Sandal or slip-on footwear with improved optional-use heel strap and related methods

1. A method of wearing a slip-on sandal comprising the steps of:

ensuring that the slip-on sandal comprises:

an upper;

a sole with a strap channel and a hole;

a padded optional use strap that is provided to the strap channel and the hole;

wherein the padded optional use strap is outfitted with a heel padding that is disposed in the strap channel;

wherein the heal padding is reverse folded into two pull-tabs and the padded optional use strap is disposed through the hole and within the strap channel so that the two pull-tabs are extended from the strap channel;

placing a foot within the upper and above the sole;

gripping the two pull tabs;

removing the optional use strap and the heel padding from the strap channel by pulling the tab;

unfolding the heel padding by pulling one of the two pull tabs;

pivoting the heel padding around the hole via the padded optional use strap so that the heel padding is positioned over a heel;

placing the heel padding on the heel of the foot so that the heal padding is spaced from the sole;

gripping the heel padding and pulling the pull heel padding away from the heel of the foot;

disposing the padded optional use strap and a central portion of the heel padding into the strap channel;

contacting a top side of the heel padding with an upper edge of the strap channel so that the top side of the heel padding remains reverse folded to create a first pull tab that extends from the strap channel while the top side of the heel padding is in contact with the upper edge of the strap channel

contacting a bottom side of the heel padding with a lower edge of the strap channel so that the bottom side of the heel padding remains reverse folded to form a second pull tab that extends from the strap channel while the bottom side of the heel padding is in contact with the bottom edge of the strap channel; and,

removing the foot from the upper and off of the sole.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the sole is shaped like a human foot, the strap channel is defined in the periphery of a heel portion of the sole and the padded optional use strap is secured by partially being strung through the sole.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the upper is defined by a toe hole and a foot strap.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the strap channel holds the heel padding in a reverse fold so that the heel padding is retained within the strap channel while it is inside out.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the optional use strap is made of rubber and outfitted with padding that sits flush to the sole when stored forward or backward in the sole.