8 Pairs of Comfortable Summer Shoes

*I should start by saying I cannot 100% guarantee this claim for everyone, seeing as we all have different-shaped feet, but I own all of these shoes, and these are the pairs I turn to in the summer when I want comfort without socks. For reference I think I have fairly regularly shaped feet, not particularly slim and not particularly wide.

I can say hand on heart that not one of these pairs of shoes and sandals has given me blisters, the scourge of summer shoes. I need footwear that I can rely on to be comfortable enough to wear all day in the heat without fear of rubbage. I’ve done over 10K steps in every pair. I’ll try to give the pros and cons of each pair too in the name of impartiality.

I have deliberately left out trainers on this list, as trainers should always be comfortable due to their very nature, plus I always wear footsies with my trainers as I like to avoid the stink.

PAVEMENT SUEDE LOAFERS

I got these last year (from The Dressing Room in St Albans) and they are like slippers. I’ve never once felt the need to wear them with socks, and they’re made from super-soft suede, they’re true to size and I like the little extra tassel feature at the front. I’d say the only con is the fact that suede is quite delicate, so they’ve scuffed a little around the toes, but a suede brush would probably buff that out.

AIR & GRACE GALA SANDALS

If you’ve been here for a while, you will know my love for these Air & Grace Gala sandals. They now come in five colours. I’m not ashamed to say I have them in three of those colours already. They’re true to size, are made for all-day wear, have a cushioned, moulded footbed, and the straps are adjustable, so I’d say they would work whatever the width of your feet.

The only con I can see is that, if your feet sweat in the leather version, there’s a small chance of getting black marks where the straps sit. To be honest, this only happened to me when I first started wearing them, and it was with the black leather pair and not the suede version. If you’re looking for a classic pair of sandals you can wear every summer, these are they.

ZARA BALLET FLATS

I own quite a few pairs of ballet flats, ranging from high street to high-end designer, and I can honestly say that the Zara ones are near the top of the list in terms of comfort. I have to admit that they don’t sell the two pairs I own anymore, but these white ones are the same style as the black pair I have, and they’re made from soft leather that needs no breaking in. The only con would be that they’re not suitable if you can’t wear totally flat shoes. There’s no arch support and minimal padding on the sole.

TEVA INFINITY SANDALS

Some of the reviews I have seen online for these Teva sandals are the complete opposite of how I feel about them. Yes, the elastic straps can be a bit tight at first (and it can take a while to work out how to put them on), but they ease up very quickly when you wear them, and the Teva-patented ‘Mush’ footbed moulds to the shape of your foot, making them ridiculously comfortable. Maybe those who can’t get to grips with these have much wider feet, as I imagine that might make the elastic dig in, so perhaps these are more suited to my narrower-footed ladies. Unlike other Tevas, where it’s best to size up, I’d say get your usual size in these.

ARCHIES FLIP FLOPS

I’ve wanged on about these enough recently, but as I’ve never found a pair of flip-flops I could legitimately wear all day before, finding these was an important discovery for me. I now have them in four colours. That tells you everything. Get your regular size.

ALOHAS TIE FRONT BALLET FLATS

Let’s start with the only negative with these Alohas ballet flats. I cannot for the life of me work out how to tie the laces in a single bow without them coming undone. They stayed tied for a few wears but then unravelled, and how anyone manages to tie them in one knot is beyond me. I have even watched YouTube tutorials on knots to try and work it out, but to no avail. I have to do a double knot in mine. It doesn’t detract from the excellent comfort factor, but it’s not quite as pretty as the original neat bow. The positives are the padded footbed and the fact that they have a slight heel, so the soles aren’t completely flat. True to size.

REFORMATION MESH FLATS

The final two pairs of shoes will be very Marmite, but I love them both. These Reformation mesh flats are a little bit like wearing a fishing net, but despite their uncomfortable-looking appearance, they’re perfect for all-day wear. The only con for me is that people may question your taste, but f*ck them, wear what you love. And I love them. They’re true to size and have a padded footbed.

ADIDAS TAEKWONDO MEI SHOES

Another style that has drawn a fair bit of derision, but I stand by these Taekwondo shoes. They have the comfort factor of a pair of Adidas trainers but the style of a girly pair of ballet flats. Probably more for my narrow-footed friends again, as the laces might cut in if you have wider feet, but they do also come with ribbons, which I haven’t tried. Those might work better if you have wider feet. I would go up half a size in these.

I also need to mention the Amazon strappy sandals, which I’m sure so many of you already have, but there might still be a couple of readers not aware of these bargain-basement, easy-wear sandals.

K x

WearsMyMoney

I spent it all on clothes by the looks of things...