On this list, we have encountered several different styles, each of which we are going to take a closer look at here, and discuss a little bit about why they’re popular and how best to wear them.

Slide

The slide sandal, otherwise known as the pool slide, hasn’t always been the peak of fashion. In fact, in the 90s, this style was reserved for college students too lazy to get into proper footwear for their midnight snack run, or for athletes who would slip into these with their socks on after a hard-won game.

However, all of that started changing in recent years, and especially this season the pool slide trend has experienced a revolution. Now, you can find a pair of these from every brand – from high-end Gucci and Stella McCartney, bedazzled with glitter and crystals and made out of high-quality materials, to more sporty designs, like Tory Sport and Puma.

Pool slides are in fashion because they are ridiculously easy to wear – as their very name suggests, you simply slide into them and you’re on your way! Depending on their aesthetic, they go well with everything – jeans, skirts, sundresses, denim shorts, you name it. Of course, they are casual in appearance, nothing you could wear to a wedding or a similar formal event, but for a stroll by the lake or even a chill afternoon out with your friends – it doesn’t get any simpler or easier than the pool slide!

Sports

By sports sandals here, we mean those who have a more relaxed aesthetic, which you can wear all day every day in warm weather, and which look good in all casual settings. Such as the Platform Sandal, for example.

These come with some sort of fastening or closure around the back, differentiating them from the classic slide option, but they are not any less easy to wear. Given their mostly athletic design, you can best pair them with tracksuits, jeans and shirts, and maybe even a jersey dress for a sporty chic look.

Flip-flop

The obvious advantage to the flip-flop is that it is, similarly to the pool slide, very easy to wear. No buckles, no complicated zippers or lacings – you just slide on a flip-flop and you’re ready to hit the beach. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and bedazzlements, but the one thing they all have in common is the toe post which goes between the big toe and the second toe. This might be uncomfortable for some people, but it doesn’t take long to get used to it.

Flip-flops are the ultimate casual footwear style and are definitely not appropriate for school or the workplace, or any other setting where you’re expected to be put together. Rather, this simple model is reserved for spur-of-the-moment walks by the riverbank, for the beach or the pool.

While they provide solid protection from hot asphalt and sand, from any glass on the ground and even bacterial and fungi infections in communal showers, it is important to know that flip-flops shouldn’t be worn all day, every day. Usually, this type of sandal doesn’t come with significant arch support, and wearing it for extended periods of time can lead to pain in the ankle, knee, and hip, and even more serious conditions such as flatfoot.

This type of footwear is meant to be worn all day every day during the summer months. You can take your favorite slides to the grocery store, on a shopping trip, a walk by the lake, a stroll on the pier, even to a sightseeing tour! So it stands to reason that you want them to be comfortable. There’s really no point in getting footwear that you’re not going to be able to wear as much as you’d like.

With this style, there are several things to consider when it comes to comfort, and we’re going to list them here.

• Strap: Every sandal has a strap, or several, which wrap around the foot and help secure the design in place. These can be thick or thin, wide or narrow, crisscrossing, winding, plain or sparkly.
  In regards to comfort, however, it is important that the straps are made from soft, flexible materials. Since you will most likely be wearing your shoes without socks, you need to make sure that the upper - or the straps - aren’t hard and unforgiving, and that they don’t dig into your skin or cause lacerations or blisters of any kind.
• Footbed: The footbed is what comes in direct contact with your foot sole, and what largely determines the levels of comfort of a design. If you want to be able to walk around for hours on end, then you want the footbed to be cushioned or contoured, or even both at the same time.
  Cushioned footbeds reduce the strain put on your feet and joints with every step, and make you feel as though you’re walking on clouds.
  Contoured footbeds are there to provide support, cradle the foot, and make sure that it doesn’t overpronate. Contours are also great for arch support, which is essential in avoiding foot fatigue.
• Weight: Lastly, because this is a style meant for the summer, to keep you cool and breezy, you may want to opt for something lightweight. A heavy design can wear you down, make it difficult to walk and even cause pain in the shins and joints. Save hardwearing constructions for clunky winter boots, and for the summer choose a design that instead brings a spring to your step!

We admit that not all of the items in this guide are built to be worn in wet conditions. However, as this footwear style is primarily for places like the pool, the beach, the riverside and similar, we felt the need to include a section about water resistance.

We are not talking about waterproofing here; when a shoe is waterproof, it means that it prevents any and all moisture from getting inside to the foot, a quality commonly found in boots.

We are instead talking about footwear that is water friendly. Water friendly means that a design won’t lose its shape or its characteristics when splashed by water. It won’t stretch out, get discolored, fall apart, or otherwise suffer any damage if you happen to step into a puddle, or if your little cousin attacks you with a water gun.

If the design happens to be quick-drying at the same time, all the better!

So in case water resistance is important to you - if you are looking for a good option to wear around water - then definitely make sure to sort the items on our list according to this criterion. We do warn you, however, that the more stylish options - such as the Fenty Faux Fur, the Fenty Bow and the Creeper Bandana - are not meant for wet conditions.

Instead, the designs that are durable in such cases are the Divecat and the Popcat, which you can get wet without worrying about what will happen to them.

When going about your day, you are crossing over several different types of terrain - sleek indoor floors, rough asphalt, maybe soft earth, shifty sand, slippery tiles. It’s not easy to keep your balance on all of these, and this is why traction is an important factor to consider when you’re shopping for this type of footwear. You want to reduce the risk of slipping, skidding and falling and injuring yourself.

Traction is achieved through placing intricate patterns on the outsole of a design. These patterns, lines or grooves, increase friction between the outsole and the ground, and decrease the chance of slipping. The patterns come in countless forms - concentric circles, chevron-like, wavey, and many more. All of them ensure that you don’t lose your footing when it matters.

The aspect of traction is especially important if you intend on taking your new shoes to the pool. Pools are usually surrounded by tiles, which get amazingly slippery when wet, and can cause all sorts of accidents. In order to avoid these, definitely pay attention to the levels of traction your new design provides.

If you are unsure whether or not your sandals will be good to wear on a particular surface, maybe it’s best to leave them at home for the outing. Better safe than sorry, they always say, and we agree. Even if your footwear is incredibly stylish and will perfectly compliment your outfit, if you feel like there is a risk of you accidentally hurting yourself, it’s better to play it safe.

The durability of a design is what we all focus on. Because we like a shoe that looks good, feels good, that can withstand wet conditions and won’t let us slip and get hurt - but we also want to know how long this design will last. We’re investing money in it, so it’s only natural that we want to know how long we can expect to enjoy it.

Durability as such is determined by a myriad of factors, not least of which are the materials that go into the construction of a model.

Those made from genuine leather materials, such as the Creeper Bandana and the Leadcat Suede are one of the most durable options, because leathers are quite long lasting. Those made from synthetics are not as durable, as synthetic materials tend to crease, to flake or otherwise fall apart sooner rather than later.

Another thing which also decides the durability of a design is the construction itself.

Since this type of footwear comes with straps, we have to mention how straps are usually the first thing that goes, because the connections between them and the sole break down.

If you want a design that stands the test of time, then go for something like the Divecat, which is a slide made entirely in one piece. It has a strap, in a way, but it is not really a strap, and is, in fact, fused with the rest of the shoe. The strap can’t come off, because there’s no connection between it and the sole!

So to make sure that you are getting the most for your money, definitely look for high quality materials, such as leather and suede, and constructions which are more solid and sturdier than others. And you’re all set!