Gear Review
Chaco Z/1 Unaweep Sandal - Men's
Still Chaco but it hurts....
By Albert Burnham
Ranked #175 - Men's Technical Sandals
August 18, 2010
Well I got them in the mail today. My old Chacos were going on 5 years old and the straps were starting to go (I wear them almost every day of the year, snow or not. These ones fit the almost the same and feel just as great under foot... still the same old Chacos but it hurts to see the tag that used to say Made in Colorado replaced with one that says made in china. I am planning on sending my old ones back to Chaco at some point to get re strapped and resoled so that they can continue to be proudly made and assembled in the good ol US of A.However until some one gets smart and comes out with a sandal that is as awesome as Chacos there is no reason to look anywhere else for a high quality technical sandal that will do everything from take you down the river, up the mountain or in to work.
Some notes on fit: the foot bed is about 1/4 of an inch shorter than my old chacos, not a big deal but my toes are right on the edge now.
The heel strap is a bit shorter as well, my foot slides right into my old ones when they are loosened, with this new pair I have to reach down and pull the strap up behind my heel.
The main strap is shorter also. The buckle rides right on the top of my foot rather than off to the side a bit like my old ones.
I am guessing that everything is a bit shorter to cut down on material costs. Not a big deal but they just dont fit like my old ones.
View Details: Chaco Z/1 Unaweep Sandal - Men's
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
Change me.
2 Comments Last Reply: October 9, 2010 By: Jack Roper
I'm with you. They never even asked us if we'd pay more for an American made model. If Chaco can't make money at 100 bucks a pair then raise it to $120 and go figure out where your costs are. They better hope someone doesn't go through the trouble of going after this market with a domestic product or at least one made in a place where we believe in the labor practices (read prAna). All that being said, these are still by far the best sandal for serious river dwellers that are on rocks and sand all day. I have done lots of week long wilderness trips down the Middle Fork of the Salmon, the Main Salmon, Hells Canyon, etc. with people wearing Tevas, Keens and other wanna-be's. It always ends the same for them, socks and sandals on day 4 because the combination of sand and buckles or enclosed shoes turns their feet into hamburger. All the Chaco people are still in good shape. If you spend much time in a river, regardless of which model, Z/1 or Z/2 or whatever, the Chacos are a must have.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
The sole is also harder ans less cushier than Chacos with the Terrino sole that pre-dated the Unaweep. Makes feet hurt after an epic when the old one didn't. Also seems thinner so definetly try the wide model before you buy. Also don't think the Unaweep last as long as the Terrino...By at least a year...
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes