No more windmill dance!

June 2, 2017 5:55 PM

Looking for flipflops that meet these simple criteria: Comfortable, durable, and--and this appears to be the catch--possessing soles that have decent traction on wet or slick surfaces.

I wear flipflops 364 days a year, so I need them to be durable. Willing to pay for quality. Most of the time I get along fine with my old pair of Teva Mush, but when the sole begins to wear on those, it becomes slicker'n snot on tile or painted handicapped ramps or the like.

Have you owned a pair of flipflops that you thought were notable for good traction, that didn't fall apart in less than a year, and are available in men's sizes? Please tell me about them.

posted by bricoleur to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (12 answers total)

Reef Phantoms are my go-to flip-flops. I need to buy some more, actually. The soles do eventually wear out, but it takes a few years in my experience. The only reason I don't have any right now is that I got rid of my really old ones when I moved last year. I'm reasonably certain I initially got the recommendation for them here.
posted by limeonaire at 6:08 PM on June 2, 2017

I can't recommend Olukai sandals enough. I'm on my second pair; my first lasted eight years with heavy use. Olukai
posted by sevensnowflakes at 6:11 PM on June 2, 2017

Seconding Olukai. I have a pair that's about five years old and still going strong. Good arch support, too.
posted by Metroid Baby at 6:17 PM on June 2, 2017

I, too, am very serious about my flip flops. My current choice are these Croc Modi flips. I would normally eschew any kind of Croc, but these are pretty darn comfy and have much better soles than Reefs. I wear mine lots of places that are not the pool or beach, so I like the bigger footbed that offers a bit more protection from potentially pointy things on the ground.
posted by gnutron at 6:17 PM on June 2, 2017 [1 favorite]

Crocs. Crocs Crocs Crocs. Seriously. Crocs.

They last forever, you can throw them in the washer with your clothes, they have amazing traction, and they are completely comfortable.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 7:01 PM on June 2, 2017 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Okabashi No slip, super durable, have trod the urbs of LA in these babies for years until they finally give way. I love them. Wear them all over the pool and shower with no slips, ever.
posted by effluvia at 7:38 PM on June 2, 2017 [1 favorite]

+1 to OluKai. I purchased a pair for my SO first in men's sizes, and then later a pair for myself. Great grip and arch support.
posted by serelliya at 9:07 PM on June 2, 2017

Yeah, I am not otherwise a Crocs fan, but my Crocs sandals are some of the best things that have ever been on my feet. Good traction and I can walk in them forever.
posted by pemberkins at 11:54 PM on June 2, 2017

I own these in two colors and wear them constantly. The top of the sole is a memory foam like material that is insanely comfortable and molds to the contours of your foot. The bottom of the sole is grippy and I walk miles in the city in them and have also done easy hikes in them. The strap that goes around the back of your foot adds stability.
posted by Waiting for Pierce Inverarity at 7:21 AM on June 3, 2017

Nthing Olukai. Comfy, super durable, and never had a problem with traction on wet surfaces.
posted by Vek at 4:34 PM on June 3, 2017

Super glad other people have recommended Crocs, as I came in to ashamedly do same.
posted by freezer cake at 9:00 AM on June 5, 2017 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thanks for the recs, all. I ordered the Okabashis. I will probably order the Crocs also, for backups, but delivery is an issue so maybe not for a couple of months.

I have had a couple of pairs of Olukai flipflops. The first pair blew out after about nine months of daily wear. The second pair is still intact but in storage because the fit got sloppy after a couple months of wear. I'll agree that they were supremely comfortable, though, and the traction was decent.
posted by bricoleur at 8:52 PM on June 8, 2017