The Elite Mountain Goats have been renamed to the Elite Alphas! The name has been updated to be more consistent with our other sandals. The product has not changed, so you are still getting the same great sandals as before!
Key Specs
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Thickness (inside tread): 9mm-10mm
Thickness (total with tread): 11mm-12mm
Weight: approximately 5.5oz / sandal (at size 9)
Shipping + Returns
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Production Time: 3-5 business days
Shipping: Eligible for FREE domestic shipping
Returns/Exchanges: Return or exchange within 30 days from delivery for a full refund, no questions asked, if your sandals aren’t totally amazing and changing the way you feel about your feet. See policy here.
Elite Alphas
Elite Alphas are adventure sandals that are perfect for anyone who wants all the benefits of a zero-drop barefoot sandal, but isn’t sure about being on the ground with no protection for their feet. With a more protective and thicker sole, the Elite Alphas give you the confidence you need to start your minimalist journey. With a firm stable platform, your feet will be free to relax so you can focus on the adventure!
Sole
Alpha soles are composed of 5mm Vibram Newflex and 6mm Vibram® Morflex. This creates a sole that provides excellent protection for your feet while still being light and responsive. The aggressive tread of the Vibram® Newflex makes navigating rough terrain and trails a breeze while the Vibram® Morflex gives you a firm yet cushioned place to rest your feet. Alphas have a 12mm total stack height. Choose the UltraGrip footbed for use in the harshest elements. For more comfort in drier conditions select Cognac Leather.
Elite Lacing System
The Elite Lacing System is the product of 10 years of relentless testing and development. This lacing system is designed with control, comfort, and performance in mind. Three independent adjustment zones - the heel strap, insole strap, and toe straps - give you total control over how the straps are adjusted to your feet. Velcro® fasteners make adjustment easy and secure. The Shamma Elite Buckle gives you the ability to fine tune your toe strap, where adjustment matters most. Our innovative and flexible heel posts keep the straps in an optimal position so you can focus on the road ahead. The Elite Lacing uses Toray® UltraSuede to create the highest levels of comfort available. If you want the highest performance laces, you want the Elite Lacing System!
Recraftable
Just because you wore a hole in your sandals, it doesn’t mean you have to throw them away! Our modular approach to sandal-making means that worn out parts can be replaced with a pair of pliers at home. Why throw away what you can repair? Visit our Parts Page to learn more!
Made in the USA!
Proud to be made in the USA and we wouldn’t have it any other way! All of our sandals are made right here in Santa Cruz, CA by our small team, using primarily US sourced materials along with high quality components from Italy, Germany, and other international partners. Follow us on Instagram and YouTube to get a glimpse of how we do it on a regular basis.
Customer Reviews
4.8Based on 174 Reviews
5 ★
83%
144
4 ★
13%
22
3 ★
3%
6
2 ★
1%
2
1 ★
0%
0
Customer Photos
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Reviews
Questions
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Good. Haven’t had a lot of time to wear them so don’t know how well they’ll hold but seem good. I haven’t worn sandals with the toe strap before so im getting used to them.
Very comfortable. But every time I put them back they're a little more loose then when I took them off. Basically I have to tighten them down again every time I put them on. The loop/buckle system used at the top of the foot is flawed in my opinion. A complete Velcro system would be better.
Also, I've had comments from friends that my sandles look like a foot thong, and rather feminine. This is because the top/center loop/buckle is set too far back toward the ankle. Traditional flip flops have the support more toward the toes and less length of the "thong"
In general terms satisfied, they are very comfortable sandals. I made the mistake of not reading the details in the size and fit guide and they were too tight on the ankle straps.I will buy again, of course I will.
I figured that I would try a pair out when the really good Independance Day sale was going on. Overall, I really like the sandals because they didn't require much break in and they have replaceable straps. The only complaint I have is that the straps do take a bit of finessing to get them to a perfect balance of proper tension and comfortability. The two videos that Shamma uploaded on YouTube were pretty helpful for figuring out the straps.
Super comfortable sandals. The leather foot bed is excellent and the straps are nice and soft. Would buy again.
L
Lea Podhraski
Tolle Sandalen, trage sie sehr viel
Tolle Sandalen, super Grip, werden sehr viel und gerne getragen, nach 1,5 Jahren ist jetzt die Sohle kaputt, genial dass diese ausgetauscht werden können. Schnelle Lieferung nach Deutschland und in 15 Minuten ausgetauscht, perfekt!
J
Jose Balderrama
Heel strap too long
This is my second pair from Shamma but different style. Sandals seem well made and I like the feel of the leather. My issue is with the heel strap, it is too long. If I want a secure fit then the strap sticks out like 1.5-2 inches. If I place the strap so that no excess sticks out then the sandal is not secure and is just like wearing flip flops. Additionally, the toe strap keeps getting loose and requires constant tightening. Overall sandals are ok for casual wear but do not provide a secure fit for active adventure wear.
R
Richard Parish
I have been wearing these sandals for a few weeks now. The straps that go between the big and index toes are very comfortable and the strapping adjustments allow my foot to be held well but not tightly - just as I like it.
The sole is wearing very little (which I expect as I am not a heel-striker). They are a bit pricey (and I thought I might regret the purchase), but so far so good.
I do wonder how long it will be before the stripping abrades as it enters the sole. Based upon making my own home made Huarches, it will happen. I just hope it takes many summers..............
J
Jesse Baxter
Great Sandals
These sandals exceeded my expectations. Great minimalist design, excellent build quality and fit. I like how they were made to order and it feels good supporting a local-ish business!
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Sizing Chart and Adjustment Guides
SANDAL SIZING CHART
We strongly recommend using the templates to check your foot size to ensure a perfect fit!
NOTE:Make sure your printer doesn’t resize or shrink to fit when printing! You can check if the templates printed to scale by measuring the printed ruler on the page with a ruler or tape measure. Larger sizes will need to be printed Poster across 2 sheets of paper. You can download the free version of Adobe Acrobat PDF Reader and print the templates in the "poster" setting. This should print to scale across two pages.
Shamma Sandals use custom soles that are designed to give you the best possible fit and experience, so please check your measurements with our sandal sizing chart. The templates of the sandals are available for download and printing.
To size yourself, print the template out and place your foot on the template so that the toeplug hole is between your big toe and first little toe. Make sure that your toes aren’t hanging off the front of the template, and that your ankles line up with the ankle slots on the sides of the sandal. If the ankle slots are under your foot a little bit, that’s ok, the laces come up and around your feet – just make sure that your toes don’t go past the front of the sandal, that your heel doesn’t go past the back of the sandal, and that the toe hole and ankle slots line up with your feet. For the best fit, we recommend choosing a sandal size that gives you between an 1/8" (3.18mm) to a 3/16" (4.76mm) of extra room in front of your toes and behind your heel. Thus, we recommend getting sandals that are 1/4"-3/8" (6.35mm - 9.53mm) longer than your foot.
If you don't have a printer, you can measure your foot according to the instructions in the video above (Episode 4) and compare those measurements to the sandal measurements on the chart above and choose a size that is 1/4"-3/8" (6.35mm - 9.53mm) longer than your foot. You can also send your foot measurements to us at contact@shammasandals.com and we would be happy to recommend a size based off of those measurements.
BOOT SIZING CHART
For boot sizing, you can generally go with your standard street shoe size.
NOTE:Make sure your printer doesn’t resize or shrink to fit when printing! Check the measuring line of the template to a physical ruler before sizing! Larger sizes will need to be printedPosteracross2 sheets of paper.
Shamma Size
US Men’s
US Women’s
Insole Length (Inches)
5
N/A
6
9.25
5.5
N/A
6.5
9.4375
6
6
7
9.625
6.5
6.5
7.5 – 8
9.875
7
7
8.5
10
7.5
7.5
8.5 – 9
10.125
8
8
9 – 9.5
10.3125
8.5
8.5
9.5 – 10
10.5
9
9
10 – 10.5
10.625
9.5
9.5
10.5 – 11
10.8125
10
10
11 – 11.5
10.9375
10.5
10.5
11.5 – 12
11.125
11
11
12
11.3125
11.5
11.5
N/A
11.5
12
12
N/A
11.625
12.5
12.5
N/A
11.765
13
13
N/A
11.9375
13.5
13.5
N/A
12.16
14
14
N/A
12.25
14.5
14.5
N/A
12.50
ADJUSTMENT GUIDES
Did you receive your new pair of Shammas, but looking for some extra tips on how to get the perfect lace adjustments? Look no further! Below you can find step-by-step written instructions as well as videos for how to lace your sandals!
Elite Lacing System
(Our Elite Lacing System includes Elite Warriors, Elite Chargers, Elite Maximus, Elite Alphas, and Elite Ibex).
1. First, loosen all 3 strap zones until there is excess slack in each section. The straps should be extremely loose in all three zones.
2. Start by centering your foot on the sandal, so that the placement of your foot is in the desired final location (you should have equal room in front of your toes and behind your heel with this placement).
3. Now that your foot is centered on the sandal, adjust the buckle front to back to find a desirable location.
4. Now tighten the insole strap. This will dictate the buckle’s left to right position on your foot. Keep the buckle parallel with the bone behind your big toe. If the buckle is too close to the bone behind your big toe it may be uncomfortable. If this is the case, loosen the insole strap and reposition the buckle farther to the outside of the foot.
5. Now that the buckle is in it’s desired position and the insole strap is tightened, tighten the toe strap until snug and comfortable.
6. Tighten the heel strap to your desired comfort level and enjoy your Shamma Sandals!
Numa Lacing System
(Our Numa Lacing System includes Numa Warriors, Numa Chargers, Numa Maximus, and Numa Alphas).
1. First, loosen the two strap zones (heel strap section and elastic forefoot strap) until there is excess slack in each section. The straps should be extremely loose in both zones.
2. Start by centering your foot on the sandal, so that the placement of your foot is in the desired final location (you should have equal room in front of your toes and behind your heel with this placement).
3. Now that your foot is centered on the sandal, adjust the heel strap to fit comfortably.
4. Now tighten the elastic forefoot strap. This will dictate the buckle’s left to right position on your foot. The buckle will self-adjust so don't worry about placement. Push the elastic through the tension-lock buckle on the heel in order to adjust its tightness. For lifestyle use, you won't need it super tight, it should just be comfortably tight.
5. Make any adjustment on your heel strap if needed and enjoy your Shamma Sandals!
TrailStar Lacing System
(Our TrailStars Lacing System includes TrailStars Maximus, TrailStars Alpha, and TrailStars Omega).
Super Lacing System
(Our Super Lacing System includes Super Browns and Super Goats).
Models in our Super Collections have 3 adjustment zones for the perfect fit- the toe strap, the insole strap, and the heel strap.
1. First, loosen all 3 strap zones until there is excess slack in each section. The straps should be extremely loose in all three zones.
2. Start by centering your foot on the sandal, so that the placement of your foot is in the desired final location (you should have equal room in front of your toes and behind your heel with this placement).
3. Now that your foot is centered on the sandal, adjust the buckle front to back to find a desirable location.
4. Now tighten the insole strap. This will dictate the buckle’s left to right position on your foot. Keep the buckle parallel with the bone behind your big toe. If the buckle is too close to the bone behind your big toe it may be uncomfortable. If this is the case, loosen the insole strap and reposition the buckle farther to the outside of the foot.
5. Now that the buckle is in it’s desired position and the insole strap is tightened, pull any extra slack from the toe strap zone through the outside ankle slot towards the heel.
6. Tighten the heel strap to your desired comfort level and enjoy your Shamma Sandals!
Cruzer Lacing System
Our Cruzers models have 3 adjustment zones for the perfect fit - the toe strap, the insole strap, and the heel strap.
1. Adjust to Desired Fit
After centering your foot on the sandal, adjust the outside lacing so that the buckle is in a comfortable position and there is tension (but not too much) between the toe plug and ankle slot.
2. Pull On Power Sleeve
Adjust the heel strap by pulling up on the power sleeve, to create some space to tighten the heel strap. It should be enough space to grab the slack with two fingers.
3. Pull Slack Through
Pulling from the heel strap side, pull the extra slack through the bottom of the sandal until the Power Sleeve is resting in a snug position.
4. Pull On Power Sleeve
Pulling from the inside lacing side of the Power Sleeve, pull the extra slack through the Power Sleeve until the strap is flush with the sole of the sandal.
5. Adjust To Desired Fit
First, create slack underneath the buckle by creating some tension on the inside lacing side of the buckle. Adjust the lacing until comfortable.
6. Pull Slack Through
Take extra slack and feed it back through the buckle, towards the inside lacing of the sandal. Pull slack until the buckle is flush with the foot.
7. Put Extra in Keeper
To keep the extra slack secure, feed the strap through the keeper and pull until comfortable. You are now ready to explore!
Classic Lacing System
(Our Classic Lacing System includes models: All Browns, All Blacks, and Old Goats.)
For more in-depth Classic Lacing steps, please click HERE.
If you're having trouble finding the perfect fit after following the sizing or lacing guides, or if you have any questions, please Contact Us, we’re happy to help!