Women’s Luna Mono Winged Edition Hiking Sandal Review

Bottom Line

The Luna Mono Winged edition hiking sandals provide an outstanding combination of stability, support, and freedom for your feet. While they can be regarded as a minimalist sandal due to their zero-millimeter heel-to-toe drop, their solid stack height of 15 millimeters, which includes a 4-millimeter lug depth on the outsole, nudges them just slightly into the maximalist range. 

During testing, these secured a spot on our list of top-performing hiking sandals because of their exceptional array of features. Although three figures might seem pricey for sandals, we believe they are reasonably priced given their offerings.

How We Tested

We had the Luna Mono Winged sandals on our feet for about a month. We wore them on forest roads, well-maintained trails, poorly-maintained trails, and for hours on end while at camp.

Comfort

The straps! So smooth! So silky! We try to avoid speaking in superlatives, but the straps on the Luna Mono Winged sandals might truly be the best sandal straps we’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Like the straps on most hiking sandals, these are made from a woven textile. We’re guessing it’s nylon or polyester, though the material isn’t disclosed on the website. 

Regardless, the best word to describe them is “supple.” They’re far softer than the straps on any other hiking sandals we’ve tried; as a result, they’re also much more flexible. We were able to pull the straps to create a tight, secure fit without experiencing any discomfort—no digging in, no rubbing, no chafing. 

All praises sung, we have one minor complaint. The wings (the plastic pieces holding the straps in place) on the inside of the sandal press against our tester’s foot. She doesn’t naturally pronate her feet (turn the arch downward), yet they still press against them, so this could be an issue for individuals who do heavily pronate. It wasn’t uncomfortable to the point of being painful, and our tester says she’ll still happily wear these sandals everywhere, but it is a bit distracting. 

The footbed is neutral and fits our tester’s foot well. People with very narrow feet might skip these; they’re most suitable for neutral to medium-wide feet.

Stability

Thanks to Luna’s single-strap adjustment system, it’s possible to achieve an incredibly secure fit, enhancing overall stability. While it may appear that there is only one adjustment point, these sandals actually feature a single continuous looped strap. You can essentially adjust them infinitely until you find a fit that works for you. 

The Mono Winged sandals feature a zero-drop midsole, yet they don’t necessarily feel like a minimalist sandal. This is due to the stack height being significantly thicker than that of a typical barefoot shoe, with a total stack height of 15 millimeters (11–millimeter midsole plus 4-millimeter outsole). Therefore, while there’s not much ground feel available, these sandals provide ample support and greater protection from sharp objects in the ground (hello, pokey rocks disguised by a layer of dirt). 

Despite its thickness, the midsole remains flexible enough to avoid feeling cumbersome or restrictive. A thinner stack height might provide more flexibility, but we found these to strike a good balance between protection, stability, and flexibility. The wings beneath the ankle bone, while slightly bothersome for our tester’s feet, help guard against over-pronation and over-supination, which could benefit those in need of a bit more ankle support.

Traction

We wore the Luna Mono sandals for several activities that presented varying conditions. First, we took them on a long walk along a dirt road in a central California forest. The road surface featured silty segments, fine gravel, and even some stretches of exposed, chunky rock. The incline was moderate, never exceeding about 10%. We didn’t encounter any traction issues on this walk; the sandals performed excellently in these dry conditions. 

We also wore them for a day out at camp in a national forest, which involved a lot of relaxed walking and exploring, much of it on barely-there trails or no trail at all. The surfaces we encountered included somewhat deep dirt (2 to 3 inches; very soft), a pine straw-covered forest floor, bare rock, and gravel. We even wore the sandals to scramble up some small boulders for an epic sunset view. 

Throughout all of this, the sandals provided excellent traction and caused us no issues. On another day, we wore the Lunas on a short but steep summit hike. This trail—1.2 miles and 1,300 feet to the summit—did present some slippage. It wasn’t significant, likely because the trail surface was fairly packed and there were no scree sections, but it made us hesitant to take them on any trails more difficult than that.

Durability

We expect these to last a long time. The 11-millimeter midsole is dense and resistant to compression. The outsole features a 4-millimeter lug depth, ensuring the tread can withstand heavy use across varied terrain. 

The footbed, however, may wear down and lose its texture prematurely since there isn’t much to start with: just a very light hexagonal pattern in the rubber. 

The straps, tightly woven and flexible, seem sufficiently durable. There are a few plastic components (the buckles and the wings on each side), and plastic is always prone to breakage, especially given the nature of outdoor activities.

Weight & Packability

Weighing in at 11.8 ounces per pair, the Luna Winged Mono sandals are among the lightest options across the dozens we’ve tested. They are certainly light enough to serve as a second pair of shoes, although their thicker stack height can make them difficult to fit into narrow compartments.

We recommend dividing them into separate compartments or attaching them to the outside of your pack.

Ease of Use

It may take you some time to find the ideal fit with these sandals, and you might feel frustrated with the single-strap/multi-adjustment point design. But persevere and keep adjusting, because once you discover your perfect fit, you may never buy another hiking sandal again. 

Initially, we found the system cumbersome and annoying, but after adjusting the straps a few times, we discovered a fit that felt both ultra-secure and ultra-comfortable. In many other hiking sandals, you typically have to compromise between these two aspects, but that’s not the case with the Luna Mono Winged edition. 

Once you’ve found your ideal fit, putting them on and taking them off is easy. All you need to do is loosen the strap on the midfoot buckle to wiggle your feet in and slide them out. Just make sure to do the fitting part before heading out on the trail, or you’ll have a bad time. (P.S. You can actually move the buckle around, too, and place it in the most comfortable spot for you.)

Should You Buy the Luna Mono Winged Edition?

The Luna Mono Winged hiking sandals are a perfect fit for hikers looking to transition to barefoot-inspired shoes without diving in completely. They also serve as an excellent option for any hiker who prefers a zero-drop midsole but seeks more support and protection than typical barefoot sandals provide.

What Other Women’s Hiking Sandals Should You Consider?

We’ve tested dozens of hiking sandals, and the following are some of our favorites that have similar qualities to the Luna Mono Winged edition. 

Teva Original Universal Review: These have a similar stack height and midsole compared to the Luna Mono Winged, but the outsole is less rugged and is not as suitable for technical adventures. The strap design is also somewhat different, featuring three independently adjustable Velcro closures (as opposed to Luna’s continuous loop system). 

Earth Runner Alpha Review: Perhaps the most barefoot-like of barefoot sandals, the Earth Runner Alphas offer an incredible level of connection to the ground. These are for you if you want to feel the earth beneath your feet while protecting your skin from trail surfaces. 

Xero Shoes Z-Trail EV Review: Another ultra-barefoot-style option, the Z-Trail EVs are incredibly lightweight and feel almost like wearing nothing. You might even forget they’re on. They’re definitely worth considering if that’s the vibe you’re going for.