The Chaco Rapid Pro sandal isn't specifically made for hiking—it's made for extreme water adventures. But this new amphibious adventure sandal has a lot to offer hikers, especially if your hikes involve wet rock or water crossings. Over the past few months, I've personally worn the Rapid Pro for many uses, comparing its weight, comfort, and performance with best-selling sandals from Bedford, Teva, KEEN, HOKA, and other brands. How does Chaco's newest sandal stack up? My Chaco Rapid Pro review evaluates this new release as a hiking sandal, based on my first-hand testing experience and my professional experience in the outdoor gear industry.
Testing the Chaco Rapid Pro Sandal in a New Mexico slot canyon
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Chaco Rapid Pro Sandal Review
New for 2025, the Chaco Rapid Pro upgrades the classic Chaco Z/1 sandal with a special Vibram rubber outsole that the brand claims is 6 times better than other adventure sandals on wet rock. Its best use is whitewater rafting. But this is a hiking site, so my review of the Chaco Rapid Pro evaluates it as a hiking sandal. My test hikes included easy to moderate trails in New Mexico's Sandia and Jemez Mountains, including deserts, canyons, hot springs, and typical water crossings. Similar to Hiking Feet's hiking shoe reviews, I evaluated the sandal's support and protection, weight, fit, comfort, traction, and overall value by comparing it against the other top adventure sandals for hikers.
The arch support of the Chaco Rapid Pro stands out
Support & Protection
The Chaco Rapid Pro stands out for its support and protection relative to all the adventure sandals I've tested and reviewed in 2025. Its soles are thicker than other adventure sandals and made with polyurethane, which is more durable and supportive than EVA foams.
In the field, you can quickly tell that this sandal is made to give your feet an extra something-something. Its LUVSEAT foodbed aggressively pushed up against my arches to support my hiking feet from heel to toe. When I walked over uneven rocks on the Embudito trail, the sandal's soles absorbed plenty of impact and prevented my feet from over-flexing.
This sandal lacks the protective uppers and ankle protection of true hiking boots. However, its thick, stiff soles offer more protection than many hiking shoes I've tested and reviewed. By sandal standards, the Rapid Pro's support is a clear strength—on water or land.
The Chaco Rapid Pro weighs as much as many hiking shoes
Weight
Given all that protection and support, the Rapid Pro weighs more than the other sandals I've tested. At 2 lbs 4 oz per pair (men's size 12), my pair weighs more than most of the hiking shoes I've reviewed. In other words, this isn't the adventure sandal to stuff into your backpack for camp and water crossings. It's a heavyweight, heavy-duty sandal that should stay on your feet if you value support over weight savings.
The Chaco Rapid Pro fits like the open-toe Chaco Z/1 sandal
Fit
New to Chaco, I sized up a half-size from my everyday shoe size and found the fit larger than expected. I could cinch things down decently well on my bigger foot but not as tight as I preferred on my smaller foot. Plus, I had to cinch them down so far that I had extra strap flapping around. Consider buying this in your everyday shoe size (without sizing up).
Technically, the Rapid Pro is a version of the Chaco Z/1—with no toe loop. Many newbies return the Z/1 because they don't know how to adjust the straps. Ounce you know the order of loosening and tightening straps, it's pretty easy to finetune your fit. Make sure to follow these directions to gives these sandals a fair shake:
Testing the Chaco Rapid Pro as a hiking sandal
Comfort
The Chaco Rapid Pro may or may not be comfortable for you—depending on your arches, hiking style, and personal preferences.
This is a heavy, supportive sandal with aggressive arch support. If you're looking for a brute with thick soles—and you have high arches—the Rapid Pro might make you swoon. It's by far the toughest, most supportive sandal I tested. Its build might be overkill on easy terrain, but its a potential comfort plus if you're one of those hikers who tackles tougher trails in sandals or needs more foot support.
In contrast, if you like a more minimalist sandal or prefer a lightweight sandal to a supportive one, you'll hate this feel. Plus, Chaco doesn't recommend this sandal for men and women with flat feet. That being said, I have flat feet—not high arches—and enjoyed that extra foot support on my test hikes.
Testing the rock traction of the Chaco River Pro sandal
Traction
The Chaco Rapid Pro's biggest claim to fame is its wet rock traction. Chacos have great grip anyway, but the brand tricked out this sandal with a Vibram Megagrip rubber outsole that's supposedly 6 times better on wet rock than the average adventure sandal.
I can't confirm or deny that the sandal is specifically 6 times stickier, but I can confirm that its slick rock and wet rock traction stood out in my field tests. Scrambling up and down smooth rock slabs in Embudito Canyon, I felt more secure in the Rapid Pro sandal than I have in many hiking shoes I've tested on the same stretch of smooth, water-worn rock. Plus, when a monsoon thunderstorm forced me to climb up wet rocks in a canyon in the Jemez Mountains, I scrambled slip-free back to safety.
These sandals are clutch for water crossings and also excel on slick surfaces.
Premium Vibram outsoles are a big plus for this adventure sandal
Value
With a MSRP of $130, the Chaco Rapid Pro sandal seems perfectly priced for a premium adventure sandal. That's the going rate for the best adventure sandals, such as the Bedford Cairn Evo Pro ($130) and KEEN Newport H2 ($130). For that price, you get best-in-class foot support and wet rock traction from a trusted brand in whitewater and hiking sandals. With its thick polyurethane soles, the Chaco Rapid Pro should also last longer than most adventure sandals, too.
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Men's Chaco Rapid Pro Sandal
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Women's Chaco Rapid Pro Sandal
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Chaco Rapid Pro sandal: Pros vs Cons
The Chaco Rapid Pro will be a great match for some hikers—not others—based on its distinctive pattern of pros and cons:
Should you buy the Chaco Rapid Pro sandal for hiking?
If you're looking for a burly adventure sandal with serious support. protection, and wet rock traction, the Chaco Rapid Pro is probably the first adventure sandal you should try on. Personally, I can't wait to backpack the Gila Wilderness in my Rapid Pros (once it recovers from wildfires). It's the perfect adventure sandal to hike into a remote area with a pack on my back, plop into some hot springs, and cross small rivers a hundred times without changing my hiking footwear. With its heavy-duty soles and aggressive arch support, it's not the best buy for gram counters or hikers with flat feet (though I still like them in spite of my flat feet). If you're both a hiker and a paddler, the Chaco Rapid Pro could carry you on many epic adventures over land and water.
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Men's Chaco Rapid Pro Sandal
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Women's Chaco Rapid Pro Sandal
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