Best Shoes for Hiking the Narrows in Zion National Park (2025 Guide)
INTRO
Hiking the Zion Narrows in southern Utah can be the experience of a lifetime: slowly exploring the slot canyon nestled between its magnificent, steep walls, walking in the clear water of the Virgin River, and feeling immersed in such a delicate desert ecosystem.
Sometimes it can feel overwhelming to sift through all of the information out there about how to best approach a hike in the Narrows. Thankfully, here at Zion Guru, we are experts with decades of experience, and have a dedicated team to support you and answer all of your adventure questions.
One of the most common things we’re asked about is how to select the right shoes for a Narrows hike. Here is everything you need to know about what footwear to use in the Zion Narrows!
RIVER HIKING CONSIDERATIONS
Walking directly in a river is very different from regular hiking. You’re resisting the current of the flowing water. There are polished rocks of all sizes to step on and navigate around. Sand and sediment can get into your shoes. Often, the water is cold and you need something to keep your feet warm. There are a lot of considerations to take into account to make sure you’re prepared with the right shoes, so you can fully focus on enjoying the hike. With the wrong footwear, the experience can become challenging and uncomfortable, which is the last thing you want.
There are a few common options people will use for footwear in the Narrows, but one type of footwear excels above all others — custom boots designed specifically for canyoneering, paired with neoprene socks. This combination is far better than wearing sandals, tennis shoes, or regular hiking boots, and here’s why.
WHY ZION GURU’S BOOTS ARE THE BEST FOOTWEAR FOR THE NARROWS HIKE
To be comfortable and confident in the Narrows, you need the right gear. You want footwear that drains water easily, keeps your feet warm, provides stability on the river rocks, keeps out sand and debris, resists abrasion with durable materials, and feels comfortable all day for your adventure.
We have the perfect solution available at Zion Guru: the Fitwell Chameleon, a special boot that we helped design. In 2015, we began the process of designing our own footwear with an amazing Italian company called Fitwell. Located in the heart of hiking and mountaineering terrain, they know how to build long-lasting footwear that fits, feels, and hikes great. They had the resources and material connections to source the best outsoles, uppers, footbeds, and even laces. They hand-make every shoe, and they do it at fair wages with employees whose life is dedicated to designing and hand-crafting footwear.
Our primary goal was to develop the lightest, easiest draining, best fitting, and supportive shoe for canyoneering. After three years, we brought in our first iteration of the Fitwell Chameleon, and today we have the fifth version, which fits more feet, lasts longer, and is easier to put on and lace.
WHY THE FITWELL CHAMELEON BOOTS ARE PERFECT FOR THE NARROWS
The boots are not waterproof and that is intentional! They are made out of a hydrophobic material that is meant to let water flow in and out of the boot efficiently, helping the boot remain light throughout the entirety of the hike. The last thing you want is a heavy boot full of water that makes every step difficult. Having proper drainage is key.
The Chameleon has exceptional traction with a climbing rubber outsole. The continuous Vibram MultiTendos outsole gives excellent traction, grip, and stability on rounded rocks and boulders. The boots easily handle the abrasive nature of the Narrows, have a durable mesh upper, and feature a great lacing design so you can get the perfect fit. The boots are comfortable for standing and hiking all day with the proper support.
But the shoe alone will not address every consideration, as the abrasive nature and the temperature variance of the Virgin River requires the use of a neoprene sock inside the shoe. This is not an afterthought with the Chameleon, but rather integrated into its design — easily allowing hikers to wear a neoprene sock up to 5 mm and still have a great fit. This neoprene sock provides warmth, abrasion resistance, cushioning, and a better fit of the outer shoe so that your feet feel like they’re supposed to in the Narrows.
WHY SANDALS AREN’T A GOOD CHOICE
A video in the Zion Narrows showing the traction of a river hiking boot from Zion Guru in comparison to sandals
Some visitors to the Zion Narrows are tempted to wear sandals. This is not a great idea for a few reasons; take it from our founder, Jonathan Zambella, explaining his experience:
“When I first hiked the Narrows back in 1996, I knew I was doing something wrong. My feet were cold, uncomfortable, and unstable. I was wearing Chaco sandals, one of the first versions of them to come out on the market. They were my go to for hiking Angels Landing and approaching climbs as well. I loved the freedom of movement and the air around my feet. But what made the Chaco sandal so desirable was also what made it terrible for hiking the Narrows. It did not provide any lateral protection on my arches or forefoot, and provided no ankle support. It picked up every little rock and grain of sand and wedged it between the straps of the sandals and the footbed of the shoe. Additionally, my feet were downright cold. After several hours in the river, the water softened my skin against the sandal straps and etched deep grooves — I still have scars on my feet to this day.”
Do yourself a favor, and prevent the discomfort from the cold water, abrasion, and lack of support that come with wearing sandals in the canyon.
WHY REGULAR SHOES OR BOOTS AREN’T THE BEST CHOICE EITHER
Video of people hiking the Zion Narrows who appear to be unsteady over the rocky terrain and wearing normal shoes/sandals
If you’re considering wearing your regular tennis shoes or hiking boots in the Narrows, be aware that they will lack the necessary features to optimize your experience.
Regular tennis shoes will provide very little stability and support for the unstable rocks and sand you’ll be walking through.
Regular shoes or boots are not designed to drain easily, so they will hold water, making your steps heavy and labored.
They will not have a grippy rubber sole on the bottom to help you be confident in your step, so you’ll find yourself slipping around more on the wet, polished rocks.
Your regular shoes likely aren’t sized to accommodate a neoprene sock, so your feet will be colder and less protected.
They also aren’t great at keeping out sand and debris, so you’re more likely to have abrasive, annoying sediment against your feet.
After the hike, your regular shoes or boots (even if they’re marketed as ‘waterproof’) will be wet and soggy for hours, or even days, from being submerged for hours.
By choosing a custom-designed canyon boot with effective drainage, support, and grippy rubber, paired with a neoprene sock, you’ll set yourself up for a more successful, fun experience in the Narrows.
RISKS OF CHOOSING IMPROPER GEAR FOR THE NARROWS
If you choose improper gear for your hike in the Narrows, you run the risk of some complications physically, financially, and emotionally. Here are some things to consider.
Physically, you could end up with sprained ankles or knees, or stubbed toes. You may experience abrasion from annoying gravel in your shoes or sandals. If you don’t have grippy shoes, you could trip and fall, leading to other injuries. Without the proper insulation from clothing and/or neoprene socks, you could experience frostbite or hypothermia.
Financially, you could ruin your regular shoes or boots due to heavy use and stretching when fully wet. Your shoes could even fall apart during or after your Narrows hike (we see it all the time). If you fall in the river, you could break or ruin valuables or other items, like your camera or even your lunch.
Without the right gear, your experience could be tarnished. If you have bad gear, you won’t get to see as much of the scenery or enjoy the canyon as much because you’ll be forced to pay very close attention to your movements and have to walk more slowly. You could fall behind people who are better-outfitted. You could also miss out on a great hike the next day if your Narrows hike ends up painful.
Save yourself the trouble of these potential risks by being prepared with the right equipment, especially footwear!
CONCLUSION
You don’t absolutely need our footwear to hike the Narrows, but everyone that uses it is glad that they had it. People express that their experience is much better, they hiked more efficiently, and they got to see more of the canyon with less effort and more comfort.
You may have many times that you get to visit the Narrows, or it may be the only time in your life that you do it. We have that in mind not just with the footwear that we’re outfitting you with, but the entire process around educating you so that you can savor and maximize your experience in the canyon.
We wish you a safe, fun visit full of incredible memories and time enjoying the beauty of Zion! Feel free to stop in to Zion Guru to pick up any items you need, ask questions, hire a guide, or rent gear like the Chameleon boots for the Narrows (and so much more). We’re here to help.
