ashenHow many times have you soaked your feet while crossing a stream that you cam across while hiking or climbing? And the uneasy feeling that follows when your socks and shoes are dripping wet and the thought of having to hike with those on. Well you can say goodbye to that with the Teva Omnium shoe and sandal hybrid for both Men and Women. It is more than a sandal but not entirely covered like a shoe. Perfect for hikes in light to moderate rain and especially for someone who lives in the colder parts of the country. Good for the tropical destinations too.
Who are Teva?
As we mentioned, this is a hybrid of a shoe and a sandal. The history dates back as far as 1984 when a raft guide invented the first ever Teva sandal on the shores of the Grand Canyon. He accomplished this by strapping two Velcro watchbands to a pair of old flip-flops. Therefore this way the sandals won’t flow downstream and reach out of your grasp. Since then Teva ahs been in the industry producing innovative, high quality products for the outdoor enthusiasts and adventure explorers consistently.
Since 2020 Teva uses traceable, verifiable recycled plastic to manufacture their straps across their products. Therefore it is transparent that their intentions exceed the sole prospect of selfish profits. Yes they want to have good business, but at the same time they are determined to protect the environment and serve the community at large. They also pioneer the protection of wild places and making them easily accessible to the general public.
Teva Omnium Women’s
The Teva Women’s Omnium Sandal is a well known hiking sandal across the backpacking and the outdoor community. Available from size 5 to 11 in slate and gargoyle colors, this Women’s hiking sandal is definitely worth your money given its price to performance ratio.
Teva Omnium Women’s Specifications
- Polyurethane-coated synthetic is used to make the upper material and Spider Rubber for the sole
- ShocPad technology technology is integrated for shock absorbing in the heel
- Drain frame technology
- TPU shank
- Molded EVA foam midsole
- Bungee lacing
- 11.2 Ounces
Review
If you are a creek centered hike lover enjoying the splashes between water and rocks then the Teva Omnium Women’s is for you. Polyurethane, which is the material for the upper layer is the waterproof treatment because of the water repellent properties of this substance. Apart from that when any garment is coated with “PU” it also becomes abrasion and tear resistant.
The end result is the garment been not only durable and flexible but also breathable. The downside is the weight which is unavoidable and the added volume making the item a bit bulkier. What’s more, the PU coating is environmental friendly and the best solution for many DWR issues. Therefore you have gotten yourself a shoe that not only provides you with the best performance while outdoors, but also does no harm to the nature.
Multiple drainage ports and mesh lining for quick drying and minimized perspiration with webbing overlays. The sandals mid sole is EVA foam meaning it provides many advantages to the user. EVA stands for ethel vinyl acetate which is an artificial foam material. When it comes to shoes and sandals, if EVA is used in the mid sole it will protect your feet while waling, running on any terrain while providing the optimum comfort(cushioning). EVA is also soft and flexible and has thermoplastic properties. Overall EVA is useful for shoes in terms of waterproofness, UV radiation blocking, toughness and stress-crack resistance.
The Shoc Pads are a combined polyurethane and EVA unit in the heel cup that evenly transfers the energy of impact throughout the footbed and away from the heel. All of these materials and combinations are focused solely on providing the optimum comfort. It also has three points to adjust that suits with your comfort and convenience, the buckled strap and the backstrap. In short the Teva Omnium Women’s is a great durable, lightweight, breathable and well built product for the adventure loving Women.
Teva Men’s M Omnium Drift
The clear Teva Omnium choice for Men. The Omnium Drift is almost as good as the Women’s with a few features lacking. Available in sizes ranging from 7 to 13 these are mainly built for a budget traveler without having to compromise on quality a lot. Colors are of three choices. Black, Dark Olive and Eclipse.
Teva Men’s M Omnium Drift Specifications
- Full injection-molded EVA
- Synthetic material
- 14.89 Ounces
- Lightweight and Comfortable
Made out of plant based material the Omnium Drift is a good choice for any outdoor traveler crossing streams and rocks mostly. They dry up quickly no matter how wet they are because of the excellent material. Also some customers have even stated that these serve as good jogging shoes. It will protect your feet on any pavement while keeping you comfy with its EVA. They also reviewed positively on the arch support saying that it was better than in most shoes and it fit really well. However a rather common complaint was the Velcro straps aren’t the most secure. Apart from that the Teva Omnium Drift received a positive response from their customers to the point where they are willing to buy them each year.
Teva Men’s Omnium 2
A bit expensive than the Drift because of the premium features integrated. Starting from size 8.5, sizes are available until 13. Bungee Cord and Black Olive are the only colors for this version of Teva.
- Textile and Synthetic material
- Nylon shank for stability
- Rugged Spider Original rubber outsole
- 15 Ounces
The Men’s version of Teva Omnium. The exact same guaranteed waterproofness and durability all while been extremely functional. According to the users at thetestpit the shoes were completely dry when they reached their car after a long walk in the beach tide. The water drains away quickly because of the rugged rubber material. The Velcro straps are built on the top and across the heel and these make the shoes fit very well. Don’t forget the bungee cord that can be tightened. The custom fit can remain the same while adjusting this cord.
The rubber material also makes the grip with the shoe extremely strong plus the enhanced flexibility because of the elastic gore in the shoe body. If you want to make the impression of a shoe stand out, you can very well wear a pair of black shoes. The camouflage will make it hardly visible and who says no to the extra bit of warmth? The cushioning and the arch support should not go unnoticed. They are contributors to the comfort after all. However some customers see the price tag as unfair and they claim that the older models were better. Nonetheless the Teva Men’s Omnium 2 is a good lightweight, durable and comfortable high quality product for Men who spent most of their time outdoors regardless of the weather. Also for the adventure traveler who are explores of the countryside.
Summary
Teva Omnium is undoubtedly a worthy choice for the outdoor explorer and to anyone who enjoys water sports like kayaking, rafting etc. They even have Teva omnium shoes for kids.
The functionality is at the same standard with fabric and synthetic material. With the EVA mid sole lightweight, breathable and of course durable. I hope we cleared your doubts about choosing a good pair of hiking shoes, shoes for water sports etc. Its true that there are plenty other brands out there that produces the same standard quality outdoor products, but you don’t have to doubt the reputation of Teva , because their customers are the proof of the well earned reputation.
