Hermes Jackson Sandal Men Techno-sandal Epsom Calfskin Noir H242949ZH03390

If you want a sandal with a little more build under the foot, this is the Jackson to compare against the flatter versions. The sole measures 1.3 cm rather than the half inch of its siblings, and that extra stack changes how the sandal sits on hot pavement at the end of a long afternoon.

The upper is black Epsom calfskin, pressed grain with a firm hand and a surface that shrugs off scuffs far better than smooth calf. The buckle is palladium-plated, so it stays bright instead of going brassy, and the black rubber outsole grips wet stone, which matters more than it sounds on a summer holiday by the sea.

Black calfskin forms the insole and black lambskin lines the strap, a pairing that keeps the sandal quiet against bare feet. The sandal runs from size 40 up to 46 out of Italy.

One thing I would say plainly: the extra height is modest, and anyone expecting a real arch lift will not find it here. What you get is a firmer platform and a slightly more grounded walk. Black Epsom hides dirt well right up until it does not, so check the buckle area every month or so. What has impressed me is the Epsom itself. Six months of city wear and the strap still has crisp grain with no shine break at the buckle, and the palladium plate has not dulled or pitted. The 1.3 cm base also lifts the sandal clear of a puddle better than the flat version, which matters more than I expected in a wet spring.