Sandals "for running in the mountains" debut from Teva. World champion Rui Ueda reviews their comfort.

In June 2024, Teva, celebrating 40 years since its founding, will release a new "Aventrail," focusing on trail running.

These sandals are "for running" with an ultra-thick midsole, overwhelming cushioning, solid grip, and an excellent fit thanks to the W strapping system. How is the finish of these sandals? Or, rather, can you run in the mountains with sandals in the first place?

We are curious, aren't we? So we decided to ask a leading trail runner to review how these sandals feel when running. The reviewer is Rui Ueda, a professional mountain runner. He is also the model for the visual above.

Rui Ueda / professional mountain runner

Born in 1993. After graduating from Saku Nagasei High School, he entered Waseda University. While still a student, he won the Hacettune CUP in 2014 with a new event record. Since then, he has continued to achieve many brilliant results, including winning the Skyrunning U-23 World Championships (2016), finishing second in the UTMB CCC (2016), and becoming the Skyrunner World Series Annual World Champion (2019).

Interviewed by Issey Enomoto and Hiroshi Yamamoto, HOUYHNHNM RUNNING CLUB's ♡.

HOUYHNHNM RUNNING CLUB♡s Issey Enomoto (right) and Hiroshi Yamamoto (left)

The three of us will discuss the comfort of the "Aventrail" while actually running in them.

The openness of feeling the wind on your toes is only possible with sandals.

Enomoto:Aventrail" trail running sandals released by Teva. How did you feel when you actually ran on the trails wearing them? Rui, please tell us your honest impression.

Rui:The openness of being able to feel the wind on your toes while running is something that only sandals can provide. I was able to run more comfortably than I had imagined.

Yamamoto:I agree. Because my feet are in direct contact with the air, I feel as if I can become one with nature.

Rui:Exactly. I thought this was a pair of shoes to enjoy nature. Usually when running on trails, you have to be careful not to get your feet wet in puddles or at crossing points. But with the "Aventrail," you don't have to worry about that, and you can just stick your feet right in. And since you are wearing sandals, it doesn't matter if they get wet.

Enomoto:Indeed. In that sense, it would come in handy during summer trail running, when the so-called "dabble" is in the air.

Yamamoto:It's like jumping into a river to cool down after a day in the sun. It is a little depressing when your shoes get soaked from diving into the river, but with sandals, there seems to be no problem at all. I don't mind getting wet, and they dry quickly.

The brainchild of one of the footwear world's foremost revolutionaries.

Enomoto:What about functional aspects such as fit and comfort?

Rui:The adjustable straps and comfortable knit upper hold the entire foot in place and fit well. I never felt insecure while running.

Yamamoto:Most "runnable sandals" have thin soles, but these sandals have the exact opposite: extremely thick soles. How do you feel about that?

Rui:They have great cushioning and resilience, just like a shoe. I recently ran on a rocky terrain at a high elevation, and it was difficult to feel the thrust from the road surface. It may be thanks to the nylon plate built into the midsole.

Enomoto:The extra-thick cushioning and the bouncy feeling with each landing are very comfortable, yet there is a new sense of freedom underfoot. One of the founding members of Hoka was involved in the development of Aventrail.

Yamamoto:Teva and Hoka are part of the same Deckers Group. So product development is taking place across brand boundaries.

A pair that extends the fun of trail running.

Enomoto:What kind of image do you have of Teva?

Rui:I had the image of fashionable sandals that everyone often wears.

Yamamoto:More of a fashion impression than a sports one?

Rui:I guess so. So I was surprised when I heard that Teva was coming out with sandals for trail running.

Enomoto:Going back in history, Teva's roots date to the development of the world's first sandals with straps by a river guide in the Grand Canyon, who wanted to have sandals that would not come off when he was near water. In other words, Teva's origins and brand identity are in the development of highly functional sandals for activities that allow people to enjoy nature.

Yamamoto:The Aventrail is a modern reinterpretation of Teva's philosophy.

Rui:Yes, I agree. As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, the "Aventrail" extends the fun of trail running by giving you a sense of freedom to feel the wind on your toes as you run. I would love for many people to experience that feeling of freedom.

Men's (upper) 25.0-29.0 cm and women's (lower) 22.0-25.0 cm are both available in two colors each, and half sizes are also available.
Teva "Aventrail" to be released on June 11, 2024. ￥20,900 each

Text_Issey Enomoto
Photo_Akira Yamada