My Teva Westwater sandals were my go-to shoe for casual footwear this summer — at home and on the road. Now that the snow has begun to fly where I live in Colorado, I’m finding that my go-to shoe for winter hikes is the Dalea eVent low-cut hiking shoe from Teva. While I haven’t traveled with these shoes yet, I wouldn’t hesitate to pack the low-cut style in my luggage; they are much more compact than traditional mid- or high-cut boots, and more-than-adequate for the casual hiker.
I like that the Dalea style is waterproof out of the box, thanks to the eVent waterproof membrane. Indeed, when I’ve worn the shoes along packed-down trails or plowed dirt roads, snow doesn’t stick to the exterior — which means my foot stays dry. The nubuck and suede leather is also protected with Scotchguard, so they should remain looking good through plenty of wear.
Another highlight: the rugged rubber sole offers plenty of traction; the toe and heel are fully protected. The “chocolate chip” color (see photo) goes with just about any hiking clothes I’ve got, and I appreciate the cute little flower-petal design cut into the side of the shoe (where the rubber sole also extends for even more protection).
Still one more little touch that makes me happy: the shoelaces are plenty long to double-tie.
I do find that this show runs a little narrow — or at least it fits snugly on my wide-ish foot. Also, the removable insole is pretty flimsy and doesn’t offer a lot of arch support on its own. Since I always use soft, custom-made orthodics in my hiking shoes (and running shoes), I just swapped my orthodics out of my old hiking boots and into these new ones no problem. That definitely helped with my comfort level. However, note that these are fairly stiff all around — they are definitely not “extra cushy” like some hiking boots I’ve owned.
The women’s Dalea eVent from Teva also comes in a great hunter green (“laurel wreath”). Pick your color and purchase for $125 at Teva.com.
(There’s also a kids’ version for $65: Teva Kid’s K Dalea Hiking Shoe in Walnut)
A stylish alternative can be obtained with a new pair of designer chukka boots
#1 by Linda - December 17th, 2009 at 11:21
I love Teva shoes but I’ve had problems with their sizing consistency as well. It seems like they make their shoe shoes more narrow than their water shoes and sandals. That’s the problem when you get your stuff made in dozens of different Asian factories.
#2 by Shawn - December 1st, 2010 at 01:43
These walking shoes are long lasting too! If you are an avid traveler or just like hiking, then you cannot get better value for money, unless you like the workman style boots, such as Doc Martin or similar. The doc martin is also a fashion statement and can be used for just about any activity.
#3 by Tayna - April 20th, 2011 at 15:05
I moved to Arizona this year and have been doing lots of hiking. My old Merrell’s are on the last legs (or should I saw last feet?”). I was googling for hiking shoe reviews and found your site. Unfortunately I have wide feet, so if you found them too narrow, I imagine I will, too. I’ll keep searching.
#4 by Kirsten Brown - April 22nd, 2011 at 06:16
This is quite cool. The shoes are a combination of functionality and design. I’m a hiker and I guess these hiking shoes are a good replacement for my old ones.