mfad•4mo ago

Sandals for the pool that might be somewhat versatile (slides not flip flops)

I need some sandals that are comfortable but not too boring for wear around the pool and when showering at the gym. The only ones I currently have are teva-style with heel straps which wouldn't be ideal here. I rarely wear sandals, but if I'm going to get some more, I'd prefer to be able to wear them out occasionally in other contexts.

I know flip flops were trending, but they don't work for me ergonomically and I find them annoying. So slides would be preferred, or if there is some heel strap it should be removable. No crocs though as I've tried them before and don't like the way they feel.

some of the options I'm considering so far:

adifom iiinfinity
allsaints biggy
nike calm
birkenstock arizona eva
keen shanti

ler•9/16/25, 7:13 PM

im gonna be honest man for the pool and gym shower i would get whatever is cheapest. i literally use some garbage from the dollar store.

heckle•9/16/25, 9:39 PM

if you’re wearing gym clothes I think any of these other than the birks are fine

Hheckle if you’re wearing gym clothes I think any of these other than the birks are fine

pierce inverarityOP•9/16/25, 11:29 PM

I was actually leaning toward those because they might work slightly better for casual wear (I don't wear a ton of athleisure that would go with the nike or adidias)

so you think birkenstocks would absolutely look ridiculous with a swim cap and jammers then?

heckle•9/16/25, 11:33 PM

If it were me I wouldn’t want to be wearing my gym/pool shoes casually because they’d get too dirty to use in the gym/pool

heckle•9/16/25, 11:33 PM

But I mean I don’t think anyone really cares enough about other people’s pool shoes for it to matter if you were wearing birks

Hheckle But I mean I don’t think anyone really cares enough about other people’s pool sh...

pierce inverarityOP•9/16/25, 11:34 PM

I guess you could wear loafers to the pool if you really wanted to, but I mean more would it look out of place rather than just would anyone comment on it

zeometer•9/17/25, 12:08 AM

honestly i wear my tevas to the pool and as shower shoes lol
the vast majority of times i'm changing shoes anyway because they'd be wet after

zeometer•9/17/25, 12:10 AM

of those pictured the birks

Walmart the Conqueror•9/17/25, 12:18 AM

they make slides with holes in the soles specifically for showering

Zzeometer of those pictured the birks

pierce inverarityOP•9/17/25, 3:23 AM

black or khaki/green?

24AW_SPORTSFORWARD_OM_1001497_1001498_129423_129421_101-large.webp

Ppierce inverarity black or khaki/green?

douubleyouu•9/17/25, 3:42 AM

no real objective answer to this one. id buy the green because i like the green. which do you prefer?

Ddouubleyouu no real objective answer to this one. id buy the green because i like the green....

pierce inverarityOP•9/17/25, 3:45 AM

I know, just looking for other opinions since I'm basically 50/50 between them

the green looks cheaper in person but the black is pretty stark and probably less versatile

douubleyouu•9/17/25, 3:46 AM

i wouldnt worry much about versatility if these were gonna be my pool and locker shoes, if you think the black look nicer in person then that sounds ideal

pierce inverarityOP•9/17/25, 3:48 AM

that was my decision after trying them on also but the more I see the green the better it looks to me, and I do think it would look better with casual outfits if I wanted to wear it outside the gym

zeometer•9/17/25, 11:45 AM

green

zeometer•9/17/25, 11:50 AM

at the pool or shower i don't think people will give a shit either way and in casual fits (without knowing what constitutes a "casual fit") people are likely going to see that it's a sandal before the color itself if they ever care

Zzeometer at the pool or shower i don't think people will give a shit either way and in ca...

pierce inverarityOP•9/17/25, 11:55 AM

valid, although for my own peace of mind being somewhat ocd, I think all black swim gear with green would look goofy (goofier than showing up to swim laps wearing birks already does)

while I like the look of green better in all the photos, in person they are much more obviously EVA and have a more croc-like vibe while the black is more low key

zeometer•9/17/25, 12:05 PM

then buy black

zeometer•9/17/25, 12:05 PM

this may be less a problem of "which shoe is good" and more "what should you expect out of this sandal"?
if you weren't going swimming or showering in public, would you wear a sandal? if not i'd look at the sandals as a necessary component to your physical activity vs something that has to also be aesthetic

Zzeometer this may be less a problem of "which shoe is good" and more "what should you exp...

pierce inverarityOP•9/17/25, 6:26 PM

that makes sense, though I'm open to the fact that I've ruled out sandals somewhat arbitrarily and might wear them more if I give them a chance

zeometer•9/17/25, 6:28 PM

only one way to find out

zeometer•9/17/25, 6:29 PM

(well 1.5, the .5 is "are you actively drawn to/inspired by sandals worn casually" vs "are you trying to further justify an expense?")

Sandals for the pool that might be somewhat versatile (slides not flip flops)

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