# Why is it that people hate sandals with socks? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 22, 2018, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-hate-sandals-with-socks/807214 "2018-01-22T15:23:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-hate-sandals-with-socks/807214/101 "2018-05-04T17:49:48Z")
> [@amaguri](#): > > This is one of those things where it’s helpful to simply not care. I don’t go out of my way to look ridiculous but I am certainly not above wearing socks with sandals on occasion or, what is apparently another fashion faux pas these days, the dreaded cargo short. It wasnt cargo shorts so much as cargo shorts that went down to the middle of mens calves. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-hate-sandals-with-socks/807214/102 "2018-05-04T17:54:33Z")
> [@phreesh](#): > > Sandals are made for warm weather. Socks are for cold weather. Why are you combining these things? Again, I understand your situation, but you should understand that you’re blowing against the wind here. > > I often wear shorts and sweaters, so I am also guilty of this, FWIW. Socks are to prevent blisters and soak up the sweat also. The joke about socks with sandals came from the elderly retired man who just moved to Boca , and now he can wear sandals and shorts, but he still wore the calf- length black socks he always used to wear. So brightly colored bermuda shorts with long black socks do look a little silly. No one cares about ankle socks with sandals. My Dad was in Australia for part of WW2 and he said the US Army was amazed at the diggers who walked around in cold weather with shorts- and high wool socks and sweaters. (but, no sandals) ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-hate-sandals-with-socks/807214/103 "2018-05-04T18:29:53Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > I dunno, I’ve seen the younger set wearing them more and more. True. And we need to draw a distinction between “sandals” (multi strapped open footwear), “flip flops” and “slides” (which is what the younger crowd is wearing now). Slides are super comfortable. I hate anything between my toes, so flip flops are out for me. But I dig sandals, and I really love slides. Slides with socks in the winter is where it’s at! ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-hate-sandals-with-socks/807214/104 "2018-05-04T18:40:23Z")
People’s feet sweat when wearing sandals? Maybe I’m using the wrong definition of sandals. Do your feet sweat when you are barefoot? If not, how do they sweat with just a couple of leather straps around them? ---
**Author:** ![Capn\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2018, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-hate-sandals-with-socks/807214/105 "2018-05-05T10:26:08Z")
> [@phreesh](#): > > Fashion is confusing. > > However, wearing clothes/shoes in ways that defeat their purpose is incongruous and often the subject of derision. > > As a basketball fan, the addition of tights under shorts/tanks tops look ridiculous to me. Shorts and tank tops are worn because basketball is a hot, sweaty sport. Why are you adding layers to this? I understand that they can have the beneficial impact of preventing injury, so I get it, but it still looks ridiculous. > > Sandals are made for warm weather. Socks are for cold weather. Why are you combining these things? Again, I understand your situation, but you should understand that you’re blowing against the wind here. > > I often wear shorts and sweaters, so I am also guilty of this, FWIW. Part of your stated confusion comes from your assumption that socks are only for warmth. They are also useful for conducting sweat away from the skin, and for reducing abrasion. ---
**Author:** ![Capn\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2018, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-hate-sandals-with-socks/807214/106 "2018-05-05T10:31:57Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > People’s feet sweat when wearing sandals? Maybe I’m using the wrong definition of sandals. Do your feet sweat when you are barefoot? If not, how do they sweat with just a couple of leather straps around them? It’s not just a couple of straps. It’s the whole bottom of the foot. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-hate-sandals-with-socks/807214/107 "2018-05-06T03:04:19Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > OP, I think you have Diabetes. …no, I’m pretty sure my doctor would have noticed by now. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-hate-sandals-with-socks/807214/108 "2018-05-06T12:55:53Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > People’s feet sweat when wearing sandals? Maybe I’m using the wrong definition of sandals. Do your feet sweat when you are barefoot? If not, how do they sweat with just a couple of leather straps around them? Yes, of course, although evaporation usually keeps up, so they don’t generally get very wet when I’m barefoot. My feet are ordinarily moist, but if I’ve been exercising wearing shoes and a take the shoes off, I leave footprints on a tile floor. Same if I’ve been exercising in sandals. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_blistering_barnacle/32/3386_2.png) [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Blistering_Barnacle)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2018, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-hate-sandals-with-socks/807214/109 "2018-05-06T19:12:14Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > My question for people is how they wear sandals without socks. Whenever I try wearing sandals I get blisters within about 10 minutes of putting them on unless I wear socks. Do other people have calluses around the sides of their feet, is there something I’m doing wrong? Or is it just that other people are willing to suffer in agony for fashion purposes. Nice sandals help. I love my Keene’s. But others are good, too. I used to like Birkenstocks, but my feet had to “toughen up” to them if I hadn’t worn them in a while. There may be individual variation as well. I’m sure that Brand A may be best for some people, while Brand B may be better for others. I’ve never done the Croc thing, but I’m considering giving it a whirl. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-hate-sandals-with-socks/807214/110 "2018-05-07T13:13:58Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Yes, of course, although evaporation usually keeps up, so they don’t generally get very wet when I’m barefoot. > > My feet are ordinarily moist, but if I’ve been exercising wearing shoes and a take the shoes off, I leave footprints on a tile floor. Same if I’ve been exercising in sandals. Why would you exercise in sandals? 🙂 So if your feet sweat no matter what you are wearing, and you have to wear socks because of it, what is the purpose of wearing sandals? Just wear regular shoes. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-hate-sandals-with-socks/807214/111 "2018-05-07T13:20:09Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > So if your feet sweat no matter what you are wearing, and you have to wear socks because of it, what is the purpose of wearing sandals? Just wear regular shoes. When the hell did sandals become a privilege to be earned and must be granted permission by the poobah of feet? The purpose of wearing sandals is when the person feels like wearing fucking sandals. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-hate-sandals-with-socks/807214/112 "2018-05-07T14:34:46Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > Why would you exercise in sandals? 🙂 > > So if your feet sweat no matter what you are wearing, and you have to wear socks because of it, what is the purpose of wearing sandals? Just wear regular shoes. Sandals with socks are a lot cooler than shoes with socks. I would have thought that would be obvious. Sometimes I like wearing sandals on days I will be doing a lot of urban walking. I wore sandals with socks when I visited Japan, because it was hot as hell and I needed something cool to walk in, and also something easy to slip on and off when I entered buildings. I also sometimes like to wear them when I fly, because my sandals are easier to take on and off than my comfortable shoes are – an advantage in the security line. Also, on a long international flight, it’s comfortable to take your shoes off. It avoids discomfort if your feet swell, or just if you accidentally kick your leg while trying to sleep. I wouldn’t want to go barefoot even for a brief period in an airplane, though. Ick. I suppose I could try to find sneakers with velcro for the “easy on/easy off” thing, but I have sandals that I like. And I have enough trouble finding shoes that fit well that when I find something, I stick with it. And what wolfman said. ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-hate-sandals-with-socks/807214/113 "2018-05-07T15:11:20Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > When the hell did sandals become a privilege to be earned and must be granted permission by the poobah of feet? The purpose of wearing sandals is when the person feels like wearing fucking sandals. Nobody’s telling you that you can’t wear socks and sandals. What people are telling you is that you can’t wear socks and sandals and also be considered fashionable. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-hate-sandals-with-socks/807214/114 "2018-05-07T15:25:26Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Sandals with socks are a lot cooler than shoes with socks. I would have thought that would be obvious. And I would have thought that sandals without socks would be even cooler than sandals with socks. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-hate-sandals-with-socks/807214/115 "2018-05-07T15:47:12Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > And I would have thought that sandals without socks would be even cooler than sandals with socks. And bare feet are cooler yet. But I can walk around in sandals with socks without getting blisters. I can’t do that with sandals and no socks. Socks are really functional. Maybe not to you, but to me and several others. The only time I wear “sandals” without socks is when I an swimming or boating in a place where I want to protect my feet from the rocks or other sharp items on the lake bottom. (Tevas) ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-hate-sandals-with-socks/807214/116 "2018-05-07T15:48:37Z")
> [@phreesh](#): > > Nobody’s telling you that you can’t wear socks and sandals. > > What people are telling you is that you can’t wear socks and sandals and also be considered fashionable. Yeah, let me count the ways I’m not fashionable. I can live with that. I am getting annoyed by the posters who seem to think I’m actually doing something wrong, though. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-hate-sandals-with-socks/807214/117 "2018-05-07T17:21:33Z")
> [@phreesh](#): > > Nobody’s telling you that you can’t wear socks and sandals. > > What people are telling you is that you can’t wear socks and sandals and also be considered fashionable. No, no we are not. Look, yes, older men wearing bright bermuda shorts with calf high socks and sandals look a little silly- and as has been pointed out, were/are pretty common. So that’s where the meme for “no socks with sandals” came from. Ankle socks are fine. (Or thick wool socks when hiking). It’s like the “fedoras are stupid” meme- which was caused by some wanna-be players wearing trilbies (not really fedoras- on dating sites and looking kinda stupid. A nice fedora with a suit is fine, in the right weather. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-that-people-hate-sandals-with-socks/807214.md?page=5)