Crocs. Crocs are the answer.
The river runners all wore Teva for a while. Then Keen got into the mix. Birkenstocks have been “orthotic” for half a century or more. In Germany it’s common for doctors and nurses, men and women, to all be wearing closed toe Birkenstocks.

But flip flops, with the thing between your toes? Some girls, fewer guys, it’s like being barefoot but still allowed in the restaurant.

 

I don't have foot pains, but I only wear them inside the house.
If I walk outside, like off the deck, it is shoes or closed sandals to go to the store, and boots in the garden.
In the summer there are too many natural enemies to go among them unprotected.
From mosquitos, to ticks, to spiders, to mystery snakes, everything is out to get you. That's the price you pay for living in the woods.
I buy the good leather ones, that have arched soles, so they don't hurt your feet. They last a long time.

 

2nd vote for the crocs, nobody needs to see my toes Gotta cover them dogs up.

 

I hate the plastic feel of crocs. Do you use with socks?.
I don mind the nylon thong and rubber bottoms of my teva flip flops, I have 3 identical pairs and a pair of sandals. The lack of support doesn't bother me but they have no real foot protection. Even boat shoes and trainers protect your toes some.

 

I’ve been thinking about how thong sandals are often seen as just beachwear or something to wear around the house. But I’m noticing more people (myself included) wearing them for regular daily activities — errands, casual walks, even light travel.

Comfort is a big factor for me, and I’ve had a hard time finding open sandals that don’t leave my feet sore after a few hours. I recently tried a pair that had some built-in arch support — not your typical flat sole — and was surprised how much difference it made. The brand was Aerothotic (just mentioning it because I hadn’t heard of them before), and while I wasn’t expecting much, the support and structure were better than usual flip-flops.

Of course, they’re not a replacement for serious orthopedic shoes or hiking boots, but for everyday summer wear, I’m curious how others feel.

• Do you wear thong sandals regularly, or avoid them because of foot pain?
• Have you found any that balance comfort and long wear?
• Do you think brands are starting to take foot support more seriously, even in casual sandals?

Would love to hear what’s worked (or not worked) for others!

HELL NO !.
As a survivalist it is IMPOSSIBLE to go in any public area where your escape could not be a critical requirement.
That being a sad FACT of modern life, who wants to run or even walk fast in a rush to unbutt an area ?
ANY footwear that is not Firmly on your feet is the same as John McClain in Die Hard.
And btw , why he did not take even a small pair of shoes and add some Duct tape is beyond me.
NO sandals etc for me,outgrew that in the 1960's.

 

"ANY footwear that is not Firmly on your feet is the same as John McClain in Die Hard."

I wear luna sandals

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Strapped on running sandals with great traction. you have to get used to them though.

 

I personally HATE the strap between the toes...

 

I had a pair of open toe sandals that had arch supports and supports around the heel. They were comfortable and I wore them everywhere except work. The only problem I had with them is that the side supports eventually caused cracks in the outside and heel of both feet. I got them from this website.

Comfortable Men's Sandals with Arch Support | Vionic Shoes

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I'll wear those thong sandals when we go to the beach because I like to feel the sand on my feet. Or sometimes in the summer in urban environments for short distances like when I have to run to the store for something. I've yet to meet someone whose feet sweat as bad as mine, so I like mine aired out whenever possible.

My go-to is crocs but they're not perfect. If your feet get real sweaty or wet, your feet can slip inside the croc, darn near causing you to twist your ankle. As well, they are junk in the snow or ice as far as grip. And, I don't know if other croc-wearers have noticed this phenomena, but my crocs slip on pavement paint very easily when wet, even in the summer. I've legit almost feel flat on my face a few times in parking lots after a rain has come through.

 

My go-to is crocs but they're not perfect. If your feet get real sweaty or wet, your feet can slip inside the croc, darn near causing you to twist your ankle. As well, they are junk in the snow or ice as far as grip. And, I don't know if other croc-wearers have noticed this phenomena, but my crocs slip on pavement paint very easily when wet, even in the summer. I've legit almost feel flat on my face a few times in parking lots after a rain has come through.

Yes. I wore crocs on the kayak one time, never again! They are THE WORST when wet, inside or out, slippery is putting it mildly.🤪
And, like most sandals, every time I go “off road” with them, I’m ALWAYS getting rocks and crap inside,
which is worse than just going barefoot!

For water, now, I use dive shoes or boots, with the thin soles. Keeps sand and rocks out, fits in my fins, protects from stuff like rocks and glass if I’m wading. I have slip on low tops, and zip up high tops as well.

 

I wear sandals when it is really hot out. I also do not like sandals with the thong between the toes and prefer something that has a back strap. I got these Pacific Mountain sandal/shoe hybrid on clearance from Sportsmans Warehouse for $20 a couple of years ago. They are comfortable and I can run in them if needed.

 

Boots... Ticks... Michigan

 

I like flip-flops because you can find them at any supermarket or dollar store in the climates where you'd want to wear them. I wear boots to travel and don't pack additional footwear, in part because I know if I really need sandals that badly, I can always just buy a pair for less than the price of a nice lunch. Sandals beat crocs in that regard because you can get a too-large pair and cut them to size with kitchen scissors, whereas crocs the wrong size are stuck as the wrong size forever.

If you get the really thin-soled ones and wear them too long, the sole can get crushed so badly that it no longer protects from large thorns. Same with crocs though. IMO for loose sandals to be comfortable you have to get the extremely light ones; the ergonomics of walking/running in heavy-soled ones get very weird. But if they're light enough, you're basically barefoot.

 

I wear oofos thong type all day, everyday at work. All tile floors.
Great arch support and cushy heal. Foot problems went away.
Wore Birkenstocks for years but they caused my planter facitis.
I tried crocs, not for me, made my feet hurt.

 

As a survivalist, I am forced to think about the unexpected when I'm out and about, and if you've ever had to walk a significant distance in harsh weather the consequences ca be devastating.
IMO, ideally one has alternative clothing and shoes as well as a go bag in their car in the event of an EMP or CME.
Figure what you might need to wear hiking home 20 miles or so in hot or cold weather.
Nothing wrong with comfortable shoes in a completely safe environment, but that can change in the space of time of an earth quake or fire or other calamity.

 

There are no conditions other than showering at the gym where I would wear thong sandals.
There are no conditions whatsoever where I would want crocs of any kind on my feet. 🐊

 

I hate those thong sandals. I wear Keens; awesome sandals and have support. I did have a pair thong sandals a long time ago and was walking, hit a wet spot on smooth concrete, foot slipped forward then the little thong part came out thru the bottom of the sandal. damn near broke my ankle. then another time- stepped on a thorn and it went right thru into my foot; had to pull it with pliers. No. as stated above; they are shower shoes at the gym and even then i pause at the thought of that strap pulling out.

 

No thong sandals for me. I wear crocs in the garden and to take care of birds. It is self defense. The rooster attacks anything but crocs. And not just any crocs. They need to be pink crocs. I'm not joking. I got these groovy tie dye crocs. Nope, he knew the difference. 🤷‍♀️

 

I was going to ask if cowboy boots while wearing a thong counts, but decided against it.

So I'll just say no on the sandals. Can't stand the thing between the toes. Makes all my toes itch.

 

Chacos!

 

I like Scott’s from Hawaii but quality not as good since they moved manufacturing overseas, i have 4 or 5 unused pairs and 3 pair working now, only style slipper I use but they gotta be strong ones with a shoe like sole, those ones that used to be $1 last about 1 minute

 

Well here you go!

 

I wore .29 thongs in the 80s. In the late 80s and early 90s I wore tiddie sandals.

Google Image Result for http://tiddiesshack.com/cdn/shop/files/1-removebg-preview.png?v=1706807243

I think they are out of business now. Back in the 80s they made them in PASADENA Texas about a mile from where I lived. They were so comfortable.

 

I wore .29 thongs in the 80s.

Ha - you wore thongs! Joke, I digress….

 

I wear Flip-Flops a lot during summer months. They're comfortable for me and I see no downside. Except I couldn't run from trouble very quickly, but Hell, I can't run very quickly anyway nowadays.....

 

8 years of military involvement made me hate close toe shoes. Unless there is a specific reason, I am barefoot, wearing flip flops, or sandals like Chacos or Bedrocks. Your feet deserve better than spending life in some nasty boot.

 

Flip Flops are one of the main foot injuries at Emergency Rooms