Chaco Mega Z Cloud sandals are comfortable, long wearing, and work great!
I’ve worn Chaco sandals since 1989 and they are the sandals I wear all Spring, Summer, and Fall. Chaco’s are what I’ve worn on every river trip since 1989. They are rugged, have great traction while scouting rapids or hiking up side canyons. The snug fit and superior strap design works so well that they stayed on my feet during a number of nasty swims in rapids (some mostly underwater in violent and powerful hydraulics). The soles last a long time and I’ve never worn them out even after many miles. If you wear out the straps you can send them to Chaco to be repaired. Recently I needed surgeries on my right ankle that forever changed my ankle and even the size of my foot. In past years I wore Chaco sandals with a toe loop (Z-2) but bought the model without a toe loop (Z-1) so it would fit properly. The Mega Z Cloud sandals I bought have wider straps than the regular model. They are comfortable and give great support. The models without the toe loop allow you to wear socks for warmth, which is nice during colder nights on the river in Spring and Fall. I can whole-heartedly recommend Chaco sandals, which are recommended by many foot doctors too. Chaco’s are the only sandals I wear! They work so well I don’t need any other sandals!
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E. K. Arnold
July 25, 2024
more comfort, wider straps, same quality
these are my third pair of chacos. i also have the z/2 clouds and the z/volv1. the z1 megaz slot in bewtween both. the Z/2 clouds are beefy and burly and a bit squishy. the toe loop adds stability on the trail but are more difficult to get in or out of. mine needed a bit of break in. the zvolv is not as trail-ready but will suffice on a moderate hike with a path that isn't too rocky. they are more city/beach sandals with a lower-profile outsole. they are super comfy but the lighter and thinner outsole/midsole means less weight-bearing ability. the buckles occasionally need re-tighteneing but the converse of that is wide latitude in terms of tightness. you can adjust them to be loose or not so loose easily.enter the megaz cloud sport. first thing you notice is the wider/thicker band. to me, this meant less adjustability but better overall fit. the buckle sits up a little higher on your foot and the dier straps offer great stability even without the toe loop.there are two things you need to know if you are considering these rugged sandals. 1) wear them in the shower and get them wet before wearing first time. this will speed up break in time and help dial in the best fit. the straps have a bit of flex in them but may be tight out of the box. as they dry when you walk around they will conform more to the shape of your foot. 2) there's a trick to putting them on. step 1 -- slide your toe under the forefoot strap. step 2 -- slide the backstrap around your heel. step 3 -- adjust the z-strap around the middle of your upper foot. step 4 --tighten the buckle. this can all be done in under a minute in practice.Chacos have been iconic sandals for river rafting, hiking, beach wear, travel, etc. they allow your foot to breathe and flex while offering stability, durability and traction. the shoe feels more natural than the Keen Newport/H2 and is podiatrist-certified, albeit without the closed toe. The Keens are just ok for hiking and trails. they flex decently but the hybrid outsole is siped not lugged. The Chacos feel more comfortable and have a more trail-ready outsole which may be slighly worse on concrete and asphalt but more grippy on river rocks. I would rate the arch support as superior in the Chacos due to the Luvseat footbed, which is remarkable given their light weight and breathability. Both the Chacos and the H2s are good in and out of water, but it's easier for small pebbles and debris to get trapped in a closed-toe sandal, although you do get a bumper to that protects against impacts.To sum up the comparison, i would say the Chacos are slightly more outdoor purist, while the Keens are ever so slightly more urban. Both offer great support and confortability, with the Chacos being more breathable. The Chaco footbed feels a little better on youur foot and doesn't get as sweaty (the Keen upperss are reinforced with neoprene which subtracts a bit from breathability along with the closed-toe/fisherman-style design, and the footbed material feels mushier. The Chacos are overall more minimalist, and the Megaz Cloud Sport edition is a good iteration of the Z-strap design. There are very few sandals which can effectively function as trail shoes comparable to a lightweight, more breathable, water-friendly hiking shoe, and these are at or near the top of the list. They'll support more weight than the zvolvs, lowdowns or original Z/1s and the thick outsole/midsole combo inspires confidence for long hikes and technical trails, along with the stable yet flexy straps.Finally, these are good-looking, aesthetically-pleasing sandals. I wouldn't call them dressy, but they can at least be worn with a range of outfits. would purchase again, especially at a discounted price.
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Rock Pixel
August 08, 2022
Comfort
I am a fan of Chaco sandals. Long ago I bought and eventually wore out a pair of Chaco Men's Z1 Classic Sport Sandals. (The Z1 Classic sandals wear like iron, so it took quite a while to wear out the soles of the sandals.) I then bought and still have and like a second pair. They are tough, and designed, if I'm not mistaken, for white water rafting, so getting them wet is not a problem. I decided to try these new Chaco Men’s MEGA Z Cloud Sport Sandals because they are advertised as being more cushioned, which I thought would be a good idea, as the Classic sandals are strong, but a bit stiff if you have to stand in one place on cement.The new Cloud Sport Sandals are as advertised. They are definitely more cushioned, so walking and standing on a very hard surface, like cement, is more comfortable. The straps seem a little bit wider than the Classic, and they fit my feet even better. I plan to wear these Cloud Sport Sandals around town, and to wear the Z1 Classic’s in more rugged settings.IMHO you can’t go wrong with either the Chaco Z1 classic, or the Chaco MEGA Z Cloud sandal.I wear a 10.5 shoe size normally, and have narrow feet. The 10 fits me perfectly, and they stay on until you want them off.One quibble is the Cloud sport sandals had a strong rubber/plastic kind of odor when I first opened the box, as if they were just made. I left them outside for two days, and the odor was gone. This reminded me of a time I bought new tires that were newly manufactured, which gave off a strong new tire smell for a short while. I think the sandals I received had been made a short time before I received them.
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Outcast Acres
August 05, 2025
Very comfortable.
So comfortable. Hardly know they’re on my feet. Well made.
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Love them!
Love these chacos, they look great and are comfortable. The only thing I warn you about is the straps are wider than your classic Chaco. They rest on the side of my toe in an uncomfortable spot bc of the wider strap.
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Mrs. Hodgins
October 24, 2025
Wonderful for high arches and plantar fascia.
I am a woman with size 11.5 shoes for women, and I have very high arches. These men’s sandals, size 10, fit me perfectly and are best for my arch. Wow! I wear these everywhere, including to work. Wonderful!
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Laurence Kruger
July 11, 2024
Incredible comfort & robust
Perfect fit, super comfortable... i usually buy the Chacos with a toe loop, but really glad to have tried these. As robust, but more comfortable, especially with the broader straps. ideal for long hours of fieldwork or hikes.The usual high quality product from Chaco..stoked!
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