You can often tell when a cottager has arrived by the signature clack, clomp, or flip-flop of their footwear. Your choice of footwear (or lack thereof) is usually a good indication of the type of cottager you are. On the Cottage Life team, our main concern when it comes to cottage shoes and sandals is practicality. Whether you are getting in and out of the water, navigating tree roots, or boating, our team’s shoes and sandals of choice are suitable for just about any situation you might find yourself in.
Photo courtesy of Teva
Teva Original Universal sandal
“Tevas4eva. I love Tevas because they are lightweight and work on any terrain. They also dry super fast, so I can take them to the beach. The best part is you can easily loop them on the outside of a backpack to bring them wherever you go. Plus, they are kind of trendy now, so I can keep up with my cottage fashion game.”—Marie Waine, assistant editor
Photo courtesy of Sperry
7 Seas 3-Eye sneaker
“As someone who is accident-prone, I tend to favour cottage shoes that are quick-drying and will protect my feet from splinters or falling objects. These Sperry’s tick all of the boxes and are great for unexpected wading because they have drainage holes in the soles and the interior and exterior materials wick away water.”—Megan McPhaden, managing editor
Photo courtesy of Salomon
X Ultra 4 GORE-TEX hiking shoes
“Salomon hiking boots! Not exactly loungers, but super great for any kind of outdoor adventure. I like mine for two reasons: the mid-rise and the Gore-Tex. Mid-rise shoes are lightweight and less restrictive than clunky boots. Secondly, the Gore-Tex keeps my feet dry when hiking through the muck in the rain. (I don’t think anything is more miserable than spending a day in wet socks, so this is the biggest selling point for me.) I can’t find my exact pair, but these are close.”—Adam Beauchemin, content intern
Photo courtesy of NRS
NRS Kinetic water shoes
“I am very no-frills about footwear at the cottage (I often wear beaten-up Nikes or Vans). Usually, I am either barefoot or have my water shoes on since the shoreline at my boyfriend’s cottage is quite slippery. These are the closest I could find to my favourite water shoes, mine are from Parky’s Dollar Store in Northbrook, Ont. I like the lightweight material and solid fabric versus knit or mesh for swimming better.”—Taylor Kristan, associate art director
Photo courtesy of Keen
Sandals
“I like a hiking sandal because they’re not clunky, but they’re still grippy enough for slippery trails when it rains. Your feet end up filthy, but you also don’t have to wash any socks. Side note: I once tried to dry my wet hiking sandals in the warming compartment of our woodstove—didn’t work. They were just really hot but still wet—but that’s not the fault of the shoes, that’s on the woodstove.”—Jackie Davis, senior editor
Photo courtesy of Amazon
Flip-flops
“I like the cheap flip-flops from the dollar store, the ones that make a super-pleasing sound when you flip-flop around the deck wearing them. That’s the kind of hiking I’m into at the cottage.”—Michelle Kelly, editor
Photo courtesy of Crocs
Classic printed camo clog
“I like crocs, they are easy to slip on, and they don’t make my feet hot. They work as water shoes and offer a bit of protection when walking around the grounds. Also, they are easy to kick off and jump in the lake.”—Bradley Reinhardt, art director
$65
Photo courtesy of Blundstone
Blundstone Classic 550 boots
“It doesn’t matter if it’s summer or winter, I am wearing these walnut-coloured Blundstones to the cottage. While they are not hiking shoes, they are versatile and can handle all seasons and most weather conditions. They are lightweight and comfortable for hiking and outdoor adventures, and the leather makes them easier to keep clean.”—Aleeshia Carman, content intern
Photo courtesy of Birkenstock
Birkenstock Arizona Eva sandals
“They’re super comfy—they actually have arch support so you can walk on them for hours without your feet hurting. I like them much better than traditional Birks because they don’t give me blisters in the heat. They’re also adjustable, so it’s easy to wear socks with them (do not @ me). And they’re waterproof so you don’t have to worry about the water ruining them! I would buy them in every colour if I could.”—Alysha Vandertogt, senior associate editor