Teva Aventrail R2T Sandal Review

Publication date: 18 Mar 2026

GearHiking shoes

I took the Teva Aventrail R2T Sandals on my recent hike of the GR 131 across the Canary Islands and found them to be a fantastic shoe for such a hot trail. We hiked for four weeks across these islands, and while I had normal trail running sneakers with me as well, I found myself in the Aventrail R2Ts more than I expected!

As someone who has worn and loved the Original Universal Tevas as water shoes on different hikes, like on the Jordan Trail and Laugavegur Trail, I was curious to take my Tevas to the next level and wear them as my full-time hiking shoe. Of course, the Aventrail R2T were designed for this more so than the Universal Originals, but I was still so happily surprised! The shoes let my feet breathe, and are still really well supported, maybe even more so than my normal trail running shoes. The straps kept me from sliding around in them as I descended, and the material was great in preventing blisters. All in all, I’m a fan.

Editor

Elmar Teegelbeckers

Passionate hiker Elmar spends months of his time on the trail. He’s usually on the lookout for hidden gems in one of his favourite countries such as Slovenia, Switzerland and Japan. He founded hiking-trails.com in need for a community and detailed information about the trails. Before this, he worked for the Alpine asscociation in the Netherlands[ (NKBV) but lost his heart to the trails.

Not long ago, Elmar published the book (in Dutch) Hiking Trails – best long-distance trails in Europe. With this book, website and socials, he hopes to inspire and shape an inclusive community for hikers all over world. No matter your speed, experience or level, you can get out there to enjoy the trails and connect with the heartwarming hiking community. Life is so much better outside and he hopes to inspire hikers to take their first, or next, step on the trail.

You can reach Elmar at info@hiking-trails.com.

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Testing the Teva Aventrail R2T Sandal

The GR 131 is a tough trail that is mostly exposed and hot. The paths are dusty and full of loose rocks, so this was going to be the ultimate test for the shoes. I started off the trail in my normal trail running shoes that I take on most of my hikes, but once I started to realize just how hot the hike was going to be, I thought it was worth trying hiking sandals.

person standing on rock wearing the Teva Aventrail R2T Sandal

close up shot of the Teva Aventrail R2T Sandal

I’d used the Teva Universals before as water shoes and just for hanging out, but I had never tried a hiking sandal, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Aventrail R2Ts. But the shoes were great! While a lot of the straps are adjustable, the main support of the sandal is a fixed neoprene material, so it breathes but doesn’t slip. This was key when we were descending on some very steep hills with loose rocks.

The other thing I’d questioned was the grip on the shoes: would they be able to keep up with a normal sneaker? And the answer is an easy “yes.” On those aforementioned loose-rock descents, the shoes held up well, and I felt I could trust them. The outsole is made with Teva’s Spider Rubber material and has 3.5mm lugs for grip. Not bad!

About Teva

Teva is a shoe company from the United States, founded in 1984. The shoes have a hip, youthful feeling and were originally created by a river guide on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. Afraid of his shoes being swept away in the water, he tied Velcro straps to them, and boom, Teva was born! Committed to minimizing its impact on the environment, the company now uses traceable, recycled plastic for all of its straps. They also support multiple charitable organizations in the US.

About the Teva Aventrail R2T Sandal

The Teva Aventrail R2T sandal is one of Teva’s newest additions to their trail running line. Similar to the original Aventrail, the R2T has a higher heel drop (8.5mm) and larger lugs for gravel and grip. They are also about 100 grams lighter than the original Aventrail because there is less coverage material.

The shoes are designed for road and dirt, although they were particularly crafted for the trails. The large neoprene W Strapping System runs across the foot, leaving lots of room for your feet to be exposed for a true sandal feeling.

The midsole has the Teva HYPER-COMF material for responsive cushioning, and Spider Rubber on the outsole for extra durability and grip. Along with 3.5mm lugs, the shoes are made to eat gravel and dirt with minimal impact, even after big miles. I think they’re really cool and the future of hiking sandals.

Specifications

Teva Aventrail R2T Sandal
Weight	231 grams
Heel drop	8.5 mm
Lugs	3.5 mm
Midsole	HYPER-COMF
Outsole	Spider Rubber
Strap material	Neoprene

pro's

Great shoe for sunny or sandy trails

Comfortable and feels like a natural fit

Lightweight to carry as a backup pair of shoes

Don’t smell

con's

Not great if it rains, as your foot will be immediately wet

Not possible to keep your feet clean (more of an issue for long-distance trail use)

Not many color options

Conclusion

I really liked the Aventrail R2Ts. The shoes are really cool and have a unique design. I thought they held up really well after four weeks of intensive wear, including the occasional sand. They don’t smell (perks of them being a rubber sandal), they are lightweight, they’re really comfortable, and don’t need to be broken in. I will definitely be taking these with me on my next island trail!

Teva Aventrail R2T Sandal Review

Specifications

Conclusion

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Happy trails!