casual sandals/flipflops

[Sam]

Olukai Hiapo? Chaco?

need some support. I have a like new pair of Donald Pliner in black leather and they have no support. gonna ebay them. Same with some Tommy Bahama in a cotton brown strap.

I like the look of Hiapo but locally they had an 8 and it was so small. I read that they run small and I usually wear a 9.0 American/42 , and they have no half sizes. Also, those pods on the bottom. They wear out that fast?

[Pureslab]

I wear Keen and have a pair of a Chaco flips

Both great quality - the Keen are great sandals

If you want good support buy a pair of Birkenstocks

[Obsessed]

if you want good support buy a pair of birkenstocks

+1

[Walter Sobchak]

I've always had nice luck with Chacos and Birks. Right now I have a pair of Birk-a-likes (that's my terminology) from Born (Born makes great shoes, BTW) that are very nice. The footbed is leather and plush, but has some mesh to keep from sweating and getting funky like Birks, they're super comfortable, and they somehow make my feet love them.

Good Luck.

[Lynchmeister]

Back in 2001 while visiting a German friend, I picked up two pair of Birkenstocks for 70DM a pair (about $35.00!). Last year (after seven years of abuse), while out walking my dog, the right sandal literally exploded. I was devastated, as you can imagine, but luckily I had that second pair that hadn't even been worn yet. They're currently covered in mud in my garage and eagerly awaiting whatever I can throw at them for the next 10 or so years.

Comfortable. Durable. Fashionable. Hard to go wrong with Birks.

[strat1117]

Yesterday I was with my brother-in-law who was wearing a nice, sturdy looking pair of sandals by a company called Earth (I don't know if they are a rebirth of Earth Shoes -- remember those -- but they did have a negative heel). He got them in Florida, but it is my intent to go find a pair for myself.

[mmack66]

I've always had nice luck with Chacos and Birks. Right now I have a pair of Birk-a-likes (that's my terminology) from Born (Born makes great shoes, BTW) that are very nice. The footbed is leather and plush, but has some mesh to keep from sweating and getting funky like Birks, they're super comfortable, and they somehow make my feet love them.

Good Luck.

What style are they? The Lennox?

[mretzloff]

For flip-flops, I prefer Rainbow. They'll last forever and they conform to your foot. I've had mine for over five years. They've gone through sand, water, dirt, etc. and still look great. Plus, they have a lifetime warranty.

[RoyalKooparillo]

I pretty much live in flip flops for most of the year. My take:

Chaco's give nice support, but they are have a very thin, hard rubber sole, and they fit narrowly in the heel. The leather flips get very slick when wet. If you went the Chaco route, I'd go for one of their hybrid backless sandals like the Zong. They have better support, thicker sole, and the added bonus of a little more security.

Birkenstocks also give great support, and they conform to your foot over time, but if they get wet the cork will start to disintegrate. The more they get wet, the more likely they are to fall apart. Great for your feet, though.

Earth shoes are butt-ugly, but they give decent support as long as you can handle the negative heel. I cannot.

Born sandals are comfy, more cushion than support, per se, and are heavy.

Reefs are pretty good for a little while. But they use cheap quality open-cell foam rubber that breaks down quickly. If you're lucky you can get a couple of years of use out of them, but by the end of that time the rubber will have broken down to the point that they're really bad for your feet. Quality control is mediocre at best...you might get a sandal that lasts a couple of years or a couple of months. Gimmicky flip flops, but can be pretty comfy for a while.

By far, the best flip flops I've used over the years have been Rainbows. The multi-layer leather versions are darn near indestructable, and as you wear them they conform to the bottom of your feet. If you wear out a layer before any of the other layers, they will replace your sandals for free. The wonderful thing about these sandals is they get better every time you wear them. So, after a year or two, you have sandals that haven't worn out, but instead fit your feet like foot-gloves (socks? No.). Only thing to note is that the leather can get a little slick when wet (same with all smooth leather sandals). I've have a buddy that has had the same pair of Rainbows for ten years, he wears them daily, and they are still going strong! After wearing various flops for decades and selling boatloads of them when I worked in a gear shop, I can safely say these are the gold standard.

Usual disclaimer, no affiliation with any of these companies, just a die-hard flopper to the core.

[mretzloff]

If you wear out a layer before any of the other layers, they will replace your sandals for free.

They'll also replace the thong of the sandal, should it ever come out.

[letterk]

For flip-flops, I prefer Rainbow. They'll last forever and they conform to your foot. I've had mine for over five years. They've gone through sand, water, dirt, etc. and still look great. Plus, they have a lifetime warranty.

Rainbows are the ONLY flip-flop I will buy. I've had my current pair for about 7 years and they're still going strong. Comfortable, supportive, and durable.

[TimmyBoston]

Rainbow.

[Fnord5]

Reefs.

[Mejnoon]

Another vote for Rainbow...most comfortable footwear on the planet imo. I'll say this though...I wear the single layer Rainbows, and I buy a new pair pretty much yearly. I can probably get 18 months max out of a pair. They're more durable than anything else I've tried, but with heavy use the leather will wear out.

[Sam]

I want leather. My birks are too hard on the arch and heel. I needed the soft footbed and got the hard ones. Anyone want a deal on them, or tommy bahama, let me know

I am between the Rainbow in leather and the Olakui

[Mejnoon]

I want leather. My birks are too hard on the arch and heel. I needed the soft footbed and got the hard ones. Anyone want a deal on them, or tommy bahama, let me know

I am between the Rainbow in leather and the Olakui

You won't regret the Rainbows

[Walter Sobchak]

What style are they? The Lennox?

I'm not sure what style they are, but they're not Lennox. Although the Lennox does have a similar looking footbed. I just took a quick look at the Born website, but it looks like they don't make my style anymore.

Mine look just like Birk Milanos (which was always the Birkenstock style of choice for me) but they have really nice dark waxed leather straps, and the heel strap has a bit of lycra so you can slip them on without stretching the leather. The footbed had a lighter colored calf-skin, so they're sort of two-toned. But essentially, the basic style is an upscale copy of a basic Milano.

[MotoMike]

Back in 2001 while visiting a German friend, I picked up two pair of Birkenstocks for 70DM a pair (about $35.00!). Last year (after seven years of abuse), while out walking my dog, the right sandal literally exploded. I was devastated, as you can imagine, but luckily I had that second pair that hadn't even been worn yet. They're currently covered in mud in my garage and eagerly awaiting whatever I can throw at them for the next 10 or so years.

Comfortable. Durable. Fashionable. Hard to go wrong with Birks.

I heartily concur. I am on my second pair of Birkenstock Arizonas in about 25 years. I didn't get the killer deal that you did LynchM, but considering how well they last, and the good support they provide, they are still a bargain. I will be due for a new pair in a couple years though.

for wet conditions, I wear Keens.

[Austin]

Reefs.

My son has those. He showed me the bottle opener the other night while sipping Shiner Bocks on the patio.

[blary54]

Hmm no one mentioned Teva. Ive always had good luck with them. For flip flops I love the Teva Mush...very comfortable.