Iridescent sandals, £50
I have been dithering over whether to get a pair of Tevas for about 18 years now.
It started when I went away with Raleigh International and the packing list for the Namibia expedition recommended a pair of Tevas. And I thought “Fucking no way. Those things are hideous.”
I went to a shop and bought a more acceptable pair of action sandals (to my eye). Then I spent the last 6 weeks of the expedition glueing the motherfuckers back together with boot glue because they couldn’t handle the heat, the dust, the sweat, the pace.
I was very sympathetic: by that time I was coming apart at the seams, too.
Of course, everyone else who had got a great big hideous pair of Tevas were laughing their heads off, diddling about happily, scampering over rocks and skipping over gravel and light scrub.
So I felt a right douche. And now Tevas come in awesome crazy colours – and with shoes at the moment, it seems like the uglier the better.
AND, we are going on two quite action-y holidays this summer, one to Devon and one to Greece, where there will, I guarantee, be a fair amount of climbing over rocks and slogging up hills carrying one or other or both my children. My shoe options are troubling me.
Also, also, also I lost litte Sam’s action sandals in Sicily so he is down to his Geox light-ups, which smell a bit of wee because he did a huge wee all over them by mistake when we were potty training last month. And, Kitty’s Crocs keep on sliding off her feet – she has inherited my Dad’s long, slim feet and narrow heels and if she runs in her Crocs they just flick off. She thinks it’s funny, of course.
So I took all the bloody hints the universe was sending me and finally went onto the Teva website and purchased three pairs of excellent and sturdy sandals – a pair of “Disco Tevas” for me, which look much better on than you think they’re going to – the iridescent sheen is very subtle – and a pair of uncompromising feet protectors each for Kitty and Sam.
Sandals for Sam with a toe guard because he always drops things on his toes. £37.50
Purples ones for Kitty that won’t flick off: £35
I would show you a photo of my Disco Tevas on, but they have come up a little too small – I am a shoe size 4.5 so I got a 4 because I don’t like a flappy sandal, and they came up a very true 4, which is too small. So I am swapping for a size 5.
I’m sure you will find that instructive, you always want to know about sizing.
They look lovely but does the bit between your toes not drive you crackers?
I also love the Landsend sandals but my son has said No, he absolutely does not want sandals. So that saves me money. Out of interest, do you find the Landsend kids’ sandals true to size? They seem to start at size 13 which is a size bigger than my son’s feet.
the Landsend salads are an okay size but I wouldn’t get them again, they’re a bit stiff and rubbed at poor sam’s feet. though he does have VERY odd shaped feet…
Salads. Lol.
salads! lolzz
If it’s any consolation at 21 I bought the ones with the plastic triangle bit by the ankle (as advised by everyone) and they nearly crippled me so I spent my travels in flip flops instead, which were hugely impractical but did at least leave my bony ankles unmolested.
Could you share a review when you get them? Then soles *look* like walking loads in them wouldn’t make my old woman knees hurt (I’m 38…) but you never can tell.
Thanks for this – I’ve been going crazy over what sandals to get, I do a lot of walking and suffer from pelvic pain so struggle to find anything suitable and always end up in sodding Birkenstocks. I don’t get on with toe posts either, but like the look of some of the other options (I’m a 4.5 too so sizing info particularly apposite). My boy loves his crocs but they don’t seem to fit my daughter as well so going to look into some for her. Also I kind of love the phrase “action sandals” xx
Considering Tevas to combine with my Merrells while “trekking” round Disney World. Like the silver.
The Raleigh packing list was terrifying. 4 pairs of knickers – really? I still can’t look at zip off trousers. Re. the Tevas whilst I had an as pretty as possible (given their practicality) turquoise floral pair, I was left with a Teva tan on my feet for about a decade.
Merrells are the Devil’s own shoes, Linda. They will rip your feet to pieces. My husbands feet bear scars from an ill advised purchase of Merell sandals eight years ago…
On the Garance Dore blog have written about “the Return of the Teva” . You are tres chic Esther.
vraiment! I do my best xx