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Barefoot Shoes

Bedrock Sandals Earthquake V2 Review

About a year ago, I reviewed the original Bedrock Sandals followed by a review of the Earthquake Sandals.

Nick and Dan, the barefoot running friends who Kickstarted Bedrock Sandals the company in 2011, have released an updated pair of Earthquake Sa…

About a year ago, I reviewed the original Bedrock Sandals followed by a review of the Earthquake Sandals.

Nick and Dan, the barefoot running friends who Kickstarted Bedrock Sandals the company in 2011, have released an updated pair of Earthquake Sandals they’ve named the Earthquake Sandals V2. The V2 sandals feature a few improvements over the previous model. I have been running in a pair of review V2s they provided, and I have found them to be an excellent choice for anyone interested in running in huaraches.

Earthquake Sandals V2 Design

The sole remains unchanged from the original Earthquake Sandals and that’s great news. The sole is a 6mm Vibram rubber composite so its lighter than other rubber sole materials but still grippy underfoot. The surface is smooth and non-slip wet or dry, and the tread is composed of hundreds of tiny nubs to add a little traction. 6mm isn’t very thick, but if you put enough miles on them, the soles will start to mold to your feet’s contours. The Bedrock Sandals logo is now etched into the sole of the left sandal instead of painted, and the size and “USA Made” is etched into the right. I like the discrete branding.

The straps received the biggest changes. Most welcome is the new countersunk design. While the older version’s strap between your toes ended in a melted stopper under the sole, the V2 sandals now sport a countersunk design. This eliminates the wear on the strap attachment point greatly increasing the life of your sandals and the need for repairs. The straps are still exposed to the ground at the sides of the heel, but this area gets nowhere near the wear as under the forefoot. If you own an older pair of Bedrock Sandals, they offer a retrofit service to upgrade to the countersunk design.

Check out that nifty burlap bag packaging (upper left) and the new countersunk design (lower right)

Check out that nifty burlap bag packaging (upper left) and the new countersunk design (lower right)

The straps are still secured with a single buckle adjustment system, but there are now two options. The basic is the same as before, an easy-to-adjust plastic buckle with continuous nylon straps. The new Quick Fit option introduces different material at the adjustment point near the buckle. My test pair didn’t have the Quick Fit option so while I had no issues making fine adjustments, the flat “military spec” webbing in the Quick Fit Lacing System reportedly makes adjustments even easier.

The heel strap remains unchanged. It uses recycled bicycle rubber in conjunction with the nylon strap to gently grab your ankle and prevent slippage. The combination works very well. On the occasion of a rare slip, a quick tightening would get me running again in seconds.

Running

I’ve been running a combination of paved roads and dirt trails three to four times a week for about a month, and the V2 sandals have served me very well. Thanks to the countersunk strap attachment between the toes, there’s zero evidence of wear. I can see these sandals lasting for many hundreds or even thousands of miles. I also tested them during the 2012 Pensacola Half Marathon in which they performed flawlessly. I did ok myself.

Check out that nifty burlap bag packaging (upper left) and the new countersunk design (lower right)
All but the most extreme surfaces are no problem for Earthquake Sandals

All but the most extreme surfaces are no problem for Earthquake Sandals

Conclusions

At first glance, the Earthquake Sandals V2 are very similar to the originals, but the countersunk strap will certainly extend their life and eliminate any worry of on-the-run repairs. Plus, the Quick Fit lacing upgrade looks to simplify adjustments over an already straightforward method. If you’re considering huarache running, take a good look at the Earthquake Sandals along with other great options such as Xero Shoes and Luna Sandals.

Ordering, Pricing, Availability

The Earthquake Sandals V2 start at $54 directly from their website. The Quick Fit lacing option is an additional $10. Sizes range from from Men 4/Women 5 to Men 13/Women 14, or you can get them custom sized by submitting your foot tracing by mail for no cost or by e-mail for an additional $5. Unfortunately, the number of color selections is down from the original seven. The current color selections are Olive Drab, Black, and Yellow — my red sandals didn’t make the color cut apparently. Retrofit for older sandals is $20 and that includes a set of new straps.

By James

James's life was changed forever when he tried running in Vibram Five Fingers in July 2010. He'll occasionally go barefoot, but he primarily runs in his homemade huarache sandals. He loves to experiment with different types of minimalist footwear and has previously reviewed huaraches (homemade, Invisible Shoe, and Luna Sandals), the Teva Zilch, and the VIVOBAREFOOT Achilles running sandals.

8 replies on “Bedrock Sandals Earthquake V2 Review”

I assume that sandals like these would be great for just your basic summer sandal as well? I lived in my flip flops and birkenstocks before I transitioned to minimalist shoes and I’m looking for a basic summer sandal!

@Kelly. Yes, they would be great for most any activity. The heel strap makes them great for running, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t be great for walking around too.

I love the hurache design, and these ones seem to have improved upon the original concept. But I would like to know your thoughts on other designs of minimalist running sandals. I guess the question is, in your opinion do you think that it would be worth deviating from this tried and true design?

I’ve had my Bedrock Sandals since August. I wore Vibrams during my two month trip to India and really regretted not ordering these sooner! I wore them every day until Fall weather hit. Definitely worth the money spent. And after three months of continuous wear, the bottom shows very little wear.

Good review!!!

Ive had a few different barefoot type sandals.
I first tried the invisable shoes but they were to thin and made alot of noise. Also the straps hurt alot.

The bedrock sandals are brilliant. Nice thickness of rubber. The webbing straps are very comfortable. I like the adjustability it is great.
The price is high but the quality over shadows the cost.
Super light. With nice tread.
I would recommend these sandals to anyone. Who wants to run or walk in them.

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