Buying guide for best blowfish shoes
Beachy casual is a beloved laid-back look, especially when it comes to footwear. After all, who doesn’t love super comfortable shoes? As you stock your wardrobe with beach-ready styles for the season, make sure you pick up at least one pair of Blowfish shoes.
Blowfish first hit the fashion scene in its hometown of Malibu, California, around a decade ago, and since then the brand has become synonymous with casual, affordable shoes. The brand focuses on breathable comfort with a wide variety of canvas styles in addition to their collection of flexible flats, wedges, and sandals.
If you’re wondering what to wear with Blowfish shoes, the answer is simple: everything. Rock these breezy shoes with sundresses, shorts, jeans, or cover-ups on the way to the pool. Many Blowfish loyalists swear by them for travel, too, since they’re lightweight and easy to pack.
To add a touch of stylish comfort to your shoe collection, take a look at our buying guide and recommendations for Blowfish shoes. We promise you’ll find a pair you love, and we’re almost positive you’ll end up buying more than one.
Key considerations
Types of Blowfish shoes
Canvas: Blowfish’s top-selling styles are canvas. These aren’t your average slip-ons, by any means; rather, the brand is playful with designs, embellishments, and even comfort features like multiple elastic details. Even laces get a facelift with these shoes, which can be present, elastic, or totally absent to place the focus on the eyelets.
Sandals: Blowfish sandals typically embrace a boho edge as they focus on straps, texture, and simple construction. More than anything, these shoes elegantly wrap the foot and utilize small buckles to keep the detail on the front of the shoe. Blowfish even has a separate collection of vegan sandals featuring synthetic materials and eco-friendly construction.
Heels and wedges: You can wear heels and wedges to the beach, too, so it comes as no surprise that Blowfish offers a modest line of them. These styles draw inspiration from the brand’s strappy sandals and place the foot atop attractive platform soles, some of which are made from ultra-trendy cork.
Signature features
Versatility
Thanks to their versatility in color and design, it’s easy to pair Blowfish shoes with virtually any casual outfit. The styles themselves are inherently neutral, and you’d be hard-pressed to find jeans, shorts, or sundresses that aren’t complemented by them. After all, canvas shoes and sandals are the official footwear of beaches and boardwalks.
Comfort
Not only do they look good, Blowfish shoes feel just as good. The brand believes comfort is a top priority, because Blowfish knows its customers lead active lives, enjoying everything the outdoors has to offer. They’re also considered no-fuss footwear, as the vast majority of styles are slip-on. This is primarily achieved by using flexible fabrics and strategically placed elastic panels around the shoes.
Breathability
Breathable comfort can make or break your footwear experience, especially in warmer climates. Blowfish shoes are designed to promote airflow by using breathable canvas, as well as mesh paneling or ventilation holes. These details aim to keep feet as cool as possible, thus minimizing sweat.
Eco-friendly
Blowfish Malibu has partnered with Oceana, the world’s largest ocean conservation organization. The brand donates $1 from every purchase directly to Oceana’s advocacy efforts, which include protecting marine life, promoting ethical fishery management, and cleaning up bodies of water.
Blowfish is committed to utilizing low-waste packaging, and it uses recycled materials for the shoeboxes. The company also aims to minimize its overall use of plastics, especially in packaging and shoes. The brand is also working toward using more recycled materials in its footwear.
Features
Colors and designs
It’s quite common for Blowfish loyalists to own the same shoe in more than one color or design, especially in canvas styles. After all, when you fall in love with the comfort and versatility, it’s an easy decision to stock up and collect new styles.
Canvas Blowfish shoes come in as many as a dozen designs, including solids, stripes, leopard print, florals, or distressed finishes, just to name a few. More often than not, these colors and designs are neutral and typically stick to lighter shades. Darker colors like navy or red are a bit harder to find.
Soles
Most soles on Blowfish shoes are made of flexible rubber, which is usually around a half inch thick or more. While they don’t have the well defined treads of traditional sneakers, the soles are textured to provide a decent amount of grip on sidewalks, boardwalks, and sand.
Sizes
You’ll find Blowfish shoes in sizes ranging from 6 through 11, including half sizes. Generally speaking, the shoes run true to size for most people. If you have a slender foot, however, the wider toe box and cut may give you more room than expected. You may wish to size down for a better fit, though many wearers actually enjoy the looser, slipper-like fit of Blowfish shoes.
Did you know?
Blowfish shoes are also available in men’s and kids’ sizes. If you can’t find a design or color you like in women’s styles, look up a size conversion chart and explore these other collections.
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Blowfish shoe prices
When you invest in a pair of Blowfish shoes, you definitely get a lot of bang for your buck, considering the quality, style, and price. On average, you’ll spend between $20 and $50 per pair.
Inexpensive: The most basic canvas styles cost between $20 and $30. These are on the simple side in terms of design, but they’re usually available in a decent assortment of colors and patterns.
Mid-range: Most Blowfish sandals are priced closer to $35, as are heels, wedges, and certain business casual flats. These include basic strappy as well as embellished styles.
Expensive: Newer Blowfish styles cost between $40 and $50. These include canvas styles and the on-trend sandals released every season.
Tips
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Keep a pair in your carry-on. Blowfish shoes are flexible and lightweight, so it’s a good idea to keep a pair in your carry-on. You'll be able to switch footwear anytime during the flight or as soon as you land.
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Pair distressed styles with dark-wash jeans. Many canvas Blowfish shoes are distressed or faded. These look best with dark-wash jeans or even boldly colored jeans in magenta, purple, or teal.
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Buy more than one pair in a style you like. If you intend to wear a particular pair often, buy two. If you wear the same pair every day, your shoes could wear out more quickly than expected. It’s a good idea to buy two of the same pair and alternate between them. This will extend the life of your Blowfish shoes, plus you’ll always have a spare pair on hand.
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Check out influencers affiliated with Blowfish shoes. If you want the inside scoop on new styles and upcoming releases, follow influencers who have partnerships with the brand. Influencers often rock new styles before they're officially released, so you’ll know what’s expected to be on-trend for the season.
FAQ
Q. My Blowfish shoes are listed as registered with the Vegan Society. What does this mean?
A. These styles are 100% free of all animal products and byproducts and undergo a completely different manufacturing process than other Blowfish shoes. These cruelty-free shoes are made of synthetic and recycled materials to minimize their overall carbon footprint.
Q. How should I clean my Blowfish canvas shoes?
A. It’s best to spot clean or hand-wash these styles to preserve their shape, color, and overall integrity. Apply a diluted mixture of water and bleach-free detergent with a washcloth to remove dirt and debris. Let the shoes dry out fully before wearing them. You could stretch them out if you wear them while they’re still wet.
Q. How will my Blowfish shoes fare in weather like rain or snow?
A. Not well at all. These are beach-friendly styles best suited for wear in warm, dry climates. Most styles, especially the canvas ones, will only get saturated when they come in contact with rain and snow. While they’ll dry out rather quickly if they get damp from ocean or pool water, rain and snow are a bit too harsh for them. Of course, it goes without saying that you should wear warmer, weather-appropriate footwear like boots in these conditions.
