Scientists believe that the first individuals who wore animals skins during the Ice Age made rough shoes to protect their feet from animal skins. These skins offered minimal protection but decayed and rotted in a very short period of time. Scientists believe that sandals are the first crafted foot coverings. The designers were simple and practical, including straps or thongs attached to a stiff sole to the foot for protetion. Two basic designs evolved - ones with thongs fitted between the toes, and the other with more sophisticated loops and holes along the edges of the soles for attaching the thongs. They were made from any resource available, including leaves and wood. The thong and toe strap designs have become distinctive in sandal design. Sandals are still a very popular choice of outdoor and summer footwear, but retaining the basic designs thought up thousands of years ago.

Sandals are believed to be the first rigid shoes crafted. A stiff sole was attached to the foot by cords, straps, or braided things. Sandals are still generally the most worn type of footwear in warm climates.

Egyptians are believed to be the first civilization to create a sandal. Most ancient Egyptian sandals were crafted from intricately woven and braided papyrus leaves. The sandals were initially made from a footprint in wet sand. Braided papyrus was then molded into soles. The instep of the sandal was sometimes decorated. Slate tables from the reign of Pharaoh Narmer (3000 BC) depict the Pharaoh followed by a slave bearing his sandals. Both figures wear sandals, however a peaked toe on the Pharaoh's sandals marks the difference between master and slave. This non-functional decoration denoted a person of high status. Egyptians often dyed the soles of their sandals and crafted right and left foot models. Wealthy Egyptian women often adorned their sandals with jewels.

Greek culture is often considered the beginning of Western civilization and the Greeks were wild about their shoes, adapting their footwear from almost any kind of activity. Shoes were used to identify the social status and class of the wearer with the height of the sole and colors used. Greeks emphasized design and elegant beauty in their art and in their footwear. Shoes were symbols of wealth, refinement, ornamentation, and extravagance. Greek prostitutes were known for wearing elevated sandals, a forerunner to modern high heels or platform shoes, that created a distinctive movement when walking as well as an audible clacking sound to announce their presence and advertise their charms. Romans, in true Roman style, adopted and adapted Greek style sandals right along with Greek religion and culture. The heavy leather, military-style thongs and thick leather soles of Roman sandals allowed the Roman legions to march freely through Europe conquering and creating the Roman empire. Roman sandals, called caligae, were constructed of thick leather soles and an upper that reached the instep held together with bronze nails. When victorious soldiers returns from war, they would often replace the nails with silver and gold tacks. Women's feet, however, were kept under wraps and worshipped as a symbol of chastity and purity. It is said that Roman Senator Lucius Vitellus kept one of his mistress' shoes under his tunic and often kissed it in public. Roman poet, Ovid, tells us that this tradition led Roman women to confine their feet in too-small shoes not unlike modern women who sometimes face a stigma for having large feet.

Polyurethane
Polyurethane is one of the most popular sole materials used for sandals. Polyurethane is a compound that consists of many tiny air bubbles to provide great shock absorption and durability. Different densities of polyurethane can be achieved by varying the amount of air bubbles in the compound, which will vary a sole's shock absorption and durability capacity.

Thermo Plastic Rubber
Thermo Plastic Rubber soles are produced by compounding and moulding rubber granules of solid raw material. T.P.R. is renowned for its slip resistance and shock absorption.

Latex Rubber
This old fashion material gives sandals great flexibility as well as excellent bounce. It has good shock absorption and excellent surface grip.

Ethyl Vinyl Acetate
EVA stands for 'Ethylene Vinyl Acetate' and is by far is the most popular sole used in the manufacture of boots and sandals. EVA soles are light-weight, durable and easy to work with, making them a very popular choice.
Ethyl Vinyl Acetate or E.V.A. is one of the best shock absorption materials available today. This is the reason why all the major top-line brand joggers use this material due to the great combination of shock absorption with the light weight of the sole.

Leather
What can we say? Leather is Leather. It does not wear as well as the rubber compound soles, and certainly does not have good slip resistance or shock absorption, but many people still love to have the old-fashioned feel of a leather sole.