Men’s sandals say more about your fashion sense than you probably realise. And whether you are a ‘sports slides’ by the pool guy, a ‘Vespa and rolled up trousers’ guy, or a leather Birkenstock loving ‘swag man’, you are going to want to purchase the best men’s sandals to suit your ‘look’.
While we admit it’s hardly neuroscience, from personal experience, misunderstood ‘resort chic’ invitations and many wasted dollars spent, we can tell you this purchasing decision is not as simple as it seems. Firstly, you need to decide what style of men’s sandals are best for you.
Australians hold onto their ‘thongs’ with vice-like grips, for example (that’s flip-flops for those who live everywhere else), yet the influx of slides now dominates the vast majority of beaches and poolsides.
You also have the more sophisticated options to contend with, using materials including leather and suede, for pairs that can comfortably be paired with a pair of chino shorts and a smart button-down shirt for evening drinks on the town.
With style taken care of, it’s time to start checking out the brands making waves in the mens’ sandals category, and that’s where we come in. From lesser-known Japanese brands like Suicoke, suave British manufacturers like Grenson, Moroccan Mirage labels like Casablanca 1942 and haute couture favourites like Valentino and Saint Laurent, there is an abundance of shoemakers to consider.
And that’s before you even get onto men’s sandal staples like Birkenstock, premium offerings like Gucci, Irish-Italian fusions like O’Keeffe, classics like Ancient Greek Sandals and, of course, Prada (recommended by Satan himself).
Some other helpful DMARGE stories about footwear:
SUICOKE
1/29
Price: From $110
Sizes: 5-13
Material: Textile, rubber
Like your feet cool and your sandals cooler? How about stylish and performance enabled? Established in 2006. SUICOKE is practically a Japanese religious denomination — one known and loved for its wide selection of performance sandals. No matter, what type of sandal you’re after, SUICOKE make some of the best men’s sandals on the market.
Crocs
2/29
Price: From $45
Sizes: 4-17
Material: Croslite™ foam
Forget their male contraceptive connotations for one second, Crocs are popular for a reason. Simple in their use of proprietary materials and colours that offers comfort and durability, Crocs slides and sandals are the do-it-all, go-anywhere kind of footwear. And remember, it’s all about confidence while wearing these bad boys.
Athletic Propulsion Labs
3/29
Price: From $100
Sizes: 7-14
Material: Techloom, Propelium™
Comfort is at an all-time high with the APL Big Logo TechLoom Slide. Featuring a soft and flexible TechLoom strap with mesh lining, your feet will thank you every time you slip these men’s sandals on. The antimicrobial mesh footbed covers a 3D molded footbed that massages your feet with every step. Get in there!
Adidas
4/29
Price: From $40
Sizes: 4-11
Material: PU-coated synthetic
The iconic sandal of gym goers and football players world over, the Adidas sandal is a piece of rubber that isn’t too show-off-y and won’t let you down. And if you need us to tell you what Adidas as a brand stands for then their marketing team must have been doing something wrong for the last 70 years (they were founded in 1949, in Herzogenaurach, Germany).
Grenson
5/29
Price: From $238
Sizes: 6-12
Material: Calf leather
While ‘Chadwick Two Straps’ may sound like a young, wholesome American man (Chad means ‘naive young dude’ in US parlance) these men’s sandals are anything but. Made by British shoewear designer Grenson, the Chadwick will make you look suave and sophisticated in handmade Northhamptonshire style.
Sperry
6/29
Price: From $60
Sizes: 7-14
Material: EVA
The brand that introduced the boat shoe to the world has taken that same silhouette but made it more amphibious by adding extra holes to allow water to pass through. Yet, you still get the brand’s high-grip outsole, so when you’re weaving your way over slippery rocks, you’ll remain firmly planted. They make a full range of men’s sandals for all occasions.
Teva
7/29
Price: From $45
Sizes: 7-14
Material: REPREVE® polyester, EVA
Teva began in 1984 when a river guide created men’s sandals that wouldn’t float away. If you need this in your life (or on your feet) then have a gander at this icon of comfort and utilitarian style.
Nike
8/29
Price: From $40
Sizes: 6-18
Material: Textile, rubber
If you don’t know what Nike stands for then, like Adidas, there is little hope for you in this world. Just kidding. Sort of. Anyway: Nike makes some pretty shmick beach and pool footwear – and is a particular favourite for its men’s slides – but we wouldn’t recommend you wear them to a hotel launch where the dress code is ‘resort chic’. Trust us: we found that out the hard way… That said if you are a fashion maverick, you could probably make them work with skinny jeans or chinos, a la New Balance or Balenciaga sneakers. But this is a mission fraught with risk.
Camper
9/29
Price: From $120
Sizes: 6-13
Material: 100% Recycled P.E.T.
For the man who likes to gallivant across Europe and its coastal towns and cities, Camper has you covered. The Spanish footwear brand serves up a multitude of men’s sandals suitable for city, beach, or both, with a strong focus placed on materials and comfort. Whether you’re after slip-on sandals or strap sandals, Camper has them all.
Chaco
10/29
Price: From $75
Sizes: 7-14
Material: Polyester
If you spend any time near water, you need a pair of water sandals, and Chaco’s men’s sandals are built exactly for that purpose. Founded by a rafting guide in 1989, Chaco sandals have been designed specifically to tread water and provide immense amounts of grip. Like other brands on this list, Chaco offers strap sandals, slip-on sandals, even hiking and sports sandals, with many pairs capable of being customised with regards to colour.
Geox
11/29
Whether you’re after a Birkenstock knock-off, a slide to easily slip into, or dad-worthy Jesus creepers, you’ll find them all at Geox. Plenty of R&D goes into each pair, so your feet will always be caressed in pure comfort, changing the way you live out your all-inclusive resort holidays forever.
Vionic
12/29
Price: From $119
Sizes: 5-15
Material: Leather
Encroaching more into dress sandal territory is Vionic. The American company has been in the footwear business since 1979, and started life helping those with foot problems find shoes that worked to their irregularities. All that experience is incorporated into its collection of men’s sandals and slides, all of which offer improved arch support, helping prevent any future injuries. They’re good-looking too (we’re particular fans of the Charlie) with premium leather featuring across the range.
Ugg
13/29
Price: From $40
Sizes: 7-15
Material: EVA
Yep, not just a maker of soft boots for winter, Ugg is also on hand to gift you men’s sandals and slides for all your summer escapades. While you won’t find any fur linings on pairs designed for outdoors, you can get Uber-fluffy pairs to waltz around the house (or down to the local bottle shop at night). You can still expect high quality materials, however, such as full-grain leather and Ugg’s own outsole technology for increased comfort.
Merrell
14/29
Price: From $75
Sizes: 7-15
Material: Suede, EVA
Didn’t think sandals and hiking could intertwine? Think again. Outdoor specialist Merrell wants to kit you out with everything you could possibly need for life on the beaten track, which is why their men’s sandals collection features tough, rugged and incredibly grippy outsoles for ultimate traction. Whether you want to traverse mountains or wade through water, Merrel’s collection of lightweight sandals and slides will get you to the other side.
Kenneth Cole
15/29
Price: From $35
Sizes: 7-13
Material: EVA
For the man who wants to hold onto his youth, Kenneth Cole has a range of colourful men’s sandals and slides that won’t necessarily win awards for most innovative footwear ever, but they won’t dent the wallet either. For simple, affordable slides, you’d be a fool to pass them up.
Columbia
16/29
Price: From $70
Sizes: 7-14
Material: Suede, Plush TechLite™
You should be familiar with the Columbia brand name. Famed for its range of outdoor technical gear, covering everything from clothing to footwear to equipment, the Oregon-based company has the means to come up against any challenge. It’s with this in mind that its range of outdoor sandals for men are so popular, with many pairs offering up excellent of grip and comfort, no matter if you choose their slides or their strap-on sandals. They might not necessarily take home any prizes for aesthetic appeal compared to some others on this list, but for getting you where you need to go, they’re more than capable.
Ancient Greek Sandals
17/29
Price: From $175
Sizes: 2-17
Material: 100% Calf leather
Just reading the words Miltos Leather Beach Sandal makes you feel like you should already be in Mykonos with silica sand between your toes. Unfortunately, you are probably on a bus or train right now, hunched over an iPhone. The good news is though, that buying these epic men’s sandals, from Ancient Greek Sandals, a purveyor of some of the most stylish, masculine footwear in the world, will make that Greek Island holiday that much more enjoyable (and photogenic) whenever you actually make it there.
Under Armour
18/29
Price: From $25
Sizes: 7-15
Material: Textile, EVA
For those who like to pledge allegiance to sportswear brands, whether you play for a team or you like to think of yourself as a rising star, then you’ll probably appreciate Under Armour’s collection of men’s sandals and slides. Offering sandals that are a step-up over basic high-street pairs, UA gives gives plenty of foam cushioning and adjustable straps on select models. We also think they look pretty cool…for sandals.
Rockport
19/29
Price: From $75
Sizes: 7-15
Material: Textile, EVA
Rockport’s mission ever since it was founded has been to blend the worlds of dress shoes and sneakers, to produce a range of shoes that look good, feel good and fit well. No matter the footwear, Rockport ensures the footbed and sole are designed to specific proportions for the best comfort. While you will find strap sandals and trail sandals within the range, Rockport also has a few pairs of dress slides to carry you from beach to bar and everywhere in between.
Birkenstock
20/29
Price: From $50
Sizes: 6-13.5
Material: EVA
Ahh. The sweet smell of leather. A favourite holiday shoe for well off backpackers and business travellers (during the leisure component of their trips) Birkenstocks are men’s sandals for fashion-conscious explorers. Founded in 1774; to say the perennial German sandal brand knows its stuff would be an understatement.
Seichi
21/29
Price: From $60
Sizes: 5-13
Material: Textile, EVA
Japanese brand Seichi is a slides-only brand whose pairs bring together the worlds of luxury and streetwear. Even taking the name away you would be able to recognise these as Japanese, given their eclectic styling and chunky features. Lightweight materials, comfortable padded footbeds and rubber outsoles, you’ll never want to take them off.
Dr. Scholl's Shoes
22/29
Price: From $45
Sizes: 7-13
Material: Faux leather
If you have unruly feet that need as much help and support as you can physically give them, then a brand such as Dr. Scholl is one for you. Not only are the vast majority of men’s sandals and slides made from sustainable materials (good work Dr. Scholl), but they feature proprietary technology to serve up incredibly comfortable ergonomic fits. And that technology is applied to all slides, sandals, and flip-flops. No discrimination here.
Dior
23/29
Price: From $1,100
Sizes: 36-47
Material: Nubuck leather
If you’ve got money just burning a hole in your pocket, then we’d like to point your attention to Dior’s range of men’s slides and men’s sandals. You do get a decent pair in return for your outgoings, however, with premium materials such as suede and calfskin leather, along with genuinely useful design and comfort. Admittedly, only those who can only find solace in the likes of Monaco and St. Tropez will apply for a pair, they’re not as tacky as you’d first assume.
Gucci
24/29
Price: From $390
Sizes: 7-12
Material: Quilted GG rubber
Gucci’s logo-embossed rubber slides may be the footwear of choice of The Rich Kids Of Instagram, but worn a little more tastefully, they can also be the key for a stylish man who would like to invoke a little ‘Italian cool’ into his summer fashion game. Probably not the best men’s sandals of choice for the gym but with regards to anywhere else, we’re sold. Gucci was born in Florence — a Mecca for art, history, luxury and architecture — and these premium men’s sandals reflect that both in aesthetic and price.
Saint Laurent
25/29
Price: From $745
Sizes: 6-12.5
Material: Leather
Saint Laurent’s Fabrice Suede Sandals rock the French luxury fashion house’s haute couture slant with heel-slapping aplomb. Purchase these men’s sandals now or forever hold your Havaianas…
Valentino
26/29
Price: From $370
Sizes: 5-13
Material: Polyester, Rubber
Valentino’s Trim Rubber sandals are a wardrobe staple that are really too good to be hidden away in your shoe cupboard. If you’re not acquainted with the legendary Italian brand then all you need to know is that they are masters of intrigue and style — and with a pair of these men’s sandals you will be too (as long as you don’t wear them with socks or a Bintang singlet)
Greats
27/29
Price: From $129
Sizes: 6-14
Material: 100% Recycled ballistic nylon
Born in Brooklyn, New York, footwear brand Greats, founded in 2012, predominantly produces sneakers, but they do have some men’s sandals and men’s slides in their fold. The Classon Utility sandal and the Classon Utility slide are ‘tough, rugged, and strong’ and feature velcro straps so you can customise both the sandal and the slide’s fit to suit YOUR feet, for ultimate comfort. Plus, both versions of the Classon Utility have soft lycra lining for maximum breathability and EVA outsoles for shock absorption and support. Available in two classic colours, whether you go for the sandal or the slide, your feet will look and feel good.
Kane Footwear
28/29
Price: From $75
Sizes: 3-16
Material: Sugarcane-based EVA foam
Kane Footwear, a new brand, only has one shoe to offer; the Revive. Foot and ankle surgeon, Dr Daniel Geller, specialises in sports injuries and was instrumental in integrating recovery-based orthopedic principles into the prototypes of the Revive. The shoe combines scientific principles with sustainable materials to create footwear that helps athletes recover in comfort and style.
Kane’s Revive features exterior perforations and interior channels for enhanced airflow, raised footbed nodes to activate blood flow in key pressure points, dual-density construction for generous cushioning, arch and active support, and oversized channels and siped soles to provide flexibility and traction. Available in seven colours, and crafted from only renewable and sustainable materials, Kane’s Revive will keep your feet comfortable.
Greys
29/29
Price: From $88
Sizes: 4-13
Material: Wool, synthetic
Grey’s range of footwear is made up of slip-ons, slides, and boots that are all essentially slippers. Crafted from premium leather or temperature-regulating wool, Grey’s slides are ever so soft and comfortable with or without socks, and feature a reinforced leather pull tab to easily put them on or off. They also feature a stub-proof toe box to keep your toes safe, have grippy rubber outsoles, and modern silhouettes, meaning these slides aren’t restricted to be worn only at home. Talk about all day comfort.