Are you curious to know why we are so passionate about wooden clogs? Ready to share in our passion for using natural materials in their construction? Each pair is handcrafted with the finest European and American leathers on a high-quality wood. Not a single pair that leaves the factory looks the same, the beauty of working with natural materials. We believe in this, and a timeless design that never goes out of style.
Allow us to convince you…
Trust us, we know what we’re doing. After many years of experience, we’ve learned how to pick out the best leathers for our clogs. We at Sandgrens mainly use two different kinds of genuine leather: Vegetable Tanned and Nubuck.
While some people might call it ‘imperfections,’ we like to call it character. Using only genuine leathers mean that there will be slight imperfections. Scars and nicks are examples of these imperfections or character. It can also be that the leather of your left and right clog may not come from the same part of the hide, which may lead to such ever-so-slight differences in color and/or thickness of the leather.
This is a testament to not only the life of a cow, but to the work of skilled hands by our clog masters. The fact that no two pairs are the same is something that we at Sandgrens believe is a big part of the beauty of wearing a pair of clogs made from genuine leather. Now go out and show off those unique imperfections with pride!
Vegetable Tanned Leather
Our Vegetable Tanned leathers are processed using only natural, non-chemical tanning methods, which utilizes tree bark, vegetables and fruits during tanning. The absence of chemicals during the tanning process also means that the negative impact on the environment is minimal.
Fit
Because it doesn’t contain any chemicals, you may initially feel that the Vegetable Tanned leather is more rigid than leathers that have been chemically dyed. Rest assured, it will break in. All the leather needs is a little bit more of your time, and given how comfortable the leather will become, we promise it’s worth it!
To ease the break-in process, we recommend wearing your clogs for a couple of hours a day for the first week and then gradually increase. If you wish to speed up the process, we’d recommend giving the leather a nice massage a few times in-between wears. All you need to do is press the leather in your hands and between your fingers. This will help soften the leather.
Wearing socks the first couple of times may also help ease breaking in the clogs.
Nubuck Leather
Nubuck leather is an oiled, snuffed suede but its texture is much smoother and it has a slight knap. Like suede, the leather is made from top grain cowhide and it is created through a sanding process that results in a velvety feel. The oiling process is what gives the Nubuck its characteristic look and feel.
Fit
When comparing our two leathers, Nubuck is softer than Vegetable Tanned leather initially is. Therefore, the break-in process is generally shorter and your feet will be nice and comfy from the first wear. Nubuck leather also stretches quite easily to accommodate the shape of your feet.
All clog bases that we use are made of European lime wood or Spanish pine.
European limewood
We use limewood for our low- and mid-heel bases. Limewood doesn’t require a lot of water to grow, which makes it relatively lightweight compared to other types of wood.
Just like our leathers, wood is a natural material that brings slight variances. Weight is one variance when it comes to bases – no two are going to have the exact same weight. It will vary depending on how close it was to the tree bark, the heel height, as well as your size. However, a pair of clog bases is going to weigh approximately 1.5-1.75 pounds (700-800 grams).
Another great thing about limewood is that it doesn’t get hot the same way other types of woods do (birch for example). This, in combination with the fact that wood is a breathable material, makes clogs the perfect companion to your feet on a hot summer day.
“Well, what about the environmental aspect when it comes to wood bases?” You may ask. We’re glad you did. For every pair of clog bases we’re using, a new tree is planted. This ultimately means that we’re planting more trees than we’re using to make our clogs.
Spanish pine
Our high-heel bases are made from Spanish pine.
Similar to lime wood, pine wood is also a lightweight type of wood.
Be aware that Spanish pine is a softwood, which makes it prone to scratches and dents.
Our low-heel wood bases are 4.5 cm (1 ¾ in) tall. Our mid-heels are 6.5 cm (2 5/8 in) and our high-heels are 8 cm (3 1/8 in).
The bottom of Sandgrens bases are covered with a thin, rubber sole to protect the wood and help prevent slipping.
Fit
Keep in mind that wooden clog bases are rigid and will therefore not stretch or bend. This is normal and the essence of a pair of wooden clogs. With a foot bed that has a curve to accommodate the shape of your feet, our wood bases provide arch support.
The bottom of a clog has a curve to it so that when you walk you have a bit of a roll, which makes clogs comfortable to walk with.
If you haven’t bought Sandgrens before, we highly recommend you measure the width and length of your feet and compare your measurements with the ones provided in the size guide. You’ll find the size guide on each of the product pages. Please note that the base measurements may vary between styles and heel height. For example, if you own a pair of Tokyo clogs, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have the same size in a pair of Brett. Make sure you reference the sizing guide of the style you’re interested in.
Sounds complicated? We’ve got you covered. Take a look at our sizing video here.
That’s wonderful news! Here are a couple things we think you should know before you put on your first pair of clogs:
- All our clogs are made by hand, which means that no single pair is identical to the next. This is something we are very proud of and we think you should be too!
- Clogs are designed to allow your heel to “slip” when you walk, even if you have closed back clogs or clog boots. It may take some time getting used to, but after a while you’ll ask why you didn’t always walk in a pair of clogs?
- We recommend wearing your clogs for no more than a couple of hours a day for the first week, then gradually increase so that your body and clogs will adjust to each other.
...convinced yet?
Upper leather: Spanish full grain oiled nubuck leather, 2.5 mm thick.
Footbed: Spanish Nubuck leather, 0.8 mm thick.
Full grain leather is the strongest and most durable part of the hide. It is found just below the hair. Opposed to corrected grain it has not been sanded, buffed or snuffed, which will display the leather's natural characteristics.
It is not uncommon for genuine full grain leathers to have slight imperfections, such as scars and nicks. Some people might call these imperfections or character, but we prefer to call them character. In addition, the leather of your left and right cork sandal may not have come from the same part of the hide, causing such slight differences in color and/or thickness.
Footbed:Natural cork and natural rubber. The cork is sourced from Spain and Portugal.
Outsole: 10 mm EVA rubber.
Adjustable straps with nickel-free metal buckles.
The adjustable straps provide a personalized fit for maximum support.
If you are new to Sandgrens, we suggest measuring your feet and checking the size guide provided on each product page. It's important to note that sizing may differ between clogs and cork sandals so if you own one style it doesn't guarantee the same size in another.
Always consult the relevant size guide before making a purchase.
Since we make all our cork sandals by hand, no pairs are exactly the same. We're very proud of each pair being unique, and we think you should be too!
- We recommend adjusting your straps as soon as possible when they arrive to get the best fit and to avoid future marks from the buckle to show.