Open and easy for beach feet

Photo / Nicola Topping.

When we head to the beach, Kiwis have clear preferences on what to wear. What we put on our feet leaves us more divided.

A Herald-Digipoll survey of 750 people found both men and women knew what they liked to don before going for a dip or doing some sunbathing.

Asked about swimwear preference, 70.5 per cent of males chose boardies, compared with only 13.9 per cent backing Speedos or "budgie-smugglers" as they're often referred to. Just over 10 per cent preferred neither.

Likewise, female respondents were definite, giving the one-piece swimsuit 63 per cent support, compared with 28 per cent for the two-piece. Seven per cent of the women preferred neither.

Asked about footwear, respondents gave Jandals 49.8 per cent support over sandals, with 41 per cent. And 4.3 per cent chose neither.

Among the hundreds soaking up the sun on Christchurch's Sumner beach when the Herald visited were a mixture of women in one and two-piece swimsuits.

Boardies were the almost exclusive choice of the guys, with only one elderly gentleman spotted in Speedos.

Jandals were overwhelmingly the footwear of choice; beach-goers judged them more comfortable and easier to slip on and off than other shoes.

Lydia Kronawetter, 19, said a two-piece was the best swimsuit option for women because it was more flattering.

"You don't have to wear a bikini, but a tankini is probably more flattering than a one-piece."

Miss Kronawetter wouldn't entertain the idea of a man in Speedos, preferring boardies "all the way".

"Speedos - even if you have a really nice body, it looks like you're trying too hard. And if you don't have a nice body, it just looks awful."

Jandals were better because "you don't have the awful tan line and they're easier to take on and off".

Richard Withell, 49, said boardies over Speedos was a no-brainer.

"I wouldn't go out in public wearing my underpants, would you?"

Scott Macefield, 29, considered Speedos the domain of "old men - not cool".