The Greatest Flip-Flops of 2024

How We Tested Flip-Flops

GearJunkie knows footwear, whether we’re through hiking the PCT, trail running a ridge in the Rockies, fording a local stream, or just traipsing on the beach. Main tester Scott Tharler has written about tech and gear—including innovative footwear and apparel—for nearly 30 years.

In that time, he’s logged hundreds of miles testing dozens of flip-flops, sandals, sneakers, and shoes. Especially having made the annual pilgrimage to walk the grueling week-long Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas over 25 times, Tharler has learned the true value of a supportive insole.

Over that same span, flip-flops have gone from being cheap podiatric torture devices to highly wearable and—dare we say—even fashionable footwear. As the construction materials have changed and improved, the use cases for flip-flops have expanded. Taking that all in stride, we set out to determine which flip-flops would work best for folks in the most common conditions and situations.

During several weeks of real-world testing on the Big Island, we logged literally dozens of miles in the selected sets of slippers (as they’re called here in Hawaii). We walked on pavement, over loose gravel, around the pool, and on the beach. Nothing hardcore in the way of hiking, but we often strolled for more than an hour at a time—not only outdoors but also indoors through stores and around the house.

Taking things a step further, we’d often tote around a second pair in hand just to switch them out on the go. In fact, our lead tester got to know these flip-flops so well that—in a game he and his seven-year-old enjoyed playing—he could literally identify which flip-flops were being placed on his feet with his eyes closed. We also brought in a second tester, Ryan Kempfer, to try out a couple of pairs of flips in more mountainous environs, where he also took them strolling along lakeshores, rivers, and trails, and on wildlife photography adventures.

At the end of the day, it’s all about comfort. And the feet know what they want. So even when we weren’t seriously testing, we noted which flip-flops we intuitively reached for without much thought. We’ll update this guide as we continue to wear these flip-flops and further assess additional ones. If you’re looking for women-specific options, cruise through our Best Flip-flops For Women Guide.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Flip-Flops

The perfect pair of flip-flops is a must for your summer wardrobe. But, finding the perfect pair can be a little nerve-wracking. With so many options, knowing what to consider when shopping for flip-flops can sometimes be difficult. We’ve narrowed down some of the things we’ve learned to pay attention to over the years.

By their very nature, flip-flops imbue a certain carefree spirit and sense of freedom. So it seems antithetical to get so serious about selecting a pair. But if we learned one thing from our tireless research, it’s that you can’t properly judge flip-flops just by looking at them.

To wit, you might be tempted to simply grab a pair from a local pharmacy, grocery store or roadside service station on an impulse. After all, if you’re getting flip-flops, you’re probably on your way to do something fun. But believe us, if those flip-flops—or worse yet, your feet—break along the way, you’ll be sorry.

In this handy how-to-choose guide, you’ll see all the essential information you need to choose a solid solution to fit your needs. You’ll dive deep into which features matter most and why you should—or shouldn’t—consider particular types of flip-flops. (Hint: If you can see the other end of the Y-strap poking through the bottoms of the soles, avoid them at all costs!) Ultimately, below, you’ll find everything you need to know to make an informed footwear decision so that you don’t have to flip-flop about which to purchase.

Flip-Flops vs. Slides and Sandals

It’s easy to tell apart a flip-flop from a slide, because the former has a toe post and the latter doesn’t. But it can be surprisingly confusing to determine whether a particular piece of footwear is a flip-flop or a sandal. For instance, Teva sees them as different entities, separately offering a Teva Hydratek Flip (included here in our list) and a Hydratek Sandal. Hoka views flip-flops as a subset of sandals. And OOfos refers to its flip-flop as a sandal right in the name.

For the purposes of this guide, we’re considering a flip-flop as any airy footwear that has a toe post and no heel strap (that’d make it a sandal). And, since the function is just as crucial an aspect of the definition, you wouldn’t take on a serious hike. As opposed to our trusty minimalist Bedrock or Xero sandals, which are each slimmer than any of the flip-flops on this list and we’d take on any trek in a heartbeat. To see a full list of sandals ideal for hiking, check out our Best Hiking Sandals guide.

With that in mind, it’s time to consider how you will use these flip-flops. Many product pages list what the flips would be best for. But that’s merely a suggestion. For instance, the Hoka Ora Recovery Flip has “recovery” right in its name, but we like them for walking and hanging around the pool. Whereas we’d reach for the cushier OOfos Original to amble about with truly achy feet. In addition to the midsole, the outsole plays a big part. For example, we’d use the Reef Santa Ana as a deck shoe—partially also because the strap fits a little snugger around our feet than some of the others—but wouldn’t take them on a hike that’s too long or has uneven terrain. And although the Keen and Vionic are both capable, we’d take the Teva Hydratek Flip into the surf first.

Water-Friendliness

It’s not just a matter of whether water will damage the flip-flops. The materials in these flips are safe enough if they get splashed or dunked. But then what? How comfortable are they when they’re wet…and/or sandy? That can be when the toe post wreaks havoc on your foot. Not to mention your ears, from all the squeaking. If we had to travel a ways in wet flip-flops, we’d want the Teva Hydratek Flip, the Vionic Wyatt, or the Keen Waimea Leather Flip-Flop. Those are the most amphibious on this list.

Sizing and Fit

One of the defining factors of flip-flops is how forgiving their sizing is. These are meant to be worn loose, putting them at the opposite end of the spectrum from climbing, running or cycling shoes. So they don’t tend to be sized very strictly. For instance, our main tester’s usually a size 9, but a size 7 in the OOfos Original—while snug—perfectly fit the length of his feet. To wit, we tested the Vionic Wyatt in a size 8.5 and ended up ranking it as the most comfortable flip-flop so that speaks volumes. The upshot of sticking with your regular size or perhaps sizing down a bit is that it gives you some flexibility in ordering flips that’ll fit you well.

Materials

You’re likely to spot a whole bunch of terms describing flip-flop materials. But they really boil down to just a few.

Proprietary Synthetics

You may have noticed a couple of trademarked names in the above comparison chart. Sometimes, they point to recycled materials, like the REPREVE® yarn used in the Teva Hydratek Flip. And sometimes, as with OOfos’s OOfoam™, they’re simply the brand’s own take on EVA foam. Either way, it’s good to understand which natural material the synthetic is trying to replace.

EVA

Ethylene-vinyl acetate is a thermoplastic, closed-cell foam with rubber-like qualities. It is meant as a substitute for materials such as natural rubber, neoprene, and PVC foams made from harsh chemicals. Because of its sustainability factor, EVA is used quite a bit in today’s flip-flops.

Leather

Known for its durability and patina, real leather gets a bit of a bad rap. However, it’s more breathable than vegan leather. When mindfully sourced, such as the LWG-certified leather used in the Keen Waimea Leather Flip-flop, it’s actually more environmentally responsible than the faux version.

Rubber

You may see it listed as “Spider Rubber,” “Non-marking Rubber,” “Vibram” or just plain “Rubber.” Just know that there’s most likely gonna be some rubber in your outsole. It’s a big part of what cushions and protects your feet and is what makes our best budget option, the Rainbow Rubber Sandals so ideal.

Comfort­­­­

As free-flying as flip-flops are, they aren’t always so comfy. Of course, that depends on how much you plan to walk in them. But a few factors weigh heavily in avoiding that unwanted trip to the ol’ first aid box.

Toe Posts

The part of the flip-flop that both defines and is most likely to injure you. Take a closer look at it. Pretty consistently, the ones that entail a folded piece of fabric feel more comfortable, such as the Teva Hydratek Flip, the Vionic Wyatt, the Keen Waimea and the Reef Santa Ana. The others look innocent enough, but tend to irritate the feet on long walks—more than 20 minutes or one mile—especially when they get wet.

Heel Height

How high your heel is off the ground makes a big difference. You’re probably used to wearing flatter shoes, so a flip with a big lift, like the Hoka Ora Recovery or the OOfos Original, may feel weird and throw off your balance. Some vendors list the heel-to-toe drop on product pages. If you’re like us, you’ll appreciate a flip-flop with a minimal dip (or none at all). Anything over half an inch (roughly 13 millimeters) may feel off-putting.

Firmness vs. Cushiness

Without getting too deep into a philosophical discussion about which is “better,” just know this topic is very subjective. Everyone has their own “Goldilocks” point. If you’re shopping online, this can be especially challenging to figure out, but we’ve helped take out some of the guesswork.

The OOfos Original are super cushy while the Crocs Classic II are on the firm end. We found the Teva Hydratek, the Vionic Wyatt, and the KEEN Waimea Leather Flips to all offer the perfect combination of firmness and cushiness that we loved. If you are shopping in person, find your perfect point by flexing the outsole to see how rigid it feels. Combined with how cushy the footbed feels, that should give some indication of how it’ll perform for you. But watch out, because almost all flip-flops feel good when you initially wear them, and the differences between them can be small; but if you pay close attention to these subtleties, your feet will thank you in the long run.

Price

With just a few outliers, most of the flip-flops in this guide are right around the $62 group average. Naturally, flip-flops may go on sale, so do pay attention to the retail price. Anything with an MSRP below $30 is probably garbage, likely to fall apart the first time you make a serious misstep. Likewise, on the other end, anything above $60 may offer diminishing returns. In short, expect to pay something in the $30 to $60 range for an average flip-flop.

Colors

This probably isn’t among the biggest factors for most men selecting flip-flops. But it’s worth noting that some models offer only a few hues to choose from, whereas others offer as many as nine. For what it’s worth, six was the average from our list. As with every other piece of footwear and apparel, it’s hard to go wrong with a basic black (which may get hot if left out in the sun) or a neutral earth color. But since flip-flops are meant to be fun, feel free to flaunt something colorful.

FAQ