A Guide to Men’s Leather Sandals

Summer is almost here, so what are you wearing on your feet? Hopefully, not socks with sandals, guys. If you’re reading this, you probably have more fashion sense than that. To help you out even more, I have created a guide to men’s leather sandals for you this summer.

For the young college gentleman, it might be time to upgrade your flip-flops. Reef makes the “Smoothy”, a leather flip-flop for $40 at zappos.com. The upper and post are leather, and the footbed is leather lined as well. Unlike the regular flip-flop, this shoe has some rubber arch support. This will allow the shoe to conform to your feet over time, making it a very comfortable shoe.

Some people find flip-flops uncomfortable, while others want their sandals to provide toe protection. Keen makes a leather sandal just for that type of consumer. The “Arroyo ” is a cross between a fisherman’s sandal and a trail running shoe. Some people run trails with these, while others wear them about town. They run about $100 online at rei.com and other stores, and they go up to size 14. Don’t like stinky sandals? The “Arroyo II” has a odor-repelling inner liner to prevent bacteria and fungus growth.

A more refined men’s leather sandal is the Timberland “Altamont” sandal, available for $94 from zappos.com. This style is most appropriate for work because it has both a closed toe and closed heel. However, it may not be a great style on hot or humid days because the sandal does not offer feet much ventilation. It does have a moisture absorbing liner, which will cut down on the blisters but may increase foot odor.

Some men want athletic sandals if they can’t wear their sneakers. Nike makes the “Ultimate Slide” for those men who want a leather sandal by the sneaker maker. Available for $41 from zappos.com, it is a basic black slide with the Nike swoosh in white. It has a leather upper and a rubber sole. Basic and athletic, but not really appropriate to play sports in.

If you’re thinking of the basic men’s leather sandal, one of the most common is the Birkenstock “Arizona” sandal, available for between $70 to $80 and most shoe stores. Birkenstocks have leather uppers and cork footbeds, allowing the sandal to conform to the wearer’s feet. It can be difficult to break these sandals in, so allow a week for them to start to conform to your feet, according to my personal experience.

Though most Teva sandals are made with nylon and rubber, Teva also makes men’s leather sandals. The “Fossil Canyon” sells for $84 is available in black and brown. According to the zappos.com product description, the sandal is treated with a microbial coating to prevent odor and bacterial growth.

Some men may be searching for an elegant sandal. I believe one of the most elegant ones I’ve seen is the Tommy Bahama “Palermo” available at nordstrom.com for $145. These have perforated wide leather straps, a leather foot bed, and a rubber sole. Perfect for the resort!

One last pair of men’s leather sandals worth a mention are the Born “Shon” available for $89.95 at nordstrom.com. It has both an open heel and open toe, but it also looks like a fishermen’s sandal. It’s a nice compromise if you want the fisherman sandal look but also want maximum ventilation.