Find out why Kirsty Pallas awarded the Bedrock Sandals Cairn Evo Pro her Best in Test accolade – and why she thinks these are the best value pair she tested.

Bedrock Sandals are a US company born from river restoration and looking for a hardy but comfortable sandal to work in, and these feel very well refined and tested. There’s obviously a lot of thought and time gone into the design of the Bedrock Sandals Cairn Evo Pro, giving me no option but to award them five stars.

Kirsty Pallas’ Best in Test and Best Value

These have been my go to footwear for whatever I’m doing in warmer weather.
Pros
  • Comfort
  • Good sole
  • Adjustment options
Cons
  • Weight
Quick Specs
Price: $136 / £102.34
Weight: 472g (UK size 5)
Materials: Upper – premium polyester and nylon webbing, Outsole – Vibram megagrip, Footbed – EVA foam
Features: Hook and loop strap adjustment, minimalist footbed
Heel-to-toe drop: 0mm
Lug depth: 3mm
Waterproof: No
Sizes: UK 4-13, EU 37-48
Women/Mens version: Unisex
bedrocksandals.com

The Cairn range of sandals use a toe post model, which is a piece of cord between the big toe and second toe, which keeps your feet in place really well on steep terrain. The sole unit is a well lugged Vibram Megagrip, which I’ve found really dextrous and confidence inspiring, with a smoother section at the toe to grip rock better.

It’s a fairly solid sole, and is where most of the weight lies, but it feels light when wearing and yet very protective. All of the Bedrock sandal models are zero drop, however some have a 3D moulded footbed which offers arch support and a refined toe triangle, but I chose a minimalist footbed. It still feels very comfortable and supportive enough but I’m used to barefoot style boots and shoes for a lot of my walking. It also gives a good ground feel, and means I get a sense of what I’m walking over which I enjoy.

The outside of the footbed still has a slight rise to help keep debris out and your foot in, but it doesn’t feel very intrusive. I’ve mentioned the toe post strap at the front, but this Pro model has a specific hook and loop closure to ensure that thick mud or flowing water won’t shift it like it might do a velcro strap. It’s easy to use and gives a good amount of adjustment, but when you’ve found your fit, you don’t need to touch it again, and there’s also a sliding buckle for just getting the sandal on and off. This also works with ease and I can do it one handed without too much effort.

Bedrock Sandals Cairn Evo Pro
A five-star pair of sandals. Credit: Kirsty Pallas

With such a simple design, it’s easily packable, and these came on a 400 kilometre bikepack with me for river crossings and camping spots. They were easy to make space for, and while on the slightly heavier side, still a very worthwhile item to carry across Scotland and back again.

The Cairn models are all unisex but I found the sizing table really useful for figuring out which size to order for my wider feet. I sized up slightly and they really feel like an extension of myself, without too much extra sandal around my toes or at the sides of my feet.

Between the back end of last summer, sunny holidays, and this lovely Spring spell, these have been my go to footwear for whatever I’m doing. I know they will cope with just about whatever I throw at them, and they deal well with a transition from town to dog walk to paddling on the beach.

Testing Notes

Kirsty tested these across Scotland and also in Portugal while hiking, bikepacking, and accessing climbs. Mostly in dry and warm weather, but it often included river crossings or being near the sea. She is a UK women’s size 5 with a broad forefoot. All weights taken from her own scales.

This review was first published in the July 2025 issue of The Great Outdoors.