How can people wear flip flops for hours without chafing their feet?


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I was never a flip flops person, but recently, I decided to buy a pair and try them out. One thing that bothers me is that after walking in them for a few hours, the straps start to chafe my feet and it hurts. How do so many people wear these everyday for hours without having this issue?

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if you have been wearing flip flops since you were little, you wouldn't have the problem. If you just got them and starting wearing it, you have problem but wear it a little bit a time then at later time, you will have no problem by wearing them longer.

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Sandals are more comfy for me. Bought my first pair a couple of weeks ago and never have any issues. But flips flops, wow they chafe the feet real nice.

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If you want comfy flip flops, you'll have to spend a little more money for nicer ones.

 

I went to an Oakley outlet store and bought a pair of flip flops for $20.. have last me 4 years, and the soles are finally starting to wear down.

 

Can't find the exact one, but this one is similar in design/material:

http://www.oakley.com/products/casing/10106-001

 

You want to make sure they're not too tight, and that the material between your big toe and second toe is made of fabric not rubber/plastic.

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It just depends on the pair, like Spartan Erik mentioned. I have a pair that are really cute but I can't wear them long because they do that. On the other hand I have some soft squishy iPanema ones that are REALLY comfortable and I've almost worn them completely out. Don't let one bad pair put you off them :)

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I have flat feet, live in Arizona... flip flops 24x7.  There are kinds I can't wear though.. you really have to find comfortable ones. I always get American Eagle flip flops from Old Navy. Very comfortable!

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During the summer I pretty much live in flip flops now. I only wore Chacos and Keens for a while, and hated flip fops, but once I found a pair that were comfy enough I couldn't take them off. Like with Chacos your skin will chafe a little until they are broken in. 

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Flip Flops are good for short distance like walking down a flat sidewalk. I prefer to wear sandals, because they're more secure and more comfortable!

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I've been wearing flip flops since I can remember. Never experience any discomfort from wearing them but follow what shozilla said. 

 

These are what I wear daily (except in white) and they feel almost like walking bare foot. It's just a habit to get used to.

 

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f0d3fc61b1955833c4549e0d369d308cfd1bfbe3

 

$7.95 from Lowes here in Australia.  I don't buy fancy thongs, I hate getting new ones.  My current ones should last me around 4 - 5 years, and are now molded nicely for my foot.  You do have to wear them for a bit for them to bend and stuff into your foot.

I love them.  But, I'm Australian, they're pretty much required to be worn here if you want to be called an Australian!

Love my thongs.

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Interesting. My mom is a big flip flops person, so I turned to her for guidance. I told her about the chafing problem I had and she said that I probably bought a bad pair. She said she will gladly take a look at them to see what the problem is. When I showed them to her, she said it was strange I was having issues because they are a very nice pair that I bought. She suspected that probably I need time for my feet to get used to them and I also probably just need to break in the flip flops.

Well I knew all along that I got a good pair. These are actually $40 Gotcha Bahama flip flops, but Sports Authority had a 50% off sale, so I got them for only $20. I got the ones with softest straps too.

Well whatever the case is, I can't wear flip flops for a week until these cuts/scrapes/blister heal. I'll try again next weekend in hopes that my skin toughens up by then.

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I bought sandals, I just like the way they make me feel more secure in my footwear, I don't have anything against flip flops, just from time to time I have kicked them off accidentally whilst walking.

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Interesting. My mom is a big flip flops person, so I turned to her for guidance. I told her about the chafing problem I had and she said that I probably bought a bad pair. She said she will gladly take a look at them to see what the problem is. When I showed them to her, she said it was strange I was having issues because they are a very nice pair that I bought. She suspected that probably I need time for my feet to get used to them and I also probably just need to break in the flip flops.

Well I knew all along that I got a good pair. These are actually $40 Gotcha Bahama flip flops, but Sports Authority had a 50% off sale, so I got them for only $20. I got the ones with softest straps too.

Well whatever the case is, I can't wear flip flops for a week until these cuts/scrapes/blister heal. I'll try again next weekend in hopes that my skin toughens up by then.

 

Feet are different. expensive really good footwear that is great for one person could be horrible for another. just because it's a "nice pair" doesn't mean they'll work for you. 

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Feet are different. expensive really good footwear that is great for one person could be horrible for another. just because it's a "nice pair" doesn't mean they'll work for you. 

 

So how do you know what'll work for your feet? Very hard to tell without walking around in said flip flops for a couple of hours. And by then, they're non-returnable.

 

BTW- If anyone here is curious, these are the flip flops I got:

http://www.sportsauthority.com/product/index.jsp?productId=16508236

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It just depends on the pair, like Spartan Erik mentioned. I have a pair that are really cute but I can't wear them long because they do that. On the other hand I have some soft squishy iPanema ones that are REALLY comfortable and I've almost worn them completely out. Don't let one bad pair put you off them :)

 

Ok, I will give this one more chance. Regular cheap flip flops from Old Navy won't work because the plastic straps cut the sides of my feet. I have a pair for swimming and beach use and when I try to wear them for a long time, the sides of the straps slice my feet after a while.

 

The more expensive pair I bought from Sports Authority are softer and made of textile, but the seams on the straps blister my feet after a while. The seams are a bit tough and very fine, so that explains why my feet couldn't take them after a while. So, any straps with any fine parts that can slice my feet are a big no no for me. What I need is more cushiony straps with no seams on the bottom or sides of the straps that rub against my feet. Any part that touches and rubs my feet need to be 100% soft. I saw a few nice ones at Kmart yesterday, but hesitated to buy them. They were cheap ($5-15) and while they are a bit cheap, the straps are VERY soft and they're probably the best for my feet. I'll give these one more try and see if these cause any issues. I'll try to buy a good pair tonight after I get out of work. Of course, I will try them at the store for a while and really check before making this purchase.

 

It would be a darn shame if I have to forgo flip flops because of this. I love the way I feel when I walk in them in public. I feel more relaxed and laid back with them on. I know it's weird, but I never walked out in public with this much freedom before, so going out in flip flops for the very first time gave me this high that I never experienced, if that makes any sense, lol. But anyways, it's nice to finally get into this trend after so many years of seeing people with them on. It would be a shame if my feet won't let me be a part of this wonderful experience.

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Today we learned DaDude has soft, delicate feet :rofl:

Hehe. Nah, I guess you just have to get used to them. I've worn them so long they feel natural to me. If you want to wear them you might have to go through a bit of discomfort at first, I'm not sure. If you have blisters and cuts though that's ridiculous. The straps may be too tight. You want them tight enough to stay on when you walk, but not tight enough to be digging into your skin at all.

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They're not tight at all. They just rub against the feet when walking for a while.

 

It's amazing though. You see so many girls out there with such soft, delicate looking feet and they're walking for hours in some of the cheapest flip flops out there and their feet are in perfect shape. It's amazing how women's feet can look so soft and delicate on the outside, but they're really stronger than they look, lol. :D

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i never understood wearing them at all as it was always like work to keep them on my feet.

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Depends on the flip flops. I have two pairs - one is a cheap pair made out of that plasticy foam with a strap that goes right across the tops of my toes - the other is a nicer quality pair with cork sole, and a soft fabric strap across the toes.

 

Went for a few mile walk last week in the cheap ones and ripped my toes to pieces - it was agony. However the other pair I spent a day walking around San Francisco in and they were absolutely fine. I've worn them many times since and they just don't cause any rubbing or anything. 

 

So I can confirm it IS possible to find flip flops that don't destroy your feet :)

 

There were the comfortable ones I got: http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/sinner-beach-slaps-p210675

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Sandals are more comfy for me. Bought my first pair a couple of weeks ago and never have any issues. But flips flops, wow they chafe the feet real nice.

 

Yep,

Sandles all the way. I can't get flip flops to even stay on my feet unless I curl my toes to hold them on.

 

I don't know how people can stand that slimy feeling of your sweat on foot and sandle/flip flop? That just feels disgusting! Feels like I stepped in a pile of dog crap!!

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Depends on the flip flops. I have two pairs - one is a cheap pair made out of that plasticy foam with a strap that goes right across the tops of my toes - the other is a nicer quality pair with cork sole, and a soft fabric strap across the toes.

 

Went for a few mile walk last week in the cheap ones and ripped my toes to pieces - it was agony. However the other pair I spent a day walking around San Francisco in and they were absolutely fine. I've worn them many times since and they just don't cause any rubbing or anything. 

 

So I can confirm it IS possible to find flip flops that don't destroy your feet :)

 

There were the comfortable ones I got: http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/sinner-beach-slaps-p210675

 

You know, those look very similar to the Trader Bay flip flops I saw at Sears last week. Those look great and they were priced at only $10, if I remember correctly. The straps we made of very soft cotton or something of that nature. I'm sure those would feel great. At the time, I didn't give them much thought since I wasn't shopping for flip flops at the time, but I think I'll head over to Sears tonight instead of Kmart and see if they are still carrying them and if they have my size. I do hope I can snag a pair.

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Good luck! If you come up short I'm more than happy to pick up a pair of the ones I have and mail them to you for whatever it costs me.. but I suspect it'd work out ridiculously expensive when converted into dollars ($40+) :( 

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