Matt McAdow was sitting on a cardboard box in a Montana warehouse, tapping out emails on a laptop and waiting for his shoes to arrive. It was Monday, September 18, 2023, a pivotal moment for , a boutique footwear company headquartered in Missoula. The shoes, Bedrock鈥檚 first to be manufactured overseas, were supposed to have arrived four days earlier. McAdow, director of operations, had spent months coordinating photo shoots, producing marketing collateral, and figuring out how to fill a 10,000-unit order for Bedrock鈥檚 new mountain clogs鈥攊n three colors of suede and nubuck. Cofounder Dan Opalacz was excited that the rollout would occur a week before his first son was due to be born. 鈥淚t was all lining up with these big work and life milestones,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hen everything backfired and created more work than I ever could have imagined.鈥�

Unlike Bedrock鈥檚 other sandals, assembled by the company in California, the clogs were manufactured in Busan, South Korea, then sent to Los Angeles in a 40-foot shipping container, with the first batch arriving at Long Beach port on Monday, September 11. A total of 447 cartons were scheduled to be loaded into a truck for direct delivery to Bedrock鈥檚 warehouse outside Missoula by noon on Thursday, September 14, five days ahead of the biggest product launch in Bedrock鈥檚 12-year history. But when noon arrived, with the ten-person warehouse team ready to receive, quality-check, and prep the inventory for shipping, the clogs were nowhere to be seen.

A message arrived from Landstar System, hired to oversee logistics, revealing that the truck had 鈥渕echanical issues鈥� and would arrive by 8 A.M. the following day. This unfortunate news was accompanied by a screenshot of the truck鈥檚 location on Google Maps, just a few hours away. Friday morning came but the clogs did not, and McAdow says that the Bedrock crew went into the weekend 鈥渂ummed, but not suspicious鈥� about the spotty information they鈥檇 received. A Monday arrival would crunch QC time and possibly delay some orders, but they鈥檇 manage.

Monday again brought no truck, but there was an update from Landstar鈥檚 supposed 鈥渄ispatcher,鈥� who indicated that the driver鈥檚 phone was turned off. The dispatcher also relayed the unsettling possibility that the driver 鈥渓ikes to party鈥� and sometimes drank a lot on weekends. This was the last straw as far as McAdow was concerned. He printed out photos of the driver鈥檚 license and of the blue and orange truck that had been provided by the shipping company, and scoured several truck stops in the Missoula area looking for his clogs. No luck. Nor were there signs of anyone at the pulloff where, according to the dispatcher, the driver had stopped to sleep. 鈥淚 was concerned that this guy may have passed out or had a heart attack in some random yard,鈥� McAdow says. A diesel mechanic across the street from the pulloff told him about a truck headed for Seattle that matched the description, but it turned out to be unrelated.

McAdow was now seriously worried that something shady was going on. He went home and, from his kitchen table, researched the driver鈥檚 name online, found his cell number, and dialed it. A voice answered. When McAdow identified himself as 鈥淢att from Bedrock Sandals,鈥� the man on the other end asked McAdow to call him back in ten minutes. He proceeded to give McAdow the runaround. Later that day, someone called from a Google Voice number with a Los Angeles area code. The new caller had a thick Eastern European accent and could barely be heard above the background noise. He said that he was in Salt Lake City, driving the truck with 鈥渢he goods鈥� inside. He explained that the previous driver had hired him to assume responsibility for the load, a frowned-upon but legal practice referred to as double brokering.

鈥淚鈥檓 not gonna lie, man,鈥� said the trucker, who identified himself only as Mick. 鈥淚鈥檒l have it there tomorrow.鈥�

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Like many of you, I have a long relationship with Birkenstock sandals. I coveted them through my early college days but could never afford a pair. Then one day I walked into a used clothing store near the university and sitting on the shelf were a pair of the classic two-strap Arizona sandals in my size. They were still $40 but I could swing that. That afternoon I walked to class feeling en vogue and with very comfortable feet.

Those sandals were more than worth the investment from my meager budget. They carried me for thousands of miles, traveled across Europe, and were on my feet for my first real post-college job.

I鈥檝e had many pairs of Birkenstocks since, including Arizonas with and without a back strap. My wife鈥檚 side of the closet is so stocked with Birkenstocks you might say she is borderline obsessed.

My one criticism鈥攁 gripe I鈥檝e heard from many others too鈥攊s that classic Birkenstocks’ leather straps and cork sole do not handle moisture well. I live in the desert so it rarely rains, but when it does, I always switch to a more water-friendly sandal. Same when I鈥檓 mowing the lawn or walking the dogs after the sprinklers have run, and don鈥檛 want the dew piling on. The limitations are annoying.

That鈥檚 why I was interested in testing Birkenstock鈥檚 more water-friendly, self-described 鈥渙ff-road鈥� sandal called the . Made with polyurethane rubber soles and adjustable synthetic straps, these sandals are fully submersible, promising to expand the time and places I can wear Birkenstocks.

When I got a pair, however, my first impression was that the Atacamas were downright ugly. The all-black rubber sole isn鈥檛 half as pretty or classy as the Arizona鈥檚 cork, and the synthetic straps with velcro closures were chunky and industrial compared to the classic style鈥檚 much more graceful leather and buckles.

Despite their unattractiveness, however, I was quickly won over by the Atacamas thanks to their built-in comforts and waterproof build. Because they鈥檙e made by Birkenstock, the Atacamas still come with the brand鈥檚 classic, shaped footbed, so they鈥檙e insanely comfortable. They have a deep heel cup that keeps your foot planted at all times, a balanced, zero-drop platform, and the much-loved raised toe bar that creates support and provides extra grip for your toes. And their ability to handle water makes them vastly more versatile than their classic cousins.

They are now one of my footwear favorites: I wear them to the pool, splash them through the mud, use them for wet dog walks in the park, and more. If they get dirty all I have to do is hose them off and they look like new (still ugly, but clean).

The Atacamas have two straps over the midfoot, which makes them convenient to slip on but limits their range of activities and terrains. Birkenstock also makes the , which is like the Atacama but comes with an extra strap around the heel. Thanks to their secure foothold and aggressively-lugged polyurethane sole, I would gladly hike in them. All the velcro straps are adjustable, so getting a tight but comfortable fit is easy.

I can鈥檛 end without disclosing that I鈥檓 a 42-year-old dad with four kids鈥攕o not exactly a maven of fashion. What I find ugly might actually be chic. And isn鈥檛 there also a trend now where ugly is chic? I could be giving you bad fashion advice about the Atacama. But, even if you find them ugly too, I’m betting you won鈥檛 care how they look once you’ve experienced their comfort and versatility.

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During the past decade of overseeing gear testing at 国产吃瓜黑料, I鈥檝e had the pleasure of handing off items to amazing athletes who can quickly suss out whether something is well made or not. But if I were to pick my favorite gear testers of all time, the ones who truly put gear through its paces to provide thoughtful and thorough reviews, I would have to choose my kids. I have four of them, and every single day they head out and unintentionally torture test everything they use.

No other piece of gear endures more abuse than their footwear. My kids, bless their hearts, don鈥檛 give a shit about their shoes. They鈥檙e not worried about keeping them clean or making them last. They just want their shoes to protect their feet and stay out of the way, no matter what they鈥檙e doing.

In just one day, my kids will drag their shoes on the pavement while biking to school, beat them up playing soccer for two hours in a dirt field, splash them in puddles at the park, and then leave them outside all afternoon in the scorching New Mexico heat. This summer they鈥檝e added backpacking, camping, and skateboarding to the list of ways to abuse their footwear.

Because of this, I鈥檓 constantly searching for kid鈥檚 shoes that are bulletproof but also allow them to engage with the ground naturally and not interfere with their agile, balanced strides. And I鈥檓 even willing to pay a bit more for a pair that can keep me from worrying about my kids鈥� feet, survive a year鈥檚 worth of abuse, and, if I鈥檓 lucky, be passed down to the next sibling.

After nine years and innumerable pairs of trashed shoes, here are five of my testers鈥� favorites.

Keen Newport H2 Sandals ($60)

These are the ugliest sandals ever made, but we love them because they鈥檝e got enough protection for hiking, scrambling, biking, and wading into the water. They breathe well and require no socks, which is a total lifesaver during the summer because you have one less thing to lose, get filthy, or destroy. My kids love the rubber rand around the front, which prevents stubbed toes and also works as a braking mechanism while they鈥檙e riding bikes and skateboards. After years of use, enough to聽 pass pairs down to multiple kids, not one thing鈥攊ncluding the bungee closure, fabric straps, or soles鈥攈as failed or broken.

Altra Youth Lone Peak Running Shoes ($70)

Altra stopped making these shoes (dang it), but if you look you can still find pairs online. With a zero-drop build and ample forefoot width, just like the adult Lone Peaks, these shoes are good for growing feet鈥攁nd the kids love them because they鈥檙e ultra comfy. My son has worn his pair for the past two years, logging hundreds of hours in them, mostly playing soccer and running around at school. They鈥檙e also his go-to shoes for backpacking and hiking because the meaty soles provide great grip and the uppers breathe well on hot days. Other companies that still make zero-drop, wide-forefoot, thin-soled kid鈥檚 shoes include and , although both are more minimal than the Altras.

Chaco Z/1 Sandal ($60)

We鈥檙e about to head out on a four-day camping trip near Taos, New Mexico and these are the only shoes I鈥檓 packing for the kids. That鈥檚 because they鈥檙e robust enough for hiking but also drainable and grippy enough for hanging out in the river. Plus, they鈥檙e easy to hose off when the kids get them muddy and caked with dirt. Chacos will put up with tons of abuse, so nothing my kids can do can really phase them, short of trying to melt them in the campfire. The Chaco footbed is designed with a lot of support, so I don鈥檛 want my kids wearing them every day and losing foot strength, but for camping trips when we have limited space, they perform excellently in multiple scenarios.

Keen Targhee Waterproof Boot ($75)

Keen makes the list twice because they have such a wide variety of well-made kids鈥� shoes. And these boots win my heart because my daughter recently used them for a multi-day backpacking trip and had zero complaints the entire time. No blisters either. She took them directly out of the box, slipped them over merino wool hiking socks, and proceeded to wear them three miles up a rocky trail. The stiffness was just right for supporting the weight of a 15-pound pack but comfortable enough that she didn鈥檛 immediately insist on tearing them off once we reached camp. Keen鈥檚 smart bungee system helped her lock them around her foot without needing to fiddle with laces, and the waterproof membrane kept her feet dry when we waded through parts of the river that had jumped the trail.

Hoka Speedgoat 5 Trail-Running Shoes ($110)

My kids have only worn these shoes a couple times, but they make my list nonetheless, because the Speedgoat is the perfect adventure shoe for kids. It鈥檚 lightweight but comes with huge lugs on the bottom that provide great traction for exploring, and has a solid layer of cushioning that comes in handy when pounding around on rocks up in the mountains. The uppers are made from a reinforced mesh and there’s a toe rand to protect the high-wear front of the shoe. I鈥檓 not going to send my kids to school in these shoes as they鈥檙e too thick and supportive for everyday, all-day use. But when we鈥檙e having fun outside, I鈥檓 sure these will be on their feet for years to come.

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This article is part of聽国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 Sandal Battle. View the full field of contestants here. Here鈥檚 our recap of the Final Four, and our recap of the Elite Eight. Below is our breakdown of the championship round.

It鈥檚 been a month since we started the Sandal Battle, and yet no amount of polling or voting analysis could capture how heated (or how passionately) people felt while seeing their favorite sandals duke it out. I realized that some of the most revealing information about this tournament鈥攁bout how readers really felt about these matchups鈥攃ame in the form of text messages from my friends in the past week.

鈥淵our report is CONTROVERSIAL,鈥� one friend wrote me about the final round between Chaco and Birkenstock. 鈥淐haconians UNITE.鈥� She also sent a screenshot of a text exchange with her partner. 鈥淭his is fucking outrageous,鈥� their partner said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been following this for weeks and wanted to send you the link for the final round cause I swore it was gonna be Chaco v Tevas.鈥� (We did, too.) 鈥淏irks are def gonna win,鈥� one friend texted the group chat. 鈥淣ot saying I agree. I鈥檓 a Keen Canteen kinda guy.鈥� Another friend replied to him: 鈥淢y vote was tevas. Ngl.鈥�

The Bracket

Last week, I scrolled 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 Instagram account, where we posted about . One commenter expressed the stalemate nature of this relaxation-versus-performance bout between the two brands: 鈥淚 mean, let鈥檚 be honest, no one actually wins in this tournament.鈥�

Well, sorry to burst your bubble, reader. But after 26,113 total votes, you all spoke and have indeed crowned a winner. And that winner is…

The Champion: Chaco

(1) Chaco Versus (5) Birkenstock

Congratulations, fanatics! Chaco stormed its way to the championship and blew through the Elite Eight, Final Four, and the final round. And the results aren鈥檛 really surprising: Chaco was the tournament favorite. Chaco remained unflappable in the face of heavyweights, handing easy losses to Adidas, Keen, and Birkenstock. Considering that there were more than 26,000 total votes over the course of the entire Sandal Battle, 1,700 votes could feel like small potatoes. But that鈥檚 all it took for Chaco to be crowned champion.

While has a hardcore cadre of supporters as evidenced by its run through the draw, the slip-ons were always going to have their hands full with the ultimate mountain-town staple. Birks are simply not up for the outdoor adventures that Chacos are and that was reflected in the drubbing handed out in the championship. 鈥淚n the end, the best adventure sandal won,鈥� writes podcast producer Maren Larsen. 鈥淓ven this Birken-stan has a pair of Chacos in her closet.鈥�

And that鈥檚 it, folks. It was a clean tournament, hard fought, that led to what some may say was an inevitable victory. But we鈥檒l leave you with this message: all feet are different; you do you.

The post The People Have Spoken. Here Is Your Sandal Battle Winner. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

This article is part of聽国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 Sandal Battle. View the聽full field of contestants here. Here鈥檚 our recap of the Elite Eight. Below is our breakdown of the Final Four action. Plus, we preview the championship round.

Here it is, folks. The final matchup. After more than 20,000 votes across two previous rounds, you鈥檝e picked your favorites. Hearts have been broken, hopes have been sent down the drain, and rallying cries have been shouted out (some turning to whimpers after early-round exits and upsets). But what else would you expect in such an intense tournament? This is the championship round of the Sandal Battle. Vote below!

The Bracket

The Final Four: Results

(1) Chaco Versus (3) Keen

Winner: Chaco

My college-basketball analogies from the Final Four turned out to be semi accurate. Keen simply couldn鈥檛 compete with Chaco and its army of rabid supporters, who wolfed down more than 72 percent of the vote, while Keen struggled to round up 800 votes in this penultimate battle. Take heart, Keen, and your devoted camp of close-toed enthusiasts. This matchup is an important reminder about the nature of the Sandal Battle. The point is not to pick the 产别蝉迟听sandal, because that can vary, depending on the activity. Instead, it鈥檚 to go with your gut and pick your favorite. So don鈥檛 sweat it, Keen. You鈥檙e a sandal that will forever be loved by dads and river rats alike. Chaco just shined a bit brighter today.

(2) Teva Versus (5) Birkenstock

Winner: Birkenstock

It鈥檚 a sad day for Teva fans. And given the brand鈥檚 huge fan base, that means it鈥檚 a sad time for a lot of people: hikers, bikers, climbers, walkers, city dwellers鈥攜ou name it. Second-seeded Teva triumphed over Rainbow in the first round聽but couldn鈥檛 withstand the Birkenstock wave in the Final Four. It was a close contest, though, with Teva netting just under 44 percent of the vote.

Articles editor Frederick Dreier expressed his discontent with the result. 鈥淪hame on you, voters, for your very wrong take that Birkenstocks are superior to Tevas. While Birks may win the comfort battle, Tevas have that strong nostalgic connection to all the 90s kids out there, myself included. I can remember a time in this country (in the mid 90s, to be precise) when every man, woman, and child who identified as an outdoor enthusiast proudly sported a pair of Tevas,鈥� he wrote. 鈥淪ure, the sandals were flawed, but we Teva aficionados didn鈥檛 care. We displayed our goofy tan lines and leathery foot calluses like badges of honor. And at night, we happily plugged our noses to ward off the stink that emanated from every seasoned pair of Tevas. That is, until our moms wisely tossed them outside. I will always stan for Tevas.鈥�

We all have a sports friend who will brag after correctly predicting the outcome of a game, especially if it鈥檚 an upset. Yes, very good, Scott, you called it. Well, now you know one more person like that. Not to tell you 鈥淚 called it!鈥� but I called it. A number-five seed taking down a number-two seed makes this the biggest upset of the tournament. Might you call it the biggest upset of the century? I won鈥檛 put words in your mouth. Joking aside, Teva had a good run. The sandal will continue to bridge streetwear and casual recreation with outdoor adventures for years to come. Cheers to you, Teva.

The Championship: Voting

(1) Chaco Versus (5) Birkenstock

How do you preview a heavyweight bout like this one? The vote comes down to what both sandals represent. 鈥淐haco is the shoe you fasten on for any active summer adventure鈥攔afting, rock scrambling, running away from scary sounds in the night, and pretty much anything that happens in between,鈥� writes associate managing editor Tasha Zemke. 鈥淏irks are the shoes you slip on after the day is done and you鈥檙e kicking back to unwind. Both equally exceptional in their regards, but distinct, too.鈥� What makes this vote so hard is that Chaco and Birkenstock represent the purest duality: sweaty activities in the sun, and chill time for relaxation afterward. You need both experiences to have a complete day.

I鈥檓 not really sure how this one will go down, but there can only be one winner. Birkenstock devotee and podcast producer Maren Larsen expressed a bit of worry going into聽the championship round: 鈥淚 just think the Chaco stans are powerful,鈥� she wrote me. She might be onto something, because it seems like Chaco is gaining converts. Outdoor gear group director Will Taylor, perhaps a bit sore from Teva鈥檚 exit聽from the running, is all in on Chaco: 鈥淚f Birkenstock wins the championship in an outdoor-sandal contest, all hope is lost,鈥� he writes.

Now is the time to make your voice heard, reader. Cast your final vote below to crown the ultimate sandal. No pressure.

The post The Sandal-Battle Championship: Chaco Versus Birkenstock appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

This article is part of 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 Sandal Battle. Vote for your all-time favorite here.

I distinctly recall the first time I heard someone bragging about their tan. It was April during my senior year in college鈥攐ne of the first warm days after a long, gray Maine winter. As far as one of my classmates was concerned, it may as well have been national Chacos day. She proudly lifted one foot to show me the faint remainder of last year鈥檚 strappy tan line. It was time to start building it back up.

At the time, I laughed it off as quirky. Then I got a summer job guiding sea kayaking trips out of a campground on the Maine coast. Within days, I realized that my flimsy Crocs weren鈥檛 going to cut it. A typical day might start in the office taking reservations or on the docks carrying boats down to the beach. By 9 A.M., I was on the water for a four-hour paddling tour, which often included a stop to hike around one of the islands. Later that day, if I didn鈥檛 have an afternoon tour on the books, I might find myself answering phones or hosing down life jackets. After one week on the job, I drove an hour to the nearest gear shop to buy some Chacos of my own.

Those sandals were pretty much the only shoes I wore that summer. The lugged outsoles kept me upright on the steep seaweed-and-algae-covered docks. The secure strap system prevented my feet from sliding around, so I could shoulder tandem kayaks with confidence. The cushioned midsoles kept my feet happy even when I鈥檇 been standing for six hours. Swim, wade, hike, haul鈥擨 could put my Chacos on in the morning and not take them off until it was time to rinse away the salt and sand at the end of the day. Then I鈥檇 leave them out on the porch to air-dry while I showered and strap them back on to grab dinner in town with friends. By August, I was bragging about my tan lines too.

Don鈥檛 get me wrong鈥擨 definitely own three pairs of Birkenstocks. After a long run, the feeling of sliding my feet onto well-worn leather footbeds is among the best in this world. And Rainbow sandals will always be first in my pack for bouldering鈥攖hey鈥檙e so light and easy to slide into a crash pad! But when it comes to those summer days when I don鈥檛 know exactly what I might encounter, there鈥檚 really only one pair of shoes that I want stashed behind the driver鈥檚 seat.

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This article is part of 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 Sandal Battle. Vote for your all-time favorite here.

My earliest memory of Birkenstocks is of my mom鈥檚 chunky, classic two-strap leather sandals sitting by the sliding door to the back patio of our house. It was baking hot outside鈥攖oo hot for bare feet on concrete鈥攕o I slipped them on. They were too big, and the leather sole was worn satiny smooth from years of use, so my feet slid around in them as I walked. At the time, Birks seemed profoundly uncool鈥攁 symbol of my crunchy, outdoorsy, embarrassing mom who I swore up and down I would never turn into.

I am now the proud owner of not one but two pairs of Birkenstocks, and I wear them almost every day from March to October if the weather allows. At campsites and on beach days, you鈥檒l catch me lounging in my ($50), whose tread has been worn down (but isn鈥檛 smooth) from three summers of intensive use. While I鈥檓 writing this, I鈥檓 wearing the ($160) model, which looks classy but has a sole you could hike in. They鈥檒l come with me on errands later today and then on a date.

Birkenstocks are the perfect apr猫s-outdoors/summer casual shoes. Not only are they incredibly versatile, but they also have supreme staying power: the two-buckle style my mom wore in the 鈥�90s is nearly identical to the pair I wear today. But the real beauty of these shoes is how they wear with time, only becoming more comfortable and more beloved over the years until they reach the satiny-smooth ideal of the first pair I tried on.

For me, other sandals just don鈥檛 cut it. I want something comfortable and functional that I can slip on at a moment鈥檚 notice and be ready for almost anything a summer day has to offer. No bending over to fasten straps, please. And I will not stand for flip-flop chafe between my toes. Just give me the outstanding arch support and casual style of my two-buckle friend, the Birkenstock.

I鈥檝e chosen my side in the Sandal Battle, and I will passionately defend the 鈥渆arthy鈥� looks of the Birkenstock to the last. Sometimes, during shoulder season, I even pair my 鈥檚tocks with socks. Don鈥檛 tell tweenage me, but I鈥檓 definitely turning into my mom鈥攁nd I鈥檓 not mad about it.

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This article is part of 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 Sandal Battle. Vote for your all-time favorite here.

Like clockwork, every five years or so, an ugly sandal gets its wings. In 2012, C茅line sent models down a Paris runway in fur-lined Birkenstocks. Sales of the hippie-lite footwear . Then, in the late teens, practical Tevas started showing up on typically much better-heeled feet. Cue about Dad sandals at fashion week.

To whoever it is that pulls the strings: please, do next. I love them so dearly. They have not yet been dubbed cool. But let me tell you, they are the best sandals you can buy. And despite their humble appearance, I persist, wearing them as often as the weather permits and quite often when it does not, on hikes, to the crag, to the river, and, perhaps regrettably, to bars and parties and everywhere else I go.

Bedrocks are a happy medium between a flip-flop and a Chaco: just enough strap and sole but not too much. A thong connects to an ankle-and-heel strap that鈥檚 sturdy enough to keep the sandals on in thick mud and fast water鈥攕o, better than a flip-flop鈥攂ut they鈥檙e notably minimalist, cutting down on the chafing that Chacos (sorry) provide.

I wear the ($105), which has a lugged sole that offers excellent traction but at about half the thickness and about seven ounces less than a model in Chaco鈥檚 Z line. At less than nine ounces per sandal, I don鈥檛 hesitate to pack my Bedrocks on a backcountry trip as my camp shoe (and, often, my hiking shoe). You can slip them on and walk around comfortably without using the heel strap, which is nice at the crag or when you鈥檙e shuffling out of the tent to pee in the middle of the night.

While I鈥檓 still waiting for the aesthetic validation of someone better-dressed than me wearing them someplace where technical footwear is absolutely not necessary, I actually think they look, at the very least, inoffensive. Maybe even cute. A little like something my mom might鈥檝e worn in the 1990s. And I think she鈥檚 pretty cool.

The post You Should Ditch Your Old Sandals for Bedrocks. Trust Me. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

This article is part of 国产吃瓜黑料鈥檚 Sandal Battle. Vote for your all-time favorite here.

There are a few things that immediately transport me back in time to my childhood summers: tie-dye shirts, a good swimming hole, and Tevas. Strapping on the Velcro in the morning during those halcyon days meant adventures lay ahead. With Tevas on my feet, I was ready for anything, from stomping through the neighborhood creek chasing crayfish to riding my BMX bike off the ramps in our driveway.

The feeling I get when wearing them now is no different than it was some 30 years ago. But today my adventures are a little different: I鈥檓 chasing my own children around the playground or biking to the farmers鈥� market. Thanks to my ($55), I still look good doing it.

These simple kicks are the best middle-of-road choice in the sport sandals category. They鈥檙e simple, not overbuilt, and鈥攁gainst all odds鈥攁re currently considered stylish by some wonderful tear in the time-space continuum of the fashion industry. I鈥檇 be lying if I said the latter didn鈥檛 matter to me. They鈥檙e classic, like above-the-knee shorts and a good push-broom mustache. Put them together and you鈥檝e got a 鈥�70s dad look in all the best ways. (Teva started in the 1980s, but they just have the vibe of the previous decade鈥攑rove me wrong.)

They鈥檙e also my go-to sandal for raft trips and swimming hole hangs. The straps can be adjusted in seconds, which you have to do when they get wet and loosen up a little bit. If you get rocks or sand grains between your foot and the sandal, they鈥檙e easy to shake out. And the soles provide solid grip and are thick enough to offer protection from sharp rocks, but they鈥檙e also flexible enough to give you a solid feel of the ground beneath your feet. For someone like me with flat feet, the arch support is just enough, unlike sandals with thicker soles (ahem, Chacos, ahem), which feel like a steel bridge underneath my dogs.

To top it off, at $55, they鈥檙e a steal and about half the price of many other highly touted sport sandals鈥攏ot that you鈥檒l have to buy a new pair anytime soon鈥攎y current pair has lasted through five summers and will easily last another five. Teva tans for life!

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