Best men’s summer shoes 2023: Sandals, slides, trainers and more

Our best buy for men’s summer shoes are the filippos from Ancient Greek Sandals. Backless with a woven leather front, these sandals are surprisingly comfortable. Our tester could walk around London all day in the sunshine and there was no discomfort. An offbeat look with straight leg jeans and graphic tee is perfect for a day shopping or pubbing.

As with many leather items, there was a bit of colour transfer onto our tester’s feet but nothing dramatic – though the brand advises against wearing these in the rain or wet weather. The soles of these are very flat so do not offer arch support which feels strange at first but our tester got used to it.

The Adidas sambas are still cool even though they are seemingly ubiquitous on social media and walking around the city. The classic design dates way back to 1949, making this a modern classic. They are available in numerous colourways but opt for the white or black pair if you want to stay minimal with your look.

Our tester found them to be comfortable, light for summer and they matched almost every outfit. Whether dressing down smart trousers to the office or pairing with some blue denim or shorts, the sambas will be your go to shoe for summer and beyond.

M&S’s robust slides are great for throwing on before heading out to the shops for BBQ essentials and will be your best friend at the beach or wandering around a European city this summer. Wear these with some linen shorts and a shirt for cool comfort while traveling.

The fit is ever so slightly large which makes them roomy but not too much that they rub the feet. Our tester tried them in the brown colour which has a subtle two-tone effect. This is a style that will pair with many summer looks whether you choose black or brown.

Mules and clogs have been having their moment for a while with the popularity of the Birkenstock boston clogs. Grenson has its own clogs for men, the dale, which our tester has been pairing with a range of outfits and occasions. He wore them casually with jeans and even to a more formal event during a hot summer day with trousers and a shirt. We suggest wearing these with socks.

The footbed is a soft suede texture which feels great. Take note if you have wide feet that the footbed may become uncomfortable after prolonged wear. Our tester went for the dark brown but there are black and tan colourways and also a brown shearling lined pair available.

A summer shoe roundup isn’t complete without a pair of espadrilles but the issue is our reviewer normally doesn’t like them. These changed our reviewer’s mind completely about the allure of espadrilles. The veluso style from Frescobol Carioca are suede with a collapsible contrast heel that makes these easy to slip on and go.

The collapsible heel makes them feel more casual and “thrown on”, which our reviewer appreciates with his style. These are great to run down to the beach with when on holiday or wandering around the city in the park and to the pub.

Flip flops have a bad rap especially for men, but when styled correctly they can be a great summer staple. Reminiscent of the ginza sandals from The Row, the chunky rios from AllSaints are an example of flip flops done right. Our tester paired these with longer smart trousers to dress them up. The chunkiness makes these sandals quite heavy so these will be great for shorter walks to the beach or wandering around a museum to cool off on a summer’s day.

The first thing that our tester noticed when trying on the Russell & Bromley mirage sandals was the comfortable footbed made of cushioned leather. There is a crocodile effect on the upper of the sandal with a stitching detail. The shape is attractive and the amount of leather on the top is great to feel secure around the foot.

The mirage sandals are available in black or a deep brown that our tester chose and are made in Italy. If you don’t want to go for a standard pair of slides, this is the perfect way to get an elevated Italian feeling to your summer footwear.

We find Vans’ to be some of the most comfortable shoes for summertime. Originally a skate shoe and a familiar choice for emos and rockers, these shoes can actually pair with lots of styles. The anaheim factory pack is named after the original factory in Anaheim, California and pays homage to the original design with some updated features.

These are available in some great classic colours, but our tester loves the checkerboard print to add as a point of interest to an otherwise paired-back outfit. If the Olsen Twins can wear Vans, then so can we!

These one strap sandals have been a staple for our tester for years because they are not the typical Birkenstock shape and they hide a lot of the foot while still working to keep cool during the summer months. The suede comes in a variety of colours but our tester has the taupe colour which seems to be the most popular. These are great to pair with shorts so feet don’t feel too exposed and are comfortable enough and provide enough footbed support to walk around all day whether on holiday or running errands. Plus, they look great when worn with formal trousers for dinner or drinks on a summer evening too.

The first penny loafers were reportedly made by George Henry Bass with slots in the front of the shoes to hold pennies for emergency phone calls. Since the 1930s G.H. Bass has sold these iconic loafers that have transcended many style subcultures.

Our tester tried the more modern chunky Nineties larson loafers which are more on the smart casual side and very on trend. Pair with white socks, shorts and a vintage crewneck jumper in the summer for a preppy look, or pair with a suit for a summer wedding.

You either love them or hate them but our reviewer is obsessed! He wears the clasic clogs to the shops, to the beach, around the garden, on holiday and anywhere else you can think of. He even wears them with smart trousers for an unexpected ensemble. Wear with or without socks depending on your mood and be unafraid.

The classic clog comes in a range of colours - we love the colour bone - and the charms are a must for those looking to personalise and have some fun with their summer footwear. They’re called Jibbitz and you can even get little mushrooms that grow out of your feet.

Clogs are definitely the men’s shoe of the summer: they’re easy to slip on and make a change from loafers and trainers. The holger clogs from Olive, a British brand based in Cheltenham, have a great silhouette. The chunky sole is bang on trend and the square toe adds a quirky touch. The back is soft so can be worn slip on or with the back up.

These are a great alternative to a smart brogue and would not look out of place with a suit on. Alternatively our tester paired with white socks, shorts and a linen shirt for a summertime look. They are comfortable to walk around in and great to slip on with the backs down for a casual vibe.