When it comes to hiking, most people go for sturdy shoes, but not this dad who recently trekked across Europe in his homemade sandals.
Grace Johnsen, a TikTok user from the US, shared a video of her dad sporting ancient Greek-style sandals on various terrains. At one point, he even takes them off, proving his dedication. The caption hilariously states, “He’s either in these sandals or barefoot, no in-between.”
In a quirky twist, the video includes text that reads, “This is what it’s like hiking with my dad when he insists on his DIY sandals.”
According to Statista, over 61 million Americans will hike in 2023, showing an 89% increase from 2010.
In addition to sandals, a standard hiking pack includes extra socks, boots, appropriate apparel, water, first aid, headlamps, sunblock, and a few more water bottles. This dad clearly marches to the beat of his own drum.
In another video, when asked why he makes his own sandals, the dad simply replies, “Because I can.”
Proving their worth, the dad even participated in a triathlon with his homemade sandals. Despite this, traditional hiking footwear is recommended for suitable support and traction in varying terrains.
While open-toed sandals might not be the first choice for hiking, TikTok users couldn’t help but praise the dad, with the video amassing 257,000 views and 940 comments.
One comment read: “It’s fascinating to delve into the history of this spot.”
Another user remarked, “The way he grips them with his toes, they don’t budge!”
However, not everyone was on board as one user commented, “Nah. Those need to go.”
Mishaps can happen anytime. A hiker recently shared a story of falling on a seemingly flat path.