Autumn may be the best season for fashion, allowing for layering of your favorite clothes, but the best season for shoes however—is the definitely the summer. Whatever you’re inclined to, be it trousers, shorts, or jorts even (if John Cena can make a career out of wearing them, you’re allowed to indulge in them for a few months!), this is the period to let your shoes shine like the summer sun.

It’s the perfect time for Fear of God’s mules, Salomon’s hiking shoes, and New Balance’s runners. The perfect time to rendezvous with Mother Nature at the beach, or the rugged terrain of the great outdoors. The perfect time to feed your wanderlust.

No matter where you decide to go, here are the best summer shoes for men to take with you on your next adventure:

■ Mules and Clogs

There are many changes the pandemic ushered in. But without opening a can of worms of all the psychological discourse, at the risk of sounding insular, one is the embracement of mules and clogs as fashionable footwear—for (almost) all occasions.

During the shared global experience of a lockdown, for our daily commute from our bedrooms, to the toilet, and to the kitchen, aesthetics didn’t matter all that much. Comfort and ease did. And nothing embodied those qualities better than mules and clogs.

Now, they’re a wardrobe staple. With quiet luxury and comfortable clothing being endorsed by the gens du monde, you can relax because a relaxed fit is no longer a lax fit, it’s stylish.

Fear of God The California Slip-On “Cream”

adidas YEEZY Foam Runner “MX Cinder”

Salehe Bembury x Crocs Pollex Clog “Stratus/Almost White”

■ Slides

If there’s anything more comfortable and easy to wear than the previously-mentioned, it’s slides. Or to the straightforward boomer, slippers. They’re obviously not a new thing, but their reputation as acceptable fashion is.

A summer staple then, and a summer staple now. Times have changed but one thing you’ll always have in common with your grandparents is not solely your genetics, it’s you and they before you wore them.

The only downside to them is that Asian parents now have a new flyswatter and tool for corporal punishment. We’ve all gone through it. We only wish contemporary slides came sooner. They’re soft so they wouldn’t hurt as much. And if we’re going to get hit, may as well be hit with style.

adidas YEEZY Slide “Onyx”

Fear of God x Birkenstock Los Feliz Suede “Cement”

Nike Air More Uptempo Slide “Black”

■ Sneakers

Those in the tropics have it the best. It’s summer all year meaning any time is as good as any to wear sneakers. Monsoon and occasional rain aside, even the wet ground or quagmire is less a worry than stepping on dog poop is.

It’s hard to narrow down a selection for this listicle considering nearly every pair works well in the summer. But here’re three released this year that would go well with most outfits.

Wear them with trousers, jeans, or shorts; wear them with socks high or low; it’s bound to always work out like a Southeast Asian romcom.

Jarritos x Nike SB Dunk Low “Phantom and Malachite”

Ronnie Fieg x Clarks x adidas Samba “Wheat”

Travis Scott x Nike WMNS Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Medium Olive”

■ Hiking Shoes

Gorpcore has been in for awhile now and there’s no time better to do gorpcore things than the summer. There’s no snow, the trail is rugged but defined, the water is thawed for fishing and canoeing. If Mother Nature’s ever in a good mood, it’s the summer. It’s when she’s usually warm and friendly. So best spend as much quality time.

Hiking shoes may have been built for the great outdoors, but they do just as well in the concrete jungle.

Let the purists judge. You don’t need to skate to wear a Nike SB, you don’t need to hoop to wear Jordans. Shoes have been an expression of one’s personal style. But if you’re going to wear any of the following, do them justice by enjoying them outside. They’re aesthetically nice, just too heavy for a sedentary lifestyle. Go to the SNKRDUNK App and choose a mule.

SANDY LIANG x Salomon XT-6 Expanse “Cradle Pink/Jelly Green/Black”

JJJJound x Salomon XT-Wings 2 “White/Blue”

Nike ACG Mountain Fly 2 Low “Gridiron/Summit White/Black” 

■ Runners

Did you know that Viagra was originally synthesized to treat hypertension? And now they’re best known to treat erectile dysfunction. Did you know that Adderall was intended to treat asthma? Now we know it as an ADHD medication. Did you know that running shoes were made for running? Now they support a hell of a lot of walking.

Chances are, you’re going to be spending a lot of time outside. It’s the summer after all. If you’re not running however, you’re at least going to be doing a lot of walking. Thus, may as well enjoy the benefits of footwear designed to support moving your feet fast, to make moving your feet slow, as comfortable as possible, for as long as possible.

So if you’re going to be moving your feet slowly enough for people to notice what you’re wearing, be nice and give them a feast for their eyes.

Action Bronson x New Balance 990v6 “Lapis Lazuli”

Dime × ASICS GT-2160 “Arctic Wolf/London Fog”

Nike Zoom Vomero 5 “Iron Ore and Flat Pewter”

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Summer, summer, summer. It’s funner when your shoes aren’t a bummer. Head outside, enjoy the warmth of the planet and its people. There will always be some place to go, an event to attend, new friends to make. Christmas is the season to be jolly, but summer is when everyone usually is.

Word to the wise: Starting conversations are traditionally easier with a drink in hand, but bring the heat with your shoes too. They’re always a good icebreaker.

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