I love flip-flops. I love how simple and easy they are. I wear them even in the cold. But what if they made a shoe that slid on like a flip-flop. And not like a lace-less shoe, not some clog sort of thing, and certainly not a croc, but something that really wears and moves like a flip-flop, but with pants on actually looks like a shoe for all intents and purposes? I give you The Edge Mule. Now, mules aren't new, but nearly every one I have ever seen gives of hard dad vibes, like straight out of a LL Bean catalog. And if you want that look, I support you. But I don't, but I want that comfort and ease. So, a mule that looks like a skate shoe? Sign me up. But does it deliver as a shoe as it does a look? I think so. First, for fit, I usually wear a 12 or 13 depending on brand, and the 12 fits me snugly. Not bad, but I might have gone up a size if I was ordering again. The look, as I already said, is clean. The suede looks fresh, it feels like it belongs in the Element line-up for sure with that chonky classic midsole and wrap-around outsole. The construction is what I would expect from a shoe in this price range, with a feature I love: the insole is completely removable. Now, I'm not saying it's a bad insole and I want to yank it out right away, in fact it's a nice insole that seems to be cushiony and durable. But I like to skip socks in a shoe like this, and it's going to eventually need replacement, my feet aren't exactly roses. And I can, without having to scrape little glued-in bits off. If I have a gripe, I wish this came in more colors and fabrics. Suede is nice but scuffs easily and shows it. I love me a nice green but I think black is more versatile. The white rubber is a classic look, I grew up in Chucks but that natural rubber look, especially with a black upper, chef's kiss. Maybe Element will expand on this line in the future, I certainly hope so.
