Posts Tagged women’s sandals
The Flip-Flop Alternative: Maryjanes from Teva
Flip-flops have become a lot more acceptable as footwear, and really, some of them are very nice and can pass as good enough for an evening out, if you’ve dressed them up right. But sometimes you need just a little bit more appeal, just a little, or maybe you want something that’s a bit girlier. Teva has a line of ballerina flats and mary-janes that feel like flip-flops, almost. They’re light, they’re easy to pack, and ladies, they’re cute.
Let’s get this out of the way first. The Mush Frio Maryjane is not a sturdy walking shoe. It’s a built on a flip-flop style sole. This shoe is a flip-flop, only it’s got a fabric upper in the shape of a mary-jane. You’ll wear it for the same kinds of things you’d wear a flip-flop for — happy hour at the beach bar, running out for an iced latte, making your way down that gravelly path to the pool.
I like that these cute little shoes take up no more space in my bag than a pair of standard flip-flops. They’re super compact and they come in a couple of fun colors — mine are what Teva calls “baton rouge”, a shiny fuchsia. They’ve got a Velcro strap so they’re really easy to get in and out of; that makes for great airport wear. The squishy insole is comfortable and takes on the shape of your foot after you’ve worn them for a while. I do wish it was removable, though, as this beachcomber is going to get them wet at some point and removable insoles mean the shoe takes less time to dry.
Size-wise, Teva’s Mush Frio felt a little small to me — I’d order a size larger; they don’t come in half sizes. There are two options for uppers, one style has a patterned mesh, the other a sort of reflective mesh, and there’s a variety of colors. There’s a ballerina flat too, it’s got the same sole without the mary-jane strap. I thought the price tag was a little high for a shoe that’s on a flip-flop sole — Teva sells them for $45 on their site. It’s worth checking Summit Hut or Amazon for prices.
Still looking for the perfect women’s shoes for travel? We’ve reviewed lots of them, have a look.
Posted by Pam in General Gear, Travel Light on November 4th, 2011
Smushees Flip Flops for Women
Lately I’ve taken to wearing socks, flip flops or slippers in hotel rooms. Especially after showering and preparing for bed, I don’t like the idea of goodness-knows-what my soles might touch on well-trafficked carpet. I always have a spare pair of socks on hand, wear my “outdoor” flip flops in the room (if I’m in a tropical locale) or make good use of provided white terry slippers. Here’s another alternative: pack a pair of Smushee’s Crazy women’s thong sandals.
These flip flops are incredibly cushy and comfortable. The footbead is made from a thick foam and the top straps are filled with little tiny beads. The small strap between the toes is stretchy fabric. Really, wearing these flip flops are just like wearing slippers (in fact, there’s a slipper/slide version, too, the Cushy style).
However, I simply wouldn’t wear these flip flops outside. They are too slippery! Though the sole is a hard plastic that could handle sidewalks and asphalt, and the shoes are comfortable for sure, my foot simply slips out too much, and they flop around a lot when I walk. I’d be afraid I’d trip around the pool or at the beach. (In fact, I did trip and spill a glass of water while wearing the Smushees and walking up my my basement steps — but that might also be due to my, um, general klutzy nature.)
So, for indoor slipper-like shoes, I can heartly recommend them — especially if all you’re doing is shuffling around a hotel room. After a long hike, busy day of sightseeing or a day on planes, your tootsies will thank you if you slip these soothing shoes on before bed. That said, they cost $35 a pair; a cushioned pair of cheaper socks might also do the trick.
Smushees Crazy flip flops come in black, hot pink, orange, yellow, green, orange and sky blue (the website says they are turquoise, but I have this color, and they are not turquoise). Toss them in the washing machine and let them air dry when they get dirty. Purchase them for $35 a pair on the Smartdogs website.
More flip-flop goodness:
Posted by Kara in General Gear on August 9th, 2011
Don’t Call Them Flip-Flops: Spenco Total Support Sandals
What would a company known for orthotic insoles do with a pair of flip-flops? Spenco took a shot at it and completely redesigned the experience. You won’t confuse these with beach flip-flops from Wal-mart, so Spenco won’t even use that term. These are “Polysorb Total Support Sandals.”
It’s not just semantics though. Your feet will feel a night and day difference as soon as you slide them into these Spenco sandals. You can easily be on your feet all day long in these and still feel good at the end of it.
Lots of people make space in their pack for a pair of flip-flops. (Julie Blakley even put them in her post on five things I always pack.) They don’t take up as much space as regular shoes or even sandals from Teva or Keen. Most cheap sandals and flip-flops are only meant for a shuffle to the beach or the shower, however. Or sitting around a beach cafe sipping cold ones—especially if you have some Reef Fanning ones with a built-in bottle opener. These Total Support ones are actually engineered to keep your feet supported and comfortable for far longer, with arch support and a deep heel cup to properly align the foot, plus “support for the lateral arch, metatarsal and medial arches to offload pressure from the ball of the foot and help relieve forefoot pain.”
I’m no podiatrist, but whatever they did it works. I’ve been wearing these around the house non-stop for a month, mostly on hardwood floors, and tested them out playing around on my asphalt driveway with a bunch of kids. These sandals are more comfortable than any shoe I wear around without custom orthotics. It’s almost like having custom orthotics actually: the grippy EVA foam top layer conforms over time to create a custom fit. They feel better, not worse, after you’ve had them a while.
There is a nice rubber outsole that absorbs impact and the strap on the top is about as comfortable as you can get with a post sticking through the space next to your big toe.
How much does all this technical innovation cost? The list price is $40, which is not bad. More than cheapo Chinese flip-flops for sure, but in line with lots of brands you find in a sporting goods store or surf shop. They come in several colors for men (like the one pictured at the top) and for women (like the one at the bottom). Follow those links for more specs and info at Spenco.com.
You can find these for sale in most places where Spenco insoles are sold, or check prices online at Amazon.
Posted by Tim L. in General Gear, Travel Light on June 9th, 2010
Cute, Summery, Versatile Sandals: Teva Westwater
I’m a sucker for Mary Janes. Maybe the side-fastening footwear style reminds me of my (happy) childhood. Or maybe I like them because current fashion trends say it’s okay for a 40-year-old mom to sport this cute style. Or maybe I just like shoes that stay on my feet (unlike flip-flops).
Regardless, the Teva Westwater definitely falls under the “cute” category, and they are functional, too. Teva marketing materials say they can go from the river straight out to dinner on the town. Frankly, I think they are too nice to wear on any sort of kayaking or rafting trip — I’m certainly not going to subject mine to the Colorado River this summer. It’s nice to know they are made with a quick-drying/mesh upper (the spring-green color above), but I’m wearing my pair for sightseeing, shopping and those restaurant dinners during my travels in the coming warm-weather months.
That said, the Westwaters don’t offer a lot of arch support, so I can’t forsee sporting them on day-long treks. And the strappy sides cut into the side of my foot just a bit — not enough to forego wearing them, but they’re certainly not cushioned, nor are they the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn.
But there are way too many plusses going for the Westwaters for me to abandon them all together — not when they go perfectly with my Lucy Activewear Solaris Crop pants! Truly, I dig these casual summer shoes, and I just hope they last through the season. Knowing the Teva brand, and the fact that my husband has worn the same Teva sandals for the past seven years, I’m guessing the women’s Westwater style is built to last, too.
Teva Westwater women’s sandals retail for $70 and come in four colors.
Get them Direct from Teva
Posted by Kara in Travel Light on June 19th, 2009
