I currently have the best flip-flop tan of my life. That鈥檚 because, like many people,听I鈥檝e worked from home for the past several months, so听there鈥檚 been no need to put on any other kind of听shoes. The few times I have听donned socks and covered my feet with closed-toe footwear, it鈥檚 felt almost claustrophobic.
My go-to pair听is the 听($60). I听keep wearing it听season after season because of its听durability and comfort. Credit the shoe鈥檚听medium arch and high-rebound foam midsole, which听provide enough support for long听walks around the neighborhood or听short hikes up in听the mountains. Around mile two, when flimsier options might hurt your feet, the Lowdown听feels just fine.
I鈥檓 not afraid to hike in the Lowdown, because听the soles听have beefy three-millimeter lugs. That鈥檚 not as big as what you鈥檇 get on most hiking boots, but they听provide听enough traction to keep you stable听on your feet. The other day,听my son and I had to scramble down several steep dirt embankments to reach a favorite fishing hole. While other sandals would have put me on my ass, the Lowdowns听kept their grip.
I鈥檝e worn my current pair for about 80 days straight and have probably put听over 400 miles on them. The high-quality webbing straps听and the company鈥檚 rubber sole (the same one听it uses for its sandals) have endured long days of landscaping, driving, and scurrying up boulders in the foothills to catch the sunset. Now the footbeds bear听an imprint of my toes,听the soles are slightly worn down, and the webbing is filthy. But they aren鈥檛 showing any signs of falling apart.
Style-wise, the Lowdown听looks great with shorts and a T-shirt听and also goes with jeans when you鈥檙e traveling. I鈥檓 a big fan of the tan sole听featured on the black, brown, and blue pairs鈥攖an is making a comeback (exhibit A:听the tan sidewalls on some new bike tires), and I dig the contrast.
Some of you might balk at the price, but these flip-flops听are actually a steal. Most others, including cheap beach cruisers,听cost at least half the price听but won鈥檛 last as long because of their听poor construction. For $60, you can get hard-wearing sandals that will last for years to come.
Need a Less Rugged Pair of Flip-Flops? Here Are Two Other Pairs I Like.听
Teva Voya Canvas ($35)
are my favorite apr猫s sandals. I鈥檒l slip them on after a听hike (or even a long day of skiing) and听literally听say, 鈥淎hhhh.鈥澨齌hey鈥檙e the plushest flip-flops I鈥檝e worn, thanks to a squishy rubber-first layer under your foot that Teva calls its听Mush听top sole. I also dig the simple canvas top, which has听never rubbed my feet听raw.
Hari Mari Dunes ($50)
Sometimes I just want to wear flip-flops that look good. I want them to be seen. And in terms of style, the wins, hands down. I love the multicolor sole and the otherwise simple design. Like all of Hari Mari鈥檚 flip-flops,听this model doesn鈥檛听need a break-in period. Bonus points for the grooved听top sole, which drains quickly when you鈥檙e playing in the water.