Luna Mono Winged Version Overview

Backside Line

The Luna Mono Winged version mountain climbing sandals present an excellent mixture of stability, assist, and freedom on your ft. Whereas they are often thought to be a minimalist sandal on account of their zero-millimeter heel-to-toe drop, their strong stack peak of 15 millimeters, which features a 4-millimeter lug depth on the outsole, nudges them simply barely into the maximalist vary. 

Throughout testing, these secured a spot on our checklist of top-performing mountain climbing sandals due to their distinctive array of options. Though three figures may appear expensive for sandals, we consider they’re moderately priced given their choices.

How We Examined

We had the Luna Mono Winged sandals on our ft for a few month. We wore them on forest roads, well-maintained trails, poorly-maintained trails, and for hours on finish whereas at camp.

Consolation

The straps! So easy! So silky! We attempt to keep away from talking in superlatives, however the straps on the Luna Mono Winged sandals would possibly actually be the perfect sandal straps we’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Just like the straps on most mountain climbing sandals, these are comprised of a woven textile. We’re guessing it’s nylon or polyester, although the fabric isn’t disclosed on the web site. 

Regardless, the perfect phrase to explain them is “supple.” They’re far softer than the straps on some other mountain climbing sandals we’ve tried; consequently, they’re additionally way more versatile. We have been in a position to pull the straps to create a good, safe match with out experiencing any discomfort—no digging in, no rubbing, no chafing. 

All praises sung, we now have one minor criticism. The wings (the plastic items holding the straps in place) on the within of the sandal press in opposition to our tester’s foot. She doesn’t naturally pronate her ft (flip the arch downward), but they nonetheless press in opposition to them, so this may very well be a difficulty for people who do closely pronate. It wasn’t uncomfortable to the purpose of being painful, and our tester says she’ll nonetheless fortunately put on these sandals in all places, however it’s a bit distracting. 

The footbed is impartial and matches our tester’s foot nicely. Individuals with very slim ft would possibly skip these; they’re best suited for impartial to medium-wide ft.

Stability

Due to Luna’s single-strap adjustment system, it’s attainable to attain an extremely safe match, enhancing total stability. Whereas it might seem that there’s just one adjustment level, these sandals truly function a single steady looped strap. You possibly can basically modify them infinitely till you discover a match that works for you. 

The Mono Winged sandals function a zero-drop midsole, but they don’t essentially really feel like a minimalist sandal. That is because of the stack peak being considerably thicker than that of a typical barefoot shoe, with a complete stack peak of 15 millimeters (11–millimeter midsole plus 4-millimeter outsole). Subsequently, whereas there’s not a lot floor really feel accessible, these sandals present ample assist and larger safety from sharp objects within the floor (good day, pokey rocks disguised by a layer of filth). 

Regardless of its thickness, the midsole stays versatile sufficient to keep away from feeling cumbersome or restrictive. A thinner stack peak would possibly present extra flexibility, however we discovered these to strike a superb stability between safety, stability, and suppleness. The wings beneath the ankle bone, whereas barely bothersome for our tester’s ft, assist guard in opposition to over-pronation and over-supination, which may benefit these in want of a bit extra ankle assist.

Traction

We wore the Luna Mono sandals for a number of actions that introduced various situations. First, we took them on an extended stroll alongside a dust street in a central California forest. The street floor featured silty segments, tremendous gravel, and even some stretches of uncovered, chunky rock. The incline was average, by no means exceeding about 10%. We didn’t encounter any traction points on this stroll; the sandals carried out excellently in these dry situations. 

We additionally wore them for a time out at camp in a nationwide forest, which concerned plenty of relaxed strolling and exploring, a lot of it on barely-there trails or no path in any respect. The surfaces we encountered included considerably deep filth (2 to three inches; very delicate), a pine straw-covered forest flooring, naked rock, and gravel. We even wore the sandals to scramble up some small boulders for an epic sundown view. 

All through all of this, the sandals offered glorious traction and induced us no points. On one other day, we wore the Lunas on a brief however steep summit hike. This path—1.2 miles and 1,300 ft to the summit—did current some slippage. It wasn’t vital, doubtless as a result of the path floor was pretty packed and there have been no scree sections, but it surely made us hesitant to take them on any trails tougher than that.

Sturdiness

We anticipate these to final a very long time. The 11-millimeter midsole is dense and immune to compression. The outsole includes a 4-millimeter lug depth, guaranteeing the tread can stand up to heavy use throughout diversified terrain. 

The footbed, nonetheless, might put on down and lose its texture prematurely since there isn’t a lot to begin with: only a very gentle hexagonal sample within the rubber. 

The straps, tightly woven and versatile, appear sufficiently sturdy. There are just a few plastic parts (the buckles and the wings on either side), and plastic is all the time susceptible to breakage, particularly given the character of outside actions.

Weight & Packability

Weighing in at 11.8 ounces per pair, the Luna Winged Mono sandals are among the many lightest choices throughout the handfuls we’ve examined. They’re actually gentle sufficient to function a second pair of sneakers, though their thicker stack peak could make them tough to suit into slim compartments.

We suggest dividing them into separate compartments or attaching them to the skin of your pack.

Ease of Use

It might take you a while to search out the perfect match with these sandals, and also you would possibly really feel pissed off with the single-strap/multi-adjustment level design. However persevere and maintain adjusting, as a result of when you uncover your excellent match, you might by no means purchase one other mountain climbing sandal once more. 

Initially, we discovered the system cumbersome and annoying, however after adjusting the straps just a few instances, we found a match that felt each ultra-secure and ultra-comfortable. In lots of different mountain climbing sandals, you sometimes must compromise between these two features, however that’s not the case with the Luna Mono Winged version. 

When you’ve discovered your supreme match, placing them on and taking them off is straightforward. All that you must do is loosen the strap on the midfoot buckle to wiggle your ft in and slide them out. Simply ensure that to do the becoming half earlier than heading out on the path, otherwise you’ll have a nasty time. (P.S. You possibly can truly transfer the buckle round, too, and place it in essentially the most comfy spot for you.)

Ought to You Purchase the Luna Mono Winged Version?

The Luna Mono Winged mountain climbing sandals are an ideal match for hikers trying to transition to barefoot-inspired sneakers with out diving in fully. Additionally they function a wonderful possibility for any hiker who prefers a zero-drop midsole however seeks extra assist and safety than typical barefoot sandals present.

What Different Girls’s Mountaineering Sandals Ought to You Think about?

We’ve examined dozens of mountain climbing sandals, and the next are a few of our favorites which have related qualities to the Luna Mono Winged version. 

Teva Authentic Common Overview: These have an identical stack peak and midsole in comparison with the Luna Mono Winged, however the outsole is much less rugged and isn’t as appropriate for technical adventures. The strap design can be considerably totally different, that includes three independently adjustable Velcro closures (versus Luna’s steady loop system). 

Earth Runner Alpha Overview: Maybe essentially the most barefoot-like of barefoot sandals, the Earth Runner Alphas supply an unbelievable stage of connection to the bottom. These are for you if you wish to really feel the earth beneath your ft whereas defending your pores and skin from path surfaces. 

Xero Footwear Z-Path EV Overview: One other ultra-barefoot-style possibility, the Z-Path EVs are extremely light-weight and really feel nearly like carrying nothing. You would possibly even overlook they’re on. They’re positively price contemplating if that’s the vibe you’re going for.