More Comfort, Less Durability: Chaco CushZ Sandal Review

My feet keep finding their way back to Chaco’s softer sandals. From day-long walks through the humid heat of Medellin, Colombia, to short hikes along Georgia rivers, followed by nights around a campfire, my hard-working feet are reluctant to leave the extra support offered by Chaco’s CushZ.

Of course, these aren’t radically different from the Chaco Z/1, the classic sandal that’s spent more time on my feet over the last 25 years than any other footwear. But when I’m trying to trim weight for international trips or longer forays in the woods, the 2-plus pounds those durable sandals add can feel unnecessary — even onerous. Is it worth the extra weight if I mostly walk in trail runners?

This is when the Chaco CushZ enters the chat. Essentially a lighter, softer version of the Z/1 and Cloud models, the CushZ trades some durability for additional comfort. My feet feel far happier in a pair of CushZ sandals than the rubbery Crocs that have become ubiquitous among thru-hikers.

Plus, the CushZ works great as an airy substitute for an end-of-day camp/recovery shoe. Give me a pair of thick wool socks, and I’ll happily spend a cold evening chilling in these puppies.

They also serve as decent water shoes. Or, if you’re comfy hiking in sandals like me, they can be a reliable pair of walkers for easy to moderate hikes.

In short: Chaco fans looking for a softer sandal will find plenty to love about the CushZ. It finds a solid balance between weight and stability. There are some drawbacks, as they wear out and collect visible grime more quickly than the classic model. They also seem to get stinky more easily. While the sandals’ lightweight cushion comes at the expense of some durability and stability, they still offer excellent traction and the brand’s iconic flexibility.

If you’re shopping for hiking sandals, compare the Chaco CushZ to others on GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Hiking Sandals.

Chaco CushZ Review

To be clear, Chaco isn’t thinking about the CushZ as a replacement for its heavy-duty models. It’s not repairable like the Z/1 or the Cloud, and won’t provide enough stability for rocky, technical trails. While I enjoyed several 5-6-mile hikes in these on rocky, muddy trails along the Chattahoochee, I wouldn’t prefer them for anything too much harder. I doubt they’d survive long.

But I have no problem burning through a pair of sandals if they serve their purpose. In my case, I found the CushZ an excellent choice for lower-impact walks following intense days of cycling or trail running. More importantly, I spent many weeks with them while living and traveling in Colombia. They soon became my favored footwear most days of the week.

Why, exactly? Because the CushZ provides even more cushion than Chaco’s Cloud model, which is already a softer version of the Z/1. (That shoe is also a GearJunkie pick for Best Hiking Sandals.)

It’s quite helpful to have cushy shoes when living day to day on concrete floors in a hot city without air conditioning. Chaco lists “urban exploring” and “farmer’s market” as possible uses of the CushZ. But I’m confident adding “daily life in South America” to the list of acceptable uses.

A Material Difference

The CushZ dispenses with several of the tried-and-true materials used in more durable Chaco models. That begins with the outsole, which ditches the proprietary ChacoGrip the brand has used in the Z/1 and Cloud since 2016. In place of that durable sole is a lighter-weight “road-grade” EVA outsole.

This synthetic polymer, common in sandals and running shoes, offers more cushion and shock absorption. But that comes at the expense of lifespan and traction.

That’s not to say I didn’t put these through the figurative paces, however. I had no problem using the CushZ to hop across boulders while testing them on the damp trails of the Chattahoochee National Recreation Area. Yes, they’re certainly more slippery on wet rocks, and you’ll want a pair of Z/1s or Rapid Pros for serious water adventures.

As for the midsole, the CushZ once again opts for lightweight EVA instead of the polyurethane found in the brand’s performance models. The result is exactly what Chaco was aiming for: a big reduction in weight at the cost of some stability. But again, I didn’t find myself missing the sturdiness of the Z/1 until I’d spent more than 2 hours walking or hiking.

Unlike other models, the CushZ also has a padded mesh collar on the heel. This was a nice addition in terms of comfort. I can imagine that feature being added to other sandals in the brand’s lineup.

Lifestyle vs. Outdoor Hijinks

I can see the CushZ serving one of two purposes extremely well.

The first is close to what Chaco likely intended: A lifestyle sandal aimed at daily life and shorter walks for those seeking less impact on their feet and knees. It will fill that role even better than the Cloud, a slightly cushier version of the Z/1.

I’m a fan of the Cloud. But where that sandal seeks a compromise between stability and durability, the CushZ more or less cedes the territory completely, making comfort the clear priority. For those who love the basic Chaco design but need more support, these are a great option.

Yet the EVA outsole also brings a huge weight reduction. By losing half the weight — bringing a pair of CushZs down to less than a pound — they become much more packable for international trips or backcountry camping. Hauling less weight has become more important to me over the years, whether I’m trying to speed through airports or trim my backpacking kit.

At 38 years old, my knees ain’t what they used to be, and each extra pound feels harder to justify.

Bringing both shoes and sandals has long been a priority for me, and the weight reduction of the CushZ makes that easier than ever. Unless I needed the Z/1s for a river adventure or long summer trek, I’ve found myself frequently opting for the CushZs for everything else.

Downsides

Using EVA for both the midsoles and outsoles does have its downsides, however. The CushZs seemed to get dirtier and stinkier more quickly than my other Chacos. My pair’s neutral gray color probably doesn’t help, but I definitely found myself washing these more frequently.

Wear and tear also show relatively quickly with the CushZ, another result of the lighter and less resistant material. After about 2 months, the outsole was visibly tattered, especially along the edges and near the front. Stains on the midsole also appear more quickly and are more difficult to remove.

These aren’t really meant to be super-durable, however. So, if you dig these but want them to look spiffy all the time, you’ll have to be careful where you take them. Also, the webbing on my pair was a bit too long and dragged on the ground when tightened (a first for me with Chaco), but perhaps that’s a fluke with the sample pair I received.

Verdict

No sandal will work for everyone, but one of Chaco’s strengths is its strap design, which works for lots of people, myself included. So, I’m glad to see the brand continuing to experiment with that fit and see where else it can go.

There are plenty of reasons to like the CushZ. I also think it offers more potential for Chaco to explore. I’d be curious if Chaco could improve the durability of these sandals while maintaining the low weight. If that comes at the expense of cushioning, I’d still be interested to check them out — and I’m probably not the only one.

If you are shopping for a pair of light, cushy sandals that you can wear around town, on short hikes, and for mild water adventures, check out the Chaco CushZ.