Shoes as they are actually walked in
Jelly slides, square toe flip flops, sandals, mesh flats, sneakers and boots - sizing and width quirks, break-in, heat and wet-weather performance, care and resoling.
Dez FerraroFootwear writer
Footwear
A runner’s loop helps some loose heels, while skipped eyelets and tongue anchoring solve different pressure problems. Here is how to test each before the return window closes.
Dez Ferraro · August 11, 2026 · 8 min
Footwear
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
Footwear
Heel lift can mean excess length, but it can also mean the upper has too much room. A short indoor fit test separates a lacing fix from the wrong size or shape.
Dez Ferraro · 7 min read
Footwear
A full day in open mesh confirmed some airflow, plus a less charming delivery of pavement grit. The deciding issues were the toe seam and flimsy side support.
Dez Ferraro · 8 min read
Footwear
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
Footwear
A removable insole does not guarantee room for an orthotic. Compare the two inserts, then test heel height, toe space and tongue pressure before the shoes leave the house.
Dez Ferraro · 8 min read
Footwear
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
Footwear
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
Footwear
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
Footwear
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
Footwear
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
Footwear
Surface dirt usually comes off. Oxidized foam and discolored adhesive often do not, and forcing the issue can leave a cleaner-looking sole attached to a worse shoe.
Dez Ferraro · 8 min read
Footwear
Waterproof, cheap and genuinely fun. They also sweat, and the strap edge is the thing to watch.
Dez Ferraro · 4 min read
One update a day
One fashion update each morning — no hype, no filler, just pieces worth wearing.