Bedrock Cairn Evo - Women's Review

The Bedrock Cairn Evo is a sandal with minimalist straps and is designed for adventuring. A pair of women's size 8 weighs 14.1 ounces. They have polyester and nylon webbing straps, minimalist EVA footbeds, and outsoles of Vibram XS Trek EVO rubber. They come in several colors that can pretty much all be described as “earth tones.”

Comfort

While previous versions of the Cairn Evo have left us wanting more when it comes to foot feel, this iteration has more attention to detail that makes it a more comfortable pair for barefoot enthusiasts to wear all day.

The Cairn Evo's straps, creating all the attachment and adjustment points, are softer and less scratchy than they used to be, although take care to adjust if you are walking long distances as the foot can slide around in the sandal and one tester formed a blister from a pressure point on the top of her foot. Even tightened down completely, the Cairn Evo wasn't scratchy. The strap's thick seams are less flexible than the seamless, soft straps of alternative sandals.

Updated sizing helps these sandals be easier to “get right” the first time, and they're a great fit even for wider feet. We had no issues with any rubbing, even between the toes and on the back of the velcro-adjusted heel, through many long hikes over rocky trails and through water. The flexibility of the soles allows for greater adaptability and functionality than most other rugged adventure sandals, while still offering solid foot protection. That said, over long distances, it's noticeable that these soles provide less support than most similarly styled sandals, and less support than their bulkier cousins from the same manufacturer.

The comfort level of these shoes varies significantly among testers with different foot types. A tester with high arches loved these shoes for camp and short scrambles through muddy slot canyon, but found her feet ached after walking in them more than a mile. “If you need arch support, these cause foot fatigue and mid-arch pain for longer walks. My feet slide around internally, which causes slight rubbing. I enjoy them for muddy scrambles where I want to trust my grip.” Comments a tester with high arches. However, testers with a lower foot profile or those who train for minimalist shoes love this option. A tester with barefoot-walking-trained feet commented, “I was more likely to be tired at the end of a multi-hour hike or after being out and about all day in the city, but not so much that I don't still feel like these are comfortable sandals I'd happily put on again the next day.”

Traction

While the different models of Bedrock sandals are crafted from different variations of Vibram rubber compounds, the tread remains the same. The Cairn Evo impressed us with their excellent traction on all terrain. Slippery docks, steep gravelly trails, and loose sand proved no match for these sandals, and we never felt that their outsole traction was lacking.

The Cairn Evo delivers standout traction thanks to its low-profile Vibram XS Trek EVO outsole, which we found was one of the grippiest soles for any terrain that you could call “slick” without sacrificing ground feel. The lug pattern is aggressive enough for rocky trails and slick riverbeds, yet flexible enough to move naturally with your foot. Whether you're scrambling over boulders or navigating wet roots, the sole's tacky rubber compound keeps you steady without feeling bulky or overbuilt.

The footbed of the Cairn Evo has a gridlike pattern that goes a long way toward providing traction between your foot and the shoe itself, even when sweaty or wet. It's not quite as grippy as the more expensive version of these sandals, but it's still very good. If and when our feet ever slid in these sandals, it was less because of a lack of traction and more because of the strap design (which we'll discuss in the stability section).

Stability

With limited attachment points for the straps of the Cairn Evo, these sandals are naturally a little less stable than models that attach on both sides of your forefoot. When crossing surfaces with a sideways downslope — and especially with wet or sweaty feet — our feet did slide across the footbed a bit. Not enough to fall off the edge, but it definitely made us feel less stable in our side-to-side motions.

The instability of the foot sliding within the Cairn Evo's footbed is especially noticeable when we were walking in water. During kayaking trips, when wading through rivers, the swirling currents push against both sides of the forefoot area, causing the sandal to flop uncomfortably against our feet. Even in the still shallows of lakes, the action of moving each foot forward through the water creates a similar effect, diminishing the sense of stability that this sandal provides, no matter how well it's tightened. However, among sandals with this strap configuration, these are undoubtedly some of the most stable options available. That said, if you intend to do a lot of walking through water, keep in mind that this strap design can allow your foot to slide internally within the sandal.

Adjustability

This particular version from the Bedrock Cairn Evo line has three different methods of adjustment, depending on which section of the strap you're trying to change. The hook and loop portion on the arch sides of your feet are easy to use and simple to adjust — set them once and forget about them. The back heel section is a long strip of velcro running the full length of the strap. Though we're not always the biggest fans of Velcro (for both its longevity and its tendency to scratch our skin), this strip is well made.

Boasting that the Cairn Evo velcro is “whitewater grade,” we're inclined to agree. We wore these sandals through many kayaking adventures as well as long hikes scraping through and along snagging shrubs, and the heel straps didn't even show a hint of starting to come unpeeled. In fact, adjusting these strong velcro straps with a lay-down, low-profile end was often a two-handed affair.

We preferred to set these straps in place and leave them there. The outsides of the top straps have a buckle adjustment for easy on and off or tightening as you need it. The only section of the straps without any adjustment is the portion extending forward and ending between your toes.

Versatility

No matter what activity we were doing, the Cairn Evo proved its value in just about every situation. Particularly for hiking or running errands around town, we love these sandals. They have a solidly versatile performance across most activities. Though they're not our favorite for wearing while walking through water, they still work in a pinch if all you need to do is push your paddleboard off the shore.

They're not the lightest pair of sandals we've tested, and they're not the heaviest. Their low-profile design makes them easy to slide into your luggage for vacationing on far-flung beaches and in sunny cities. A handful of muted earth-tone colors offers something for just about everyone and is easier to pair with a diversity of outfits, from sun dresses to hiking shorts.

Should You Buy the Bedrock Cairn Evo?

These sandals don't come cheap, but they bring impressive performance for their cost. If you love this style and want an adventure sandal that can keep up and withstand long-term wear, the Cairn Evo is worth the investment. If you need more support for your feet or plan to spend longer in the water, there are better options out there.

What Other Sandals Should You Consider?