Sandals

Sandals judged on strap placement, footbed support and summer mileage.

Sandal comfort comes down to strap placement and footbed shape far more than price.

9 articles

Black leather fisherman sandals showing stitched cage straps, metal buckles and welted leather soles.

Trend Watch

Fisherman Sandals Are Basics Now. The Stitching Still Matters.

The leather cage has moved well beyond niche labels. Before paying more, check whether the sole can be repaired and whether a cobbler can reach the buckle.

Iris Mbeki · August 11, 2026 · 8 min

Black two-strap sandal turned sideways to show its leather footbed, EVA midsole, and thin rubber outsole.

Footwear

Your Sandal Sole Matters More When the Pavement Gets Hot

Rubber, EVA, and leather handle hot sidewalks differently, but thickness and layering matter more than the material name alone. Here is what to inspect before buying.

Dez Ferraro · 8 min read

Four sandals showing forefoot buckles, hook-and-loop straps, continuous webbing and a fixed front band.

Footwear

Wide-Foot Sandals Need Adjustment in Front, Not Just at the Ankle

We compared four common strap systems, using the Birkenstock Arizona as the baseline. The useful ones create room over the forefoot; the rest mostly stop your heel leaving without you.

Dez Ferraro · 8 min read

Black square-toe flip-flops on a hard floor, showing a centered heel and visible sole beside the forefoot.

Footwear

A Wide Square-Toe Sole Doesn't Mean the Flip-Flop Is Too Big

Square-toe flip-flops are supposed to look wider than the foot. The useful fit clues are toe-post placement, heel position, and whether the sole follows you through a full step.

Dez Ferraro · 8 min read

Black leather fisherman sandals with a closed cage toe and lug soles beside cropped trousers.

Trend Watch

Fisherman Sandals Are Becoming Basics. Leather Has the Edge.

The closed cage toe has spread from designer novelty to everyday footwear. Leather offers the widest wardrobe range, while molded rubber and tall platforms carry sharper comfort compromises.

Iris Mbeki · 7 min read

Three clear PVC jelly slides with smooth, ridged and pebbled footbeds arranged on a concrete sidewalk.

Footwear

A Textured Jelly Footbed Still Lets a Sweaty Foot Slide

Smooth, ridged and pebbled PVC footbeds behaved very differently after sweat. The useful grip came from heel and edge shaping, not decorative texture.

Dez Ferraro · 7 min read

Clear molded jelly slides on wet pavement, showing water pooled inside the raised heel edge.

Footwear

Jelly Slides Grip the Floor Better Than They Grip Your Feet

A rainy-week test found that outsole grooves matter, but the larger problem is often inside the slide: trapped water lets the foot move while the sole stays put.

Dez Ferraro · 8 min read

Close view of a leather thong sandal showing the fixed toe post, stitched instep straps, and foot position on the sole.

Footwear

Thong Sandals Pull Between the Toes. Break-In Rarely Fixes It.

Toe-post pain usually comes from alignment, strap tension, footbed length, or walking motion. Some leather straps can be adjusted; a misplaced post belongs back in the box.

Dez Ferraro · 8 min read

Black molded EVA slides on sun-warmed concrete, with one forefoot strap loosened by a notch.

Footwear

Men's Slides Fail at the Strap Before the Sole Gives Up

For hot pavement and a real walk, choose adjustable EVA over a rigid jelly strap. The danger zone is the lower strap edge, where heat, sweat and foot spread meet.

Dez Ferraro · 7 min read

Other impacts

One update a day

Today's fashion update, in your inbox

One fashion update each morning — no hype, no filler, just pieces worth wearing.