Teva Sandal
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A water shoe that came to define a generation of river athletes. The shoe was developed in 1984 by Mark Thatcher, a Grand Canyon rafting guide, after he got tired of losing his flip-flops in the river. His solution was a rugged, rubber-soled platform with Velcro straps hefty enough to clench your feet while swimming in rough whitewater and survive the day-to-day abuse of rafting and hiking. Teva sandals are now ubiquitous among outdoor enthusiasts. The company also spawned more than a dozen brands vying for space in the new footwear category—including Chaco and Keen—and launched the unfortunate cotton-socks-with-sandals look.
It’s Pronounced TEH-vuh
There are a few other company names you’re probably saying wrong.
Vibram: VEE-brum
Dynafit: DEE-nuh-fit
Mammut: Ma-MOOT
Millet: Me-YAY
Sorel: SORE-ul
Patagonia: Pa-tuh-GOO-chee