As you might have noticed, that time of year has arrived where you have to put your flip flops away in the back of your wardrobe.

So if you’re looking for something cool to wear this winter you could do a lot worse than considering a pair of trainers from Kustom’s new range. With a variety of trainers designed to suit any style, they have a wide range of colours, styles and materials to suit any personality.

The pair they’ve sent through for us to have a gander at are called the Edison! They’re a well built, fairly traditional white trainer style that have a very comfortable bright green cushioning interior with a solid rubber sole and the magic eight ball design on the side definitely sets them apart. Life will never be dull in those winter months when you’re sporting your own luck! For further information go to www.kustomfootwear.com

Vans has produced a shoe range in collaboration with Pukas, the world renowned and leading surfboard producer in Europe. Pukas have taken the iconic classic slip-on style and produced four unique colourways featuring the repeated Pukas logo.

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Professional surfer Nathan Hedge rides the latest Eden Project eco surfboard - the most sustainable board in the world - on Fistral Beach, Newquay for the Eco Tag Team Contest at the Rip Curl Boardmasters Surf & Music Festival.

The vast majority of the 750,000 boards sold each year are made from oil-based plastics with little thought to the environmental impact of either their manufacture or disposal. The Eden eco board project has been running for four years with the aim of seeing all boards manufactured using sustainable materials and processes.

Four revolutionary eco-friendly surfboards are being exhibited by the Eden Project at the Rip Curl Boardmasters Surf & Music Festival at Fistral Beach, Newquay, until Sunday (August 12).

The boards are being heralded as “the most sustainable in the world to date” and two will be surfed by professionals in the Rip Curl Eco Tag Team Contest during the festival.

Every year approximately 750,000 surfboards are manufactured worldwide. The vast majority of these are made from oil-based plastics with little thought to the environmental impact of either their manufacture or disposal at the end of their life.

Eden has been working on its eco board project for four years with the ultimate aim of seeing all boards manufactured using sustainable materials and processes.
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This month we’ve had a pair of Cobian Lone Star Flip Flops sent through to review and we have to say we are pretty impressed. The material is different to the other brands we’ve had to try, it has a horse leather strap, the top sole is a soft leather on top of a shock absorbing foam midsole and the bottom is a textured grippy rubber.

They are pretty comfortable although the material under the straps was a little scratchy at first that soon went away. You can tell that they are very well made and the quality materials used make them sturdy yet not too heavy to make your feet sore. They are also very stylish in a slightly unusual way, the shape is a bit more square on the front than the typical rounded flip flop design.

Overall the Lone Stars are a good looking leather sandal for any occasion. They are smart enough to have you covered if you need to dress up, but still casual enough to look at home on the beach.

It is the latest thing to bounce onto our desk in the Coldswell office and apparently it’s this summer’s hottest beach craze. An innovation that is a ball that actually bounces on water!

If you’re looking for some entertainment during those long flat spells between your surf sessions this summer rather than just lounging around in the sun all day the Waboba Ball could be the answer!

You can skip it across the water like a flat stone or bounce it hard and it’ll go high, then catch it and throw it back! Faster than a Frisbee, there’re loads of games you can play with a Waboba Ball that all add to the fun of a day at the beach.

It is made of a squishy polyurethane with a lycra coating, its mix of different materials is the secret to the way it bounces and floats on water and It also comes with instructions on how to play the Waboba game.

Are you still trying to find the right footwear for the summer? Well the flip flop of choice in the Coldswell office this week is from Kustom. This particular model is called the Kustom Hummer. They have a bumpy undulating footbed which doesn’t look particularly inviting but is surprisingly comfortable and supposedly massages your feet as you walk. The toe strap is made from a very soft fabric and removes the need of any breaking in period that often comes with other new flip flops. However the best thing about these babies is the midsole which is made from a sturdy, waterproof foam based material, this makes them very light in weight yet still really durable so unlike the recent Merrell flip flops we reviewed there is no danger of you getting any toe strain! Overall they are incredibly comfortable, affordable and look fantastic! They definitely have the edge over others we’ve tried. For further information go to www.kustomfootwear.com

Gone are the days when flips flops were things you’d buy on your holidays to last you two weeks at most. Flip flops are becoming a more popular choice of footwear in all aspects of life and as such have been getting much more well made. We’ve had some Calafinas sent through to the Coldswell office this week from Merrell that are the highest quality we’ve ever come across. They certainly don’t come cheap at 40 quid a pair but you can see where your money is going. With a full grain leather upper, smooth pig skin lining and cow suede leather footbed your foot really feels like they are having a treat. The sculpted sole is very chunky like you might expect from a Merrell walking boot and contains an air cushion for added cushioning. You’d definitely never feel any stones through these bad boys. However it is the heavy soles that is the downside to these flip flops. Although you might be living in the height of flip flop luxury, if you are planning on doing a lot of walking the weight of the base can put a lot of strain between the toes. And even though they do look good enough to wear to the office, when you slip your foot out, the suede beneath your feet does look quite worn out pretty quickly. Merrell sandals have long been known globally for their comfort, durability and fashionable beach styles and the Calafina are no different. The build quality is second to none and they look fantastic, just don’t plan on wearing them for any long treks or the hefty weight might give you a bout of toe strain!

What do you normally do when between sessions or when the surf just doesn’t appear? Well this summer we have a new suggestion. Do you remember Twister? Yes, that game where you had to bend yourself around your chums on a smelly plastic mat? Well now you can get The Twister Beach Towel!

This huge beach towel is not just for drying yourself or for lying on while soaking up the rays with but for getting stretchy with your mates in your swimwear whilst slathered in sun oil on the beach. Perfect for keeping your joints supple and flexible, ready for your next surf. The towel comes with a pair of tethered inflatable oblong dice that you lob about to find out where to stick your bits. The beaches of the world will never be the same again.

Billabong has announced a new special limited edition, Signature Red Hot Chilli Peppers boardshort for summer 2007. A red and black colour palette coupled with bold stripes fading into the Pepper’s signature logo, fit the image of the band perfectly, tying the rock & roll attitude championed by the RHCP’s and the loose functional fashion of the surf culture.

While not a Signature Model item specifically endorsed by one of Billabong’s top professional surfers, the boardshort has been prominently worn by team riders like Junior World Champion Jordy Smith.

In keeping with the music relationship Billabong initially developed with surfing stars like Donavon Frankenreiter (now with a hit CD of his own) and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billabong will be continuing a Signature Boardshort Series model designed by the Foo Fighters. It will continue to be personally endorsed and worn by World Champion Mark Occhilupo. Graphics for the board short will include a raging bull, Occy’s moniker.

Fittingly, the boardshorts were released in conjunction with a new Billabong editors cut “Occumentary,” starring Occy himself. The digitally re-mastered and re-edited version of the classic surf film in DVD format for the first time includes a number of tunes by the Foo Fighters, including the aptly titled “My Hero”.

They seem simple enough — molded rubber slip-on clog-like shoes. So what’s so special? A lot … But, first, what are Crocs? They are a mix of clogs and comfort, made of a patented closed-cell resin that is said to be warmed by your feet so they soften and mold to their shape. The molded material is extremely lightweight, cushy, has a built-in arch support, has anti-slip soles and is anti-microbial. Plus, being one molded piece of material, you can get ‘em dirty, then rinse ‘em off. And, being a rubbery material, you can get ‘em wet, then let ‘em dry without any damage. You can take the back heel strap and leave it behind your heel or pivot it so it sits on the top of the shoe, transforming it into a true clog. With slip-resistant soles, these shoes were originally designed for boaters and fishermen to wear on slippery decks. But with holes around the bottom for plenty of ventilation allowing air, sand and water to pass through, it makes them perfect for the beach!