Five Plus One is our weekly series of buyer’s guides. We pick a specific category and dig up five great options along with one that’s a little outside the norm.
Laces, who needs ’em? The summer is the time you should be able to put on (and more importantly, take off) shoes as easily as possible. We’ve all done that heel-toe four-step while trying to step directly into a shoe on the way out the door, here are five more options plus one more you can do that in and totally ruin the heel counter like all of my shoes.
1) Vans Vault: OG Classic Slip-On Navy
Admit it, you were gonna get mad if you didn’t see these Vans on a list of slip ons. Calm down, here they are in their premium make up from the Vans Vault collection, which means they have a different foxing tape a slightly nicer insole and come in an exclusive color so they can cost twice as much as what you’d get at the mall. Still worth it.
Available for $73 at Lost & Found.
2) Seavees: Baja Slip On
Just look at that upper, it looks like you can grate parmesan on it. Those thick linen fibers, however, make for a sturdy and breathable shoe, both of which are important when you’ve gotta haul your board in a mile from where you parked to the beach.
Available for $68 at Stag Provisions.
3) Univ: Everyday Leather Slip On
The title “Everyday” may be a stretch for a slip on shoe in most parts of the world, but with the weather in Univ’s home of Southern California you can probably get away with it. Made as a collab project between the brand and retailer Lone Flag, this slip on features a full grain leather upper and double wrap vulcanized construction so Everyday can be everyday for many days to come.
Like this? Read these:
Available for $89 at Lone Flag.
4) Viberg: Suede Roughout Slip On
Just because you can’t resole a sneaker as easily as you can a boot doesn’t mean the materials are any cheaper or it takes any less effort to make it. Okay, now that I’ve said that, you can look at the price. Viberg doesn’t cut corners or the cost of their Slip On, done up here in the 1005 last and a buttery smooth suede from the UK’s C.F. Stead Tannery.
Available for $410 at Viberg.
5) Unmarked: Moc 540D Mocha
Unmarked saw the traditional slip on design and dared to ask, “What if just one elastic gusset?” Well it work and it works well. Made in Unmarked’s home factory in Leon, Mexico, the 540D is named for the 540-degree stitching on the side wall and sole of the shoe to ensure at least that part of the shoe isn’t slipping off anytime soon.
Available for $160 at Unmarked.
Plus One – Jelado x RFW Naan Pizza Slip On Sneaker
A naan pizza is an Italian-Indian-British cuisine crossover where the Indian flatbread is used as the crust of a pizza. I’m not sure how this relates to this sneaker collab between two Japanese brands, all I know is I could really go for both right now. Made from a combo of 8oz. denim and a discharge printed wabash fabric, these should fade beautifully (aside from the marinara stains).
Available for $210 at Clutch Cafe.
