Flip-flops: the silent killer underfoot. Photo: Shutterstock/Sarawut Chamsaeng
It’s summer, it’s hot AF, your feet long to breathe. Flip-flops are the natural choice, of course. Hell, some of us haven’t looked at a sock or sneaker in months. Years even.
But beware the deadly nature of those pedal G-strings! Okay, not deadly. But arguably kind of risky.
Here’s the deal: Flip-flops cause your feet to scrunch up when you walk, which you do to keep them from slipping off. This isn’t a natural way to position your foot. So if you put in lots of miles wearing them, it can lead to tendonitis, foot sprains, plantar fasciitis (painful inflammation in the heel), even knee, hip or back pain. (This is coming from the Mayo Clinic, people.) If you’re suffering from any of those and don’t know why, try wearing shoes (you’ve seen them: those foot-suffocating things usually worn by landlocked peoples).
Flip-flops become risky when you wear them to do anything more strenuous than shuffling around a surf shop, fondling the inventory. Do you skateboard across town, clad in Havaianas, groveler under arm? You’re asking for it, bucko. Do you hike down to Black’s, Lowers, or Trails in your fave leather Reef’s? Kiss those tootsies goodbye, compadre. You normcore folks may want to rock some Teva sandals. But anything with more straps and support than flip-flops will do.
Yes, your toes are v sexy and must be bared for all the world to see. Only maybe not on a summertime flat-spell hike or schlepping down the hill from the Green Burrito parking lot at Trestles.
