Adventuridge Men’s Trekking Sandals

Last Updated on July 9, 2023

EDITOR’S NOTE: Updated below with a 2-year progress report. Aldi sold trekking sandals again in 2023 for the same price of $14.99. 

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In recent years, I’ve noticed a steady uptick in the amount of footwear hitting Aldi’s limited-run shelves. I can now say I’ve seen walking shoes, sandals, hiker boots, athletic shoes (for men and women), and slip-on shoes, to say nothing of slippers or kid’s shoes.

I see generic shoes as a risk. Shoes I’ve purchased from big box stores, for example, have never been as comfortable or lasted as long as a name-brand shoe. I tend to get what I pay for. So as Aldi has rolled out its footwear — and for typically low Aldi prices — I’ve wondered whether they can go the distance.

As an Aldi blogger, though, part of my job is to test what Aldi sells, so here I am, with a new set of Aldi footwear.

Adventuridge Men’s Trekking Sandals are an ALDI Find, which means they’re only in stores for a short time. At the time of this post, the sandals cost $14.99, which is $3 more than they were the year before, although still much cheaper than what you’d pay elsewhere. There is no warranty, and the packaging doesn’t indicate who made them. They come in a few sizes and a couple of colors, although they’re limited; the only color I could see for my shoe size was black with gray trim.

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The shoes have a few features of note. One, they use an adjustable strap that can be loosened or tightened by pushing a button on a strap-locking mechanism and then either pulling the string or pulling the mechanism. It’s pretty easy to use, and once the sandals are tightened the user can tuck the excess string under the other strings along the top of the sandal.

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Two, the sandals have a TPR toe cap — in other words, the toe cap is made of the same rubber that the bottom is. This gives the toes some protection, which is nice when walking in places where you might kick up against something hard, like rocks or branches. It also seems to be useful in helping to keep debris like gravel or sand out of the shoe.

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Three, the sandals have a traction outsole. The bottom of the sandals have grip.

I put the sandals through the paces during a multi-day camping excursion where I experienced both dry warm days and torrential rain. The sandals performed well in early use, fitting comfortably, providing ample cushion, and gripping grass and pavement alike well. The best thing I can say about them is that I wasn’t thinking much about the fact that I was wearing them, which is exactly what you want a shoe to do.

As is always the case with shoes, durability is the question. I’ll update this post down the line as I have more to share about that.

The Verdict:

At $15, Aldi has an interesting trekking sandal, with a nice traction outsole and a hard toe cap to protect the foot. Early returns are good, although long-term durability is still to be determined. A promising start, though.

UPDATE (July 2021): I’ve owned these for two years now and they continue to work well. I’ve worn them hiking, on the beach, in the water, and in activities like kayaking. They’ve stayed on my feet and held together the way I’d want them to.