If our planet wasn’t tilted, I’d probably never take them off.
They’re great in the rain — or after hiking through puddles, creeks, or grassy fields still clutching the morning dew.
They’re durable, so I wear them in almost any environment, from rocky deserts to water-soaked forests, sandy beaches to city sidewalks.
And they provide more support than you’d expect from a flip-flop.
Oh yeah, I guess I should specify — my favorite shoes are sandals, and they aren’t made from alligator, their logo just looks like one.
Winter is basically the only time of year that you won’t find me in them, and even then, if the weather permits, I’m not against wool socks with my flops.
What am I looking for when purchasing new shoes?
Are they comfortable?
Will they last?
What’s the price?
Comfort —
As mentioned, I could live in these sandals. From the moment you first put them on, it’s like they remember your feet — which, in a sense, they do. As you wear them, they steadily adjust and reshape for maximum individualization.
When it comes to wearability, each angle is addressed. Consider your three primary points of contact: the footbed, strap, and toe-post.
First, inspect the footbed. You’ll obviously be spending a lot of time standing directly on this surface, so choose wisely; I hate sandals that feel like those hard plastic floor mats.
Meanwhile, these sandals gently cushion your weight across the entire surface. Between that and the support of their rolling contours — consisting of a flowing mosaic of thin lines, made-up of tiny, gripping bumps — they’re a natural fit before you’re done breaking them in. They feel like an extension of your own feet.
I hardly think twice when going through shallow tides while sporting these flip-flops; I fully submerge my feet and continue trekking. They’re like water shoes that you can hike in — even when drenched, the footbed still offers a solid grip.
As so many people do, I thoroughly enjoy walking around barefoot. There’s something about feeling soft grass tickling your arches, or warm sand sliding between your toes, the sunshine on the tops of your feet — it’s the little things in life, right? I’ve found that these sandals allow me to experience those connections while protecting my feet, which ultimately lets me hike farther.
The next component to examine is the strap.
You don’t want a material that’ll aggravate your skin, but you want to feel secure — these sandals understand. The strap’s underside is soft, but sturdy enough to take each step with confidence. I’ve never had an issue with a strap coming loose from the footbed, and the stitching provides significant strength while going unnoticed.
Since I practically use mine as water shoes, it’s worth noting — they dry quickly, hence why I regularly take them through rivers and let them dry as I hike. You’ll notice that there’s no irritation or chafing, like you may find with other sandal straps (particularly flip-flops).
The final factor that determines overall comfort is actually an extension of the strap, the toe-post.
The beauty here is the simplicity. The toe-post is a thin — yet strong — piece of fabric positioned softly between your toes; you’ll hardly notice the narrow cloth because it slips instinctively into place.
Admittedly, this is most likely the first part of the sandal to be compromised — but, eventually, that’s what you expect, especially after the many, many miles that they’ll endure by then.
Another admission — I’ve bought the same style of flip-flop for at least the last 10 years.
Which brings us to…
Durability —
I sometimes forget how expensive shoes are, since I generally wear mine until they fall apart.
These sandals typically last me 1.5 to 2 years. As in, I can buy the newest model and get two full summers out of them before they transition into yard-work sandals, where they’ll last another year or two.
And keep in mind, these flip-flops are going places.
These aren’t just your casual backyard sandals that you toss on for a weekend bonfire (although they are also perfect for that), you can trust them on most trails.
Of course, I wouldn’t go running up any Colorado Fourteeners in them, but I have worn mine down countless miles of trail with your typical granite outcrops or rocky steps; I’ve spent plenty of evenings picking cactus needles or tumbleweed twigs from the bottom of these flops; relied on them to hold me as I shift and balance my weight down slick, grainy sandstone.
I’m not exaggerating, I’ve been a returning customer for over a decade.
These are by far the longest lasting, most comfortable, and versatile shoes that I have ever owned, especially compared to other sandals and flip-flops.
When you try them on, you’ll see what I mean. There’s a reason I keep coming back.
Price —
Or, alternatively, Value —
This is why I’m a repeat customer. When it comes to footwear, it’s the best value that I’ve ever found. These sandals have taken me on innumerable adventures, I bring them on every single trip (usually already on my feet).
Like I said, shoes are expensive. When I purchase a new pair, I look at the price and ask myself, Are they really worth that much? And nowadays, this seems like one of the rare times that I can genuinely answer, Yes!
If we break down the price per year of use, it’s even more reasonable. Cost per mile? They’re a steal. They allow me to go further, to get out there and see more — I can’t put a price on that.
You may have noticed that I didn’t focus much on their appearance. Personally, functionality will always come before style, but for what it’s worth, I love the khaki variation: they’re a classic, and classics always look good.
But more importantly — I know I’m gonna feel good wearing them.
I’m already looking out the window, waiting for sandal weather to return.
If you’re out hiking, maybe you’ll see me on trail — I’ll be the guy splashing through the creek in his favorite alligator shoes.