Eli Schmidt
Best Flip-flops Overall
Teva Katavi 2 Thong
What makes the Katavi so supportive is actually hidden inside the midsole. Teva made the simple but innovative move of putting a shank in a flip-flop to enhance stability. A shank is a small piece of stiff material, typically metal or a hard plastic, which is placed between the midsole and outsole right at the arch of the foot. It is commonly used in boots and leather shoes for arch support and stability.
The addition of that shank was so effective that it landed the Katavi 2 at the top of our list after months of testing. Just as with a boot, the shank added support to our mid-foot by taking some of the stress off each step. It essentially felt like a little shelf to rest the arch of our foot on, providing a stronger boost than other flip-flops that use soft materials for support. Outstanding traction on both the outsole and footbed also kept us sure footed in wet conditions. Start here in your flip-flop search before looking elsewhere.
Read more: Best Shoes for Arch Support
StabilityContoured footbed, shankOutsoleRubberUpperEVA
Best flip-flops for City Walking
Kuru Kala
Cons
Not much cushioning in the ball of foot
Every expert that we spoke to for this article agreed that arch comfort comes from balancing sole flexibility and firm support. Kuru hit the sweet spot between both factors with the Kala flip-flop. The contoured footbed immediately stood out the first time our editors slipped it on. Your heel relaxes right into place like your body flopping into a recliner. With just the right amount of stiffness, the footbed cradled our foot with every step.
Despite a deep heel cup, the sole on this flip-flop is one of the thinnest we tested. This minimizes the weight on your feet (another contributor to arch support) and maximizes flexibility. The effect was a natural motion that flexed with our foot, thus limiting foot strain, which is a common occurrence with flimsier examples we’ve worn in the past.
StabilityContoured footbedOutsoleRubberUpperLeather
Best flip-flops for Lounging Around
Skechers Go Walk Massage Fit Sandal
ConsNot good traction
Skechers offers strong arch support in the form of a maxed out midsole. This was hands down the most cushioned and springy flip-flop that we tested. According to our experts, going too far in on those attributes can work against arch comfort by making your feet work too hard while walking. Fortunately, Skechers appears to have figured out where to draw the line. We didn’t feel any strain when moving around in this sandal. At the same time, our heel and mid-foot felt cradled all day long.
Along with an amped up midsole, Skechers equipped the Go Walk with a funky-yet-functional outsole. We found that the alternating wavy design was very flexible in the midsole, minimizing strain on the arch of the foot. This unique design is helpful when it comes to support, but less so when it comes to traction. It does not provide a firm grip in wet conditions, which caused a bit of slipping in our testing.
StabilityHYPER BURST midsoleOutsoleEVAUpperMemory foam
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Most Stylish Flip-flops
Ugg Capitola Flip Flop
Big lug soles are having a moment, and they have even shown up in flip-flops. Ugg put a burly, boot-like outsole on the Capitola that is not only fashionable, but provides excellent traction. The large tread kept us shore footed in wet and sandy conditions. This may not look like a beach sandal, but it actually performs better than standard flimsy flip-flops in those conditions.
Many menswear fundamentalists will tell you that flip-flops are never stylish for elevated dress. While our editors tend to agree with this sentiment, when we did put this one together with a blazer and linen slacks, it worked. If you’re looking for a summer sandal with plenty of arch support that can hang with dressed up looks, this is a solid choice.
StabilityLug soleOutsoleSynthetic rubberUpperLeather
Most Versatile Flip-flops
Keen Kona Leather Flip-Flop
ConsStrap takes a while to dry
When it comes to comfortable footwear, form should follow function. Keen designed a unique looking flip-flop, and when we took it for a spin we saw every detail lends itself toward comfort. Take a look at the outsole to understand what we mean. The carved out midfoot maximizes flexibility in a crucial spot to take pressure off the arch of the foot. This effectively turns the back of the flip-flop into a shock absorbing heel.
Even with all that support underneath, we found the most comfortable part of this flip-flop is the contoured footbed. It cradles the entire sole of your foot from heel to toe, thus giving your arches a little boost, allowing your heel to sink in, and providing grip for your toes to push off with each step. Best of all, the minimalist all-black look allows you to wear it with pretty much anything all summer long.
StabilityMolded footbed and outsoleOutsoleRubberUpperLeather
Best Flip-flops for Extended Wear
Hoka Ora Recovery Flip
ConsBulky for a flip-flop
Hoka has built an exceptional reputation for comfortable sneakers and running shoes. After spending a few months in the Ora, we can tell you that reputation applies to flip-flops as well. The same multi-layer curved sole design that can be found in many of the brand’s shoes is utilized here. Of every entry on the list, this one held up the longest in continuous wear, providing a level of all-day comfort that is rare in flip-flops.
Every podiatrist we consulted warned against the effects of cloud sandals being too squishy, which creates strain on your arch and toes when stepping off. Hoka avoided this problem by making a thin top layer that is soft enough to allow our foot to sink in for “cloud” comfort. Underneath that is a larger firm layer that provided strong stability in our testing. The curved shape, which is higher in the heel, did not cause any strain in the arch when stepping off.
StabilityTwo layer, MetaRocker soleOutsoleEVA foamUpperEVA foam
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Best Flip-flops for Outdoors Activities
Gubarun Sport Flip Flops
ConsFootbed is a litte stiff
Gubarun specializes in footwear for rugged outdoor adventure. We took this flip-flop paddle boarding, on a low-impact hike, and to a few different beach trips. The two layered contoured sole design provided just the right balance between flexibility and stability. The midsole is thinner and curves up to bolster the natural movement of the arch without adding bulk. It handled the complicated motions of trail hikes with no issue.
Water resistant flip-flops are not hard to find but this one actually performs well when wet. We wore it in and around water, and found the outsole stuck to the ground like a champ. Gripping texture is laid out on the footbed to prevent your feet from sliding out of the sandal too, which was effective. The best part is how quickly the straps dried. Padded textile flip-flop straps are comfortable but tend to hold onto water, where this one did not.
StabilityContoured footbed and OutsoleOutsoleRubberUpperRubber
Best Flip-flops for Travel
Olukai Ulele Sandals
ConsMinimal cushioning
You can’t really go wrong with any flip-flop from Olukai, but the Ulele provides extra comfort for anyone with arch pain issues. This may appear to be the simplest design on the list, but a few small features set it apart from common flat soled flip-flops. A slight S curve in the footbed, which goes up to support the arch, down to cradle the ball of the foot, and back up to move with your toes when stepping, makes all the difference. We found that this design provided plenty of support for such a thin sole and moved naturally with our feet to prevent strain.
Any flip-flop is easy to pack, but the Ulele is so thin that it takes up hardly any space in luggage. One of our editors took it on a long weekend trip while packing just one carry-on bag. Taking up so little room in transit and being comfortable enough to stay on their feet for most of the weekend was clutch. Which is why we picked this one as the best travel flip-flop on the list.
StabilityContoured soleUpperEVA foamOutsoleSynthetic rubber
Best Flip-flops for the Pool
Reef Men’s Swellsole Cruiser Flip-Flop
ConsFootbed itself can get slippery when wet over time
Reef has produced a signature flip-flop with the same simple design for a few decades now and it still holds up. However, it does not offer much in the way of arch support. By beefing up the footbed with a slight contour and little more padding, then adding a natural curve to the toe, the California sandal company came up with the Swellsole Cruiser. This variation on the brand’s classic flip-flop provided a welcome boost in comfort for our editors who wore the original version for many years.
A few of our editors like Reef flip-flops because the brand has always provided reliable traction on the outsole and comfortable straps. Both of those crucial features are present in the Swellsole. The straps are a synthetic rubber and fabric blend that dried quickly when we got it wet, and the outsole has a grippy texture that held up on wet and sandy surfaces during testing.
StabilityContoured sole and footbedUpperEVAOutsoleRubber
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Meet the Experts
Dr. Daniel Geller, D.P.M.Dr. Brad Schaeffer, D.P.M.Dr. Daniel Pledger, D.P.MTurner Allen, Stylist
Why Trust Us
At Men’s Health, our testing editors and writers always make sure to actually test and use the products ourselves before considering whether to include them. Therefore, rest assured that our product recommendations derive from first-hand experience, and you can read more about our testing process here.
For instance, we have a whole fashion closet in our NYC office dedicated to calling in, trying out, and selecting the best and newest menswear products. We put them on stylish, fit guys to hear their opinions and see how the items look on them before making our final decision. And as style editors, we constantly go into the fashion closet to feel a product’s materials—even put it on ourselves for a spin—to test it.
Lastly, you can trust our opinions on shopping recommendations, whether it’s the products, styling tips, or trends. Not only do we have Fashion Director Ted Stafford and Deputy Editor, Commerce Christian Gollyan, but we also have a panel of style experts—including stylists, fashion influencers, designers, etc.—whom we regularly seek shopping guides from. Therefore, our product recommendations and buying tips are all driven by professional, expert opinions.
Christian Gollayan oversees e-commerce content for Men’s Health and Women’s Health. Previously, he was the Associate Managing Editor at TheManual.com. Christian’s work has also been featured in Food & Wine, InStyle, the New York Post, and Tatler Asia.
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