Dear haters, you're wrong — the 'ugliest sandals in the world' are actually the hiking sandals I was missing all along

I hate shopping for summer shoes. Summertime sandals are often uncomfortable (Birkenstocks, I'm looking at you), heavy (Doc Marten sandals, anyone?), or way too expensive (Salomon hiking shoes, even though I love them).

I want cool and comfortable summer shoes. Finding the perfect summer sandals can be a hassle for several reasons. The worst one?

Women's summer footwear is often very toe-y. There are days when I'm just not in the mood for that. I've been craving a closed-toe summer shoe... and I've finally found the perfect pair.

So what are the best walking sandals for women? Well, there's no one right answer, but for me, it's got to be the Keen Hyperport H2 sandals. I tested these shoes back in April, and they still have me floored.

Keen Hyperport H2: was $119 now $79 at Amazon

Weirdly, there's not one specific price for the Keen Hyperport H2 sandals on Amazon. Each colorway and size is a different price, but the MSRP is $119. The exact style I have is currently $106, down $13, but it differs in larger or smaller sizes.

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No toes, no problem

As much as I love wearing sandals in summer, there's always one thing that holds me back: my toes.

Now, don't get me wrong, I don't hate my feet. I hate what other people think about feet. I'd rather not put my toes out there for the world, you know.

So when it's super hot and I want to wear sandals, I'm usually a vibrating ball of anxiety — especially wearing them to the office. What do you mean, everyone's going to see my toes? Thankfully, that's not an issue with the Keen Hyperport H2s. Thanks to the toe cover, the Hyperport H2s blocks as much toe as ballet flats or moccasins.

As you can see from the photo above, no toes are visible. Phew.

So while the Hyperport H2s are a little more modest than other hiking sandals (I love my Tevas, but sometimes I just don't want my toes to be out), they're still just as breathable. Thanks to the ribcage-like design, my feet were able to breathe during hot weather while staying somewhat hidden.

When it's extremely hot outside, I can't wear my Skechers or Converse sneakers. Well, technically I can, but I'd rather not. That's where the Keen sandals come in clutch — they keep my feet cool, comfy, and covered up, even during a heatwave. I'm wearing the Hyperport H2 sandals as I write this, and it's currently 28°C (82°F), which is very hot for the U.K., and my feet couldn't be happier.

And also ideal for warm rainy weather...

Given that Keen's entire mission is to create reliable, sturdy, and long-lasting shoes, I think it's fitting that the Hyperport H2s have been my go-to shoe all summer. There's no need to buy multiple pairs of varying styles, because the Hyperport H2s do it all.

But the Hyperport H2s are sandals, so surely they're only for super hot days? That's where you'd be wrong. Seeing as they're waterproof — and designed to be river shoes — they're ideal for warm but rainy days. I wore them yesterday when it was about 80°F and rainy, and they were the perfect shoes.

Not only did they keep my feet cool, but they also dried relatively quickly after I got inside. No more stressing over my sneakers that are still wet the next day.

Although the Keen sandals don't have Gore-Tex, trust me when I say they may as well have. A splash of water slides right off these sandals, and they dry within a few hours, should they get soaked through.

When I was testing the sandals for my review, I actually dunked them in the bathtub and timed how long it took them to dry completely. In two hours, the Hyperport H2s were 100% dry. This is no mean feat — I've had hiking boots that I've had to spend hours drying with a hair dryer before.

And the best part? The Hyperport H2s are grippy. Like... so grippy. I have never slipped while wearing these shoes, even during torrential rain on slippery pavements, and I'm one of the clumsiest people in the world.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

While Keen has self-described the Hyperport H2 as "the ugliest sandal in the world", I think that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Yes, the Hyperport H2 has a polarizing design. But doesn't that make them all the more charming? I love bickering with my sisters about the ugliness of these shoes, or jokingly defending them against my colleagues (who think they should be burned).

What's the point of having boring shoes? I'd rather have something that is as comfortable as wearing literal clouds (true, the Hyperport H2s have an injected foam sole, which makes them as bouncy as a marshmallow) than something that feels like thousands of tiny needles piercing my skin with each step.

So who cares if these sandals are ugly? I don't. I will actually defend these shoes until I'm blue in the face. I think they're cool in an uncool sort of way.

I've been wearing the Keen Hyperport H2 sandals almost every day since April, and I don't see our love affair ending anytime soon.

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