Reebok Has New Quilted Beatniks For The Winter
When it comes to winter footwear, it's fair to say that sandals don't jump to mind. Normally, they are reserved for summer holidays or relegated to becoming house shoes in the winter — but the Reebok Beatnik is a bit different.
It's a shoe that joins the likes of The North Face's Thermoball or Suicoke's Zavo model in being a sandal that is almost better suited for winter than for letting the air get to your toes on a hot day at the beach.
It seems as though every winter Reebok plays into this and tries to outdo itself, and in recent years we've seen the Beatnik be crafted in PrimaLoft Gold insulation, turned into sleeping bags for your feet, and re-imagined as a laceless, rugged hiking shoe.
The shoe was originally launched in 1994 and found cult-like status in Japan but with every winter-fied version and collaborative release, it is enjoying a rejuvenated popularity — especially on the gorp-y side of Instagram.
As 2022 starts to wind down to a close and winter is imminent, the sneaker's newest incarnation comes with a thicker, quilted upper to help it keep your feet cozy and warm. Meanwhile, the outsole has rubber shark tooth detailing that gives it extra grip for wet or icy conditions.
Granted, this doesn't make it anywhere near as robust as a pair of Salomons or real chunky winter boots but for a pair of cozy slip-on shoes, these are up there as one of the best options for winter. Worn together with a thick pair of socks, they're ready to provide maximum comfort in the cold — but probably not the wet.
Beyond the warmth provided by its quilting, the other thing to take note of is the new colorways. On the newest models, not only are both sides of the shoes different colors but the left and right foot are also not in matching colors.
While it's a model that straddles the line between indoor and outdoor wear, I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that these mismatched sandals would be wasted as just comfy house shoes.
