Twenty Something Yak

Sandals. Just the word evokes images of warm days and soft nights and a more laid-back life-style. But did you know that sandals were first designed over thousands of years ago solely to protect feet from the rough terrain? Can you imagine Mr. Caveman saying to the Mrs., “Martha, before I go out today to look for food, I think I’ll take some of this left-over Mastodon leather, put some straps on it and tie it to my feet so the sharp rocks won’t hurt so much.” Seriously, there are cave drawings known as pictographs that show our ancestors with sandals on their feet. They may not look like the sandals we are familiar with today but they did consist of a leather or papyrus sole with straps to attach it to the foot. The earliest carbon-dated sandal was found in a cave in the state of Oregon and dates back to at least 10,000 years.

Over the ensuing years, sandals have been made from papyrus, palm leaves, and rawhide for the ancient Egyptians, wood for our Indian ancestors, and from Japan and China, sandals were often made from rice straw. The ancient Greeks actually distinguished between various positions by the type of sandal that was worn. Comic actors and philosophers wore a low sandal called baxeae made from willow leaves, twigs and fibers. But tragic actors, hunters, horsemen and men of rank and authority wore cothumus, a sandal that had lacings that rose above the middle of the leg. The higher the lacings, the more elevated the social position of the wearer. Sometimes a slice of cork was inserted into the sole of the sandal to provide even more elevation.

Roman soldiers, who marched long distances to ensure the strength of the Empire, also wore sandals that laced high on the leg. These sandals were made from leather to stand up to the rigors of the road.

Today, we have all kinds of sandals: hiking sandals, exercise sandals, flip-flops, and, of course, fashion sandals. Both hiking and exercise sandals are designed to provide what is necessary for two very different activities. Hiking sandals have an outer sole that is made to give better traction and protection while traipsing over uneven ground and up rocky ledges (Vibram soles is one well-known brand – they even have a 5-finger sandal that accommodates each toe, see www.vibramfivefingers.com. Then there is Chaco and Merrell – see a variety of brands at www.KayakShed.com). The inner sole of exercise sandals allows for the correct foot support needed for aerobics. Flip-flops ( named for the sound made as the back of the sandal hits the bottom of the foot while walking) are a very casual sandal and not intended for either hiking or exercising (though you can find some excellent ones made by Reef, Merrell and Chaco. In partnership with the National Parks, www.Merrell.com is running a special where they will donate $10 for every $100 purchase online).

Fashion sandals, both flats, with heels or platforms, are the dressed-up version of a flip-flop and entirely appropriate for a variety of activities from shopping to summer weddings to a night at a club.
When you look at some of our sandals of today, they aren’t so different from those of long ago. Consider the Gladiator or caged sandal that is seen in many of the fashion shoe collections of this summer season (notably designers Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Dolce Vita, even Nike has joined this fashion trend albeit theirs is very sporty. For more inexpensive brands, Target carries a variety of styles, with the Mossimo brand going for only $19.99, see www.Target.com). And if you think that perhaps the thong sandal is a fairly recent design, the Japanese have been wearing them for hundreds of years. They even had an elevated thong sandal called a geti.

So look in the fashion magazines, check out the array of sandals available online, or take a stroll through a shoestore or department store. You’ll see all the latest fashions, but a closer inspection will show you the truth of the old adage, everything old is new again!