Winter has arrived, and if it hasn’t hit your hometown yet, don’t worry, it’ll be there soon enough. For many, this is a welcome sight. For most, it’s chilling and means it’s time to head south. If you’re planning on escaping old man winter with a tropical trip (or simply dreaming of warmer weather), you’ll probably need some new vacation sandals. Continue reading this month’s blog for things to consider when selecting the perfect sandal for your trip.

There are many things to take into consideration when picking out a pair of sandals. Lucky for you, we’ve condensed the list into four key factors that make all the difference.

 

Pictured: Men’s Reef Ortho Bounce Coast Sandal in Brown

Material

What your sandal is constructed of is a good indicator of whether or not it’ll be up to the task of your trip. Sandals come in a wide variety of materials including foam, neoprene, leather, synthetics and more— each being better suited for a specific type of vacation than others. EVA and other foams tend to be softer and prioritize comfort, however, are not as suitable for hiking or significant walking as a sandal made of leather or synthetics. Sandals made of foam and other soft materials should be at the top of your list if your vacation involves an all-inclusive resort and a lot of poolside lounging. In contrast, a more durable sandal made of leather or man-made leathers (which can be combined with other materials such as neoprene or canvas) should be considered if your trip is calling for lots of walking or hiking.

Pictured: Women’s Teva Tirra Sandal in Black

Fit

After narrowing down the type of material your sandals should be made of, you should next consider the fit. This is because thong and strapped sandals will provide a significantly different fit than that of a closed-toe sandal or a sandal with adjustable straps. All can be found in a wide variety of materials, but only those with the proper fit are truly up to the test. Revisiting our all-inclusive, poolside vacation, a thong or 2-strap sandal will provide a secure, comfortable and suitable fit for wearing to and from the pool, out to dinner and on leisurely sunset walks. They will not, however, provide an appropriate fit for walking/hiking trips. These will require a more secure fit that only that of a multi-strap or closed-toe sandal can provide.

Pictured: Aetrex Georgia Toe Loop Sandal in Black

 Support

Once you’ve decided on the fit and material of your sandal, it’s time to shift your attention to the sole of the sandal. Depending on how much time you plan to spend on your feet, the outsole will need to be more or less supportive. This is especially true for trips where you will be on the go most of the day. Spending many hours on your feet is cause for an unenjoyable trip unless you have sandals with a proper outsole. Estimate the number of hours you plan to spend on your feet over the course of the day and as the hours increase, so should the thickness of the sole on your sandal. Sandals with a thin foam outsole and minimal traction are suitable for shorter periods spent on your feet whereas sandals with a thicker, multi-density outsole with significant traction are better for adventure vacations and long days on your feet.

Style

And last but not least, you should always consider the style of your sandal. After all, you want to make sure you look good, right?

Bonus Travel Tip

Nowadays, vacations can be more than just one thing. You can visit an all-inclusive resort and still spend one day in the jungle hiking. This is why we highly recommend bringing multiple pairs of sandals with you on your trip. Each is better suited for different activities and will provide benefits that the others cannot. Multiple pairs of sandals also give your sandals the chance to dry (if you’ve been out hiking all day) but also helps them last longer. We recommend bringing an activity sandal and a casual sandal, however, some trips may be better suited for two pairs of activity or casual sandals.

Featured Styles

Now that you know what to look for in a sandal check out some of our team’s favourite styles for each type of vacation. And even if you prefer a different sandal, the images below are a good example of what a proper sandal may look like for each type of vacation.

Trip: Nothing But Poolside Lounging

The Birkenstock EVA styles are one of our favourites for leisurely lounging and minimal activity. They’re incredibly comfortable, lightweight and can be dried off in an instant with a quick wipe of a towel. Not to mention, they float! Check out our colourful selection of Birkenstock EVA styles for the whole family!

Trip: Poolside Relaxation with a Hint of Short Leisurely Excursions

The Birkenstock Arizona style is available in a wide array of materials, colours and sizes for the entire family. And thanks to its adjustable 2-strap design, its also a great option if you plan to do a lot of relaxing and a little bit of exploring. The iconic cork footbed is comfortable and supportive while the leather or Birko-Flor (synthetic leather-like material) upper is durable and up to the task of light excursions.

Trip: Remote Adventure with Zero Downtime

For the most adventurous vacations, the Keen’s Newport for kids is a must-have. It provides toe-protection, optimal grip and a lace closure system for the most treacherous hikes while still providing the airiness of a traditional sandal. Take it in the water, on the trails and anywhere else you go on your trip.

You are now ready for your trip! Ok, maybe not entirely, but your footwear certainly is. Visit one of our 15 locations across Ontario to shop our selection of sandals and chat with our fit experts, or visit us online any time of the day at beckershoes.com.