What do you call this type of sandal? Is it a hiking sandal? A walking sandal, maybe? It is a “tourist shoe” to some, a chunky sandal to others. What is it to you? The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link.
Learn more. The correct answer is it’s a very fashionable sandal. This summer’s most fashionable sandal, in fact.
An It sandal, if you like. Once a quirky choice of summer shoe, this is now the star of the show. Bit like the tale of the Ugly Duckling, but for shoes.
The chunky, Velcro-tabbed sandal that was designed for coastal paths and backpacking trips is now hanging out at the beach bar, invited to the coolest parties. It is to summer now what a Havaiana flip flop was to the summers of the 1990s. The hiking sandal has taken over from the Birkenstock as the shoe that fashionable people can’t get through the season without.
Some of this has to do with actual hiking and walking and camping being dead popular and cool, which is definitely a thing. This stuff is aspirational and Instagrammable, and a ribbon-tied espadrille or a delicate toe-post gladiator isn’t going to cut it. When you feel despondent about the direction civilisation is taking in 2024, remind yourself that one area in which we as a society have made progress in is that we no longer treat practical shoes as embarrassing.
The era when commuters would change from trainers into stilettos around the corner from the office is .