# Sandals **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 6, 2006, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandals/367574 "2006-08-06T17:17:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandals/367574/21 "2006-08-06T19:59:11Z")
I got 2 pair of Timberland double-velcro-strap sandals this summer and found them cool and comfy. They also keep my heel calluses down. I have big-toenail issues, however, so I wear anklet sox with them if I’m going anywhere people know me. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandals/367574/22 "2006-08-06T20:37:27Z")
Since I was 10 or so I have never been without a pair of Bass sandals. The current pair, I just realized, is older than my youngest child, so I’m due for another pair but they last really well. I usually get huaraches, which only last a season or two. The season in question is always summer, by the way. I also have a couple of dressy high-heeled sandals although really, if they’re high heels, they aren’t technically sandals even if they are kinda bare–because you could wear them any dressy time and not just summer–a really comfy pair by Josef Seibel that are very good for walking and are as close to Birkenstocks as I’m gonna get, a pair of Dr. Scholls, and some flip-flop things (not thongs but just the strap over the toes). I guess I have about ten pairs of sandals, and this is excluding the high heels. I will not wear thongs, Crocs, or Birkenstocks. Things that go in between my toes disturb me, Crocs are too plastic, and Birkenstocks…I don’t know what I have against them. ---
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandals/367574/23 "2006-08-06T20:46:04Z")
When I was a kid, say grade school age, I always had a pair of leather-strap sandals. I remember at least one instance where another kid thought I was uncool because of them. I went quite a while without any sandals when my last childhood pair fell to pieces at about age 14. I have a pair of those velcro strap, rubber sole sandals now that are close to 10 years old. I need a new pair as they are quite worn under my toes. I’ve never liked the way flip-flops feel, plus I can’t walk normally in them. I have no idea what “huaraches” are, even after an image search. How the hell do people keepall these fashion terms straight? ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandals/367574/24 "2006-08-06T21:14:07Z")
I wear sandals to work all summer. Maybe I can get away with it because I’m a woman? They’re nice looking sandals and they have great arch support. **Clockwork And Candy** , don’t let somebody’s casual remark make you smother your toes the whole rest of your life! Who cares what some weirdo with undersized, scrawny toes says about your toes? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandals/367574/25 "2006-08-06T21:42:37Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > I was thrown off by this: \*\*Shagnasty is originally from Louisiana, iirc. FWIW, I’m in the office right now and wearing sandals. But it’s Sunday. And this is Florida. All normal rules of fashion fly out the window here. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandals/367574/26 "2006-08-06T22:37:59Z")
I have a dozen or more pairs of cheap flip flops in various colors and with various accesories- beaded, etc. I have lots of sandals too. I seldom wear closed-toe shoes except in the dead of winter. Home office, so I can work in PJs if I want to. I am a born and raised beach girl and sandals are 100% okay for almost any occasion. Granted, it is much easier for girls to dress sandals up or down to suit. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandals/367574/27 "2006-08-06T22:44:06Z")
Tevas. All the time except the dead of winter. Because they’re as close as I can get to those tire tread sandals of the 70’s, which I assume, perhaps inaccurately, were based on sandals that GIs saw in Southeast Asia, where they were the footwear of the Khmer Rouge, among others. Since Tevas are named from the Hebrew word “nature,” which has seghol as its first vowel, it would be TEH-(eh as in _pen)_ in Hebrew. In English, I hear people pronounv\cing it both ways; in Hebrew, I hear a little tiny bit of -y sound in there, but not the sustained -y sound of TAY-va. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandals/367574/28 "2006-08-06T22:46:41Z")
I hadn’t worn sandals for years. This year I picked up a pair of Keen’s. The toes are covered so I’m a little more comfortable with that. For my work purposes any type of sandals are right out. Redwing boots are my most common foot wear. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2006, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandals/367574/29 "2006-08-06T22:58:09Z")
birkenstocks…mmmmm… tsfr ---
**Author:** ![Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myron_Van_Horowitzski)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2006, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandals/367574/30 "2006-08-08T17:45:26Z")
You’d have to pry my Chacos from my cold, dead, feet. ---
**Author:** ![Hunter\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/50afbb/32.png) [@Hunter\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hunter_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2006, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandals/367574/31 "2006-08-08T18:55:49Z")
I have a pair of the Athens style of Birkenstock sandals; unfortunately, this style is no longer made. I get compliments about them on a pretty regular basis, and whenever I bring them into the shop to be repaired, the store clerks all gather round to ooh and aah over them (then again, I _do_ live in Seattle, where this sort of reaction to nice Birks is to be expected). ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2006, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandals/367574/32 "2006-08-08T20:00:22Z")
> [@Clockwork And Candy](#): > > I don’t wear sandals, 'cause this one time I wore them someone told me that I have fat toes. I don’t know if this is true or not, but from that day onward I vowed NEVER to wear them again. > > So that is why I _always_ have socks on and it’s part of the reason I don’t go swinmming. The next person who actually sees my feet is going to be whoever embalms my corpse. Please reconsider. Bare feet in the surf is such a wonderful feeling. I wear Birks all spring, summer and fall. If I’ll be wading or around water I’ll wear my bright yellow Birki gardening thongs. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2006, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandals/367574/33 "2006-08-08T20:02:48Z")
Oh, and men around here wear Tevas (teevas) plenty and look pretty darn good in them. Without sox, preferably. ---
**Author:** ![Ender\_Will](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Ender\_Will](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ender_Will)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandals/367574/34 "2006-08-09T02:39:17Z")
I wear sandals ([Rainbows](http://www.rainbowsandals.com) specifically) as much as possible, including to work. Admitedly, I work in a very laid back office in a rather laid back town. My one beef with sandal wearers is those who don’t learn to walk quietly in them. It really isn’t very hard to prevent the “flip flop” sound, and it will make everyone else happy. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandals/367574/35 "2006-08-09T02:53:57Z")
I wear sandals in the summer; they’re the only sane footware on a hot day. Brand doesn’t matter to me; I’m currently wearing Champion, and I have Nike or something upstairs. No flip flops, though – too flimsy. I prefer the strap over the foot. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandals/367574/36 "2006-08-09T06:47:15Z")
I wear all kinds, as often as possible. I have tons of different inexpensive flip flops, a pair of OP sports sandals and some leather Jesus-types. Since I’d prefer to forever run around with bare feet, this instead is the next best thing. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandals/367574/37 "2006-08-09T06:54:14Z")
Oh, and I forgot to add that you can count me as one female who can _salivate_ over a man brave enough to show off his feet. Especially when it’s incredibly hot and obviously the most prudent thing to do anyway, I salute his footwear choice of not conforming to previous societal norms and going for comfort instead. As a matter of fact, I look more askance at someone who will _never_ abandon something simply because they fear the reactions/opinions of their detractors. Certainly if that decision then flies in the face of practicality. ---
**Author:** ![LiveOnAPlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandals/367574/38 "2006-08-09T07:33:08Z")
No. I don’t particularlly care for them, personally. I much prefer flips (flip-flops, go-aheads, whatever). 90 persent of the time, this is what I wear to work, too. On occasion, maybe tennis shoes, but then I get catcalls about “Hey, when’s the job interview?” Just a personal thing. A lot of my co-workers wear sandals. I guess it’s just a reaction to my mom making me wear them when I was in grade school. :o ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandals/367574/39 "2006-08-09T13:36:39Z")
> [@Ender\_Will](#): > > My one beef with sandal wearers is those who don’t learn to walk quietly in them. It really isn’t very hard to prevent the “flip flop” sound, and it will make everyone else happy. Remember that Seinfeld where George buys the perfect suit but then it ends up making a scritch-scritch noice when he walks around? A couple of my pairs of Birkenstocks do that too! :o ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2006, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandals/367574/40 "2006-08-09T14:00:42Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I am a libertarian so I don’t really care what people wear on a global level. However, sandals are an extremely dangerous and volatile class of footwear to choose. If someone is looking for a date, a job, or anything else that requires the scrutiny of someone else, they are a poor choice. There is nothing that they broadcast that is positive. I have a feeling that the users of these things have little idea of how much of the negative in their lives is caused by this choice of footwear. Oooohhh Kaaayyy. Anyway, sandals are my favorite part of summer. Currently, I have a dressy pair from Aldo with a back strap and a thong that I get away with wearing them to work, even. I also have thong flip-flops and a slip-on pair with a front strap. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandals/367574.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sandals/367574.md?page=3)