Sandals

NAPPA EXTRA PADDED SLIPPER

RIO PLATFORM SANDAL | LIME

It’s finally time to splurge on a nice pedicure and a pair of sandals (or three) to match. The Spring 2022 runways brought the best sandal styles to shop and wear this summer, from fisherman-style footwear at Max Mara to sporty slides at Proenza Schouler. To help prepare your wardrobe for all of your warm-weather plans, we’ve rounded up the hottest sandal trends for you to shop ASAP.

Don’t wait for foot or leg pain to arrive to get serious about supportive shoes. Jason Bergmann, owner of Natural Balance Orthotics, a Chicago-area custom orthotics company, says that the most common complaints he addresses with patients are heel pain, metatarsalgia, and various types of lower-leg issues. “Now people walk into our office and they have some knowledge; they understand that wearing high heels is bad—and also flip-flops are no good, where 10 years ago, that wasn't the case,” he says, noting that he’s seeing a younger demographic frequenting his family’s practice. "Your 50s or 60s is often when you start to have real foot issues, and now [those patients’] kids come in.”

Amazon Essentials, the retailer's in-house brand, knows what it means to stick to the basics—after all, that is its specialty. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that the line has perfected the art of the simple summer shoe with its Casual Strappy Sandal. The style offers a slightly more elevated look than a pair of flip flops, but you can still style the casual sandals with any outfit—and with 2,400 five-star ratings, shoppers think the shoes hit the mark.

15 seriously stylish chunky sandals that prove this '90s trend has staying power

But some shoes are better than others. Flip-flops, heels, thin-soled sneakers, and ultra-flat sandals with thin soles and no arch support are some of the worst summery shoe options when it comes to podiatric health, according to experts. “You're putting a tremendous amount of stress onto the foot, with very little shock absorption,” Vulcano says of shoes with flimsy, ultra-bendy midsoles. Even if they don’t cause pain right now, they can later, says Bergmann: “Over time, we'll see that cause damage to the foot—when you're young you can kind of get away with it, but over many years of wearing that type of footwear, you’ll see they can cause damage.”

You don’t necessarily have to toss all your not-so-supportive shoes. “I think there's a lot of false myths on shoe wear and foot condition,” Ettore Vulcano, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle issues at Mount Sinai in New York City. For example, heels may “accelerate the bunions and make them feel worse, but they don't cause the bunion; if you develop a bunion, you will have probably developed it, regardless of what type of shoe you’ve worn in your lifetime.” Getting realistic—and strategic—about when and where you wear your comfiest, most foot-pleasing kicks is key.

There's been a slightly existential facet to critically taking stock of my footwear: It’s made me feel like my body is unraveling or faltering, sooner than I’d like or expect. It’s forced me to examine the complicated relationship between aging and fashion...from the ground up, literally. I know I must make some major changes, footwear-wise, ASAP to avoid (or at least minimize) potential decades of pain. For guidance on how to overhaul my shoe collection, I spoke to folks with expert intel on how to find the most comfortable, supportive kicks and inserts out there: from a foot and ankle surgeon to women double my age with decades’ more experience with this quest. Here are a few things I’ve learned.

Inspired by the barefoot running movement, Xero Shoes offers a healthy selection of minimally padded sneakers, boots, and sandals for those that like the low-profile feel. One of the biggest benefits is weight: At a scant 10.8 ounces per pair, their Z-Trail EV is the lightest option on our list—great for rolling up or strapping to the outside of a pack and carrying in on backpacking adventures (there’s nothing worse than having to keep your sweaty hiking shoes on after a long day of walking). All the materials are supple and flexible, giving the sandals a barely-there feel, and the zero-drop shape means that your heel and forefoot are positioned the same distance from the ground to allow for a natural gait. And a final bonus: The sandals float, which makes them viable for wearing while kayaking or paddleboarding too.

Best known for their eye-catching styling and vibrant designs, Teva’s Original Universal Sandals are one of the most ubiquitous models on the market today. At just $55, it’s around half the price of many of the more premium picks on this list but still reasonably capable for light outdoor uses like camping, paddleboarding, and short, easy day hikes. We especially love the well-cushioned EVA foam construction, which does a nice job at keeping weight low while offering good all-around comfort and durability. And unlike the buckle-equipped Bedrock and Chaco above, the Teva’s Velcro straps are a cinch to tighten and release, and we haven’t had any issues with them loosening or coming undone throughout the day.

Chaco is one of the biggest names in outdoor sandals, and their adjustable Z-strap models are legends in the hiking and water sport markets. Stacked up against the Bedrock Cairn above, the Z/Cloud listed here is noticeably heavier at 1 pound 14 ounces per pair but gets the clear edge in hiking capabilities with a comfortable and well-cushioned midsole, deep lugs for digging into softer surfaces like mud and sand, and thick straps that effectively secure the heel and forefoot (the Bedrock feels notably loose at the front by comparison). Added up, the Z/Cloud has a very premium fit and feel with an excellent track record to back it up—we’ve had pairs withstand up to three full years of consistent use before needing to be resoled or replaced.