The Best Flip-Flops of 2024

Alright, that last part wasn’t true. But what is true is that the ‘Ohana has everything you want and need in your next flip-flop. They are some of the most comfy flip-flops that have ever graced our feet — no lie. OluKai makes a number of island-ready sandals and footwear, but we’ve zeroed in on the ‘Ohanas as being one of the best for everyday wear.

Just as you would expect, these go on easily, look stylin’, and feel great. The drop-in footbed is a super soft foam with just the right amount of give to feel like you’re walking barefoot on the beach, and it almost has the feel of fine-grained leather. So it’s the ultimate choice if you’re out at a festival, combing the beach, or photographing grizzly bears. We speak from personal experience on this one.

One sunny Sunday in May, we were enjoying a family picnic along the river banks in Grand Teton National Park when a grizzly bear and cub appeared across the river. Without hesitation, we stood up, gathered our food, put it away, and started taking photos (always staying a safe distance away). The whole time we were scampering along the sloped shoreline through rocks, mud, and debris while snapping photos, we forgot we were wearing flip-flops.

Our only gripe is that the leather strap feels a little stiff at first. But, it only took a few days for it to break in. Once that happened, we didn’t even notice it was there.

The outsoles on the ‘Ohanas are surprisingly grippy, and feature a knobby lug design that keeps them tacky when moving around on wet rock. And if you accidentally knock a sandal into the water, it’s no sweat — these flip-flops float.

OluKai didn’t want anyone to be left out of claiming their slice of island life, either, as the ‘Ohanas are available in a rather astonishing size range of 5 to 12 in women’s, and 7 to 18 in men’s.

$75 may feel a bit steep for a flip-flop, but believe us when we say it likely will be the last pair you’ll need to buy. The OluKai ‘Ohana Sandals are fairly well overbuilt to put up with life in and out of the water.

Designed with break-in anticipated, the closed-cell rubber on the midsole is a bit softer than that used on the top sole, meaning they’ll wear into your arch profile exactly. The top rubber is dimpled to provide traction for your foot’s sole, hopefully resulting in fewer flung sandals. For those who are looking for a bit more cushion, there’s also a Double-Layer Sandal ($50).

These sandals differentiate themselves from other cheap flip-flops by including a little arch support, which comes in the form of an extra wedge of foam tucked into the lay-up. Comparing them to a pair of cheapies we had lying around, we agreed that standing on the Rainbows felt much better comparatively.

Be assured that these kicks are best made for beach and sidewalk cruising, as the soles provide a near-to-no traction-adding pattern, and we had little hope of sticking to the same surfaces our other sandals climbed in our traction tests.

The only other letdown we had with the Rainbow sandals is their size range, which is a bit broad. Each offered size covers a range of two traditional US sizes. For many, this won’t amount to much, but for folks in between sizes, it can mean an overly small or large sandal to deal with.

Compared to some other flip-flops, the Rainbow Classic Rubber Sandals are downright simple. But as many will tell you, sometimes simple is best.

When we first slipped these on, we immediately noticed the overall comfort and solid support they deliver. The stiff platform, level footbed, wider toebox, and rubber sole are big bonuses when choosing a flip, especially for adventure-minded individuals seeking stability and balance. We tested these shoes everywhere, from small hikes along the riverbed looking for grizzlies in Grand Teton National Park to chilling at our favorite downtown brewery and everywhere in between.

We felt balanced and stable and noted how sticky they felt on rocky surfaces, offering extra security and confidence, especially when the bottoms were wet. These flips also delivered all-day comfort, and our feet did not get fatigued even after walking multiple miles through town, along the beach or river shores.

Astral also designed this flip with an additional Super Strap that easily converts these flips to sandals. Putting on and taking off these straps was extremely simple and quick. We loved this option for when a simple stroll turned into a more adventurous hike that included off-trail exploring. Cinching the Super Strap turned a simple pair of flips into a sturdy, balanced sandal that can go almost anywhere.

However, there were two places we felt there was room for improvement. First, the indentations on the footbed were always noticeable; it felt like we were standing on tiny ridges at times. We thought this feeling would fade after a break-in period, but we could feel these raised insole pads even after a couple of months of wearing them. Though they weren’t painful at all, they just felt a bit odd.

Second, we were shocked at how slippery the insides of the flip-flop felt when wet, especially since the outsole/bottom was mega grippy in water. When the insides were damp (like after we dipped our feet in the water and then donned these flips without drying our feet), we felt a lot of movement and slippage, almost like our feet were on a slip-n-slide. Adding the Super Strap when the insides were wet did help to curb slipping, but this could be an issue when just worn as a flip-flop.

Neither of these were deal-breakers, and overall, we loved the design, feel, and versatility. But, Astral — if you’re listening — if you address these two issues, the Filipe would be almost perfect! The Astral Filipe is ideal if you’re looking for one flip to do it all: hike, stroll, cruise, or wander. We recommend trying them on first and perhaps getting Astral water shoes for your heavily water-based adventures.

We immediately felt comfortable in these, thanks to the memory foam padding on the post, strap, and footbed. This extra touch means there’s no break-in period needed. With arch support exactly where it needs to be and soft-to-the-touch leather, the Clippers provided comfort, whether walking along the Jersey shore searching for shells, strolling along the rocky shores of Wyoming’s Snake River, or hanging at the hot springs.

We did, however, discover that our feet started feeling fatigued after a couple of miles of walking. The low-profile design offers only a moderate level of support over the long term, so we would recommend relegating this flip for more casual endeavors than, say, a more rugged, supportive option like the Astral Filipe.

The high-quality, fully washable, waterproof leather is extremely durable and cushioned. The leather footbed wasn’t stiff like you would think the leather would be; instead, it hugged our foot much more like a slipper than a shoe, so sometimes we even forgot we had a shoe on.

The grip on the sole also instilled confidence while paddleboarding in Wyoming, and while walking around slippery docks and getting on and off boats while watching otters in Homer, Alaska. Plus, they float, so there are no worries about losing one in the water. This is especially important since the price point might give you pause in the first place, and you definitely wouldn’t want to lose a pair of flips that cost $110.

Another thing we loved was how stylish they looked. Clippers pair as well with a bathing suit as they do with jeans. We even brought them to a beach wedding and threw them on with our suit and tie once the ceremony was over and the dancing began.

There isn’t much to dislike about the Clippers. They’re stylish, comfortable, and supportive, to a point. If you’re looking for a good-looking shoe that moves seamlessly from boat to bar (and you have some extra cash), these flips are for you.

Two parts of the footbed jumped out at us. First, the outer material feels like soft microsuede. Second, the pronounced arch support is pretty hard to miss. Combined, they feel heavenly.

Even the Y-strap (including the toe post) feels comfortable. In fact, only the strap on the Reef and the Keen came close for comfort. This one is wide, thin, not too loose, and not too tight.

When walking around in these flip-flops, there were times when we actually forgot we were wearing them. We’d still reach for the Olukai for long walks. But these buttery smooth bad boys are right behind them.

Without question, the Vionic Wyatt flip-flops are on the expensive side. But you definitely get what you pay for in this instance. And we’d be happy to wear them pretty much anytime and anywhere.

The footbed is relatively firm but with just enough sponginess. The topsole has a subtle texture, just enough so that (just as advertised) it doesn’t get slippery when wet.

Speaking of nonslip, the treads had great traction on every surface we walked over. In fact, this flip is so good all-around we’re willing to forgive the heel for being a little chunky. They certainly didn’t feel too high up while in use.

Other than that, there’s not much to knock about them. The canvas toe post is comfortable, as toe posts go. And the lack of colorways doesn’t bother us, cause we’re totally good with the black ones we tested.

The bottom line: The Teva Hydratek Flip is easy, comfy, and versatile — pretty much everything we’d want in a go-to flip-flop.

Of course, we’re talking about the big-toe protection. This is the only flip-flop we’ve seen that has this feature. And for those who worry about stubbing that toe — a legitimate concern with open footwear — this feature offers solid reassurance.

The thing is, something about it just feels really … weird. It’s hard to describe. But something about slipping our toes up to a toe post while under that toe protector just feels off. It just takes a bunch of getting used to.

In the meantime, these are amazing flip-flops if you can get past the oogie feeling of your big toe being protected while the others are still exposed.

The scooped-out footbed feels well-cushioned. The toe post is soft and easy. And the grippy tread makes it a great boat shoe — or all-around flip-flop, for that matter.

Ironically, we can’t help but wonder what the Keen Waimea Leather Flip-Flop would feel like without its signature idiosyncratic feature. But with or without it, this is a terrific (albeit expensive) option.

Right out of the box, they looked big — so distractingly so that we felt compelled to confirm that we’d received the correct size, which we had. To the naked eye, on closer inspection, they actually appear to be the same length as the Teva.

But it’s not just an optical illusion because the “same-sized” Reef fit just inside the footbed scoop of the Hoka, making them look half a size different (despite both being labeled a size 9).

Either way, they definitely have a thick outsole. In terms of how soft and cushy they are, they lie somewhere between the Crocs (not as cushy) and OOfos (super cushy). Therefore, we’d reach for these second for recovery, after the OOfos.

Although we don’t like them the best for their intended main purpose, we do like them for walking in and around the pool. Their tread groove wicks water well, and they feel plenty steady. Also, for what it’s worth, these are clearly the most colorful flip-flops of the bunch, both in terms of their calming blue hue and that they’re offered in the most (nine in total) colorway options.

Despite the fact that we’d only want to take short walks in the Hoka Ora Recovery Flip, we still like them in general. It’s just in the middle of the pack for us in terms of overall comfort: not bad, but not great.

Slipping them on takes a little extra effort. Because the strap has an ever-so-slightly tighter feeling than the others, we had to scrunch our toes forward a few times in a row to get to the toe post. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s not as easy to put on as the rest of the group.

The next thing we noticed was the textured footbed. The ridges feel nice. But overall, the soles of these felt a little thin for long walks. Or to put it another way, we would’ve liked a little more padding in these flip-flops.

It’s not that we recommend most folks walk for miles in them like we did, but our feet felt tired and achy after doing so in these. They’re still fine for short to medium jaunts (less than a mile at a time). And we’d take them in an instant to the beach, the deck of a boat, or somewhere else soft — just not pounding the pavement.

At the end of the day, we’d reach for the above-mentioned Keen before the Reef Santa Ana on pretty much every count. But these are still a fine choice if we wanted to save 20 bucks.

After walking on pavement for 80 minutes straight in the Hoka or the Reef options, we grabbed the OOfos when seeking sweet relief. Even with blisters on our soles, these were okay to walk in, so they’re easily choice #1 for recovery.

But we wouldn’t wear these for an actual hike. That’s when their cushiness works against them. We much prefer the aforementioned triumvirate of Olukai, Vionic, and Keen for steadiness and overall comfort on longer walks.

We like the Oofos for short walks in various conditions. For instance, we took these to the mall, the beach, the grocery store, and the gym (for post-workout). In other words, they’re great for walking indoors but also decent outside.

If we handed out a “best for recovery” award, the OOfos Original would win in a landslide. Other than that, they’re not the first flip-flops we’d want for general use, but they’re still pretty good.

Since they’re entirely made of foam, we pictured them feeling softer and more comfortable (like the OOfos). Instead, they’re kinda stiff to the extent that we felt relieved when taking them off.

Honestly, we didn’t jump to wear them once we established how painful our feet felt after long walks in them. But it’s a bit of a mystery because they have a nice textured pattern on the footbed. And they feel squishy to the hand when giving them a pinch. But in practice, literally every other flip-flop we tried was more comfortable than these.

The fact that they’re super lightweight and waterproof is nice. And if you happen to have tween children, you may appreciate the fact that Jibbitz (Crocs charms that fit in the holes of its shoes) work on them at least until you realize that a five-pack of those trendy charms can wind up costing as much as these flip-flops themselves.

To be fair, Crocs Classic II aren’t the worst things we’ve strapped onto our feet. They cost half as much as the next most expensive flip-flops on this list, so they do represent a decent value. However, we’d rather spend the extra bucks and get something that feels better.