I didn’t know that I’d been missing a sandal that combines the freedom of a flip-flop with the sock compatibility of slides until I discovered Montbell’s Sock-On Sandals. Now they’re pretty much all I wear most days during the summer months.
I learned about these sandals during the summer of 2019 while living in the French surf town of Guéthary, near Biarritz. My friend Aï Kato recently opened a boutique grocery store right on main street and had arranged for me to help pilot the WWOOF (Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms) program at the farm up the hill that grew most of her vegetable selection. The off-grid yurt on the farm was fine for sleeping, but the lack of climate control and running water meant I had to go to the apartment above the store in order to bathe or cool down. At the time, France was experiencing a record-shattering heat wave — which is to say I spent a lot of time around the store.
On the walls surrounding the crates of fresh fruits and vegetables in the center of the floor, handmade Japanese tawashi dishwashing brushes and tenugui head scarves hung alongside Provençal soaps and pasta extruded from heirloom Italian wheat. And in the very back corner of the store, beneath the Belgian-linen bathrobe display, there was a whole shelf full of these Sock-On Sandals in every size and colorway.
The elegant configuration of rope and webbing looks timeless in a way that would feel right at home in a Hiroshige woodblock print. Yet the saturated colors, which match the straps to the textured rubber sole on many styles, wouldn’t look out of place under a pair of Homme Plissé pants either.
Unlike most flip flops, Sock-On sandals don’t rely on a thong strap between the big toe and second toe to secure the foot. Instead, a swoop of silken rope extends across the top along the inside edge of the sole, while two bits of webbing anchor it to the outer edge. It wears more like a minimalist slide — perfect for when you want a sock-compatible slip-on that’s less bulky than a Birkenstock or Adilette. There is just enough adjustability in the straps to find a secure fit on most feet: Simply wiggle the rope within the webbing loops until you find a good spot for your foot. They work just as well without socks, and I often wear them at the beach or pool.
I also appreciate that the soles are made of a slightly denser and stiffer material than most thong sandals of this genre. This gives me enough support to not wish for a “real” shoe on short bike rides and longer walks. There’s not much arch support, but as someone whose feet get achy in Birkenstocks, I personally prefer this. I will still reach for my Chacos if I know I’ll be hiking on uneven terrain or something a little less casual if I’m heading into the city. But for most quick errands and jaunts, the Montbells are more than enough to get out the door. Or indoors, for that matter. I liked them so much that I ended up getting a second pair to use as summer slippers.
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
