Danner Fullbore hiking sandals review: easy breathing amphibious footwear for the trails, the coast and the riverbank

First impressions

To my surprise, I loved the look of Danner’s Fullbore sandals from the moment I got them out of the box. I enjoy having breeze-cooled feet during the summer as much as the next person, but even some of the best hiking sandals can be pretty fuggly and sartorially challenging. Not these ones, though – they looked immediately decent enough to wear from the trails to the beach to the bar with a pair of walking shorts and a loose-fitting hiking shirt.

Don’t get me wrong, I always prioritize functionality over fashion when it comes to footwear and outdoor apparel, let alone the walking shoes and boots I’m relying on to keep me the right way up, but it’s nice not to feel like a complete doofus while wearing them, especially in the sunny summer months when outdoor activities are a lot more social and often end with a gathering at a campsite or a pub garden.

The Fullbores looked good – I just hoped they would be comfortable and live up to the expectations set by the fairly steep price tag (for sandals) and the excellent components used in their construction.

With a smart Vibram Megagrip outsole, a substantial midsole and really decent foot support, these sandals aren’t just easy on the eye, they’re fully qualified hiking hooves. And with the quick-draining mesh upper, they should also make for good water shoes, ideal for walking routes with river, stream and estuary crossings, and also adventures involving wild swimming and paddling craft ranging from rafts to stand-up paddleboards, canoes and kayaks.

With all this in mind, I slipped them and started exploring some stream-streaked trails, riparian rambling routes and coastal paths, pausing for the odd paddle and plunge as I went.

Availability

The new men’s Fullbore sandals are available now in three colors directly from the Danner site, as well as from various retailers. (The brand offers several different hiking sandal designs for women.)

Design & materials

The Fullbore sandals are basically a very stripped back version of Danner’s tried and tested ‘tactical’ boots of the same name. Built around a synthetic leather and polyester chassis, the sandal version obviously features a far lower cut, with a dynamic cuff that finishes around the bottom of the ankle, and there is much more mesh to allow air to get in, and water to flood out.

The heel is collapsible, which means you can simply slide your feet into the sandal if you’re feeling lazy. When the wearer has their feet fully inside the chassis, the heel (which is padded on the inside) can be quickly and easily tightened with a strap and a buckle. At the front of the shoe, there is a semi-rigid toe cap.

There is quite a large tongue on this sandal, but (somewhat strangely) it’s not integrated to the rest of the upper. The lace system is substantial, passing through five pairs of tough fabric loops and a pair of eyelets near the ankle. The thick lace tightens with a draw string and toggle, which can then be tidily tucked away in a small pouch at the top of the tongue.

Inside each of the sandals is a removeable OrthoLite footbed. Below that you’ll find Danner’s proprietary ‘Plyolite’ midsole, which provides a decent amount of cushioning, especially beneath the heel. And finally, on the underside, is a Vibram Fuga outsole made from the Italian brand’s Megagrip compound, featuring flex lines for dexterous foot placement, and a sequence of ‘self-adaptive lugs’ shaped variously in triangle and diamond patterns and arranged to provide traction, grip and braking control.

On the trails

Over the last two months, during a sweaty start to what looks like being a multi-heatwave summer, I have been wearing the Danner Fullbore sandals while doing rock-hopping walks along the craggy coastlines of England and Ireland, and trekking along riverside trails to waterfalls and wild swimming spots. I’ve also worn them while paddling SUPs, and increasingly I find myself reaching for these sandals when I’m doing everyday things like walking the dog along the beach. But our relationship didn’t get off to the best start.

Initially these sandals felt comfortable, but by the end of my first proper hike in them, which was a reasonably long walk along the banks of the River Dargle to Powerscourt Waterfall, they had rubbed the skin off my feet in several painful places. As mentioned above, the tongue is not fully integrated to the main body of the sandal, and some grit had made its way into the shoe while I was wading across streams and exploring the waterfall. I’m not sure if the grit caused the rubbing, or the fact that conditions were extremely hot and humid (and I am a very salty sweater), or perhaps it was purely the fact that my feet were not accustomed to the shoe and were soft after being ensconced in hiking socks for winter and spring.

The hotspots and rubs were sufficiently sore for me to sulkily retire the sandals for a few days, until my feet had healed, but once I put them back on, I didn’t experience any further rubbing or discomfort. Either the sandals had quickly become softer, or my feet had been shamed into toughening up sharpish – but either way I was much happier.

Besides being comfortable, these sandals fit very firmly on your feet. I have found the lace system to be hassle-free, neat and tidy, which is exactly what you want in both a trail shoe and a water sandal. The last lace hole is right up beside the ankle, and between this and the adjustable heel, I’m able to get a really solid connection with my foot. You could easily wear these sandals while doing a hectic sport like rafting, without worrying much about them getting ripped off.

The inside of the heel plate is padded – a nice touch that protects the Achilles, and the toecap – while not as substantial as you might find on a Keen sandal – does provide some pinkie protection.

Between the footbed insert and the midsole, there is ample cushioning in the Fullbores to facilitate fairly long hikes on all kinds of terrain. I’d still recommend staying within a 7- or 8-mile limit, though – certainly until your feet are accustomed to the sandals.

The Vibram Megagrip outsole is extremely impressive. The flexlines enable you to wrap your feet around rocks for optimum traction, and the smartly shaped and intelligently positioned self-adaptive lugs provide excellent grip and control on all kinds of surfaces, wet and dry.

Overall, the Fullbore sandal is an excellent choice of summer footwear if you like to mix aquatic adventures with short- to mid-length coastal and countryside hikes, whether they have wet obstacles to negotiate or not. These are not the skimpiest of sandals, but the mesh sidewalls on the upper let your feet breathe beautifully in hot conditions.

Also consider

Comparison table