More Men Opt for Shoes Big on Wear and Tear But Barely There
Take a look at men’s feet today and you’ll notice a lot of sandals.
“Men today aren’t just using sandals to change into when they get home at night or to lounge around the pool,” says Doug Maddern, vice president of operations for the Walking Stores in MainPlace/Santa Ana and Crystal Court, Costa Mesa. “Many men wear sandals throughout the day.”
Because they’re wearing them more than ever before, men are becoming particular about their sandals.
“Not only do they want sandals that are really comfortable, men are also looking for fashionable sandals with style,” says Ryan Eldridge, manager of J. Stephens in MainPlace/Santa Ana.
It’s also important to many of today’s active men that the sandals perform well in outdoor activities.
“Sales for men’s sandals have risen dramatically in the past two years because of an increased interest in high quality sandals that can be used for running, hiking and other sports,” Maddern says. “Today’s manufacturers are making sandals with technical, high-performance features like anatomical foot beds.”
Strength and durability in sandals is very important, agrees Marty Ortiz, assistant manager at Huntington Surf & Sport in Huntington Beach.
The following is a sampling of stores that offer sandals for all occasions:
DANA FOOTPRINTS/
MISSION FOOTPRINTS
At these stores you’ll find Birkenstock Arizona sandals that have a cork foot bed that forms to the foot. These rubber-soled shoes have two leather buckle straps across the front of the foot. The sandals come in smooth leather or suede in a variety of colors, including violet, berry, gray and forest green ($82, Sizes 5-17 1/2).
The Rockport waterproof sandals have two nylon-ribbed Velcro straps. One strap goes across the front of the foot and the other around the ankle. The rubber-soled sandals are perfectly suited to wet weather and hiking or rock climbing. Suction cups on the soles grip the ground when things get slippery. These sandals support the arch and come in black or brown ($69, Sizes 5-13).
The Berlin “fisherman’s sandals” by Josef Seibel almost look like regular shoes, says store owner Gayle Rettig. These are made of woven leather with a wide buckled strap around the ankle, a leather heel and closed toes. They come in black or brown ($110, Sizes 6-13).
Dana Footprints, 34161 Coast Highway, Suite D, Dana Point, (714) 248-7178 and Mission Footprints, Franciscan Plaza, 31781 Camino Capistrano, Suite 207, San Juan Capistrano, (714) 493-7454.
HUNTINGTON SURF & SPORT
This shop’s Reef Convertible sandals have two adjustable Velcro straps over the front of the foot and one around the heel. The straps are made of a blue and gray braided nylon material and the rest of the thick rubber-soled shoe is black. These shoes also come in red, gray and white or solid black. They have arch support ($30, Sizes 4-13).
The Nike brand Air Deschutz sandals provide good traction, which make them perfect for hiking, says Ortiz. These lightweight shoes are flexible, yet sturdy. There is a leather Velcro strap along the front of the foot and another around the heel. The shoe is black with purple highlights ($60, Sizes 3-15).
The Rainbow handmade leather sandals are designed to form to your feet, says Ortiz. These leather-upper sandals have two straps that form an upside down V over the top of the foot. They have rubber soles and come in black or tan ($40, small through extra, extra large).
300 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach, (714) 841-4000.
J. STEPHENS
This store carries Generra huaraches slip-on sandals in a variety of styles. These rubber-soled shoes have leather straps across the front of the foot and around the ankle. They come in black, tan or multi-brown ($33, Sizes 7 1/2-12).
The Zodiac Cortez leather sandals have a leather foot bed and two straps over the front of the foot. These slip-on sandals come in black or brown ($57, Sizes 7 1/2-12).
This store also carries Loredano leather-soled sandals that have four 1-inch wide straps across the top of the foot and a buckle strap around the ankle. They come in black or tan ($60, Sizes 7 1/2-12).
MainPlace/Santa Ana, (714) 836-8070.
JACK’S SURFBOARDS
This store’s Teva Sports sandal has a nylon strap over the top of the foot and another that goes around the ankle. These all-black sandals have straps that come in black and brown, black and blue or black and green. They have rubber soles ($59, Sizes 6-14).
The Rainbow Double Arch Leather sandals have a double arch that make these slip-on shoes more comfortable. On the top of the foot two leather straps form an upside down V. The sandals come in black or brown and have a rubber sole ($37, Sizes 6-14).
This store’s Surfside Beachcomber sandal has a bottom rubber sole and an upper suede sole. These have leather upside down V straps and come in black or brown ($20, Sizes 6-14).
200 Main St., Huntington Beach, (714) 536-4516.
MCCULLOCH’S WIDE WIDTH SHOES
At this store you’ll find the River Sandal by Timberland. This waterproof sandal has five Velcro straps that are made of nylon and covered with leather across the top of the foot. There is also one Velcro strap around the heel of the foot and the toe is open. The soles are flat with a non-slip surface and the shoe comes in tan with green trim ($65, Sizes 7-15).
The Boston sandal by Birkenstock resembles a clog. This close-toed shoe has a suede covering over the whole top of the foot, leaving just an opening for inserting the foot. The sandal comes in black, navy or taupe and has a contoured foot bed ($92, Sizes 3-15).
The Milano by Birkenstock comes in suede or leather in black or brown. This has two buckled straps over the top of the foot and one buckled strap around the heel ($87, Sizes 6-15).
706 E. Imperial Highway, Brea, (714) 529-7872.
THE SHOE HUT
This store carries the Weaver sandal by Hush Puppies. The brown sandal has crisscrossing leather straps over the top of the foot and a buckled strap around the ankle. These sandals have an open toe and flexible soles ($35, Sizes 7-12).
There are also Ryan sandals by Hush Puppies. These brown slip-on leather shoes have woven leather straps that cover the top of the foot. The back and toe area are closed and they have a flexible sole ($40, Sizes 7-12).
The Tempe sandals by Hush Puppies have a buckled strap across the top of the foot near the toes and a buckled strap around the ankle. These brown leather shoes have a flexible sole ($47, sizes 7-12).
Larwin Square, 514 E. 1st St., Tustin, (714) 544-3734.
THE WALKING STORE
These stores carry a variety of sandals that are great for an active lifestyle, including the Mephisto Norman sandals which Maddern says have a soft, yet supportive latex cork foot bed. The French-made nubuck leather sandals have two adjustable buckled straps across the top of the foot. They come in brown, black, olive green and tan ($110, Sizes 6-14).
The store also carries Rhode sandals from Germany. These clog-style shoes are leather and come in antelope or black. “They have an injected molded sole that disperses shock and makes a person feel like they’re walking barefoot in the sand,” says Maddern ($83, Sizes 8-13).
The Teva sandals are a rugged, top-of-the line outdoor sports sandal that can be used for activities such as rock climbing, river rafting and cross-country running. The sole on these sandals is made of neoprene and compressed rubber, which means that the shoe absorbs shock when you jump, says Maddern.
There are three Velcro straps to secure the foot--one near the toes, one on the instep and another around the heel. The shoes come in black or multicolors such as black, blue and purple, black and blue diamond and black, blue and green ($49-$62, Sizes 6-14).
MainPlace/Santa Ana, (714) 541-8330 and Crystal Court, Costa Mesa, (714) 546-6610.
VANS
At these stores you’ll find Tojos sandals by Flojos. These slip-on rubber sandals have a strap on each big toe and two straps that form an upside down V over the top of the foot. They have a rubber sole and come in black, white or brown ($8, Sizes 5-13).
Another pair of Flojos all-rubber sandals have two crossing straps. One goes from the big toe to the right side of the foot and the other from the little toe to the left side of the foot. These slip-on shoes come in white or black ($8, Sizes 5-13).
Also in Flojos, they have rubber sandals with a Velcro strap across the top of the foot and another strap around the ankle. These black shoes have a blue and purple cross design ($33, Sizes 5-13).
Brea Mall, (714) 255-1108; Buena Park Mall, 995-2406; 1501 S. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton, (714) 526-2617; 10931 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove, (714) 534-4013; 19541 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach, (714) 960-0629; 1666 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa, (714) 642-5753; 485 N. Tustin Ave., Orange, (714) 532-3068; 1212 N. Bristol St., Santa Ana, (714) 957-6130; 3851 S. Bristol St., Santa Ana, (714) 850-9712; 2781 El Camino Real, Tustin, (714) 573-8018; 14901 Holt Ave., Tustin, (714) 730-0391; 13901 Beach Blvd., Westminster, (714) 893-4608, and Westminster Mall, (714) 891-1805.
