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Madewell Boardwalk Sandals Review
When you think of the company Madewell, you might not think about shoes, as they are more known for their jeans and other denim wear. Yes, they make great quality jeans but they are so much more than that, focusing on all the things that you would wear while you are wearing their jeans as well. Madewell also makes t-shirts, bags, jewelry, and of course, shoes. The Madewell Boardwalk sandals are just one in their long line of shoes they produce. Not only are these going to look great to wear with a nice pair of jeans, but they are going to go great with your dresses, skirts, or shorts, as well. These great looking shoes are going to fit in almost anywhere, no matter what you are wearing.
There are some flaws, however, when it comes to these great looking shoes. They do tend to run a bit narrow so if you have wide feet then you might want to consider something else as these are going to be too small and uncomfortable for your feet. Additionally, many customers suggested that even those with an average width foot might experience discomfort as they might be too narrow for them as well. Some reviewers stated that these sandals are rather uncomfortable and most of it has to do with the thick leather vamp that comes across your toes which will rub and cause sores on your feet. Most people were drawn in by the great look and low price tag of these sandals only to be disappointed by the poor fit, uncomfortable feel, and the short life span of them.
Editor's Pros & Cons
Pros
- Low price tag
- Great style
- Good color options
- Flexible and supportive
- Lightweight feel
Cons
- Runs very narrow
- May cause blisters
Straps
The Madewell Boardwalk has an ankle strap construction with a buckle closure to ensure your shoes stay in place while you are out and about. They have a wide strap vamp that covers the tops of your feet right above your toes to give you a little extra support and security. The uppers are made out of leather to ensure they stay durable and comfortable all day long. These strappy sandals might be simple and plain but customers love the look of them.
Please note that some customers stated that the straps can be a bit narrow and small which can cause them to rub on your feet uncomfortably. The leather of the straps is not going to stretch out like some other shoes on the market so if the straps are too tight, to begin with, you will most likely not be able to loosen them up to make them fit in long run.
Please note that some customers stated that the straps can be a bit narrow and small which can cause them to rub on your feet uncomfortably. The leather of the straps is not going to stretch out like some other shoes on the market so if the straps are too tight, to begin with, you will most likely not be able to loosen them up to make them fit in long run.
Sole
The soles are made out of mostly synthetic and man-made materials. They are designed to ensure they will not wear out too quickly and will be able to withstand your daily use. There is no extra height added to them from a heel as these have a flat profile. If you are in the market for a pair of heeled sandals then there are other options on the market that you can choose from. However, many customers love and appreciate these shoes because they are flats.
The outsole is going to give you an adequate amount of traction. It isn't recommended that you take these for a trek in the woods but as long as you stick to the beach, pavements, or other smooth surfaces, you should have no problems with these sandals keeping their grip and helping you stay on your feet. No need to worry about your feet slipping out from underneath you unexpectedly and causing you to fall and hurt yourself.
The outsole is going to give you an adequate amount of traction. It isn't recommended that you take these for a trek in the woods but as long as you stick to the beach, pavements, or other smooth surfaces, you should have no problems with these sandals keeping their grip and helping you stay on your feet. No need to worry about your feet slipping out from underneath you unexpectedly and causing you to fall and hurt yourself.
Style
One thing that customers love is their simple, classic design. The flat profile makes for a great pair of casual shoes that look great with a wide variety of different outfits. They have an ankle strap construction and a buckle closure. These sandals are open toed with a wide leather vamp strap stretching across your toes. These shoes are available in a couple of different color options so you can choose something that is going to best suit your style and personality. You will be able to choose between desert camel, English saddle leather, natural buff leather, or true black leather. No matter what color you decided to go with, these are going to look great.
Comfort
They do not appear to be very comfortable at all, and that is very discouraging to many customers. First, there is no padding on the soles of the shoes so you get no kind of underfoot cushioning or arch support so that can cause some discomfort right there. Another issue comes from the fact that they vamp, or strap across the toes, tends to cut into your feet causing sores, chafing, and blisters. There are a handful of customers who swear these are super comfortable and have had no problems at all, but the vast majority of them thought they were super uncomfortable and could not even wear them after a day or two.
Durability
They are reported to have some durability issues which can a little frustrating for some customers. They do have a smaller price tag than some other similar shoes so it is not as devastating when you have to replace them, but it can still be irritating to have to spend your hard earned money on a pair of shoes like these and then have them start to fall apart shortly after you get them.
Many customers have stated that they look and feel like they are very cheaply made so that would make sense that they have the tendency to suffer from premature wear and tear. If you are looking for a long lasting pair of sandals that will last you a number of years then you might want to look elsewhere, however, if you just want a simple pair of shoes to wear for a couple of months in the summer then these are going to be the perfect choice for you.
Many customers have stated that they look and feel like they are very cheaply made so that would make sense that they have the tendency to suffer from premature wear and tear. If you are looking for a long lasting pair of sandals that will last you a number of years then you might want to look elsewhere, however, if you just want a simple pair of shoes to wear for a couple of months in the summer then these are going to be the perfect choice for you.
Flexibility
When it comes to your shoes you are going to want to ensure that you have a decent amount of flexibility to them so you can move around freely and unrestricted. You need to make sure that your feet can move as naturally and freely as possible while you are out and about, otherwise, you run the risk of discomfort in your feet. The great thing about them is that you will get a decent amount of flexibility. Since the uppers only consist of a couple of straps there is nothing really holding you back there. Additionally, the sole is thin and designed out of softer materials so it gives you a decent amount of flex so you can walk with ease.
Support
Support is important when it comes to your shoes. You want to make sure that you get something that is going to keep your feet locked into place. They do a great job at ensuring that your feet are not going to go anywhere while you are wearing them. The strap around your ankle is adjustable and has a buckle enclosure that you can use to ensure you get a snug and secure fit. There is also a wide strap that goes across your toes to help ensure you stay securely locked into place while you are out and about. As long as your shoes fit you properly then these two straps are going to lock your feet in so you do not have to worry about slipping and sliding inside of your shoes which can potentially lead you to fall and injuring yourself or possibly others.
Something to note about these sandals, however, is that they do not offer any kind of arch support. There is virtually nothing under your feet, including padding, so there is nothing to help give you that extra support that you might need.
Something to note about these sandals, however, is that they do not offer any kind of arch support. There is virtually nothing under your feet, including padding, so there is nothing to help give you that extra support that you might need.
Weight
Weight is important when it comes to what you are wearing on your feet. You are going to want to make sure that you find something that is lightweight so you do not have to worry about feeling like your shoes are holding you back and weighing you down. There are some exceptions to this rule, as there are some types of shoes, such as work boots, that will require extra weight due to their protection and supportive features. These sandals, on the other hand, are not part of that exception and should be as light as possible. That being said, the Madewell Boardwalk Sandals are rather lightweight and feel almost like you are not wearing anything on your feet while you are out and about. There is, unfortunately, no information on the exact weight of these shoes but customers can agree that they are almost weightless.
Fit
It is important when purchasing shoes to ensure that you get a perfect size otherwise they can cause great discomfort or possible injuries. Most customers have stated that these sandals are running pretty true to size so that should take away some of the guesswork when deciding on what size to order if you are unsure it never hurts to consult a size chart. Even though they run true to size it is very important to note that the Madewell Boardwalk Sandals are very narrow.
There are a great many of customers who commented that they are designed more for people with thin and narrow feet, even those reviewers that do not have wide feet had problems squeezing their feet into these shoes. Since they are so narrow it can cause the vamp to squeeze and pinch your toes and feet uncomfortably, causing irritating rubbing and sores. If you have wide feet then you should not order these shoes. If your feet have a normal or average width then you should still use caution when ordering these and be mindful that they run narrow.
Another thing that some customers mentioned when they purchased these shoes is that the ankle strap can be a put short. It was suggested that if you are taller then the straps might not sit right around your ankles which can additionally cause discomfort due to the straps or buckles rubbing on your ankles.
There are a great many of customers who commented that they are designed more for people with thin and narrow feet, even those reviewers that do not have wide feet had problems squeezing their feet into these shoes. Since they are so narrow it can cause the vamp to squeeze and pinch your toes and feet uncomfortably, causing irritating rubbing and sores. If you have wide feet then you should not order these shoes. If your feet have a normal or average width then you should still use caution when ordering these and be mindful that they run narrow.
Another thing that some customers mentioned when they purchased these shoes is that the ankle strap can be a put short. It was suggested that if you are taller then the straps might not sit right around your ankles which can additionally cause discomfort due to the straps or buckles rubbing on your ankles.
Versatility
The Madewell Boardwalk Sandals are an all-around great looking pair of shoes that can be worn with a lot of outfits and a variety of occasions. Whether you are looking to pair these with a nice pair of skinny jeans for running errands or you are looking to wear them with a nice flowing skirt to attend a beach wedding they will fit right in and look great. No matter what you are doing or where you are going these shoes are going to fit right in.
Bottom Line
The Madewell Boardwalk Sandals are a great looking shoe that many customers adore. They come in a couple different colors so you are sure to find something that will best suit your style and personality. The sandals will look great for many occasions and paired with numerous different outfits. They do have a relatively low price tag that might draw many people in, but it should be noted that they do tend to suffer from some premature wear and tear so they are probably not going to last you more than one summer.
Another setback that these shoes have is that they are narrow and do not fit very comfortably on people with regular width or wide width feet. They can cause rubbing and discomfort if they are too tight so that is something that you might want to keep in mind before making the purchase. If you can get around the durability issues and the narrow running fit then these are going to be great for you.
Another setback that these shoes have is that they are narrow and do not fit very comfortably on people with regular width or wide width feet. They can cause rubbing and discomfort if they are too tight so that is something that you might want to keep in mind before making the purchase. If you can get around the durability issues and the narrow running fit then these are going to be great for you.
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