

Our verdict: The Chaco Z1 is the best for camping Chaco Z1 - Amazon Z1 vs. In the world of car camping, these shoes are a delight. Notes about Camping with Chacosīecause of the ease with which the Z1s come on and off, and because they are so easily worn with socks, they are my go-to camp shoe as well. But, my cyclist friends like the Z2s because they are easy to throw on but snug enough to wear for quick commutes. As for climbers, many I know prefer the Z1s as a shoe for short approaches because it’s easier to take on and off at the crag. After a long day of skiing and after finally removing those boots, its nice to be able to keep your socks on. When it comes to other adventure sports, skiers love the Z1s because there isn’t a toe loop. I even feel comfortable running short distances in them. They are snug and form-fitting, making the arch support more appreciated. They hug my feet tighter due to the toe loop. When I’m going for a hike, I wear my Z2s.

They have firm enough traction that you don’t bust your butt on slippery river rocks (most of the time) and they are loose enough that they don’t catch too many small pebbles underneath. If you just want a pair for daily wear, either will work.įor me, I own both pairs of Chacos and I use both of them pretty equally. If you want to use your Chacos more for hiking and scrambling, go with the Z2. If you want to use your Chacos more for water activities, go with the Z1. The Break-in Process & Finding the Perfect FitĪre you a river rat or a mountain bum? That’s mostly what it boils down to.Similarities & Differences: A Closer Look.How big of a difference could one toe loop really make? I set out on a mission to find out. I left that party with more questions than answers. “You can, but you’ll never get those straps adjusted the way you want.” “What if I want to wear socks with my Chacos?” “Just flatten the toe loop!!” “No! Then it’s impossible to pull back up!” “You can’t hike without the toe strap,” insisted Aidan. “Whoa! What? I love the toe strap!!” Travis defended. Katie interjected before he could answer, “F#*! the toe strap!” Then I made the mistake of asking Aidan what he thought of his Z2s. I mentioned it out loud and we all looked fondly down at our feet. Some of us were wearing the Z1s and others were wearing the Z2s - the main difference between the two models is that the Z2s have a toe strap while the Z1s do not. We were all wearing Chacos - the climbers, runners, cyclists, river rats and backpackers. I was at a rather large house party with friends when I made an interesting discovery.
