Sole Searching is an ongoing series sharing the origin stories of past, present, and future icons of outdoor footwear, supported by Vibram. Past installments highlight designs by Arc'teryx, Bedrock, Danner & NNormal.
Float through any popular paddling destination and you’re almost guaranteed to spot at least one pair of feet wrapped in Chaco Z/Classic sandals, an icon of aquatic footwear with a reputation for comfort, durability, and performance. A top pick among rafting guides (and hikers) for decades, the sandal has long been available in dozens of solid, patterned, and customizable colorways. Now, for the first time since Chaco introduced its game changing sandal design in 1989, the Z sandal has been given a complete overhaul with new straps, buckles, and a new, water-specific Vibram outsole—assembled in the USA.
The result is the new Chaco Rapid Pro, developed through a design process driven by both professional river guide feedback and empirical lab testing.