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

Hiker wearing Danner Fullbore sandals on a beach.

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.

Specifications

List price: $160 / £125

Weight (per shoe, men's UK size 11.5): 12.2oz / 346g

Colors: Olive / Smoke Gray / Black Shadow

Materials: Synthetic leather and polyester mesh upper, OrthoLite footbed, Danner Plyolite midsole, Vibram Fuga Megagrip outsole

Compatibility: Summer trail walking, coastal exploring and cliff-top hiking, wild swimming, paddling

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.

The Danner's Fullbore sandal is a decent looking shoe (Image credit: Pat Kinsella)

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.)

The Fullbore sandals feature a Vibram Megagrip sole with flex lines and self-adaptive lugs (Image credit: Pat Kinsella)

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.

These sandals have quick laces, and the excess cord and toggle tucks neatly away in a pouch at the top of the tongue (Image credit: Pat Kinsella)

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.

Fullbore sandals are excellent for hiking routes involving stream, estuary and shallow river crossings (Image credit: Pat Kinsella)

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.

The Fullbore sandals protect your feet when they get submerged during water crossings (Image credit: Pat Kinsella)

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.

After being submerged the Fullbore sandals drain quickly (Image credit: Pat Kinsella)

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.

The Fullbore sandals are ideal for rock hopping (Image credit: Pat Kinsella)

Also consider

Keen Hyperport H2

If you're looking for footwear with more robust toe protection, the unisex Hyperport H2 is an excellent sandal and water shoe, designed for sea-level summer hiking escapades and aquatic adventures, which features Keen's signature over-sized toe bumper. Made to last, this shandal also has quicklace system, plenty of underfoot cushioning and an excellent outsole with great grip on wet and dry rock.

Read our full Keen Hyperport H2 review

Pros

• Good grip on slippery surfaces and loose trails
• Fast draining and drying
• PFAS-free
• Easy on and off bungee fastening
• Lots of cushioning

Cons

• Won’t suit people with narrow feet
• Limited trail feel

Helly Hansen Ahiga V4 HP

For people who prefer a sneaker-style water shoe, the unisex Ahiga V4 HPs from Helly Hansen are stylish, versatile, highly breathable and quick-draining deck shoes that work well for amphibious adventures ranging from non-technical summer hikes with stream and beach crossings, through to full-on water sports including SUP and sailing. The grip isn't quite as good as on the Danner Fullbores or the Keen Hyperport H2s, but they’re very lightweight and are made with mostly recycled material.

Read our full Helly Hansen Ahiga V4 HP review

Pros

• Lightweight
• Super breathable
• Quick drying
• Decent grip
• Stylish and versatile
• Lots of recycled content

Cons

• Not especially warm
• Low toe protection

Comparison table

Shoes	List price	Weight (per shoe)	Colors
Danner Fullbore sandals	$160 / £125	12.2oz / 346g	Olive / Smoke Gray / Black Shadow
Keen Hyperport H2 sandals	$120 / £95	11.18oz / 317g	Yellow & Black / Scarlet & Navy / Olive & Taupe / Alloy & Blue / Birch & Taupe / Rose & Green
Helly Hansen Ahiga V4 HP sneakers	$110 / £95	11oz / 310g	Off-white / Azurite / Charcoal / Jet Black