Posts Tagged sandals
OKA b. Grant Flip-Flop Sandals for Men Review
Packing everything into one carry-on bag can be a challenge that often resembles a game of Tetris. Trying to bring along enough gear for work and play is tough. I often like to take a pair of sandals or flip flops to wear in my hotel, but it is always a bonus when they can double as casual wear if I am headed to a beach or resort destination.
OKA b. shoes has a stylish pair of flip flops that are both durable and lightweight easily squeezing into the side of your carry-on bag. The Grant style for men is extremely comfortable with a cushioned base that can withstand moisture without staying damp. The flip flops are antimicrobial and odor-resistant. They are perfect for wearing in the hotel room or bathroom and then quickly sliding into your bag as they resist the growth of mildew or fungus. Plus, their non-slip surface keeps you from sliding around a tile floor.
The company makes shoes of all types for men and women. These Grant flip flops come in various colors including licorice black, chocolate brown, and slate gray.
The magic in their comfort comes from a design inspired by reflexology with an ergonomic footbed that conforms to your foot and features massaging pressure points that provide comfort and stimulation as you walk.
When you get home, you can keep them clean by throwing them into the washing machine as they are capable of being washed without losing their color. Their material is also heavy-duty enough to withstand constant tossing without wearing them down.
Produced in the USA, the attention to quality and detail is superb, and the $25 price tag is affordable. OKA b. puts an emphasis on being environmentally friendly using sustainable materials that support and protect the Earth. This is my new go-to pair of easy-to-pack flip flops that I know will last. The entire line of footwear can be purchased at www.shoesthatloveyou.com or at Amazon.
Posted by Ramsey in General Gear, Travel Light on July 18th, 2011
Walk Like a Gecko: GoLite Flood Lite Sandals
Comfortable, adjustable, and with a great unique sole design, these Flood Lite sandals from GoLite are a great addition for travelers.
GoLite may not be a household name, but if I had to pick one shoe I saw more than any other on the feet of buyers at the last Outdoor Retailer show I attended, it would have to be the GoLite Lime Lite shoes I reviewed last year. I’ve since seem them on the feet of three different travelers in two countries, so I think it’s safe to say that when people buy them, they like them.
I’ve been just as happy with these Flood Lite sandals I’ve been wearing around since the cold weather said goodbye. From the top they’re not all that different from ones you’ve seen from the likes of Teva or Keen. They’ve got adjustable Velcro straps to make them conform to your feet, a comfy footbed, and a cover across the front to keep you from banging your toes on a rock. There are two tabs to grab to help put these on: one for the top of your foot, one behind the heel
The real differentiating feature on these Flood Lites though is the grippy rubber sole. It’s meant to mimic the feet of a gecko, which is kind of cool looking, but it also grips the surface incredibly well. You won’t be climbing the walls like a cute lizard, but you can cross streams or traverse slippery wet rocks without slipping and falling.
These sandals, with leather under your feet and a contoured EVA midsole, are super-comfortable. The stretchy nylon fabric against your feet is soft and dries quickly. These took no time at all to break in and have not produced anything close to a blister, even after 8 hours of walking around, up and down hills. With lots of leather on the top instead of multi-colored fabric, they look nicer than a lot of similar competing sport sandals.
The Flood Lite sandals come in brown, fossil, or black and list for $85. You may find them for a bit less online. There’s a more streamlined women’s version of this sandal called the Stream Lite.
Get the GoLite Flood Lite sandals at Altrec.com or at Amazon.
See more reviews of GoLite products and travel shoes.
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, General Gear on June 30th, 2011
A Tale of Two Flip-Flops: Ocean Minded and Sandalistas by Aetrex
I’m picky about my flip-flop sandals because a) I have short toes and I think my foot looks ridiculous in open-toe sandals that show too much space between the tops of my toes and the top of the shoe and b) I get cranky if the strap (thong) between my toes chafes — that “toe post” must be super-comfortable for me to want to wear this type of sandal style regularly.
With that said, I packed a couple of pairs of thong sandals in my bag for a recent trip to California to test firsthand:
Ocean Minded: This Ladies’ Seaweed style from Ocean Minded is sporty and really comfortable. The environmentally minded company uses Croslite material in its molded, anatomically correct footbed (same stuff you find in Crocs), and this foam resin is soft, lightweight and odor resistant. The nylon toe post is made from recycled plastic bottles (cool!) and the wide nubuck strap is quite soft.
These sandals are water resistant, so you don’t have to worry about getting them wet. I love how the water theme is carried through in the top soles: the wavy grooves in the shoe not only emulate running water, but they’re designed to help water flow through the shoe and circulate the air, keeping your foot dry.
I wore these walking up and down State Street in Santa Barbara for hours last week, and they remained comfortable on my feet from the beginning of my excursion to the end. I adore the sporty look that is at home on the beach, at the pool or in any seaside town. A huge bonus for me: the width accommodates my fat foot and the length, my short toes. They look good on my feet.
Ocean Minded is actually retiring the Seaweed as it exists today, and launching the Seaweed II this spring. The new-and-improved version will feature an even better fit and more recycled material — including a midsole made from 25 percent post-industrial recycled foam, and an outsole made from 25 percent post-industrial recycled rubber.
Purchase the current Ocean Minded Seaweed sandal on Amazon.com for $35.95. Plenty more summer and fall styles can also be found on Backcountry.com.
Aetrex Sandalistas: This style of thong sandal comes from Aetrex, a company that’s been producing “pain-relieving footwear” since 1946. The Schwartz family manufacturers running shoes and “athletic walkers,” for men and women, as well as sporty and casual flats, wedges and sandals for women There’s some serious technology going on in the footbed of the Aetrex shoes, including the Sandalistas.
The sandal I tested, the classy Montserrat in black, has a Memory Foam footbed that contours to the wearer’s particular gait pattern. The footbed provides plenty of arch support, as it’s anatomically shaped and contoured to match the human foot (eliminating pressure points). Indeed, when I put these sandals on, I feel like my foot is cushioned and enveloped in coziness (sounds totally cheesy, but it’s true).
Another cool feature: the suede footbed is removable and customizable. That is, if you do feel any uncomfortable pressure points on your sole, you can remove gel plugs (there are 8 in each shoe) and put the footbed back in, relieving the pain.
I really like the style of these Montserrats, with the thick, leather-strap uppers and cute button closure (so you can fully remove footbed). The subtle wedge heel means that I can go dressy or casual with these shoes, which offers great versatility for travelers.
Unfortunately, this style is designed for people with much longer toes. There’s no way I’m snapping a photo of my wide foot and stubby toes, but you’ll have to trust me when I say there is about an inch of black suede footbed showing above each of my toes — they just look silly. I can highly recommend these sandals to my long-toed readers, but if you’re short-toed like me, I’d reconsider spending the $134.95 on these shoes, available for sale at Foot.com.
Ocean Minded Ladies Seaweed at PlanetShoes.com
Related post: Spenco Total Support Sandals
Posted by Kara in Travel Light on November 2nd, 2010
Rugged Quick-dry Techical Ahnu Reyes Sandals
After two months on the road last summer, I found that the shoes I used the most were the wet-dry sandals that were good in the heat and offered plenty of support. After trying these out over a few weeks, I know this summer I’ll be spending a lot of days in these Reyes Technical Sandals from Ahnu Footwear.
These are set up a bit differently than the Teva Omnium ones I’ve worn so much I wore them out. The straps really weave across the foot with these, insuring a snug fit. There’s plenty of open space for circulation, with holes that go all the way to the bottom—appreciated when there are pebbles that need to shake out.
They’ve got anti-microbial properties built in to keep them from getting stinky and so far so good on that front. The footbed is comfortable and supportive, with a thick sole that made me feel like they will continue to hold up well for light hiking or my days of walking the cobblestone streets of colonial Mexico.
All the materials dry quickly—in my experience an hour in the sun was more than enough. The tough toe is good for banging against rocks and the sole gripped boulders well on a hike.Think of these as water shoes that can double as walking or light hiking shoes, great for a river rafting trip and then a walk through town the next day.
Be advised that these are sized generously, with the expectation you’ll pull in the straps if you have narrow feet, so go a size down if that’s you. For my E feet, they fit perfectly.
These come in two colors and list for $90. See more photo angles and info on the Reyes sandal at AhnuFootwear.com
Get the Ahnu Reyes Technical Sandal at Backcountry.com
Get the Ahnu Reyes at REI
Posted by Tim L. in Adventure Gear, Travel Light on June 23rd, 2010
