Oh man, I totally agree that there needs to be more options. I have this pair of Diesel sandals that are like the only decent ones I've ever seen (except flip flops) and they're probably 7 years old at this point!

If this is such a big problem, how come like every third dude in PDX is sporting sandles and socks? I think the unfasionable have just moved on and made it to a meta-level of fasionableness.

Can you explain why men's sandals are so bad? Then, maybe, we'll be able to focus on some features to eliminate, and others to emphasize. I mean, I see twelve guys all wearing mandals, khaki cargo shorts, and gray t-shirts, and I immediately know that it's wrong and that they are ugly people with even uglier values. But I don't always know why... is it the toes (or maybe open toe combined with buckles?)? not enough mesh when mesh is the new hot feature?

To answer your questions. I wear tennis shoes. But if I wear sandals, then I wear a pair of thongs. And I don't really like them. I don't know what to do or where to go.

mandals and flip flops are a VICE mag DONT

I agree, Marjorie -- that's why, this year, I decided to hunt for a wearable pair of......huraches! I hated all the huraches that I saw online, so I went on this determined huraches-hunt looking for the perfect pair. Note: I have ugly toes, with one big toenail completely missing (tennis accident 20+ years ago in my preteen years). So open-toed huraches were out of the question. Anyway, I searched up and down, all over So. Cal, Arizona (I've been on this hunt since Spring '07) -- guess where I finally found the perfect pair of huraches? Payless Shoes. I tell everyone that I got them from a shoe store boutique in Santa Fe -- shhhh

Huaraches just scream "Hi, I'm Ian the guy with the ponytail who lives upstairs."

Huaraches can also mean, "Hi, I'm Raul and I could give a fuck about your tastes or fashion because I'm poor, Mexican, and have a wife and child to feed".

Huaraches don't exactly scream, I have a wife... but anyway.

Pair of slip-on Vans is fine for summer. If that's too hot then you're a baby.

I witnessed my father buy that exact pair in the second photo at rei this weekend. what can I do? the dude is 56 and wants to wade through a river without stubbing his toes on rocks...

Vans made a decent pair of sandals once upon a time with just a single band across the top-- sort of like a flip-flop without the toe divider-- but they're tough to find.