The Best Summer Shoes for Men 2023, According to Style Experts

Trying to stay cool in the summer is at least half the battle. Layering opportunities are practically non-existent, skin exposure is at an all-time high, and freaking your fits becomes exponentially more difficult. Your footwear is one of the few areas where you may be a little daring, so make sure your shoe game is on point. That means it’s time to take a look at the best summer shoes for men on the market—and from sandals to sneakers and everything in between, there’s plenty of warm-weather suited footwear beyond the standard open-toe, beach-ready slides. So, go with Teeanime for all your doubts!

Birkenstocks, the Default Summer Shoes

We’re Birkenstock aficionados here at Teeanime. As a result, you can find any of us wearing a pair most of the year (in December, it’s mohair socks seven days a week, baby!). However, the Birk-to-Teeanime-staffer ratio peaks between June and August. They’re more comfortable than your NASA-engineered mattress and as fashionable as heck, the ultimate everyday driver. Whether it’s the beach-friendly Arizona, the wacky yet strangely versatile Boston, or even a wild high-fashion collaboration, you can’t go wrong with a pair of Birks.

Birkenstock Milano oiled leather sandals

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Loafers, the Do-Everything Summer Shoes

If there’s one thing we don’t need any more of these days, it’s shoelaces. It’s summer. You’re hot and sweaty, and the collective annoyance of having to deal with tying your shoes is got to be raising global temperatures by a statistically significant amount—making you even sweatier. A never-ending circle. What is the solution? A set of loafers. They sit in the Goldilocks zone between sneakers and dress shoes and can be dressed up or down. There is no lace and no drip.

Astorflex Lobbyflex loafers

Beach-Friendly Sandals

If you’re going to the beach, you should wear a shoe with some aeration. Whether it’s a pair of open-toe slides, woven leather joints, formal leather joints, or, yes, flip-flops, a nice pair of sandals will allow your toes to breathe while also allowing sand and water to drain freely. That being said, you don’t have to arrange a day of righteous waves just so you can wear some sick sandals. Sandals, as fitting as they are for beach vacations, can also be worn when you have no plans to go (or if your PTO was denied). Wear them with flowing linen slacks and a billowy button top like Jack Nicholson in Something’s Gotta Give for a rakish look. Alternatively, you might wear them with a battered vintage tee and cutoff jorts. Whatever your personal style is, there’s a pair of sandals for you.

Jil Sander oversize wrapped sandals

Mules, AKA Weird-But-Very-Dope Slip-Ons

Mules aren’t just another style of sandal, are they? You could say we’re going into sartorial semantics here. We are not, and you are incorrect. Mules are distinguished from sandals and loafers by their open back and closed-toe style, which should only be worn as a house slipper. It’s a slip-on shoe, a clog, the odd shoe that your coolest fashion pal wears—and you should, too. While we’re at it, why not remove half the shoe and let the breeze in?

King Kennedy Rugs upcycled leather-trimmed wool mules

Better-With-Age Canvas Sneakers

Almost any shoe would be acceptable for some serious warm-weather looks. Canvas sneakers, on the other hand, demand special care. We’re talking about your regular Vans sneaker, or a pair of Converse Chuck Taylors. Their light uppers will not weigh you down and will assist keep your howling dogs cool. The more scuffs, fades, general wear, and genuine tears there are, the better. So summer is the ideal time to break in a new pair, and by the time the first crisp leaves hit the sidewalk, you’ll have a sick pair of damaged kicks that look even better than when they were brand new.

DRKSHDW by Rick Owens Hexa denim high-top sneakers

Vacation-Bound Huaraches

The huarache is a very distinguished style that falls under the umbrella of sandals. It’s a traditional Mexican sandal distinguished by woven leather uppers that provide pliability, robustness, and breathability (i.e. an ideal summer shoe). They’re often fashioned with mushy crepe soles, but there are some newer varieties with some honkin’ soles ready to carry you from the beach to the rough terrain of the Alps. It’s the kind of sneaker you’d wear on a trip to Acapulco, with a beer in hand and the sun shining down on your bare chest. It’s also the type of sneaker that goes well with a breezy camp shirt and Patagonia Baggies, or even super-faded jeans. Consider it the loafer’s relative, if the loafer’s cousin was always on vacation and a little more relaxed.