There was a time long, long ago that folks wore sandals with a post between the big toe and the one next to it. Some between the next toe and middle toe. That was centuries ago. Some made of wood, some made of leaves. As time passed shoes became more structured, even the sandal.
Now, after world war 2 a phenomenon in America began with a Japanese version of a shoe called "thongs". The term flip flop also took root. I suppose "flip flip" just didn't have the same ring to it. As a kid we had a basic rectangle shaped foam rubber "thong" that had a straw covered footbed.
They lasted days at best. Hours when worn while performing Evel Kneivel stunts on a bicycle. You could buy them practically anywhere for a buck or two. But, America being America at one point a better "thong" was developed. Probably on the west coast and probably by an entrepenural surfer dude. At one point during world war 2 stuff was hard to come by since the war effort pretty much gobbled up a lot of resources.
In Hawaii a shoe maker focused on sandals for that reason. Scott sandals were a big hit on the main island but largely just there. In California in the 1970's another fellow built a "thong" that was meant to last a lifetime. A slab of rubber, some foam, a layer of leather and nylon strap were sandwiched in a way that made a very durable flip flop.
Now for the surfer dude who only wore flip flops that was a good thing before big $ sponshorships became the norm. And in the 1980's the word "thong" became synonomous with ladies underwear. So the term flip flop is pretty much the norm, or the word sandals. But sandals often refers to strap on shoes not slide on type.
Enter big $ fashion industry and you now have billions of flip flops being made by a whole bunch of companies. They also made ones without the shaft between the toes. Often those are worn with socks.
Recently while at a clearance store I picked up a pair made by a famous rain coat company London Fog. A lightweight urethane sole with a foam footbed that molds to the foot in time, they're mighty comfy to wear around that house or a quick trip to the store.
The strap is cloth lined leather.
My favorite brand is Rainbow. A model called East Cape. Molded rubber footbed, rubber soles and neoprene lined leather strap makes for a quick break in number that can hold up mile after mile. Even hiking. Unlike many flip flops I can drive while wearing the East Cape. I've been wearing that model several years now after trying dozens of good ones.
Available in big chain stores but the ones from Rainbow are a little nicer and lighter in weight. Years ago I tried Reef, Gotcha, Quicksilver, Oneil and a slew of other brands but I kept returning to the Rainbow East Cape.
Now, after world war 2 a phenomenon in America began with a Japanese version of a shoe called "thongs". The term flip flop also took root. I suppose "flip flip" just didn't have the same ring to it. As a kid we had a basic rectangle shaped foam rubber "thong" that had a straw covered footbed.
They lasted days at best. Hours when worn while performing Evel Kneivel stunts on a bicycle. You could buy them practically anywhere for a buck or two. But, America being America at one point a better "thong" was developed. Probably on the west coast and probably by an entrepenural surfer dude. At one point during world war 2 stuff was hard to come by since the war effort pretty much gobbled up a lot of resources.
In Hawaii a shoe maker focused on sandals for that reason. Scott sandals were a big hit on the main island but largely just there. In California in the 1970's another fellow built a "thong" that was meant to last a lifetime. A slab of rubber, some foam, a layer of leather and nylon strap were sandwiched in a way that made a very durable flip flop.
Now for the surfer dude who only wore flip flops that was a good thing before big $ sponshorships became the norm. And in the 1980's the word "thong" became synonomous with ladies underwear. So the term flip flop is pretty much the norm, or the word sandals. But sandals often refers to strap on shoes not slide on type.
Enter big $ fashion industry and you now have billions of flip flops being made by a whole bunch of companies. They also made ones without the shaft between the toes. Often those are worn with socks.
Recently while at a clearance store I picked up a pair made by a famous rain coat company London Fog. A lightweight urethane sole with a foam footbed that molds to the foot in time, they're mighty comfy to wear around that house or a quick trip to the store.
The strap is cloth lined leather.
My favorite brand is Rainbow. A model called East Cape. Molded rubber footbed, rubber soles and neoprene lined leather strap makes for a quick break in number that can hold up mile after mile. Even hiking. Unlike many flip flops I can drive while wearing the East Cape. I've been wearing that model several years now after trying dozens of good ones.
Available in big chain stores but the ones from Rainbow are a little nicer and lighter in weight. Years ago I tried Reef, Gotcha, Quicksilver, Oneil and a slew of other brands but I kept returning to the Rainbow East Cape.
