Created by 11x world champ Kelly Slater, the KLLY flops are worth their salt. Photo: Dylan Heyden//The Inertia

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From the California coast to the Gold Coast of Australia, Haleiwa to Florianopolis to New Smyrna Beach, there may be no more ubiquitous form of footwear than a humble pair of flip flops. Referred to around the world as thongs, chanclas, “slippahs,” and at least a dozen other names, why the flip flop continues to remain the go-to sandal style for surfers is likely equal parts form and function — they’re light, comfortable, easy to put on and take off, and fairly inexpensive.

The simplicity of the flip flop’s construction — a sole, two straps that wrap around the foot, and a post that goes between the big toe and the second toe — disguises how difficult it can be to make a pair that are comfortable and built to last. Or, rather, how many options there are to find the perfect pair depending on your needs. From materials to construction to sizing, the flip flop market is awash with variety, which is why we took it upon ourselves to test as many flip flops as we could get our hands on (er, feet in). And after ample boardwalk strolls, morning surf checks, and a few ambitious outings to test the limits of these casual shoes, here are our favorites.

To learn how these flops stacked up against one another, check out our Comparison Table below. And if you want to learn more about what makes a solid pair of men’s flip flops, take a look at our Buyer’s Guide.

The Best Men’s Flip Flops

Best Overall Flip Flops: Olukai Tuahine
Runner-Up Best Overall: Hari Mari Fields
Most Supportive Flip Flops: KLLY Sandals
Best Value Flip Flops: Teva ReFlip
Most Plush Flip Flops: Rainbow Double Layer Classic
Best Post-Workout Flip Flops: OOFOS Men’s Original Sandal
Best Hiking Flip Flops: Bedrock Cairn Evo Sandal

If you’re looking for more footwear options, check out our reviews on The Best Men’s Sandals and The Best Beach Sandals for Women.

Best Overall Flip Flops

Olukai Tuahine ($100)

Pros: Waterproof, premium materials, comfort that improves with time
Cons: Price

Sizing Recommendation: For half sizes, we definitely recommend sizing at least to the next size up

Olukai’s Tuahine takes the timeless design and comfort of the leather flip flop and gives it the major upgrade it deserves. For years, we’ve been a hopeless devotee of the tan leather flip flop because they get more comfortable over time, are incredibly durable, and have a classic look.

Some major drawbacks of leather flip flops, though, are generally you want to avoid getting them wet. This isn’t always possible when spending days at the beach or near the pool. The fact that Olukai’s Tuahines are made with waterproof leather is a huge durability upgrade for those accustomed to leather sandals that only get better with time.

The second enhancement is in the Tuahine’s sole that features a wet-grip rubber that is also non-marking for the boaters and fishermen among us. In testing, we found that the Tuahines also offered great arch support–second maybe to the KLLY Sandals (see below). They feature a cupped heel for optimum fit with no break-in period needed. The only knock on the Olukais is they seemed to run a bit small, so we’d recommend sizing up. That, and they’re some of the priciest on the list.

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Runner-Up Best Overall Flip Flops

Hari Mari Fields ($65)

Pros: Soft premium leather comfort, low-profile minimalist style, solid price
Cons: Limited structure and support, leather is not waterproof

Sizing recommendation: For half sizes, size up to nearest full size

Olukai’s Tuahine sandals may have beaten out Hari Mari’s Fields flip flops for our best overall slot, but only by the slimmest of margins. That’s because Hari Mari makes a damn good classic leather flip flop with a handful of premium upgrades that up the comfort factor in a big way.

Hari Mari uses the term “buttery” to describe the feel of the leather they use for the Fields. Before testing, we honestly weren’t totally sure what they meant. But slipping them on for the first time, we understood. These things are soft. Memory foam footbeds with slight cupping are plush, but not to the point of feeling high profile. And what may seem like a small detail – a memory foam toe post – actually made a pretty big difference preventing rubbing and blisters between the toes on longer strolls.

While the Fields have some arch support, it’s pretty minimal compared to others on our list. As is the structure of the sandal overall. But minimalism and simplicity are also what make the Fields such a versatile and stylish sandal. The branding is muted, there’s no ornate stitching. Everything feels to the point, the way a classic leather sandal should. We should note that the colorway we tested did feature a bright blue sole, but other colorways feature more subdued colors.

Most Supportive Flip Flops

KLLY Sandals ($89)

Pros: Perfect balance of comfort and support
Cons: High profile and limited color and style options

Sizing recommendation: KLLY recommends sizing down a full size, we found, for those in-between sizes, sizing down a half-size worked well

One of the occupational hazards of surfing on the Championship Tour for over thirty years is you spend a lot of time in flip flops. So, when the greatest surfer of all time slaps his name on a pair designed to fix some of the common complaints associated with the classic flip flop silhouette — namely lack of support and discomfort for all day wear — you pay attention. Kelly Slater developed the KLLYs for all day comfort and to promote healthy alignment. And out of the box, the KLLY Sandals absolutely achieve this. They were the most comfortable flip flops on our list. No break-in period needed.

We found them springy and snappy in all the right ways, yet with sufficient arch support for all-day wear. The strap was also extremely comfortable when properly sized, although a bit wide. We did find that it fit a little tight if you sized the sandals down too far. And while we don’t know how much we buy into the connection between the moon and sea turtles that inspired some of the design elements, the texture of the footbed inspired by the surface of the moon offered good traction and was a nice touch.

The KLLYs are also made using rPET and BLOOM foam made from algae, making them some of the most sustainable sandals on our list. One of the only knocks we had on the KLLYs was they did have a higher profile feel than other flip flops on the list. Though, that’s the tradeoff for better support. That, and there’s only one colorway currently available that might not be for everyone. (Update: KLLYs are now offered in four colorways. The all black that we originally tested are being called “New Moon,” and there are also Once in a Blue Moon (Blue), Blood Moon (Red), and Wolf Moon (Grey).

Best Value Flip Flops

Teva ReFlip ($40)

Pros: High on sustainability, low on price
Cons: Tight fitting webbing strap, hard to slide on

Sizing Recommendation: Size up to nearest size for half sizes

Teva calls their Reflip flip flop their most sustainably minded sandal to date, which is an impressive claim from a company with such strong environmental ethos. Both the EVA top sole and EVA outsole are made of 30 percent recycled content and the quick-dry webbing is made from recycled plastic.

We loved these particular flip flops as a no-frills friendlier-to-the-planet alternative to the leather flip flops on this list. These felt sturdy, could hold up to abuse,  and were water friendly. A downside was these required some time to break in properly and during that time, the webbing strap would rub on the instep of the foot which wasn’t ideal. The webbing would also lie against the sandal making it harder to slide into. Like most Tevas, at the end of the ReFlip’s lifecycle, they can also be recycled through Teva’s TevaForever recycling program.

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Most Plush Flip Flops

Rainbow Double Layer Classic Leather with Arch Support

Pros: Cushy comfort in a premium leather package, Rainbow iconic styling
Cons: Bit of a break-in period, limited structure out of the box

Sizing Recommendation: Size up to nearest size for half sizes

Rainbow has been crafting timeless, quality sandals since 1974 and were the first company to build a rugged sandal meant to meet the demands of surfers. Rainbow’s flagship Single Arch sandal continues to be the benchmark for other premium leather sandals, but for those looking for a more plush and supportive upgrade with the look and durability Rainbows are known for, Rainbow’s Double Layer Classic sandal delivers. Featuring an additional layer of foam from the arch to the heel, the Double Layer Classic has a much spongier, bouncier feel than the Single Arch, but without sacrificing the iconic style that Rainbow is known for.

Like all Rainbows, the Double Layers are designed to mold to your feet over time. But, the break-in period does take a bit of commitment to overcome. Because the heel cup takes a while to develop as the foam breaks down as it’s designed to do, there isn’t much structure to the sandal to start. So we did feel some fish-tailing of our heels happening until the heel cup began to form. The straps also felt a bit tight over the instep initially until they began to stretch to our feet. While the Double Layers definitely ride a bit higher than the Single Arch, the extra support and cushioning is definitely welcome on longer walks or for all-day wear.

Best Post-Workout Flip Flops

OOFOS Men’s Original Sandal ($60)

Pros: Super comfortable, great recovery sandal
Cons: Not the most stylish

Sizing Recommendation: Size up to nearest size for half sizes

OOFOS is a brand that quickly made a name for itself in the “recovery footwear” space and after sliding in these bad boys for a spell, it’s easy to see why. While not the prettiest to look at, the OOFOS were easily the most comfortable flip flops on the list. Each step in a pair of these felt like the sandal was absorbing impact, compressing, and springing you forward for added oomph in your stride.

While these wouldn’t be the pair we’d recommend for a date night out, the Oofos were incredibly impressive for a variety of specific use cases – post-surf comfort at home, the gym, errands, etc. Virtually any pre or post physical activity where comfort is a premium. At around 29mm, the sole stack is the thickest of any pair of flip flops listed here, which meant the OOFOS rode high and took some getting used to.

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Best Hiking Flip Flops 

Bedrock Cairn Evo Sandal

Pros: Light all-terrain style, rugged outsole
Cons: Minimalist structure, no arch support, style is not for everyone

Sizing Recommendation: Size up for half sizes.

Bedrock’s Cairn Evo sandals neither flip nor flop. So what are they doing on our list of best flip flops? Glad you asked. With their Cairn Evo sandals, Bedrock has taken the humble flip flop and designed it with four-wheel-drive and all-terrain tires. The result may be unsightly to some – the wife wasn’t a huge fan – but, in terms of functionality, Bedrock’s Cairn sandals are designed to go far beyond the limits of any other sandal on this list. Think trail running, river rafting expeditions, and other similar pursuits in the outdoors. By design, the Cairn Evos have very little material separating the bottom of your foot from the Earth. The footbed is also flat with no arch support. This is intentional. While Bedrock may not use the term “barefoot sandals” to describe its Cairn Evo sandals (instead, they use the term “freedom footwear”), they remain popular among barefoot runners precisely because of how minimalist they are. And while we aren’t barefoot devotees ourselves – far from it – in testing we found the Cairns to be extremely light with minimal slipping and sliding once the fit was fully dialed in. The feeling was pretty close to being truly barefoot, if we’re being honest. We also appreciated how fit could be adjusted on both the left and right strap over the instep and at the heel to insure minimal rubbing. The Cairns also feature a grippy Vibram outsole to tackle slick rock or anything else the trail may throw at you.

Best of the Rest

Rainbow Single Arch Sandal ($71)

Pros: Timeless style, durable
Cons: Not great around water, avoid leaving in the sun

Sizing Recommendation: For half sizes, size up to the next full size

In terms of comfort, durability, and no-frills style, Rainbow’s Single Layer Premier Leather flip flop is the sandal by which all other sandals are measured for us. It’s especially telling that after testing so many different styles — made of a variety of materials — the Rainbows still rose to the top.

Molding to your feet with rich nubuck leather and varying densities of super-soft sponge rubber, the advantage is that the more you wear them, the better they feel. They also last a really, really long time. If you treat them right, that is. We’ve had friends learn the hard way what happens to a pair of Rainbows that get left directly in the sun at the beach for a day.  Or, what happens to them if they get overly soaked. The bottom line being, if you treat them right, they’ll treat you right.

Chaco Classic Leather Flip Flop ($60)

Pros: Great style, supportive footbed
Cons: Tricky sizing

Sizing Recommendation: Chaco recommends sizing down for half sizes on these, but we found that the sizing was actually better when sized up

There’s arguably no more classic sandal silhouette than the humble leather flip flop. Many brands today have their unique take on the style, but we were definitely impressed with how Chacos balanced fashion and function in their Classic Leather Flip Flop.

The supple full grain leather upper and strap were insanely comfortable, and the Luvseat footbed offered ample arch support for all-day wear. Chaco’s unique tread pattern on these, something they call their wave fin traction design, was also a nice touch that felt grippy on slick terrain. We will say that compared to other Chacos the sizing was a little off. While we’d follow Chaco’s recommendation to size down Z/1s, for example, we’d highly recommend sizing up on half sizes in their flip flops.

Sanuk Ziggy ($30)

Pros: Squishy, plush feel for max comfort
Cons: Not a ton of structure

Sizing Recommendation: For half sizes, size up to the next full size

Sanuk’s Ziggy Soft Top flip flops fit the bill for anyone looking for a spongier, plush feel with every step. Compared to other flip flops on the list, Sanuk’s Ziggys were definitely the most padded, due to the bouncy high-rebound midsoles and EVA footbed, which felt like walking on clouds.

The Ziggys are also fully water-ready, which gives them an edge on leather flip flops that may not handle water well. Worth noting is that because the Ziggys don’t mold to your foot like leather flip flops, they don’t develop a heel cup that holds your foot in place while you walk. Not a huge issue, but in testing we found that this made the Ziggys feel a little less structured as the foot could slide around a bit during normal wear.

Freewaters Treeline Sandal ($42)

Pros: Thermarest footbed, grippy outsole
Cons: Squeak when wet

Sizing Recommendation: Size up to nearest size for half sizes

“As global citizens who love to travel, surf and chase waterfalls, co-founders Martin and I have a longstanding and deep respect for the healing power of water. At Freewaters, we believe access to clean drinking water should be a fundamental right, not a privilege.” – Freewaters Co-founder Eli Marmar.

You can feel good about this flip-flop in more ways than one. With super-soft Thermarest footbeds (yes, the same Thermarest that makes amazing sleeping pads), the Freewaters Treeline Sandal is like a mattress for your foot. The Inertia staff can personally attest. They. Are. Comfortable. That soft, perforated texture feels nice on the bottom of your feet. Adding durable webbing straps and a grippy rubber outsole, it’s entirely free of animal products, plus a percentage of Freewaters’ total sales goes towards grassroots organizations providing clean drinking water to Haiti, Kenya, and the Philippines.

Best Flip Flops Comparison Table

Some of our favorite flip flops. Photo: Dylan Heyden//The Inertia

How We Tested The Best Flip Flops

As lifelong surfers and outdoor enthusiasts, we know a thing or two about a good pair of flip flops. You likely wouldn’t be at all surprised to learn that our lead tester has at least one pair of Rainbows that are beaten to hell in a closet somewhere that he refuses to ditch for sentimental reasons. We’ve also had our fair share of ill-fitting flips, or others that have totally blown out after being pushed to their limit. So, for this test, we knew we had to get it right.

From walks on the boardwalk, to pre and post-surf slips in and out, time on the beach, and even some light hiking, we were able to pit new pairs of sandals against tried and true icons, established brands against newcomers, to determine which pairs stand out the most. The list above is the result of these tireless efforts.

Flip Flops Ratings Table

Rainbow’s Double Layer Classic provides additional support and cushioning with the classic Rainbow styling we know and love. Photo: Dylan Heyden//The Inertia

Best Flip Flops Buyer’s Guide

What Makes a Good Pair of Flip Flops?

Like all footwear, the ideal pair of flip flops for you depends on where and how you’ll be using them. If you spend any amount of time on a boat, for example, you may want to prioritize a pair that can handle getting wet from time to time. On the other hand, if you’re looking to prioritize comfort and support, leather might be right for you.

It may also be worthwhile to consider having a few pairs for specific uses — e.g. every day use, travel, or gym. Another consideration is weighing how much support you need. If you spend days on end in sandals, a more supportive option may be right for you. Unfortunately, the trade off is more supportive sandals tend to have a clunkier look. On the other hand, if you don’t spend hours on your feet you, may be able to get away with a more low-profile option that prioritizes form over function.

Layers of squishy comfort define the Rainbow Double Layer (middle) and Hari Mari Fields (bottom) while the Olukai Tuahine (top) has a stiffer construction for better support. Photo: Dylan Heyden//The Inertia

Anatomy of a Flip Flop

What’s so complicated about flip flops, you may ask? Nothing really. But a bit of fluency in the terms companies use can go a long way when shopping for your next pair of flops. In general, a typical sandal from the ground up is comprised of a sole (our outsole; the part that touches pavement), a midsole (the material between the part that touches the ground and the part that touches your foot, a footbed (the part that touches the bottom of your foot), and an upper (the strappy part that keeps the sandal on your foot).

All flip flops feature two straps that form an upside down v when looking down at your feet that connect at a central point that goes between your toes. The material that goes between your big toe and first toe is the post.

Now that we know what the parts of a flip flop are called, let’s quickly review how flip flops are made. In general, there are two types of construction sandal-makers utilize. The first, which is most common, is a mix of materials that are layered on top of each other either by being sewn or glued (like Olukai’s Tuahine’s, or Chaco’s Classic Leather Flip Flops for example).

The second is what’s called injection molding, which means a piping hot liquid form of the material of the sandal is shot into a mold, then it cools and hardens into a standalone sandal with no glue or seams (like the OOFOS Original Sandal). In some cases, these processes can be combined where the entirety of the sandal body is injection molded except for the strap, which is added later in the process. This is the case with KLLY Sandals that are made of rPET and Bloom foam with a neoprene/webbing strap.

The Olukai Tuahine is our top pick for men’s flip flops. Photo: Dylan Heyden//The Inertia

Which construction process is right for you depends largely on what you’re trying to get out of your flip flops. A fully-injection molded foam sandal is going to lack the comforts of a leather upper or the traction of a rubber outsole, but may feel plush and bouncy as you walk. But, a flip flop with more premium materials glued to each other has the benefit of combining materials meant to work well together and offer different benefits. Rainbow’s leather flips, for example, have a comfy leather upper, but feature a foam midsole that’s designed to break down by 10% over time so that the footbed molds to your foot.

Comfort Versus Support

Speaking of comfort, across the market these days comfort and support seem to be used interchangeably. In our opinion, that’s a major issue because comfort and support are different (occasionally competing) demands. Comfort, on one hand, often refers to a plush bouncy feel that’s great in the short term, but can be murder on your feet over prolonged periods because of limited support. On the other hand, a footbed meant to cradle natural curves in your foot may take some getting used to and feel uncomfortable if you’ve grown accustomed to flat footwear.

One option to consider when shopping for a pair of sandals that prioritizes support and promotes foot health is looking for a Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association (AMPA). According to the AMPA, a seal of acceptance is provided to a product after review by a group of APMA podiatrists to ensure it promotes foot health. An AMPA seal of acceptance is definitely not the final word on whether a sandal is supportive or not, but it’s a good start. At time of publishing, the only products with an AMPA Seal of Acceptance were the OOFOS Sandal and the Chaco Classic Leather Flip. An AMPA seal of acceptance is definitely not the final word on whether a sandal is supportive or not, but it’s a good start.

Rainbow Flip Flops, tested to the max. Photo: Dylan Heyden//The Inertia

Flip Flops Sizing

Arguably one of the most frustrating aspects of purchasing a new pair of flip flops is sizing, especially given most sandals are not made in half sizes. If your street shoe, like the author’s, falls between whole sizes, you understand this well. Through testing we experienced just how difficult it can be to get the right fit, finding inconsistencies in sizing across brands.

Obviously, the silver bullet solution to sizing is driving to a brick and mortar and trying on in-person. But when this is not feasible, a quick perusal of a company’s return policy is absolutely crucial. In addition, we would highly, highly recommend avoiding pulling the trigger online on final sale flip flops unless they’re a style you’ve purchased in the past. After testing, we included our best recommendations on sizing to aid you in this effort. Still, operating under the assumption it may take a return or two to get it right is a good rule of thumb.

Best Overall Men’s Flip Flops

Olukai’s Tuahine takes the timeless design and comfort of the leather flip flop and gives it the major upgrade it deserves. These flips flops are made with waterproof leather and their soles features a wet-grip rubber.

Olukai Tuahine

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Cost

As a general rule, the more a pair of flip flops costs typically translates to better construction and materials. But it’s of equal importance that you don’t get caught shelling out for features that you don’t need. A high quality rubber outsole, the likes of which you might find on the bottom of a hiking boot, is of little importance if your primary use for a pair of sandals is to quickly slide into something after a surf for the drive back home.

That said, quality materials and construction often translate to a longer product lifespan, meaning that a higher front-end investment may even itself out after buying the two, three, or four pairs of a cheaper alternative.

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Editor’s Note: For more gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here.

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