Teva's Next-Gen Trail Running Sandal Is Not Only Lighter — It's Cheaper Too
The open-toed footwear pros somehow streamlined their popular off-road kicks while dropping the price. What gives?
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The announcement of an update to or expansion of an existing popular product often elicits a mix of optimism and skepticism from those of us who track such things.
The upside is the feeling of, hey, this new thing might be even better than that thing we love. Meanwhile the dark side thinking is more like, did they just slap on a fresh coat of paint and jack up the price?
Thankfully the latest news from Teva appears to carry more of the former than the latter.
Building on the success of its popular Aventrail Trail Running Sandal ($145), the brand has introduced two new varieties.
What you get with the new sandal is one that is nearly 32 percent lighter than the original. That weight savings is borderline insane.
One beefs it up into a full-on shoe for $160, which makes all the sense in the world. But I'm more excited about the other variant.The new Aventrail R2T (Road to Trail) is a leaner, meaner take on the original. And if you can even believe it, it costs $25 less.
This sort of thing is honestly so uncommon, it is a bit hard to square, but I'll try.
What you get with the new sandal is one that is nearly 32 percent lighter (8.15 ounces for a single Men's 9 sandal versus 11.9 ounces).
For anyone who's actually trail running in these puppies, that weight savings is borderline insane.
Performance-wise, the R2T offers compelling Teva tech including the brand's W Strapping System for a locked-in, supportive feel and a Spider Rubber outsole with 3.5mm lugs to rip road and grip gravel.
The sandal also features neoprene mesh under the straps for comfort and breathability and a bouncy Lite-Comf midsole.
So the inevitable question arises: what exactly are you losing with this stripped-down version of the sandal?
Close examination points to a couple of key distinctions, one of which is that the original Aventrail features a different midsole foam.
Called Hyper-Comf, it is said to blend the responsiveness of Super Critical Foams with supportive EVA, offering additional cushioning on downhill descents.
More importantly, however, this sandal packs a nylon plate, low-level super shoe tech that provides a more propulsive ride and strong uphill acceleration. A-ha!
These elements, especially the latter, help explain both the weight discrepancy and why the recommended uses for the two sandals differ.
The original's are: Fast Hikes, Outdoor adventures, Trail Run. The R2T's are: Everyday Running, Light Trail Running.
So the original can tackle more aggressive terrain, whereas the sleeker R2T, as its name suggests, straddles the line between road and trail. It's almost like a mountain bike versus a gravel bike, maybe.
Bottom line: while it's not the best serious trail option, this new family member appears perfect for a Sunday (on- and off-road) drive.
The Teva Aventrail R2T is available now in two colorways each for women and men for $120.
$120 at Teva
Now managing editor, Steve has served in a variety of roles with GP since 2019. Having previously written and edited for such publications as Men's Health, Men's Journal, Esquire and ESPN, he enjoys covering a range of topics — but mostly those pertaining to cycling, snow sports, pocket knives and motos — and dreams of a utopian world in which everyone's bike seat is at the proper height.
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