
Chacos are a staple in Southwest Montana, you will see them on the river, on trails, and out at the bar. In fact it is relatively common to see them in January walking through the snow. You know they must be comfortable when people are walking through snow drifts in sandals.
I started hiking in my Chaco's somewhere around the Georgia/North Carolina border, less than a few days from the start of the Appalachian Trail. My trail running shoes gave me nothing but blisters, so I switched to hiking in my Z1's. I bought a new pair in Harper's Ferry, WV and hiked those all the way to Mt. Katahdin in Maine.
Who would have thought that a sandal designed for river guides would end up becoming one of the most popular hiking shoes around? The footbed is amazing and all the components are extremely durable. Plus they dry out in minutes, so river crossings or afternoon deluges are no big deal. My Chaco's are my favorite hiking shoes!