Blew out a flip flop

[Mike McCrea]

I am devastated. After 10 years of near constant companionship and comfort I finally blew out one of my beloved flip flops. Better it happen here at home than while lounging boots-off, tootsies-air-drying around camp on day 2. I knew they were threadbare raggedy, and the tread, while still sticky, was wearing smooth.

Time for another pair. I know what I want it a flip flop; decently grippy bottom treads, fairly thick ergonomic sole, synthetic or quickly drying straps, IE a “sport” flip flop, not a boardwalk stall cheapie. Unlike shoes or boots if a flip flop design meet those criteria I am comfortable ordering on-line; I’ll wear ‘em in.

Let’s see what REI has available.

Hot dang, 24 different “Men’s” flip flops of varying designs. Should be no problem finding a pair I like. Yup, there’s a pair, with perfect features. Click:

“Sizes 7, 8 and 14 only”

OK, there’s another. Click:

“Sizes 9 and 13”.

Click, click, click. Again and again. Us He-Man flip flop wearers must all have size 12 feet. I did find a (hopefully) suitable pair, but dang, add decent flip flops to the lasting out-of-stock list; canoes, paddles, PFD’s, tents. Bike parts. Spray paint. Horse de-wormer.

$75 freaking dollars for a pair of flip flops? What am I, made of money? I’ll go full Viet Cong and DIY my own from old truck tires dammit.

Oh wait, I have an REI gift card from the last Canoe Tripping raffle. I had been checking REI Outlet for the last six months, ISO a deal on something I needed, or eventually just something spend-it-now that caught my eye. Floral summer frocks, nope. Running shoes, nope. Weird totes, packs and bags, nope, nope, nope.

Thanks Bob, no way I would have dropped $75 on a pair of flip flops. In case they prove to pinch my toes, what’s your shoe size?

 

[Waterdog]

I can’t imagine you wouldn’t just fix them with the right type of epoxy and hardener. Heck, a search of this site might even reveal an 8year old thread that you already made detailing this very repair sequence. Maybe you just forgot how to do it.

 

[Cheeseandbeans]

Excellent. Glad you put it to good use!

Bob

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Now all you need is booze in the blender.

 

[Zac]

What brand were your broken ones? I'll spend $75 on a pair of flip flops if they last a decade, I blow out a pair or two of cheap ones every year

 

[yellowcanoe]

Sorry I couldn't resist

15 Super Comfortable Flip-Flops and Sandals You Can DIY

Summer means painted toenails, flip-flops and sandals. If you love showing off those tootsies during warmer weather, have we got a great collection for you! We have found 15 of the neatest and easiest ways

www.diyncrafts.com

 

[Mike McCrea]

I wish I could remember which brand flip flops that uber-durable pair were. Or tell, the tag is mostly illegible, Ch???, or probably Chota or Chaco.

Chota doesn’t appear to make flip flops anymore. Chaco makes a bunch, but many are more webbing strappy sandal like, have leather straps, or have cushy EVA foam soles; that EVA foam foot bed is really comfy, kinda molds to your foot over time, but they wear out too quickly.

What I “fixed”, actually resoled with exercise foam and contact cement, were wearing thin Crocs. Crocs are an OK alternative, I’m wearing them now. But they are not very airy in hot weather, too easily thorn punctured and for something purportedly first created as a “boat shoe” they can be slippery as snot on a doorknob.

Damp Croc soles and a tile or concrete floor have put me on my arse a few times.

 

[yellowcanoe]

Crocs used to make a boat sole version. What a piece of junk. I slid down the ramp to my floating dock on them. I don't have the DIY patience or skill to attach a Vibram sole to Crocs. And they are just impossible to swim in. The only good thing is that on a cold day with socks they do keep your feet warm. Heat is not as much an issue as cold.. We had some hot days this summer though. Probably 5 over 85.

 

[LanceR]

Now all you need is booze in the blender.

Doesn't he have to step on a pop-top first? Every now and then I still find one of those stirred up by a recent rain while picking up trash along trails.


Lance

 

[Mike McCrea]

Those pull-tab pop tops disappeared in the mid-70’s.

Now 50 years old they are like archeological finds, enough so that there are field guides to the different shapes from different beverages.

https://soda.sou.edu/cans/ANTH02m_schr.xx.01.pdf

 

[Mike McCrea]

My new OluKai flip flops, the only rugged size 12’s I found REI available, arrived. Seemingly well made; slightly cushioned foot bed, decent thick tread, molded arch support, synthetic everything. Can’t wait to try them on.

https://www.rei.com/product/166964/..._confirm&rrid=347778&ev11=&redirect-pup=false

They were tight, and I nearly had some foot hanging over. I looked at the tag, size 11. I haven’t had size 11 feet since I was a pre-teen. REI done effed up and sent me the wrong size. Bad REI.

Then I went back and looked at my order. Not REI’s fault, Bad Mike, I had somehow clicked on “Size 11”, I blame the paint fumes.

Arrgghh! I drove down into the metro area to REI, exactly what I had hoped to avoid by ordering on-line.

The REI selection of flip flops was scant, and well picked through/tossed aside, but they had a single pair in size 12, those same OluKai’s. I am liking them so far, ask me again in 5 or 10 year. $75 freaking flip flops better last.

You can’t always get what you want, but if you drive into the metro-area you can get what you need. Including 30 feet of quality 3/8” rope for the new Optima.

 

[lowangle al]

Good luck with the Olu Kais Mike. My last pair are delaminating after about 5 years, and I don't wear them much.

 

[Mike McCrea]

“Unlike shoes or boots if a flip flop design meet those criteria I am comfortable ordering on-line; I’ll wear ‘em in”

JINX! Those size 12 OluKai flip flops were an unmitigated failure in several ways. I had read in the reviews that the straps were tight at first. The straps were tight at first, but soon stretched out. The reviews did not mention that the straps continued to stretch out, so that each sandal would attempt to fly off with each step.

That alone was a no go, but they got worse. Something about the ergonomics of the decently thick, rugged soles was all kinds of wrong. Each footfall felt like I was jumping off a step ladder. Seriously, it took me a couple days to figure out why my knees ached worse than usual.

That of course required a yet another trip to the metro area, another complicated return, and another attempt at flip flop findery.

These, Gubarun’s. Seemingly well made sturdy, half the price. Thicker sole, taller heel, decent tread sole stickiness. Natural feeling foot fall, and each step doesn’t fling a flip or flop.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...4&pd_rd_w=Uo6TZ&pd_rd_wg=y1Ij5&ref_=pd_gw_unk

Kinda getting out of flip flop season, but so far so good.

I don’t leave reviews on vendor sites, but may have to leave some of the above on REI.