

Slides are popular in the sporting world because they can be worn after sports practices when an athlete no longer wants to wear his or her cleats, and thick football or soccer socks can fit into slides without hassle. Because this strap is wide, elevated, and does not sit firmly on the skin, they can be easily slid in and out of (hence the name “slides”) and because there is no strap that goes between the toes, slides can be worn with socks. Slides are similar to flip flops in that they have a flat sole, but instead of a y-strap, slides have a single, wide strap that crosses the front of the foot near the toes. The ever-trending slides, too, are a kind of sandal.

In South Africa, flip flops are called “slops” and in the UK they are generally just referred to as “sandals.” You can see how strongly Australians feel about their thongs in this article in the Sydney Morning Herald. Yep, thongs are just another name for flip flops.This can be the root of hilarious mix-ups, as in the US “thong” is the name for g-string style underwear. In Australia, for example, the flip flop Americans know and love is called a thong. Interestingly, these versatile shoes have funny different names in a variety of settings. There is a cultural divide when it comes to flip flops-older generations still see them as strictly casual wear meant for the beach, while more and more young people are finding it acceptable to dress flip flops up and include them as evening wear. However, the earliest recording of flip flops dates back to ancient Egypt. Named for the sound they make when someone wearing them walks around, they have been a staple in American beach couture since the 1960s. The main thing keeping flip flops on your feet is the grip of your toes on the strap, although the strap will rest on the top of your foot and give a little extra stability there. These of course are the flat-soled shoes secured by a y-shaped front strap, and include no heel strap or support. Now that we’ve got that established, let’s unpack an American classic: flip flops. There are even slippers with straps that could be considered sleepwear sandals. For instance, a strappy wedge heel could be dressed up with a nice evening gown, or a pair of outdoorsy hiking sandals could be packed for a camping and river-rafting trip. Therefore, flip flops, thongs, and slides are all considered a type of sandal, but a sandal could also be a pair of Birkenstocks, a gladiator-style shoe, strappy heels, a pair of Crocs, and a number of other styles. In the U.S., sandals refer to any shoe that are open to the elements and are held onto the foot with straps. Let’s start with the umbrella term: sandals. But what exactly is the difference between each of these terms? We know that these all fall into the “comfy shoe” category, and they all seem like great choices for the beach, yoga, or a quick run out to do errands. Don’t fight the feeling.įrom the poolside classics to the minimalist upgrades you can pair with a suit, are the 16 best men's slides to slip into.Flip flops, sandals, slides and thongs. Hell, you may get to September and start pulling a Jared Leto, rocking slides with socks well into autumn. Our guess: before long you’ll be slipping them on almost daily. Maybe dip a toe (or 10) into the slides revolution by copping a pair for the beach (with a fresh set of swim trunks)? Let the freedom wash over your feet. If you‘re not sold on full-time slides, we get it. The right aesthetically on-point pair-and, as you’ll discover below, you’ve got a pile to choose from-will cap off your best casual (and casual- ish) fits with a pinch of middle-fingers-to-the-sky attitude. The slides renaissance arrived partly because we’re all a little less buttoned up these days, but mostly because they’ve landed in the crosshairs of designers. While we can't co-sign wearing them to get engaged, we do wholeheartedly endorse slides for the vast majority of off-the-clock activities. Hell, they’re now being used for popping the question. But in the span of just a few short years, slides have evolved from the lazy footwear of frat boys and protectors against wart-averse gym-goers to everyday-appropriate. Up until recently, the best slides for men were any of them-so long as you didn’t wear them in public.
