Hermes Jackson Sandal Men Techno-sandal Calfskin Noir Naturel

Some sandals try too hard. The Jackson in black with natural leather detailing does the opposite and lets the material carry it: a clean dark upper, the strap closing over the foot, and a raw leather note at the edges that softens the whole thing. Sole height is 0.5 inch, a flat black rubber base with no lift at all.

That low stance is why I can spend an afternoon walking a city in these without feeling like I am standing on a platform. Black calfskin forms the insole and black lambskin lines the strap, so both touchpoints are leather rather than synthetic, and neither gets slick when feet warm up.

Fit runs true across sizes 40 to 46, and the strap is generous enough for a high instep. They are made in Italy, and there is a quietness to the finish that suits linen trousers, shorts or rolled-up denim without announcing itself.

The honest note concerns the natural leather sections: they darken where you grip the sandal and along the raw edges, which is character if you like that and a change if you do not. Keep them out of long rain spells and wipe the footbed weekly to stop salt and dust settling into the grain. After a summer of near-daily wear, the black has kept its depth and the natural leather has gone the colour of weak tea, which I like. The strap softened rather than stretched, and the sole still has tread to spare.