Next to sunscreen and your event pass, the most important part of your summer music festival gear is your shoes. Whether you’re car camping at Coachella, downing grass-fed beef burgers at Bonnaroo, or dancing through a sludgy Lollapalooza downpour, what’s on your feet matters — and you’re going to be on your feet all day long. Here are six of the most popular festival season shoe trends for 2020.
Sneakers
From basketball shoes to womens retro sneakers, athletic shoes are a perpetual favorite come summer music season — and with good reason. They’re comfortable enough to survive endless Porta-Potty lines. They’re tough enough to withstand an impromptu mosh pit. And they come in limitless colors, materials, and uppers so you don’t have to sacrifice your personal style just to stay upright until the headliner takes the stage. Watch for vintage gum soles to make a big statement across crowded festival fields nationwide this summer.
Sport Slides
While Run the Jewels keeps it real on the main stage, you can keep it simple on your feet with an understated pair of slide sandals. Gone are the days of giant brand logos. This summer, you’ll find sliders in a variety of sophisticated materials and textures, including pebbled leather. Just promise you’ll leave your socks at home, okay? Check out these amazing Yeezy Boost 350 v2 shoes.
Boots
There’s virtually nothing that a good pair of boots can’t handle. Sand dunes? Not a problem. Spilled beer? Try harder. Boots are durable and versatile. Whether you’re rocking vegan booties are boldly colored knee-highs, you can pair these kicks with almost any ensemble: from a flowy sundress to perfectly shredded cut-offs. Snag those Ariat cowboy boots you’ve had your eye on or make the Lucchese boots sale part of your pre-festival prep.
Platforms
If you’re big on fun but short in stature, platforms may be just what you need to get a better view of your favorite band. Go cute and flirty with a pair of brightly colored platform sneakers or embrace the dark side perched in a tall pair of combat boots covered in zippers and buckles.
Boat Shoes
Boat shoes may be more Hall and Oates than Rage Against the Machine, but they’re back in a big way in 2020. What’s more, they’ve been updated for the 21st century, with chic platform soles, mod prints, chunky soles and minimal detailing. That doesn’t mean you can’t embrace the sturdy, preppy vibe of boat shoes past, though.
Hiking Shoes and Trail Runners
Mud is inevitable at many summer music scenes. Show up festival-ready in a rugged pair of hiking shoes or trail runners guaranteed to keep your feet warmer and drier than the late summer sun. Opt for a pair with reinforced toes when you’re shopping for women’s shoes online, and your feet won’t just be protected against the elements; they’ll be protected from your fellow music fans, too.
Attending a festival is a marathon not a sprint. The crowds are big, the days are long, and the lines are longer. Collectively, it’s a small price to pay for a cavalcade of concerts and a sense of community that you’ll never forget. This year, choose the shoes that will keep you on your feet long after the last beat’s been dropped.
