Ugly Sandals Are in for Summer - Here's Four Pairs You Should Buy

If you’re a seasoned sneakerhead, you may find it hard to ditch your kicks in the summer. For a time, there wasn’t really a suitable (read: fashionable) alternative, at least not until slides became more acceptable at least. Relatively inoffensive in terms of design, there are some that will still argue that slides are made for poolside use, or lounging around the house. It's true that in a busy world where people are always on the move, we really need a little more support from our footwear options. So, we hate to break it to you, but there’s a much more practical option out there, and it's gaining traction within the fashion scene. Enter: the ugly sandal.

Now, the ugly sandal trend might conjure up images of your dad in front of the barbecue grill, or pasty pensioners setting off on a hiking trail. We ask you to put these judgments to the side because the reality is that it doesn’t have to be this way. After all, the humble dad sandal did get Balenciaga’s seal of approval just a few months ago, and the luxury fashion house isn’t the only brand exploring its options outside of sneakers. Still, if you need a little more convincing, then read on, as we’ve pulled together three pairs to help you capitalise on the trend.

Salehe Bembury is easily one of the most sought-after footwear designers and collaborators in the industry right now, and his Crocs Pollex Clog surprised everyone when it was selling for 10x its retail price on the secondary market. Managing to capitalise on a couple of trends at the same time (Clogcore and Gorpcore included) the shoe became a must-have for fashion enthusiasts that were looking for something a little different. Having previously worked for Yeezy and Versace, and being a frequent New Balance collaborator, Bembury already had quite the following, so combined with Crocs’ killer marketing strategies, demand for the shoe exploded.

Designed to be worn at home but also supportive enough to wear out on the trails, the unusually shaped slip-on shoe featured a textured design that replicated the designer’s fingerprint, as well as an elastic strap to for a secure fit. The latest instalment is set to arrive in a bright orange “Cobbler” colourway, this is definitely a sandal worthy of any sneakerhead’s rotation.

If you don’t actually own a pair of Suicoke sandals yet, you are definitely missing out. The Japanese brand makes some of the comfiest footwear known to man, and it's all perfectly suited to casual dressing. With a number of collaborations under its belt already, the brand has tapped artist Joshua Vides for its latest pair, with his signature sketches taking centre stage.

In all honesty, the design of this pair doesn’t exactly help the orthopedic vibe that a chunky sandal might give off, as they feature a sketched skeletal foot spread across the closed toe box and collars. Foam and neoprene make up the construction to ensure a comfy fit, and both the brand and artist's branding hits the straps. Even if these aren’t to your taste, we’d highly recommend checking out Suicoke's selection, as you’re bound to find a style you click with – just trust us!

Known for its experimental use of shapes and slightly Avant-Garde approach to footwear, it’s surprising that the new Eytys Quest Sandal is probably the most typical looking of the lot, however, it does see a little extra height get added to the classic sandal shape. Set to arrive in three colourways, including a particularly gorpy tan and purple iteration, the shoe manages to blend street style with hiking culture seamlessly. This pair is surprisingly practical with criss-cross Velcro straps and perforated panels, while the exaggerated sole unit adds a high-fashion touch.

If you're not quite ready to hang up your slides in favour of sandals just yet, then we've got good news for you. Another chunky slide based on a classic Nike sneaker is on the horizon, only this time its the turn of the Nike Uptempo. The Nike Air More Uptempo Slide "Black/White" sees the classic Uptempo branding adorn the bridge of the slide, while a comfy Air bubble-equipped sole unit sits underfoot. With an upper made from nubuck, these are just as practical as some of the other sandals on this list, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for more release info on these.

So, are you convinced yet? If you're still convinced that slides are more your vibe then that's fine, we totally get it. In fact, we just put together a guide on everything you need to know about Yeezy Slides, so why not check that out next?