THERE IS NO summer shoe that is as warm-weather-friendly as flip-flops with arch support. Unlike those pair of floppy rubber thong slippers we'd find in a drugstore clearance bin, men's flip-flops with arch support are actually good for your feet and made for long-distance slogs. "Flip flops encourage your toes to scrunch up or, medically speaking, cause your flexor tendons to contract," says New York City-based podiatrist Daniel Geller, D.P.M. "Because the toes are grabbing while the heel is lifting, there is a disproportionate amount of stress on your plantar fascia which can contribute to plantar fasciitis [extreme heel pain]."
Walking for miles in thin-soled flip-flops is thus not recommended since it can lead to foot problems like plantar fasciitis, hammertoe deformity, tendonitis, or just general foot pain. But the best flip-flops with arch support will let you avoid them by providing the needed comfort even during extended wear. Nowadays, a few forward-thinking footwear brands have infused men's sandals with incredibly comfortable features so you can wear them all day long without hurting your feet.
Best Men's Flip-Flops with Arch Support
What to Consider
Aside from the classic Y-shape strap, the best flip-flops with arch support should come with an insole or footbed that has a small hump at where the arch of your foot sits to offer underfoot support and cushioning, as well as prevent over-pronation says Geller, who's also an advisor for Kane Footwear. Some flip-flops with arch support even have a wedge heel, or an extra foam layer to provide added support. "Folks should look for flip flops with some level of medial support," says Geller. "There should be enough to feel a lift in your arch."
Stability
To actually be supported in our heel and arch, Board Certified Foot Surgeon Brad Schaeffer, D.P.M. says it's important to look for a stable footbed. "After all, sandals are not the most supportive thing we can wear on our feet and cannot replace a great shoe and insole," he adds. So look for a footbed that's slightly firm but still feels cushioned enough to nail both stability and comfort.
Comfort
Aside from built-in arch support, you should also opt for contoured footbeds in flip-flops. "These features promote a natural arch shape and evenly distribute pressure across the foot, minimizing the likelihood of discomfort or foot conditions," says podiatrist Daniel Pledger. For men with high arches at the foot or those who spend prolonged periods on their feet, arch support is a must, not just a plus.
Outsole
When you're walking on slippery grounds or trailing on uneven terrains, the traction of your sandals' outsole will make or break your steps. "Look for sandals with rubber or non-slip outsoles, as they offer excellent grip and minimize the risk of slips or falls," says Pledger. Flexible outsoles are also great for walking by allowing for natural foot movement, adds Pledger.
Upper material
The downside of wearing flip-flops is that the upper straps can rub on your skin and irritate it, so it's important to choose comfortable materials. For instance, stylist Turner Allen recommends opting for leather or suede since they will gradually conform to the shape of your feet over time. On the other hand, synthetic fabrics like nylon or mesh offer excellent breathability, and quick-drying properties, and are often more budget-friendly, according to Pledger.
How We Selected
To curate the best flip-flops with arch support, Men's Health editors consulted several podiatrists, as well as stylists with extensive experience in footwear. Advice gathered from those experts guided our selections and first-hand research into over a dozen of the highest rated and most popular men's flip-flops with arch support. In our testing, we looked at the materials used, the shape of the insole and midsole, and the cushioning provided. Some of the most popular brands on the market, such as Skechers, Reef, and Hoka were considered. Lesser know brands that specialize in comfortable footwear, like Keen, Kuru, and Gubarun, were also considered.
Other factors that were considered during testing were how well made each flip-flop is, along with how easy it is to style. After all, really comfortable sandals should stand up to heavy wear all summer long and look good with the casual attire in your wardrobe. Every flip-flop on this list underwent months of steady testing by Men's Health editors and writers. A few of the entries have even been worn by contributors for years. The idea was to find the most supportive sandals that will become your new go-to footwear during the warmest months of the year.
Pros
- Slip resistant footbed
- Padded straps
- Strong traction outsole
- Special shank piece for support
Cons
- Water can puddle in the heel
- Heavy for a flip-flop
What makes the Katavi so supportive is actually hidden inside the midsole. Teva made the simple but innovative move of putting a shank in a flip-flop to enhance stability. A shank is a small piece of stiff material, typically metal or a hard plastic, which is placed between the midsole and outsole right at the arch of the foot. It is commonly used in boots and leather shoes for arch support and stability.
The addition of that shank was so effective that it landed the Katavi 2 at the top of our list after months of testing. Just as with a boot, the shank added support to our mid-foot by taking some of the stress off each step. It essentially felt like a little shelf to rest the arch of our foot on, providing a stronger boost than other flip-flops that use soft materials for support. Outstanding traction on both the outsole and footbed also kept us sure footed in wet conditions. Start here in your flip-flop search before looking elsewhere.
Read more: Best Shoes for Arch Support
Stability | Contoured footbed, shank |
---|---|
Outsole | Rubber |
Upper | EVA |
Pros
- Easy to style
- Water resistant
- Comfortable heel cup
- Stay secure to foot when stepping
Cons
- Not much cushioning in the ball of foot
Every expert that we spoke to for this article agreed that arch comfort comes from balancing sole flexibility and firm support. Kuru hit the sweet spot between both factors with the Kala flip-flop. The contoured footbed immediately stood out the first time our editors slipped it on. Your heel relaxes right into place like your body flopping into a recliner. With just the right amount of stiffness, the footbed cradled our foot with every step.
Despite a deep heel cup, the sole on this flip-flop is one of the thinnest we tested. This minimizes the weight on your feet (another contributor to arch support) and maximizes flexibility. The effect was a natural motion that flexed with our foot, thus limiting foot strain, which is a common occurrence with flimsier examples we've worn in the past.
Stability | Contoured footbed |
---|---|
Outsole | Rubber |
Upper | Leather |
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Pros
- Very cushioned midsole
- Lightweight
- Comfortable straps
- Unique design
Cons
- Not good traction
Skechers offers strong arch support in the form of a maxed out midsole. This was hands down the most cushioned and springy flip-flop that we tested. According to our experts, going too far in on those attributes can work against arch comfort by making your feet work too hard while walking. Fortunately, Skechers appears to have figured out where to draw the line. We didn’t feel any strain when moving around in this sandal. At the same time, our heel and mid-foot felt cradled all day long.
Along with an amped up midsole, Skechers equipped the Go Walk with a funky-yet-functional outsole. We found that the alternating wavy design was very flexible in the midsole, minimizing strain on the arch of the foot. This unique design is helpful when it comes to support, but less so when it comes to traction. It does not provide a firm grip in wet conditions, which caused a bit of slipping in our testing.
Stability | HYPER BURST midsole |
---|---|
Outsole | EVA |
Upper | Memory foam |
Pros
- Solid traction
- Can dress up
- Wears well at the beach
Cons
- Heavy for a flip-flop
- One of the most expensive flip-flops we reviewed
Big lug soles are having a moment, and they have even shown up in flip-flops. Ugg put a burly, boot-like outsole on the Capitola that is not only fashionable, but provides excellent traction. The large tread kept us shore footed in wet and sandy conditions. This may not look like a beach sandal, but it actually performs better than standard flimsy flip-flops in those conditions.
Many menswear fundamentalists will tell you that flip-flops are never stylish for elevated dress. While our editors tend to agree with this sentiment, when we did put this one together with a blazer and linen slacks, it worked. If you’re looking for a summer sandal with plenty of arch support that can hang with dressed up looks, this is a solid choice.
Stability | Lug sole |
---|---|
Outsole | Synthetic rubber |
Upper | Leather |
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Pros
- Allows for athletic movement
- Stays securely on your foot for a flip-flop
- Water resistant
Cons
- Strap takes a while to dry
When it comes to comfortable footwear, form should follow function. Keen designed a unique looking flip-flop, and when we took it for a spin we saw every detail lends itself toward comfort. Take a look at the outsole to understand what we mean. The carved out midfoot maximizes flexibility in a crucial spot to take pressure off the arch of the foot. This effectively turns the back of the flip-flop into a shock absorbing heel.
Even with all that support underneath, we found the most comfortable part of this flip-flop is the contoured footbed. It cradles the entire sole of your foot from heel to toe, thus giving your arches a little boost, allowing your heel to sink in, and providing grip for your toes to push off with each step. Best of all, the minimalist all-black look allows you to wear it with pretty much anything all summer long.
Stability | Molded footbed and outsole |
---|---|
Outsole | Rubber |
Upper | Leather |
Pros
- Exceptional cushioning
- Allows for fast movement for a flip-flop
- Tons of colors available
Cons
- Bulky for a flip-flop
Hoka has built an exceptional reputation for comfortable sneakers and running shoes. After spending a few months in the Ora, we can tell you that reputation applies to flip-flops as well. The same multi-layer curved sole design that can be found in many of the brand’s shoes is utilized here. Of every entry on the list, this one held up the longest in continuous wear, providing a level of all-day comfort that is rare in flip-flops.
Every podiatrist we consulted warned against the effects of cloud sandals being too squishy, which creates strain on your arch and toes when stepping off. Hoka avoided this problem by making a thin top layer that is soft enough to allow our foot to sink in for “cloud” comfort. Underneath that is a larger firm layer that provided strong stability in our testing. The curved shape, which is higher in the heel, did not cause any strain in the arch when stepping off.
Stability | Two layer, MetaRocker sole |
---|---|
Outsole | EVA foam |
Upper | EVA foam |
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Pros
- Water resistant
- Great traction for trails
- Padded straps
Cons
- Footbed is a litte stiff
Gubarun specializes in footwear for rugged outdoor adventure. We took this flip-flop paddle boarding, on a low-impact hike, and to a few different beach trips. The two layered contoured sole design provided just the right balance between flexibility and stability. The midsole is thinner and curves up to bolster the natural movement of the arch without adding bulk. It handled the complicated motions of trail hikes with no issue.
Water resistant flip-flops are not hard to find but this one actually performs well when wet. We wore it in and around water, and found the outsole stuck to the ground like a champ. Gripping texture is laid out on the footbed to prevent your feet from sliding out of the sandal too, which was effective. The best part is how quickly the straps dried. Padded textile flip-flop straps are comfortable but tend to hold onto water, where this one did not.
Stability | Contoured footbed and Outsole |
---|---|
Outsole | Rubber |
Upper | Rubber |
Pros
- Packs flat
- Very light weight
- Strong grip footbed
Cons
- Minimal cushioning
You can’t really go wrong with any flip-flop from Olukai, but the Ulele provides extra comfort for anyone with arch pain issues. This may appear to be the simplest design on the list, but a few small features set it apart from common flat soled flip-flops. A slight S curve in the footbed, which goes up to support the arch, down to cradle the ball of the foot, and back up to move with your toes when stepping, makes all the difference. We found that this design provided plenty of support for such a thin sole and moved naturally with our feet to prevent strain.
Any flip-flop is easy to pack, but the Ulele is so thin that it takes up hardly any space in luggage. One of our editors took it on a long weekend trip while packing just one carry-on bag. Taking up so little room in transit and being comfortable enough to stay on their feet for most of the weekend was clutch. Which is why we picked this one as the best travel flip-flop on the list.
Stability | Contoured sole |
---|---|
Upper | EVA foam |
Outsole | Synthetic rubber |
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Pros
- Very lightweight
- Strong cushioning
- Excellent traction on concrete and pool decks
Cons
- Footbed itself can get slippery when wet over time
Reef has produced a signature flip-flop with the same simple design for a few decades now and it still holds up. However, it does not offer much in the way of arch support. By beefing up the footbed with a slight contour and little more padding, then adding a natural curve to the toe, the California sandal company came up with the Swellsole Cruiser. This variation on the brand’s classic flip-flop provided a welcome boost in comfort for our editors who wore the original version for many years.
A few of our editors like Reef flip-flops because the brand has always provided reliable traction on the outsole and comfortable straps. Both of those crucial features are present in the Swellsole. The straps are a synthetic rubber and fabric blend that dried quickly when we got it wet, and the outsole has a grippy texture that held up on wet and sandy surfaces during testing.
Stability | Contoured sole and footbed |
---|---|
Upper | EVA |
Outsole | Rubber |
Meet the Experts
- Dr. Daniel Geller, D.P.M.
- Dr. Brad Schaeffer, D.P.M.
- Dr. Daniel Pledger, D.P.M
- Turner Allen, Stylist
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Why Trust Us
At Men’s Health, our testing editors and writers always make sure to actually test and use the products ourselves before considering whether to include them. Therefore, rest assured that our product recommendations derive from first-hand experience, and you can read more about our testing process here.
For instance, we have a whole fashion closet in our NYC office dedicated to calling in, trying out, and selecting the best and newest menswear products. We put them on stylish, fit guys to hear their opinions and see how the items look on them before making our final decision. And as style editors, we constantly go into the fashion closet to feel a product’s materials—even put it on ourselves for a spin—to test it.
Lastly, you can trust our opinions on shopping recommendations, whether it’s the products, styling tips, or trends. Not only do we have Fashion Director Ted Stafford and Deputy Editor, Commerce Christian Gollyan, but we also have a panel of style experts—including stylists, fashion influencers, designers, etc.—whom we regularly seek shopping guides from. Therefore, our product recommendations and buying tips are all driven by professional, expert opinions.
Discover More of the Best Footwear
Best Slides | Best Slip-on Shoes | Best Sandals | Best Insoles for Plantar Fasciitis | Best Walking Shoes
Reviewed byChristian Gollayan
Deputy Editor, Commerce
Christian Gollayan oversees e-commerce content for Men's Health and Women's Health. Previously, he was the Associate Managing Editor at TheManual.com. Christian's work has also been featured in Food & Wine, InStyle, the New York Post, and Tatler Asia.