Oh, the joys of summer! It’s all about going to the beach for a lazy afternoon, taking in a summer street festival, casual dining al fresco, and so many other activities that interest and engage us. But, the question is: what should you wear on your feet? All winter long our feet are just itching (bad pun) to ditch the socks and roam freely for a few brief months of seasonal glory. According to some guys, this may mean wearing athletic slides ALL the time. Not judging here, but I think we can come up with something a little better. Other men may want to spare us their not-so-pretty feet by wearing socks (black) with those aforementioned athletic slides. Just an FYI, this is NEVER a good look. On another note, what should be made of the men like Mario Batali who wear their colorful rubber Croc’s year round?  I have the answers to these questions and more as I present to you the five must have summer shoes for dudes of all kinds …

Espadrilles, which are classically thought of as a light canvas shoe with a woven rope or hemp sole, hail from France originally. The ones pictured above are by Tom’s which gives a pair with every purchase to someone in need of shoes in a developing country.  As I stated, this isn’t a new design, and hew pretty closely to the originals, although today the sole may be a composite of rubber and fiber for more durability. Shoes of this sort come in a wide range of colors and prints and are a great way to protect your feet and still feel the breeze.

A boat shoe is also a flat canvas shoe with rubber soles that help provide traction on boat decks, hence they’re also called deck shoes. These are traditionally done in blue or white and tie on. The ones here are by Merona and I purchased them at Goodwill a few months ago for $6.99. Deck shoes always look great worn along with the sporty outfits of summer, like shorts and a striped polo shirt.  

Leather sandals are also a great way to beat the heat and shield your soles from hot summer pavement. The ones here are handmade by the Cydwoq company and manufactured in the U.S.A.  What I like is that they allow air flow, but also cover the feet that aren’t winning any beauty contests, if you get my drift. The gladiator style is classic, but seems a little edgy too. Well worth the investment as they’ll be worn summer after summer for many years.  

Colorful kicks are not just for summer, but the bright sunny tone of the ones shown here do look great with jeans, white slacks, and all types of shorts.  I got these leather Rockport’s at Goodwill for $6.99, and I’ve been wearing them quite a lot!  I always get compliments on the color and it’s the easiest way for any guy to get in on the fashion color train.

Crocs, love’em or hate’em, are here to stay. I’m not sure just how fashionable they are, but they do lend themselves to outdoor pursuits that can get a little messy or wet, like gardening or cleaning the patio or deck. Seek out these rubber marvels with an eye for style. The ones here are a slip on that don’t have that round look that I dislike. I must admit that the turquoise color makes me feel happy as I dig away in my backyard garden, and with a little clean up with the hose they take me to the market for a quick trip as well.

There’s nothing wrong with having a wardrobe of summer-only shoes guys! So ditch the dark side and come into the light with some new shoe styles for the dog days ahead. I’m sure that with a little effort you’ll be able to find just the right ones to help those feet beat the heat. And, if you happen to get them at one of our Goodwill stores, you’ll help someone else get a job by supporting our mission!