Built for the backcountry? Teva's first-ever trail running sandal launches, designed "for an uninhibited run experience"

Teva has long been synonymous with rugged hiking sandals that you can wear in the water and over rough ground, and now they're looking to expand into the trail running market with the launch of their first-ever trail running sandal.

According to yesterday's official announcement by Decker, the company that owns Teva, the Aventrail sandal was designed to bridge a gap between existing running sandal designs, which usually take a minimalist approach with thin soles and no support (such as the Xero Shoes Genesis ), and the modern trend of more maximalist trail running shoes .

The result looks to be similar to Teva's distinctive sandal style with their foot-hugging strap system, but the well-cushioned midsole is closer to what you might expect from a modern trail running shoe like the Hoka Mach X , and comes with a nylon plate to improve responsiveness . The underfoot package is completed with a rubber outsole and tiered traction lugs for extra grip on the trails.

Here's what else we know about the sandal so far:

• Weight: Men’s 11.9 oz (337 g), Women’s 9.7oz (275 g)
• Drop: 6 mm (.24 in)
• Stack: 33.5 mm heel/27.5 mm toe
• Webbing made from 100% recycled plastic

As a sandal, you automatically experience increased breathability compared to the upper of a running shoe, and Decker says that is improved upon with the knit fabric used for the straps, which is especially appealing for running in warmer climates.

"You feel further connected with nature through the fact that you can enjoy everything about it, at the speed you want, because your feet feel uninhibited – they can experience extra sensations with less in between you and the outdoors," says Jean-Luc Diard, Global VP of Innovation at Deckers Brands and co-founder of Hoka , another brand in the same group.

The Teva Aventrail is on sale now at REI with a retail price of $145. It's available in men's sizing in black and Total Eclipse/Green Flash colorways, and in women's sizing in Burnt Olive/Vivid Violet and Marshmallow/Marigold.

Teva was launched 40 years ago when a river guide on the Grand Canyon used the velcro straps of two watches to keep his sandals from floating away, planting the seed for the brand's Universal Srapping System.

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