I’m very fussy about my footwear, and I really love finding footwear that straddles the line between fashion and function. After so many shoes that looked good but hurt my feet, or felt good but looked really awful, I’ve become very picky when it comes to buying footwear. Of course that naturally extends well beyond work boots and well beyond athletic shoes and into one of my favorite types of footwear….sandals.
I’m happy to report that it’s not all about work boots at XTRATUF, as today we’re test-driving their latest Men's Auna Sandal. This new “take” on what a sandal can be, the Auna represents the evolution of years of what XTRATUF calls “testing and refinement” and this refinement is literally from top to bottom.
The Auna Sandals feature:
- SLIP-RESISTANT: Our SRA rated slip-resistant outsoles are made from an exclusive rubber compound that grips the floor surface creating sure footing
- SRC: SRC is the highest rating for slip resistance under the EN ISO 20345-2011 standard and requires passing both the SRA and SRB tests
- TUFGRP: Next level traction on flat surfaces and uneven terrain / SRC rated to deliver next-level non-marking grip
- A high-rebound PU foot-bed that conforms to the foot
- An abrasion-resistant forefoot strap
- Reinforced upper straps underneath midsole
- Textured durable comfort foot-bed
- Zero heel height
- .25-pounds in a size 8M
In what I’d call the perfect storm of sandal testing, my XTRATUF Auna Sandals arrived just a week before I was heading to the beach…so off we go.
Comfort is a big deal in sandals and I’ve had plenty of flips that ended up being flops. The Auna sandals, however, felt really good right out of the box. The sandals felt like I had been wearing them forever and the foot-bed felt soft but supportive. The foot-bed is textured so even with sweaty feet, the sandals had a good grip on the bottoms of my feet and they didn’t slide all over the place when I walked. The toe strap felt like it was just the right size, and to say these sandals feel really durable would be a tremendous understatement. The word I kept using on pavement, sand or even in the water was “indestructible.” These sandals are built really well and built to last.
Next up I tried out the traction on the Aunas and once again they passed with flying colors. With my previous sandals, my feet were either sliding inside the sandals or sliding on the ground. This is not the case with the Auna. The TUFGRP soles bring you the traction of an XTRATUF work boot, in a sandal package. On wet decking, sloppy sand, pavement or even on indoor floors, the grip was flawless on the Auna and short of ice, I suspect they just have great grip.
Last but certainly not least, let’s talk fashion. The XTRATUF Auna Sandals look great. Their low-profile look makes them really unobtrusive, and the midsole side strap and toe strap look very sturdy. The choice of colors makes the Auna work well with just about anything you can wear. I chose the Black strap model with a camouflaged-color foot-bet and they looked good with everything from jeans to board shorts on the beach. Even with wet sand on them after a day on the beach, the Auna sandals look great.
Overall I’m excited to say that I’ve found a great combination of form and fashion that will take you from a sandy beach to a restaurant for a late summer evening dinner. The sandals look great, they feel extremely comfortable and best of all, there’s no slipping inside the sandals or on the ground. The support for my flat feet was perfect and the overall layout of the straps fit me just right and they felt really secure. These are simply the best sandals I’ve ever worn and I’ll update this post in the future since I suspect I’ll have the XTRATUF Auna Sandals for a long time.
Be sure to try the Auna Sandals for yourself, and when you do try them, be sure to let us know what YOU think.
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