Will 'Frankenboots' Steal Birkenstock's Crown? Here Are the Season's Weirdest, Most Comfortable Sandals
Uneek is the Frankenstein of the footwear world: braided from two recycled strings, supported by a sports sole, it looks like a sneaker, breathes like a sandal and climbs the fashion ladder like Crocs. According to many, it is the most fashionable "sandal" for summer 2025.
Is it just me who shudders at the thought of sandals with thin straps that are more like "fashion bonds" than a comfortable alternative to the heat? Fortunately, Birkenstocks have been saving me for years: the Boston model for cooler evenings, the Arizona for hot days. But in the upcoming season, the " ugliest sandals of the summer " are coming into play. Uneek by Keen are, on the one hand, sports shoes, and on the other hand, sandals that perfectly fit the ugly-chic trend. It-girls are going wild, skeptics are sighing. And Julia Harvey from Grazia Daily claims that Uneeks beat Birkenstocks hands down . Is that really true?
505115944_1176209677883576_2105193474845730754_n.jpgThe American brand Keen has for years operated on the fringes of high style – somewhere between the Andes trail and the tent camp. Until now. Its flagship model Uneek is a quirky design that surprisingly finds its place on the world’s most fashionable streets.
498247793_1163474099157134_5080679020181415071_n.jpgThe combination of two recycled braided cords and a flexible sole creates something that defies classification. Neither sandal nor sports shoe. The Uneeki is the antithesis of French elegance and a triumph of gorpcore – a style that took Arc'teryx jackets and Salomon boots from the mountains to the asphalt.
The most comfortable shoes for summer 2025But behind this unusual form lies technological perfection. Keen advertises Uneeki as "open-air sneakers" , while Julia Harvey recalls that she first took them to Vietnam and hasn't looked for an alternative since. They are lightweight, durable and, most importantly, they don't cause chafing - I have to admit that sounds like every woman's dream.
498690143_1163474125823798_4374140320575279924_n.jpgThough their beginnings were humble, with factories struggling to master the unique construction without seams and gluing, Uneeks are now making their way into the mainstream. Or rather, into the feed. They’re already a streetwear icon in East Asia, and when Lisa Manobal of Blackpink (known to the wider public as Mook from White Lotus 3) showed them off in her Instagram stories, sales skyrocketed.
Keen understood the power of context – on an uncle in Zermatt they look like orthopedic shoes , but on an influencer in Gangnam ? That's another story. The key is styling – you have to know how to wear Uneeki . Preferably with sensitivity and distance. Just like Crocs before they became cool.
Uneek vs BirkenstockComparisons with Birkenstocks are inevitable – after all, these are shoes that are supposed to be comfortable, practical and, despite everything, stylish. However, while Birkenstocks have their place in the fashion consciousness – as shoes for anyone who is not afraid of a cork under their feet – Uneeks are a provocation. They are for those who like to step out of line, who not only wear gorpcore , but also understand its philosophy. Will Uneeks from Keen become the new Birkenstocks ? Maybe. They definitely have potential. What is arousing consternation today may be the norm tomorrow, even if I "turn my nose up" at the sight of them.
