Chaco

Chaco is an American footwear brand centered on adjustable outdoor sandals, particularly its Z-strap designs. The brand was created by Mark Paigen, a whitewater rafting and fly-fishing guide who wanted an open sandal that would let his feet dry while still providing the support normally associated with sturdier hiking footwear. In 1989, Paigen developed a custom sandal using a continuous synthetic strap that passes through the sole and can be tightened around the foot. A buckle replaced hook-and-loop fastening, giving the design a secure and adjustable fit suited to wet and active environments. The first pair was made for a client after Paigen traced the customer’s feet and constructed the sandals by hand for $30. By 1991, production had expanded from a spare room in Paigen’s home to a small shop in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Feedback from early users led Paigen to work with a pedorthist, resulting in further changes to the fit and construction before the sandal entered broader commercial production. The original product was called the Z/1, a name inspired by a friend’s joking pronunciation of “Zee One.” The business initially used the name Gecko, but later adopted Chaco, referencing Chaco Culture National Historical Park in the American Southwest. Chaco’s central product idea is a strap system that loops through the sole and around the foot, allowing the wearer to adjust the fit without multiple external fasteners. The sandals are offered with different strap arrangements and sole constructions for differing uses, including recreational water activities, hiking-influenced wear, travel, and casual outdoor fashion. Their combination of an exposed-foot design, durable construction, and supportive sole helped distinguish them from lightweight flip-flops and traditional technical hiking shoes. The brand also developed a repair service, reinforcing the durability and long-use proposition associated with its sandals. Manufacturing was initially based in Colorado, including a factory in Paonia. The Paonia facility closed in 2008, after which production moved to China. In 2009, Wolverine World Wide acquired Chaco. Following the acquisition, Chaco’s facilities moved to Wolverine’s base in Rockford, Michigan, and the brand became part of a broader footwear portfolio that also includes brands such as Merrell and Saucony. Chaco subsequently retained its focus on outdoor sandals while extending its range into shoes, boots, flip-flops, and accessories. Environmental and public-land advocacy have also formed part of Chaco’s brand identity. The company has supported river conservation because rivers and river recreation are closely connected to the brand’s origins. It donated $10,000 to American Rivers’ 5,000 Miles of Wild campaign, which sought protection for additional river miles in the United States. Chaco also opposed proposals to reduce the size of Utah’s Bears Ears National Monument. In connection with that effort, it released a limited-edition Z sandal and directed all net proceeds to two nonprofit organizations working to protect the monument. Paigen had tested an early pair of sandals in the area that is now part of Bears Ears National Monument, giving the campaign a personal connection to the brand’s founding story. Today, Chaco remains an active Wolverine World Wide brand. Its identity continues to be built around adjustable sandals, outdoor utility, foot support, repairability, and an association with rivers, public lands, and outdoor recreation.

Chaco originated in the outdoor recreation community of Colorado. In 1989, Mark Paigen, who worked as a whitewater rafting and fly-fishing guide, sought to solve a practical problem: he wanted footwear that could remain open and dry in the sun without leaving his feet unsupported. He developed a sandal using a continuous synthetic strap that passed through the sole and wrapped around the foot. A buckle provided adjustment and security, while the open construction allowed water to drain and feet to dry. The first known sale came when Paigen made a custom pair for a client who had joined him on a three-day float trip. He traced the customer’s feet on paper and produced the sandals for $30. The early business operated from a spare room in Paigen’s home. By 1991, he was selling the products from a small shop in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Customer responses indicated that the basic concept had potential but required refinement, so Paigen consulted a pedorthist to improve the fit and overall design. The first commercial sandal became known as the Z/1. Its name came from a humorous pronunciation used by one of Paigen’s friends. The company had initially been called Gecko, but the name was changed to Chaco, after Chaco Culture National Historical Park. The brand’s defining construction remained a single strap that travels through the sole and around the foot. This arrangement allows fit adjustment without relying on several separate straps or closures. Chaco paired the system with supportive soles intended to provide more stability than ordinary casual sandals while retaining an open-toe format. As demand increased, Chaco established manufacturing in Paonia, Colorado. The brand developed an international reputation within outdoor and recreational footwear and expanded beyond its core sandals into additional sandal configurations, casual outdoor footwear, flip-flops, boots, and accessories. It also offered repair services, supporting the idea that its products were intended for extended use rather than rapid replacement. A significant operational change occurred in 2008, when the Paonia factory closed and production moved to China. The following year, Wolverine World Wide acquired Chaco. After the acquisition, Chaco’s facilities moved to Wolverine’s headquarters in Rockford, Michigan. The transaction placed Chaco alongside other Wolverine footwear brands, while the brand continued to operate under its own identity and maintain its emphasis on outdoor sandals. Chaco’s public identity has included environmental advocacy connected to the settings in which its products are used. The company supported American Rivers’ 5,000 Miles of Wild campaign with a $10,000 donation for river protection. It also took a position against proposals to reduce Bears Ears National Monument in Utah. To support conservation organizations working on that issue, Chaco introduced a limited-edition Z sandal and gave them all net proceeds. The campaign had an especially direct connection to the company’s history because Paigen had tested an early pair of sandals in the landscape now included within Bears Ears National Monument. The brand remains active as part of Wolverine World Wide’s portfolio. Its principal identity is still associated with adjustable Z-strap sandals for water recreation, outdoor activities, travel, and casual wear, complemented by other outdoor-influenced footwear and accessories.

• 2009

  Wolverine World Wide acquisition

  [1]Chaco (footwear)en.wikipedia.org

  Wolverine World Wide acquires Chaco, and the brand’s facilities move to Rockford, Michigan.

• 2008

  Paonia factory closes

  [1]Chaco (footwear)en.wikipedia.org

  Chaco closes its Colorado factory and transfers manufacturing to China.

• 1991

  Chaco begins selling from Glenwood Springs

  [1]Chaco (footwear)en.wikipedia.org

  After early home-based production, Paigen begins selling the developing footwear line through a small shop in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

• 1989

  Mark Paigen develops the original outdoor sandal

  [1]Chaco (footwear)en.wikipedia.org

  Whitewater and fly-fishing guide Mark Paigen creates an adjustable, open sandal using a continuous synthetic strap and buckle.

Outdoor-oriented footwear combining an adjustable strap system, supportive soles, water-friendly utility, and casual styling. Chaco is positioned between technical outdoor footwear and everyday lifestyle sandals, with additional emphasis on repairability and river and public-land advocacy.

• Adjustable outdoor sandal · 1991

  Z/1

  The Z/1 is Chaco’s foundational adjustable sandal design. It uses a continuous synthetic strap that passes through the sole and loops around the foot, allowing the wearer to customize the fit with a buckle rather than multiple independent fasteners. The open construction is intended for water exposure and warm-weather use, while the supportive sole gives it a more technical feel than a conventional casual sandal. The product became the model most closely associated with Chaco’s identity.

• Outdoor and lifestyle sandals

  Z-strap sandal family

  Chaco’s wider Z-strap family develops the original single-strap concept through different strap configurations and sole types. These variations are intended to serve a range of outdoor environments and preferences, including water recreation, travel, casual wear, and hiking-influenced use. The family combines an exposed-foot design with adjustable retention and supportive underfoot construction.

• Footwear and accessories

  Outdoor footwear and accessories

  Beyond its signature sandals, Chaco offers outdoor-influenced shoes, flip-flops, boots, and accessories. These products extend the brand’s visual and functional language into additional seasons and use cases while retaining an association with recreation, travel, and casual outdoor styling.

• 5,000 Miles of Wild

  United States

  Chaco supported American Rivers’ effort to protect 5,000 additional miles of rivers in the United States, contributing $10,000 to the river-conservation organization.

  Source
• Bears Ears National Monument protection campaign

  United States

  In response to proposals to reduce Bears Ears National Monument, Chaco released a limited-edition Z sandal and directed all net proceeds to two nonprofit organizations working to preserve the monument.

  Outcome. The limited-edition launch was described as successful in the reference material; no quantitative results were provided.

  Source

• 2009

  Wolverine World Wide acquires ChacoM&A

  Background

  Chaco became part of Wolverine World Wide’s portfolio of footwear and apparel brands.

  Action taken

  Wolverine World Wide acquired the Chaco brand and moved its facilities to Rockford, Michigan.

  Aftermath

  Chaco continued as a distinct active brand within Wolverine World Wide, maintaining its focus on outdoor sandals and related footwear.

  Source

• 2008

  Move manufacturing from Colorado to ChinaStrategy

  Background

  Chaco’s Paonia, Colorado factory was closed as part of a manufacturing change.

  Action taken

  Production was transferred to China.

  Aftermath

  The Paonia facility ceased operations, and Chaco later operated its facilities from Wolverine World Wide’s base in Rockford, Michigan.

  Source

• 2021.10.06

  Reported2021.10.06

  Chaco and New Belgium launch anniversary sandal collection[2]Chaco与New Belgium推出周年纪念凉鞋系列brewbound.com

  Chaco Footwear and New Belgium Brewing Company announced the launch of a limited-edition sandal collection created for New Belgium’s 30th anniversary. The collection is available online.

Read more

1. 1Chaco (footwear)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2Chaco与New Belgium推出周年纪念凉鞋系列brewbound.com
3. 3New Belgium Brewing Partners with Chaco Footwear to Celebrate 30 Yearsbrewbound.com