Every spring I become convinced I need a new pair of black wedge sandals. They instantly make summer outfits feel a little more polished, they work perfectly with longer jeans and pants (I’m only 5’4″, so most pants are too long on me), and I love the added height.

I love that wedges make outfits feel a little more elevated without feeling overly dressy. They somehow work with basically everything in my closet once the weather warms up.

The problem is that cute wedges and comfortable wedges are VERY rarely the same thing. Some are weirdly stiff, some are unstable, and some look great until you actually start walking in them. So I ordered 10 pairs under $200 and compared comfort, height, stability, softness, and whether they actually stayed on my feet while walking. A few were immediate no’s. A couple surprised me. And two instantly became favorites.

sandals (30% off at Macy’s)

These were an immediate yes for me. The footbed is INSANELY comfortable, like ridiculously cushy and springy to walk on, to the point where they barely even feel like they have a heel. I love the Velcro closure, too because they’re super easy to get on and off.

dress (m) | sandals

I almost didn’t even care what they looked like because they were so comfortable…but the more I wore them, the more I liked the shape and structure. I also thought the strap details might look too busy online, but they’re much subtler in person. Perfect height, insanely comfortable, and easily one of my top two pairs.

Also in metallic pewter, tan, and ivory.

sandals | also at Nordstrom

I’m always looking for wedges that give me extra height but still feel stable enough to actually walk in, especially with longer jeans or pants, and these absolutely delivered. The height is my favorite part, they make your legs look SO long (they pair perfectly with my Good American Palazzo jeans…legs for days).

dress (m) | sandals

The footbed is cushy, the straps are soft and comfortable, and they feel surprisingly sturdy for how tall they are. I also love the color blocking on these because they don’t feel overly dark or heavy, they still read really summery. Definitely my favorite taller pair.

Also in tan.

sandals

At first I thought these were too small because my toe doesn’t go completely through the front strap, but once I actually started walking around in them, I really liked the fit. The toe piece doesn’t rub between my toes at all (which is rare for me with this style), and they feel much sturdier than they look.

dress (m) | sandals

I also like that they stay securely on my feet while walking instead of doing that flopping-off-your-foot thing a lot of slides do. They give nice height, feel surprisingly supportive, and I really like the shape of them on.

Also in linen, dusty blue, tan, and fern green.

sandals

This pair comes in nine different colors and textures, and honestly? I’d probably go for one of the fun colors like the milky blue or mint since those feel harder to find. The stretchy ankle strap is really comfortable, and I like that there aren’t any buckles to mess with when getting them on and off.

dress (m) | sandals

They also have memory foam cushioning, which definitely adds to the comfort factor. The 3″ heel feels really manageable too thanks to the 1″ platform, so you still get some added height without feeling pitched forward.

sandals (also at Nordstrom)

The first thing that stood out to me about these was how lightweight they felt compared to how they look. I expected them to feel heavier, but they were actually really easy to walk in. I also liked that even though there’s a buckle closure, the strap stretches enough that you don’t have to unbuckle them every time you put them on.

dress (m) | sandals

These ultimately didn’t work for me because they felt too tight across the top of my foot (I do have really high arches, though), and I honestly wonder if the wide width would’ve solved that problem. The leather is soft, the footbed is nicely cushioned, and they feel really stable while walking.

Also in tan and navy.

sandals (also at Nordstrom)

These were just as cushy as my favorite Helodies from Earth (first ones in this post), but the strap hit my ankle at a weird spot so they ultimately didn’t work for me personally. That said, the 2″ heel with the 1/2″ platform feels really comfortable and easy to walk in, and I love the Velcro closure because it makes it easy to get the fit/tightness exactly right.

dress (m) | sandals

They also come in medium and wide sizes, which is always helpful for getting the fit just right (especially with shoes you’ll wear for hours at a time). And although I’d definitely call these comfort shoes, they don’t really look like comfort shoes, which I appreciate.

Also in navy, cognac, and sand.

sandals (also at Nordstrom, Macy’s)

I really liked the shape and texture of these, although some of that texture gets a little lost in the black color. The tan feels like the safe, goes-with-everything option, but honestly? That gorgeous navy color is calling my name. Navy is such an underrated summer neutral, especially with all the denim styles I wear this time of year.

dress (m) | sandals

Comfort-wise, these are really solid too. The 2 1/4″ heel feels super walkable, and although there’s a buckle closure, there’s also a zipper in the back so you don’t have to mess with adjusting them every time you put them on. You can set the buckle once and forget about it.

sandals (also at Nordstrom)

Ok so I DID love these right away. They immediately felt more trend-forward and current than some of the other pairs straight out of the box. But then I took that top-down picture and suddenly couldn’t stop thinking about hooves. 🤣 They started reminding me of a satyr from Percy Jackson and I just…could not move past it. (Maybe the almond color would solve this??)

dress (m) | sandals (also at Nordstrom)

That said, they’re actually more comfortable than they look. The 4″ heel feels much lower thanks to the platform, and the upper leather is soft and comfortable. I think this is one of those trends, like barrel jeans, where my eye maybe just needs time to adjust.

Also in navy and almond.

sandals (also at DSW & Nordstrom)

I loved the look of these right away, but the second I stood up and tried walking on my carpet I knew they weren’t going to work for me. I felt super wobbly, and although they were slightly better on hard flooring, I still didn’t totally trust myself not to fall over in them.

dress (m) | sandals

Which is too bad because you KNOW I love the extra height these add. The 4″ heel with the 1 1/2″ platform gives really great leg-lengthening height, and the leather itself is soft and comfortable too.

Also in tan and orange.

sandals (also at DSW & Nordstrom)

I was SO bummed these didn’t work because when I ordered them I really thought they’d end up being favorites. I love the shape, the height, and the adjustable buckle with the back zipper closure…but the soles slapped against my feet with every step and nothing about them felt sturdy or comfortable once I actually started walking in them.

dress (m) | sandals

Such a disappointment because they’re REALLY cute. I’ll clearly have to keep searching for a comfortable T-strap wedge sandal, so let me know if you’ve found one you love.

Also in navy or tan canvas, and mushroom suede.

Overall, the Earth Helodies and Kork-Ease Rayleighs were the clear winners for me. The Helodies were unbelievably comfortable right out of the box, while the Rayleighs gave me the extra height I’m always looking for without feeling unstable.

I also realized (once again) that cute wedges and comfortable wedges are NOT always the same thing. 🤣 Some of these looked amazing at first glance, but were a completely different story once I actually started walking in them.

If you’ve found a black wedge sandal you genuinely love, especially a comfortable T-strap style, let me know because apparently my search is still ongoing.

XOXO,

Scotti