Welcome back for Versatile Summer Shoes for Men! For many, versatility in apparel might mean going from day to night. Here in Boulder, versatile clothing means stepping from downtown to down trail in just a few moments. This spring and summer, don’t delay your adventures by having to bus/walk/bike/drive back to your house to change shoes. Instead, see the latest scoop on comfortable shoes meant to be taken for light hiking, golfing, or kayaking, but styled to handle town as well.

Are you itching for that 5 o’clock bell on weekdays? Then the Keen Bidwell sandal is just the shoe for you. Relaxed yet polished, the leather lining and upper of this airy sandal will blend in at a casual office. Come evening, the memory foam footbed, classic Keen toe bumper and rugged construction will serve you well on light hikes and walks.

Patagonia knew exactly what they were doing with the Boaris A/C sneaker. The perforated upper will keep your feet cool as you move from town to trail. The Vibram sole tops it all off for the ultimate in versatile sneaker functions this summer.

This summer hiking/water sandal from Teva will have you splashing through every creek you can find. The neoprene lining drys quick while the Durabrasion rubber sole gives you the ultimate in wet and dry rock traction. Try the Katavi for the best in summer sandal activities.

Go from the green to your favorite happy hour joint in Ecco’s Golf Street Premiere shoe. Cool and casual enough for everyday interaction, yet designed to grip the grass…or sand if it’s not your day.

Follow this link to read Versatile Summer Shoes Part I – Women’s.

For many, versatility in apparel might mean going from day to night. Here in Boulder, versatile clothing means stepping from downtown to down trail in just a few moments. This spring and summer, don’t delay your hiking adventures by having to bus/walk/bike/drive back to your house to change shoes. Instead, see the latest scoop on comfortable shoes meant to be taken for light trekking in town and on the trail.

Teva always pleases when it comes to living outdoors. If you’re looking for an open-toed sandal in which to trek and travel, the Neota is it. They will transition with ease from the morning’s farmer’s market to the afternoon’s river walk with the dogs.

If you want to protect your little piggies, look no further than the Cherry Mesh shoe from Jambu. This shoe features enough mesh and open vents to keep the air circulating around your foot like a sandal, but enough straps and bumpers to keep your foot secure and safe.

From the Merrell Barefoot line, this Pure Glove mary jane is ready to take on anything in sporty minimalist style. Take them on a nature walk and then into town for a quick bite at your local cafe.

The Whisper sandal is classic Keen versatility and fun strappy style. Live a hybrid life in these shoes when playing outdoors, crossing rivers, or running errands. In Keen fashion, the toe bumper will keep you stub-free while the sandal straps make this a summer shoe you won’t go without.

Stay tuned for Summer Versatility Part II – Men’s!

One bright, sunny day, a runner not much different from yourself decided it was high time we get in touch with our early ancestral roots and homo sapien origins. The barefoot running craze took off at an alarming rate, boasting full body muscle toning benefits and a sense of natural freedom that human kind had forgotten.

These days it’s obvious that running around barefoot might have certain health benefits, but the amount of debris on the ground and hot paved surfaces has spiked slightly since the beginning of man. Enter: Vibram Fivefingers to the rescue! Vibram introduced their shoes as an alternative to going completely barefoot and facilitated the spread of barefoot running to more than just hippie enthusiasts. This season, a new barefoot shoe has arrived from Merrell. The questions remains, Merrell or Vibram, is this town big enough for the both of them?

Let’s break down the facts:

Activities:
Merrell: Running, walking, trails, casual
Vibram: Running, walking, treking
Design:
Merrell: Common shoe
Vibram: Distinct look, toes separated
Midsole
Merrell: 4mm EVA
Vibram: 4mm EVA
Footbed
Merrell: Non-removable, antimicrobial microfiber
Vibram: Non-removable, antimicrobial microfiber
Sole
Merrell: Vibram TC-1 rubber compound
Vibram: Vibram TC-1 rubber
Secures to Foot
Merrell: Lacing system
Vibram: Hook and loop velcro closure
Upper
Merrell: Microfiber and mesh
Vibram: Coconut Active Carbon Fiber
Toe Bumper
Merrell: Yes
Vibram: Yes, for each toe
Care
Merrell: Machine washable
Vibram: Machine washable
Price
Merrell: $109.95
Vibram: $99.95

Looks like you have a difficult choice ahead. While your decision may just come down to aesthetics, if you like the eye-catching Treksport or the incognito Trail Glove, the difference in range of barefoot shoes is important to note. Vibram provides shoes that are water specific like the Sprint or KSO, for indoor use only, for kids, etc. Vibram also has a sizable yoga following for their balancing properties. Merrell provides three sneaker-style shoes for men (the Trail, Tough, and True glove) and the sneaker Pace Glove, mary jane Pure Glove, and a mid-height strap glove (sandal?) Power Glove for women.

It seems that there may be room for the Merrell Barefoot series, and enthusiasts are making themselves known on the web. Whether it be the sneaker-like trail glove or the toe-hugging Sprint, the bottom line is barefoot. Both allow you to tone muscles you never knew you had, better your posture, and feel the freedom of leaving those bulky trainers in the dust.

Happy trails!

It’s International Women’s Day! To celebrate, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite feminine shoes. From sandals to boots, putting on these shoes will make you happy to be a woman.

Vibram FiveFingers Bikila
Nothing says “I’m proud to be a woman” like a whole lotta pink. The Bikila from Vibram Fivefingers lets you run in statement-making style all over town. As if you didn’t turn enough heads already.

El Naturalista Wakataua
El Naturalista paired flirty style with eco-friendly construction to create the Wakataua slide. This shoe is meant for today’s environmentally friendly modern woman.

Merrell Chameleon Arc 2 Air
Merrell brings women everywhere the ability to dominate the trails with the Chameleon Arc 2 Air hiking shoe. With women’s specific stride-sequenced cushioning, this shoe will make you smile with every confident, agile, womanly step.

Clarks Class Grace
Clarks brings a uniquely retro yet modern twist to the summer heel in the Class Grace. Women rejoice at this dress heel that cushions, ventilates, and adjusts to fit.

Teva Mush Adapto
Teva caters to the laid-back aquatic-loving woman with the Mush Adapto. This classic flip-flop thong with a twist shows off your tanned feet and keeps them comfortable.

Whether you wear flops, heels, or hiking boots, these shoes will make you proud to be a bridge-crossing, ceiling-shattering woman. Happy International Women’s Day!

If you didn't make it last year, make a note of attending the outlandish, exciting, and eye-catching show that is Fashion Under the Flatirons. See Boulder Theater transform into a lavish catwalk with food, drinks, and fashion-forward trends from Downtown Boulder Merchants. You'll see cute but tough outdoor gear, flirty summer dresses, flashy jewels, and most importantly, shoes! Rumor has it our models are going to put on quite the show for all you ladies out there.

Tickets start at $35 for general admission, but you should know that VIP tickets include early admission, VIP bag, a mini-makeover or hair-do, and a drink ticket to start your night off right. The fashion begins at 7:30 next Thursday, browse photos from last year and grab your tickets now!

In preparation for the warmer weather to come we've dusted the shelves and put out new styles of strappy and flippy sandals. Get excited for Spring this month at our Sandal Sale event! From water shoes to metallic leather to understated earth tones, they are all up to 33% off this March. Click the link to browse all women's sandals or men's sandals.