True, you may not plan on spending 40 years wandering the desert wilderness like the Isrealites, but you’ve still got big plans for your summer. Whether tackling class IV rapids, searching for those elusive swimming holes or trekking through the narrow cobblestone alleys of old Europe, you want quality footwear that’s light, supportive and ready for adventure by land or sea.
Every bit as adventurous and trail worthy as your last pair of Chaco sandals, the Updraft offers a modern minimalist take on the classic Chaco sandal. Lighter, leaner and more streamlined, the Updraft offers all-day comfort without compromising on performance.
On Fit and Performance…
When it comes to Chaco, it seems many outdoor enthusiasts have strong opinions either for or against the fit and feel of the sandals and the Luvseat™ platform. For our team however, a new TPU midsole frame coupled with a sculpted XO3 LUVSEAT™ platform that offers a 20% weight savings over traditional Chaco sandals makes the Updraft the most comfortable Chaco we’ve ever worn.
Out-of-the-box comfort begins with a the new TPU midsole frame offering a lighter weight, more ergonomic fit and feel. Combined with a softer (squishier) footbed, the sculpted Luvseat™ platform provides ample support and cradles your foot in comfort while providing proper joint alignment and support.
Durable polyester webbing dries quickly, and even allows you to adjust the fit with Chaco Custom Adjust’em Fit. Adjustability is accomplished through the use of a continuous webbing strap that loops through the midsole provides an infinitely adjustable strapping system to provide a secure, custom fit while avoiding the bulk of extra buckles and straps.
Whether your adventure finds you stalking distant shorelines or chasing your kayak downstream, the lightweight, non-marking Vibram® Bulloo outsole offers reliable traction to keep you upright.
Finally, if you’re having trouble deciding between a standard pair of flips and the Chacos Updraft here’s a quick note to give you some insight on the benefits of an actual sandal. While we all love the ease of flips, the reality is that they force the wearer to adjust their stride to keep the flips on. With the Updraft the rear strap keeps the mid-foot attached to your foot so your natural body mechanics aren’t altered. That means less foot fatigue and more time out rambling through the world.
Story from the Trail...
We’ve all read reviews promoting the comfort and/or support of a particular item, but that doesn’t always provide us an accurate portrayal of how the product actually performs. Towards those ends we wanted to share the following story from the trail.
Truth be told, we momentarily lost our Chaco Updraft sandals while taking photos in the American river. Our gear guru was forced to sprint barefoot over river rock and driftwood to head off the Updraft sandals downstream. The result was not only an icy swim out to collect the sandals, but a stone bruise on the heel. The good news was those same Updraft sandals cradled the bruised and battered heel in absolute comfort for the next several days.
Bottom Line….
Whether wandering the desert or crushing your summer bucket list, consider the Chaco Updraft as an essential piece of equipment for your journey.
Manufactured by Chaco the Updraft is available in your choice of six colors in both regular and wide width options and can be purchased for $110 from Chaco online.