The Ultimate Guide to the Best Sandals for High Arches!

#4 Chaco Women’s ZX2

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Related: Chaco Size Chart & Fitting Process

The Tirra is great for:

• High arches
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Flat feet (break-in time required)
• Morton’s Neuroma
• Bunions
• Regular to wide feet

With a 5-star rating from hundreds of fans who wear the ZX/2 every day, there are plenty of reasons to fall in love with these Chacos.

In 1989 a Colorado rafting guide had a simple idea: a custom-fit sandal that stays on your feet no matter the adventure. The new and improved classic Z sandal from Chaco is the same iconic adventure sandal with exciting new upgrades.

The Classic Z takes its name from the Z-shaped straps that wrap around the foot and through the midsole for a truly custom fit.

Related:

Make sure not to miss our article discussing what makes Chacos effective for alleviating plantar fasciitis; it could be the solution you’ve been seeking for foot comfort.

Colorful

The Chaco is everything but boring. Bright colors and fun patterns light up the jacquard upper that comfortably supports your feet thanks to a toe loop and an adjustable buckle closure.

It features jacquard webbing straps that are woven through the midsole to give you the perfect fit because you can just give a little tug and it completely adjusts.

I also love that it has a toe loop at the front, which is going to give you a little bit more security with every single step. Once you’re done fastening the ZX/2 to your foot, you can tighten things up a bit with a compression-molded buckle at the side by giving it a little tug.

Luvseat Technology

Chaco crafted a doctor-certified Luvseat footbed made from polyurethane that won’t compress over time so you can keep the Chaco on your feet longer.

Luvseat is made with gender-specific cushioning designed to match the natural curvature of your feet for the best fit made just for you. This results in comfort and support all day long.

The Outsole

The updated classic Z is outfitted with the brand new ChacoGrip rubber outsole with 3mm lugs.

The outsole draws on major advances in wet traction and durability to offer the highest degree of grip. Pair that with new tread designs for men and women and you’ve got a performance package ready to take you anywhere.

Durability

This sandal is durable and built to last thanks to the proven design that’s refined over nearly 20 years of wear.

Being the perfect shoe for outdoor adventure and everyday life, the Classic Z is a proven classic made better than ever that is going 25 years strong. It’s lighter weight but just as great.

Cons

• The design behind the straps requires some getting used to.
• It’s a bit on the heavier side.

#5 Earth Origins Women’s Sophie

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The Sophie is great for:

• High arches
• Morton’s Neuroma
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Bunions and hammertoes
• Bad knees
• Flat feet
• Wide feet
• Arthritic feet

If you’re somebody who doesn’t like to wear sneakers but you want to walk, this is that travel sandal you can’t go wrong with. Just put it in your suitcase and forget about it.

The Sophie is beautifully done and it’s customer top-rated. Everybody loves all the different branches of the earth tree, but the Sophie is going to be your most affordable and most everyday sandal.

This is a great sandal to have because of the versatility and also because of the comfort you’re going to get.

Adjustability

The main callout on the Sophie is that adjustability. People love the two points of adjustability across the instep and the toes. Also, the back has the dual-adjustability as well.

The straps have some great top stitching with a little bit of laser cutting along the middle strap connecting the two main parts of the sandal.

Earth Origins added a middle strap because what that does is it cuts your foot and makes your foot look slender, longer, and more delicate. This is a great feature in a sport sandal like this.

Sport Sandal & Slide Two in One

As far as the back strap, you can make the Sophie convertible. Just remove the back strap and put it somewhere so you don’t lose it and then you can have a brand-new shoe.

So if you’re traveling, the Sophie saves you the trouble and space of packing a sport sandal and a slide because it’s two in one.

This is a suede sport sandal and it’s super feminine. It has nice soft lining so it’s going to feel really soft on your foot.

Arch Support

When we walk, we put three times our body weight on our heel strike. So it’s really important that you have the proper support, the cushioning, but also the shock absorption.

The arch support is pronounced and comes up and greets the arch. Not only are you going to get the support but also the soft cushioning in the arch, in the heel, in the ball of the foot.

The heel cup is cushiony and it follows all the way through to the toe.

Outsole

The outsole is solid and has some nice tread to it. The tread pattern offers great grip on a variety of surfaces.

The Sophie comes in medium and wide and what that means is you can really customize the fit on this. Style-wise, you can wear the Sophie with your maxi dress and it will look perfect.

Last but not least, if you’re doing any kind of walking in theme parks, boardwalks, sightseeing and what have you, this is a must-have style.

Available in half sizes and some wide sizes, the Sophie will take you from 7 am to 7 pm with happy feet at the end of the day.

Cons

• The ankle strap is a bit short for people with high insteps.

#6 Keen Women’s Rose

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The Rose is great for:

• High arches
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Flat feet
• Wide duck feet
• Morton’s Neuroma
• Bunions and hammertoes
• Bad knees
• Arthritic feet

This entire Keen brand is about performance but at the same about lifestyle. You don’t have to be a hiker to love these.

You can live in the middle of the city and never see a tree, but you’re going to like the Rose if you happen to go out and you have to skip through some water.

This adventure-ready sandal will help you tackle any sort of exploration that you might have on the horizon (running errands, running around with kids, down by the river, over by the lake, at the beach, around the pool, around the garden, you name it).

We put Keen against Teva and Chaco. Check which sandals are the best for you.

Women’s Specific Fit

One great thing about the Rose is it’s definitely more of a women’s specific fit. What that means is the Rose has a narrower toe box, but that doesn’t mean it’s actually narrow, it’s got a really nice fit. It’s a little bit dressier of a style than the Keen Newport.

Upper

The upper is really easy to wash and keep clean and it’s breathable. The upper has a really cool pattern that goes right across the top of your foot and adds a nice little elegant design to such an adventurous sandal.

Adjustability

The ankle strap offers some really solid adjustability. This allows you to slip your foot in comfortably and then you can just basically put the strap on and adjust to your fit.

You do have that added security of a hook-and-loop closure that’s going to wrap around your ankle and customize the exact fit of your foot.

The strap design is really nice so you won’t have to worry about this sandal slipping off especially when it gets wet.

The adjustable hook-and-loop closure

The Rose is super lightweight and kind of molds and hugs your foot so you don’t feel like you actually have much on. Every time you take a step, it’s almost just like a second skin.

Related:

Check out our review of the Keen Whisper for women.

Machine Washable

The Keen Rose is water-proof and machine washable. You can wear it just anywhere and you won’t have to worry about how to clean it. Just toss it in the washing machine, add a little mild detergent, pull it out, let it dry and you’re good to go.

Famous Toe Guard

The Rose features Keen’s traditional Toe Protect and this is where Keen actually started as a company ‘can a sandal really protect your toes?’

The toe protector comes up and over the toe so you don’t have to worry about bumping your toes on any sort of rocks or boulders.

One last thing about the toe protector, you don’t want to mess up your pedicure and that’s one great thing about the toe guard.

Footbed

Another great thing about the Rose is it offers lots of comfort. It’s got a great anatomical footbed offering lots of cushion underfoot.

It contours around your feet and it offers great arch support making you feel like walking on air.

The technologies embedded just deliver instant support and comfort right out of the box. The footbed is also incredibly squishy thanks to that EVA.

The Cleansport NXT amazingly controls odor so your sandals will always be feeling fresh.

Midsole

The EVA material is throughout the midsole as well which helps keep the Rose incredibly lightweight and flexible.

Outsole

The bottom has some multi-directional lugs, which is going to provide excellent traction and ease every stride while the TPU stability shank also produces more control when you’re trekking on your adventure.

With sizes going from 5 through 12, the Keen Rose sandal will fit and look great whether you want to hit the trails or just use it as a casual option.

I can’t guarantee that your feet are going to smell like roses if you put these sandals on, but they’ll definitely be as cute as a Rose.

Cons

• You can’t adjust the ankle completely, which is not good for people with really wide feet.

#7 Vionic Women’s Rest Bella II

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The Bella is great for:

• High arches
• Flat feet
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Regular to wide feet
• Morton’s Neuroma
• Bunions
• Bad knees
• Arthritic feet and hips

First off, a thong sandal is never something people would have thought has orthotic technology.

Usually, sandals, flip-flops, or any sort of open-toe footwear are the last thing a podiatrist would recommend for you.

But what you’re getting with the Bella II is podiatrist-designed technology that’s built into something that’s really stylish. It’s really contemporary from a look perspective.

The patent finish enables you to dress this up if you wanted to. It’s a casual comfortable style but it is very easy to sort of elevate the look a little bit particularly with those rich colors it comes in.

The patent upper strap is soft and adorned with a cute little bow and for added elegance, the bow has little metallic end caps that are trimmed with the Vionic ‘V’ logo. The strap is thin but sits nice and high up the foot.

This sandal is designed to support your arches and help realign your lower legs while reducing overpronation and related aches and pains.
The midsole is made of EVA and EVA is what they use in those high-end running shoes. So you gain that construction and cushioning and support underneath your foot. Then Vionic put beautiful microsuede covering, which is a nice feature to have for sweating.

The microfiber-wrapped built-in orthotic footbed features great arch support for your high arches and a deep heel cup to cradle the foot with each and every step. It has some circles to really help your foot grip to the sandal.

Is The Toe Thong Comfortable?

Vionic uses really soft flexible materials on the toe post with no stitching. So, if you do have a sensitivity between the toes, this will feel absolutely beautiful.

Important

Vionic recommends wearing their shoes and sandals for a few hours at a time until your feet become accustomed to the incredibly beneficial arch support.

The APMA accepted Bella can give you better footing since the outsole is made of durable rubber with added traction.

Sizing

There are no half sizes and if you’re a half size, just size down.

The Bella has orthotic alignment technology and a thong sandal style that is so versatile with cute feminine details. So, if you’re looking to kick off your summer in style, look no further than the Vionic Bella II.

Cons

• The straps are a bit skinny.
• It tends to get smelly if it gets wet.

#8 Oofos Ooahh Unisex

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The Oofos are great for

• High arches
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Bad feet and knees
• Joint issues
• Achilles Tendonitis/Tendinopathy
• Arthritis
• Sore feet and knees after workouts.

The Oofos are specially designed sandals that are both for people who have issues with their feet like high arches and Plantar Fasciitis.

They are also great for athletes who wear them to help their feet recover when they’ve been stressed. So for the athletes, the Oofos help soothe and reinvigorate feet after those tough workouts.

The Oofos have got an easy slip-on design that’s shower and beach-ready.

These sandals are made out of Oofoam and they’re a bit deep in the forefoot to help get your foot in the position that needs to be so it can recover from stresses. Also, the sandal offers great arch support for your high arches.

The footbed offers lots of cushioning and comfort while the treaded outsole has an interesting layout designed to both support the arch and also absorb the shock you put on your feet on a daily basis. So your foot has a chance to recover whether from athletics or from injury.

The Ooahh is both supportive and cushy which is a nice feature. This sandal’s got moisture and odor-resistant material on the inside to keep those feet feeling and smelling fantastic.

It’s like a gel that responds just after you take the step and that’s the key to the material that’s in these sandals. Rather than rebounding your foot like a running shoe does, this material is meant to absorb the shock.

After you’ve been running, these are one of the most comfortable ways to let your feet recover from the stress that you’ve put them in.
We would almost say that the Oofos Ooahh makes you walk slowly as it doesn’t provide that rebound effect to the foot so your foot goes forward when it’s good and ready to the next step. That takes a lot of the pressure off and the sandal makes you walk further because your heel or arches aren’t hurting.

Around The House

The Oofos are great sandals to put on when you’re puttering around the house as they’ll help provide some support and comfort to your feet throughout the day.

Pros

• Most people return this sandal because of its high arch, which is great for those of you who have high arches.
• It’s squishy heaven and once on almost forgettable.
• It’s great for those long walks on the beach.
• It helps reduce stress on sore feet, knees and lower back and keeps you feeling fantastic.

Cons

• The Oofoam tends to be a bit sticky in hot weather. In this case, put on some ankle socks and you’re good to go.
• Not that fashionable (but who cares when things hurt)

For those times when your feet don’t feel that great, slip these on and your feet will definitely say Ooahh.

#9 Teva Women’s Verra

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The Verra is one of Teva’s best women’s sandals with arch support and the best hiking sandals for high arches in this list.

The Verra is great for:

• High arches
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Knee, back, ankle pain
• Bunions
• Metatarsalgia (or ball of foot pain)
• Flat feet
• Wide feet
• Narrow feet
• Achilles Tendonitis/Tendinopathy

This is a nice lightweight summer sandal which is going to be ideal for your coastal walking as well as your holiday walking and is sure to keep up with you.
It’s got a nice lightweight structure to it and nice simple kind of adjustment systems so you can get a nice and perfect fit.

Upper & Straps

Taking a look at the front section, it’s got a durable nylon webbed upper that can be completely adjusted with two hook and loop tabs for a perfect fit.

The Teva Verra has a really easy standard loop system that interlinks nicely. You can loosen up or tighten up the straps to get a nice hold over the front part of your foot – nice, quick, and easy.

On the back, you’ve got a traditional Velcro strap system together with an ankle support strap to give you added support on the back as well. This is going to hold the back part of your foot in place if you’re doing a bit of low level close to walking.

Footbed

The footbed is contoured to fit your foot perfectly providing you with great arch support whereas the deep heel cup helps keep your feet steady.

It’s going to be a lot more comfortable and it’s going to work with your natural arch in your foot making it a lot comfortable.

Even if you’re doing long-distance hiking or walking, you know the Verra is going to be comfortable pretty much from the word go.

The footbed is super soft and squishy too for added cushioning and it has been treated with Microban technology which makes it completely anti-microbial to help fight odor-causing bacteria.

There’s a Shock Pad in the heel for added cushioning.

Outsole

The outsole looks very basic and does exactly what it’s supposed to do. It is made with durable spider rubber that’s flexible and supportive as well. It’s got great depth to it so no matter what sort of terrain, it’s going to give you a nice grip.

Cons

• The ankle straps cannot be adjusted completely. So if you have large thick ankles, the Verra might not be a good fit.
• The material on the upper takes a bit longer to dry.

#10 Teva Men’s Hudson

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The Hudson is great for:

• High arches
• Flat feet
• Regular and narrow feet

The Teva Hudson is one of Teva’s classic and versatile walking sandals reincarnated. It is a rugged reliable and comfortable all-rounder.

The  Upper

It is a nice summer lightweight sandal with a suede finish on the upper giving it a nice classic design. The upper is constructed from breathable and yet abrasion-resistant synthetic material. The Microban antimicrobial treatment ensures that your sandals stay fresher for longer.

Adjustment

Ideal for multi-sport performance, the Hudson features three points of adjustment for superior comfort. The first adjustment strap on the front is really convenient with very strong Velcro with tabs on it for an easy grab. This strap gives you lots of give for great customization.

The second strap is secure around the ankles while the back strap is padded to give you lots of comfort and the perfect fit back there.

The Footbed

The footbed is pre-curved and it’s going to work naturally with your natural high arches making walking and standing all day a lot more comfortable. It has also been treated in antibacterial properties as well.

The footbed features a kind of diamond pattern to enable better flexibility and breathability while offering a nice and comfortable grip on the bottom.

Featuring a midfoot nylon arch shank and a shock pad in the heel, shock absorption and stability is offered in each step.

The Outsole

The outsole itself does exactly what it’s designed to do. It offers great depth with really nice variants so that no matter what sort of terrain you’re going to be walking on, it’s going to deliver unrelenting grip.

Another great feature about the outsole is it is solid and flexible. The outsole works really well with the arch support on the footbed and feels a lot more comfortable when you walk.

#11 Reef Women’s & Men’s Fanning

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Women’s/Men’s

The Fanning is great for:

• High arches
• Flat feet
• Plantar Fasciitis
• bad Knees
• Regular to wide feet

The Fanning has become quite the classic in the Reef family. It’s the signature sandal of ASP world champion, Mick Fanning.

It features a comfortable, really soft, and squishy high-rebound compression-molded EVA footbed with anatomical arch support. EVA just keeps the sandal nice and lightweight but still gives you that comfort that you need with every stride.

It also has a full 360-degree heel airbag embedded in soft polyurethane to provide amazing impact protection.

It’s a comfortable and water-friendly sandal. And we can’t forget everyone’s favorite part of the sandal, the bottle opener church key on the bottom – great for opening a soda on any hot day.

The women are not left out in the Fanning series. Just like the men’s, the women’s has all the same features but also comes in an array of colors and sizes.

The Fanning also comes in a leather edition with everything is much the same on the leather Fanning except for the full-grain leather upper. The upper is also lined with soft leather for comfort next to your skin.

Now if you love the original Fanning, you’re going to love the second edition, the Fanning O2. The O2 features all the things you love about the original but now features the new custom airbag that runs the full length of the sandal.

Cons

• You might or might not like the bottle opener down at the bottom.

#12 Merrell Women’s Terran Lattice II

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The Lattice is great for:

• High arches
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Bad knees, back, ankles
• Bunions
• Flat feet
• Wide feet

The Merrell Terran Lattice II was released in 2016 as part of the women’s active lifestyle collection. This lightweight sandal is stylish with brightly colored uppers.

It uses breathable elements to ensure your feet feel cool and carefree while remaining comfortable.

The Upper

The stylish upper is nubuck leather with a breathable mesh lining that incorporates three separate hook-and-loop closures into the overall look.

This system allows for quick adjustment to better customize the fit to your own needs. There’s also a quick-release buckle on the side to make getting these sandals on and off a breeze.

One great thing about the Terran Lattice II is that it can be modified by removing the two rear adjustment straps so that the sandal becomes a very comfortable slide.

The Footbed

An absolutely amazing to the touch soft microfiber footbed incorporates Remember Me foam. This type of foam nicely cradles your foot for lasting comfort that over time feels more like it was designed specifically for your foot shape.

M-Select Fresh is also added to the footbed to help the sandal stay fresher throughout wear.

The Midsole

The midsole includes the Merrell Air Cushioning Unit to absorb shock from foot strikes on uneven terrains while helping to keep your foot in place for stability.

There’s also a molded nylon arch shank that offers torsional stability and underfoot protection whilst allowing for flex in the right areas.

The Outsole

The Terran Lattice II has M-Select Grip technology on the outsole which provides amazing traction on all kinds of surfaces you will encounter.

The Merrell Terran Lattice II is a breathable mesh and leather sandal that will keep your feet as cool and comfortable as it will keep them looking stylish.

Cons

• The buckle straps are a bit hard to undo. It takes some time to get used to that.

#13 Merrell Women’s Terran Ari

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From nuts to bolts, everything about the Ari Wrap is designed for your feet to feel comfortable at the end of the day.

This sport-inspired sandal from Merrell has an upper made of PU-coated leather and textile with detail stitching and a stretchy neoprene toe wrap with an easy slip-on design.

The upper is also neoprene and it could be snug on a bigger foot or can really hug a narrow foot.

The Toe Wrap

The toe wrap hugs the big toe and gives you that super comfortable confident feeling. Merrell designed this toe wrap for those who are not usually into toe posts. The toe wrap does not bind in between your toes and you’re not going to get that pinched feeling.

The Footbed

The Ari Wrap has the Merrell soft contoured EVA microfiber footbed so you’re going to get that instant Ahh factor and support.

Once you slip your feet into it, you can immediately feel the rebound and the cushioning Merrell is known for.

The Terran Ari Toe Wrap is comfortable straight out of the box thanks to the Lycra neoprene lining and a microfiber wrapped EVA footbed that provides lasting support and adds comfort next to the skin.

Merrell’s Air Cushion technology cradles your heel, absorbs impact and shock and adds stability as well.

The Outsole

If you’re mindful about slippery surfaces or if it rains a lot in your area, the M-Select Grip outsole on the bottom delivers durable slip-resistant traction and allows you to walk confidently and feel like you’re not holding your breath to jet across those slippery surfaces.
Don’t forget that Merrell started as an outdoor brand making hiking footwear but they’ve never forsaken that heritage even with these lighter styles.

Sizing

The Merrell Ari Wrap comes in whole sizes. So if you do run in that half range, we do recommend that you go down a half size. But if you have two different sized feet, you need to size up.

With breathable materials and Merrell comfort, the Terran Ari Wrap is perfect for your summer activities.

If you’re not comfortable with toe post sandals, see other Terran styles here.

Cons

• It doesn’t come in half sizes.

#14 Keen Women’s Venice H2

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The Venice H2 sandal provides great support and cushion for high arches making it one of the best sandals for high arches and wide feet.

It’s also great for:

• knee issues
• arthritis
• bunions and hammertoes
• flat feet
• narrow heels
• wide feet
• Morton’s Neuroma

Like all Keen footwear, the Venice H2 sandal has been developed to be as comfortable and lightweight as possible to protect your feet during those warmer months walks.

Having a look at the fabric used to create the Venice, you can see it has polyester webbing combined with suede detail on the ankles and the front.

This sandal is really tough and sturdy. It is shaped into these open straps which will keep your foot nice and cool. The inside is lined with a soft and hydrophobic mesh lining which protects the inside of the shoe from any water

You won’t have to worry about your foot sliding around and becoming irritated thanks to the V-strap forefoot capture design which allows you to gather the shoe in to fit perfectly by adjusting the bungees.

With an Aegis Microbe Shield Treated Lining, you will experience fast-drying comfort that won’t irritate your skin when the sandal gets wet. To help you put the shoe on, the sandal has a sturdy loop on the front and the heel.

The Footbed

The Venice H2 sandal uses Keen’s metatomical EVA footbed. This has been created in such a way to support your foot in its natural shape.

It features fantastic arch support while the footbed itself has been molded to cradle your foot in its natural contours to give you as much comfort as possible.

The Outsole

The TH3 outsole has been created using non-marking rubber and has been molded into a razor siping with a multi-directional lug pattern to give you superior grip on an array of terrain.

So …

from water to trail, the Venice H2 keeps you on your feet so you can enjoy the great outdoors.

The Toe Bumper

Coming around to the front of the shoe, there’s the patented toe protector that Keen sandals are famous for. The toe bumper will keep your toes safe from rocks, sharp objects, and particularly crustaceans.

Whether you’re walking on the beach or through the countryside or if you raft, sail, camp or fish around the water during the hottest months of the year, Keen’s Venice H2 is your go-to outdoor sandal for the summer.

Sizing

Try to go up half a size.

Cons

• The pattern on the outsole seems to pick up dirt, sand, and rocks.

#15 Merrell Women’s Around Town 

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The Merrell Around Town is part of the 2016 summer solutions collection.

This is similar to the Around Town slide version but with the inclusion of an adjustable strap around the ankle area for a secure and adjustable fit.

It’s a simple fashionable style that meets nature and premium Merrell Performance.

Upper

The upper has a full-grain leather upper exterior and the pigskin lining that is naturally breathable and extremely comfortable against your skin.

M-Select Fresh is used to keep it smelling and feeling fresh throughout wear.

Footbed

A comfy M-Select Move footbed includes flex channels so the sandal moves with you. It has anatomically correct contours, which will provide comfort and added support. Also, Return foam is used to hold its cushioning.

The upper portion of the footbed is covered in cork for a more natural look. A nylon arch shank has also been included for torsional stability and protection and it also provides excellent support for high arches.

Outsole

The outsole is made from the durable slip and tear-resistant M-Select Grip rubber that really easily sheds mud and grips very well.

Cons

• Poor traction on wet tiles.
• It’s a bit narrow for really wide feet.