Thank you Sanuk
for providing me with products to review, free of charge.
These are my own honest opinions.

Sanuk began in a small shed in California, where founder Jeff Kelley created his first pair of sandals in… indoor/outdoor carpet! He wanted to use interesting and novel materials to create unique looks and was inspired by his travels around the world. His most recent designs include sandals made from yoga mats! There is also a great selection of Sidewalk Surfers which is basically a sandal sole with a shoe upper. They even had a ‘Chill Collection’ of warm slippers and winter boots. All their sandals, shoes, and boots are vegan. No matter the design, the goal is always the same: offer happy, fun footwear that provide unbeatable comfort. As Jeff said it himself, it’s all about ‘funk-tionality’!

Speaking of fun and happiness, the name ‘Sanuk’ actually means fun and happiness in Thai. Sanuk’s footwear is handmade and they offer many styles for men (size 6 to 16), women (size 4 to 12), and kids (starting at size 6). Here is a small sample of the sandals, shoes, and boots you can find at Sanuk.

For this review, I was very lucky to receive 2 pairs of Sanuk sandals and a pair of Sidewalk Surfers. All 3 pairs came in an unusual bag, instead of a cardboard box. Those bags are made from… non-GMO tapioca roots! I guess I should have expected it from a company that makes footwear from carpet and yoga mats. Obviously, these bags take up less space when shipped but they use less petroleum, energy, and water than traditional plastic bags. The Indonesian farmers who grow the tapioca receive a fair wage. The bags are biodegradable and even the tags and hooks to hang the sandals and shoes are recyclable. You know me, I love all things green and fair trade, so even before setting eyes on the shoes themselves, I had a smile on my face thanks to those unique bags!

First, I tried the Yoga Sling Sandals. They come in 6 different colors and I chose black because I figured it would fit with anything and everything in my wardrobe. I was super excited to receive them because I’d never seen sandals quite like that before. The sole is made of yoga mats and the upper part is made of 2 loops of fabric. One loop stretches around your heels, the other wraps around the top of your feet. It can be a little confusing to slip them on at first so Sanuk included a clever 4-step diagram to make sure you get it right. The cotton fabric stretches and doesn’t rub against the skin so you get a perfect fit and no blisters or red marks! These sandals are super lightweight and flexible. Because the sole is made of yoga mats and the outsole is made of Happy U rubber sponge, I literally feel like I’m walking on a cloud. The sole is textured and therefore not as slippery as flip flops. I never want to take them off!

The second pair I tried is the Rasta Knotty Sandals. They come in 3 color combinations and I choose the red and cream. Theses sandals have a footbed made of recyclable molded TPE which is a rubbery material as well as a partially recycled TPR textured outsole. It is not a squishy as yoga mats but it still very comfortable. The tubular straps are made of recycled PET and there is an elastic band around the heel so the sandals stay in place without being too tight. Even though they are quite comfortable, I find that the staps sometimes rub on my inner foot. I didn’t get blisters though which is a good thing because my feet are typically so sensitive, I get blisters just by looking at shoes and sandals that look uncomfortable! If your feet aren’t as picky and delicate as mine, I’m sure you won’t even notice the straps along your inner feet.

The last pair of Sanuk I received is the Trippy Toes from the Sidewalk Surfers collection. These shoes comes in 5 colors and I chose the beautiful teal color. This is also a very unique pair of shoes. The sole is extra thin and super flexible and lightweight. It doesn’t offer as much arch support as the 2 pairs of sandals I tried but they are still very comfortable. The upper part is made of woven textile which is quite breathable. I wore them for an entire day while it was hot outside and didn’t feel the need to switch to sandals. Speaking of switching, these shoes are so tiny and flexible, they can be rolled up in your bag or purse so you’ll have them with you anywhere you go. They’d be the perfect shoes to slip on after wearing high heels all day!

Overall, I am really pleased with my Sanuk sandals and shoes. Each pair is comfortable and has a unique funky design. I also like that they are handmade and that packaging has been carefully thought out to include only biodegradable/recyclable products. Just like their name claims, Sanuk footwear is fun and happy!

I also want to mention that Sanuk supports with Operation Smile which provides free surgery for kids born with cleft lips and cleft palates. You can also do your part by adding $4 to your order, which will be donated directly to Operation Smile.

Buy It: Head over to Sanuk to see for yourself the selection of funk-tional footwear they offer.

Connect: Don’t forget to like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter and Pinterest, and subscribe to their YouTube channel for all the latest news and promotions.

Rachel