4. A sole that bends in the right place

Fold the sandal in your hands: it should bend where your toes bend, at the ball of the foot, and stay firm through the arch (NBC Select; Keystone Podiatry). A sandal that folds in the middle gives your arch no support. Underneath, look for a textured rubber sole that grips on wet paving.

A note on terrain: sandals suit town walks, travel and well-made tracks. For rough terrain, or if you have neuropathy or balance difficulties, a podiatrist may recommend a closed shoe instead (Advocate Health Care).

Our walking sandal picks

For long walks, travel and bush tracks

ECCO Offroad: $250

ECCO's best-known walking sandal, sold overseas as the Yucatan, from a range that has been running for 20 years (Fit2Run). Three adjustable straps, including one behind the heel, let you set the fit at the heel, instep and toes. ECCO's FLUIDFORM sole gives lightweight, lasting cushioning, a neoprene lining stops rubbing, and the rubber outsole grips on gravel and wet paths.

• Best for: summer day walks, coastal tracks and full days of sightseeing.
• Colours: Spiced Coral, Silver and multi-colour.

ECCO Offroad Roam: $230

The same three-point fit, cushioning and grippy rubber sole as the Offroad, in a lighter build. The Roam in Imperial Purple has a soft leather upper. The Roam Air swaps some leather for mesh, so it breathes better on hot days and suits travel when you want one sandal for footpaths and trails.

ECCO Cruise II: $240

A slimmer alternative if the Offroad looks too sporty for you. Soft nubuck uppers, a cushioned foam footbed, adjustable straps including at the heel, and a treaded TPU sole that moves easily from city paving to light park tracks.

For Birkenstock fans

Birkenstock Arizona: from $184

A town favourite with our customers. Podiatrists rate the Birkenstock cork footbed for its arch support and durability (NBC Select), and it moulds to your foot as you wear it in. Because it has no heel strap, treat the Arizona as your sandal for markets, cafés and short walks.

• Need more grip? The Arizona Cross Town ($279) puts the same footbed on a rugged, treaded sole.

Birkenstock Milano: from $231

Add a heel strap to the Arizona and you get the Milano. The strap holds your heel back in the footbed's heel cup, so your foot doesn't slide forward or sideways, which makes it the better Birkenstock for longer walks (Patina Project).

• Milano Habana Oiled Leather ($260): on Birkenstock's non-slip Adventure sole, in regular and narrow fits.
• Milano Cross Town ($298): adds a tougher tread for varied ground.

For everyday walking with a bit of style

ECCO Gruuv Sol: $240

Three straps, all adjustable, including a padded strap around the heel. The footbed follows your arch, and deep grooves across the sole let it flex with your foot as you walk. The adjustable straps suit wider feet and higher insteps.

• Colours: Aquatic, Straw and Limestone.

FRANKiE4 Rome: $260

From an Australian brand, with a podiatrist-designed footbed that builds in heel, arch and forefoot support, plus 10 mm of cushioning under the ball of the foot. Two hook-and-loop straps adjust across the foot, a stretch strap holds the heel, and the rubber sole is slip-tested to the international ISO 13287 standard. The wider footbed suits regular to wide feet.

• Colours: Black and Camel.

Wolky Medusa: $350

Three hook-and-loop straps adjust separately at the toes, instep and ankle, so it adapts well to hard-to-fit feet, such as a deep instep with a narrow heel. The ankle strap keeps your heel back on the contoured footbed. Wolky builds its footbeds from cork and memory foam to absorb the shock of walking (Beck's Shoes).

Duckfeet Bornholm (Granate): $275

For people who like room for their toes and a natural feel underfoot. Handcrafted in Europe, the Bornholm has a wide toe box, crossover vegetable-tanned leather straps and an adjustable ankle strap. The natural crepe rubber sole cushions each step and can be resoled (Duckfeet).

• Note: the footbed is flat by design to let your foot move naturally. If you need arch support, choose the Milano or FRANKiE4 Rome instead.

Art Malaga: $259

For town walks when you want a little height. A light, flexible 35 mm platform with crossed straps, an adjustable fit and a cushioned insole. A broad, even platform is more stable than a heel (Vionic), but this is a sandal for city strolls rather than bush tracks.

• Colours: Ocean nubuck and Black nappa.

For wide feet and orthotics

Naot Evora: $265

A wide-fitting flat sandal with a back strap, hook-and-loop closures and a slip-resistant sole. The footbed lifts out, so you can wear your own orthotics. Bring them with you when you try it on.

• Alternative: the Naot Acoustic ($250) is another wide, orthotic-friendly option with a removable footbed.

Klouds Elegance: $220

A removable orthotic footbed, a roomy toe box and adjustable width, for feet that need extra space.

Ganter: arriving soon

Ganter fits by width as well as length and builds many styles with removable footbeds. [Owner: add model names, widths and arrival date.]

Walking sandals compared

The Arizona has no strap behind the heel, which is why we suggest it for town rather than long walks.

Prices as at 14 October 2026.

Getting the fit right

• Try sandals on later in the day: feet swell through the day, so fitting them at their largest means the straps won't feel tight halfway through a summer walk.
• Leave a little room: aim for about 5 mm of space at the toe and heel (bstore), so your foot doesn't hang over the edge as it moves.
• Set the heel strap first: it positions your foot in the heel cup. Then adjust the front straps so they're snug without pressing.
• Ease into new sandals: wear them for shorter walks first before a full day out (Advocate Health Care). Cork footbeds in particular mould to your foot with wear.
• Check your width: Birkenstock comes in regular and narrow, while Naot, FRANKiE4 and Ganter offer wider fits. Our guides to fitting shoes correctly and fitting a Birkenstock walk you through it.

Walking sandal FAQs

Are Birkenstocks good for walking?

For town and short walks, yes: the contoured cork footbed gives good arch support. For longer walks, choose the Birkenstock Milano, which adds a heel strap so your foot stays in place.

Are ECCO sandals good for walking?

Yes. The ECCO Offroad is designed for walking on and off the trail, with three-point adjustment, lightweight cushioning and a grippy rubber sole. The Offroad Roam, Cruise II and Gruuv Sol use the same comfort technology in lighter or dressier designs.

Do I need a back strap on a walking sandal?

For anything more than a short stroll, yes. A heel or ankle strap stops your toes gripping to keep the sandal on, which tires your feet.

Can I wear orthotics in sandals?

In some. Look for a removable footbed, as on the Naot Evora, Naot Acoustic and Klouds Elegance, and bring your orthotics when you try them on.

What's the difference between a walking sandal and a hiking shoe?

Walking sandals suit footpaths, beaches and well-made tracks, and keep your feet cooler. For rocky or overgrown trails, a closed trail shoe or boot protects your toes better.

Try them on in Hobart

The best way to choose a walking sandal is to walk in it. Visit us at 117 Collins Street, Hobart, and we'll fit you across ECCO, Birkenstock, FRANKiE4, Duckfeet, Wolky, Naot and more, adjusting every strap before you buy.

Can't make it in? Shop all sandals online or contact us for help with sizing.

Sources

• NBC Select: podiatrist-approved walking sandals
• Bustle: a podiatrist on walking sandals for travel
• Keystone Podiatry: summer sandals and heel pain
• Vionic: Dr Jacqueline Sutera's sandal shopping tips
• Which?: best walking sandals
• Advocate Health Care: supportive sandals
• Fit2Run: ECCO Yucatan (Offroad)
• Patina Project: Birkenstock Milano
• bstore: Birkenstock Milano fit notes
• Duckfeet: Bornholm
• Beck's Shoes: about Wolky

Product details are from Icon Footwear's own listings, checked October 2026.