I never wore flip-flops. I prefer fisherman style sandals, and I wear those a lot here in AZ. I like the closed toe and secure strap closure. And, yes, I wear them with socks.
Flip flops
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Don't your socks get wet in and around water?
I can definitely see wearing socks with those. Now I do work with a fellow who wears his steel toe boots without socks in summer. I've seen him take off his boots and put on rubber goloshes without socks. 🫣
There's no water in Arizona.
What about lake Mead?
During monsoon season I heard you can ride inner tubes down the street
letschat7
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Havaianas from Brasil with lighting by Lupine.
Guitar Guy
Enlightened
Just ran onto this thread. I have a lot of major foot pain, and there are very few brands of shoes that I can wear - with Kybun being the best ever, for shoes. About $300 per pair, they're like walking on a cloud, and worth every cent if you have bad foot pain.
For around the house, hoeing around the garden, or walking in the creek, Crocs it is (and NOT the generic ones). Ugly as heck, but once they're broken in for a couple of weeks, they're really cushioned, comfortable, and LONG lasting. The back strap causes me no issues, but if it does, you can flip it forward and just slip into them like clogs, and still walk with no problem. It's best to buy a size larger. I wear 10 / 10.5 shoes, and 11 Crocs.
I hiked over 4 hrs in the smoky mountains on a rough rocky trail in my Crocs after a rain storm when I didn't want to get my leather Kybuns wet, and my feet felt fine. I could not have done that in sandals or flip flops.
Plus, no uncomfortable post between the toes, and other people don't have to look at ugly "man feet".
I actually got the Crocs recommendation from 2 Amish guys who had foot pain from working on solid concrete all day every day. We were all in a specialty shoe store getting Z-Coils, which also work fairly well, although ugly & expensive. Nowadays, Kybun & Crocs are about all that I wear. Z-Coils for cutting grass.
Interesting thread, byk.
For around the house, hoeing around the garden, or walking in the creek, Crocs it is (and NOT the generic ones). Ugly as heck, but once they're broken in for a couple of weeks, they're really cushioned, comfortable, and LONG lasting. The back strap causes me no issues, but if it does, you can flip it forward and just slip into them like clogs, and still walk with no problem. It's best to buy a size larger. I wear 10 / 10.5 shoes, and 11 Crocs.
I hiked over 4 hrs in the smoky mountains on a rough rocky trail in my Crocs after a rain storm when I didn't want to get my leather Kybuns wet, and my feet felt fine. I could not have done that in sandals or flip flops.
Plus, no uncomfortable post between the toes, and other people don't have to look at ugly "man feet".
I actually got the Crocs recommendation from 2 Amish guys who had foot pain from working on solid concrete all day every day. We were all in a specialty shoe store getting Z-Coils, which also work fairly well, although ugly & expensive. Nowadays, Kybun & Crocs are about all that I wear. Z-Coils for cutting grass.
Interesting thread, byk.
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^ flip-flops are designed for around swimming pools, at beaches, or leisure wearing around the house. Not for hiking in mountainside terrain.
Hiking in the Smokies, didn't the Crocs pick-up debris through the large openings and onto the footbed?
Hiking in the Smokies, didn't the Crocs pick-up debris through the large openings and onto the footbed?
Guitar Guy
Enlightened
That wasn't really a problem. It was a pretty well used and packed down trail in the bottom of a valley with mostly larger stones & roots to step on and over. What little bit got inside rinsed out walking through the creeks. My larger concern was following bear tracks on the way back out which weren't there on the way in. Didn't want to startle a mama with young'uns.
The day before I had hiked up and down some very steep terrain to an old plane crash. I definitely wouldn't have worn Crocs for that one.
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I've been wanting a pair of Crocs for awhile. Now I see Van's is making a version, I plan to check them out sooner or later.
Your plane crash site sounds interesting.
Your plane crash site sounds interesting.
Well some new Scott flip flops showed up today. Early. Two days early. A new model called Mokupuni. They are very similar to their legend shoe called Luna. The Luna is a leather top, leather strap, rubber sole number made to last forever and ever and ever. The vietnam era combat boot of flip flops. Blisters and all. Ok, so things have changed and so has the Luna. Gone is the 2x4 hard slab with slippery leather top and grabby leather straps... so I hear. The Mokupuni is a "new" Luna with a decorative nylon strap that has a neoprene liner. The mid-sole is very forgiving. The sole is a solid rubber almost vibram sole hard. Yet when wearing the Mokupuni you get the sense these babies are meant to last.
I bought them to try vs the Rainbow Americana that arrived a few days ago. The Rainbow just feels nice under foot. But so does the Scott. The Rainbow sole is much softer than the Scott. Like a pair of running shoes. The foam midsole is too. Yet not mushy.
Both have a nubuck leather footbed so the sanded leather texture is almost like suede. Not slippery, yet not grappy like a rubber top would be. That's a new idea for both brands. The Mokupuni starts out with a heel cup, which exudes confidence while walking around breaking them in. The Americana does not begin with a heel cup yet the forgiving midsole soon begins to have one. With the Americana I felt ok driving with them on day one. But not to cut my grass in. I felt like they needed to mold to my feet better. I wore the Mokupuni to cut my lawn with a push mower an hour after they arrived. Yet when done I slipped on the Americana shoes. The Mokupuni feel like shoes, the Americana feel like slippers. Mostly because one Mokupuni was as much or more than both Americana combined.
Both are winners in my view.
I bought them to try vs the Rainbow Americana that arrived a few days ago. The Rainbow just feels nice under foot. But so does the Scott. The Rainbow sole is much softer than the Scott. Like a pair of running shoes. The foam midsole is too. Yet not mushy.
Both have a nubuck leather footbed so the sanded leather texture is almost like suede. Not slippery, yet not grappy like a rubber top would be. That's a new idea for both brands. The Mokupuni starts out with a heel cup, which exudes confidence while walking around breaking them in. The Americana does not begin with a heel cup yet the forgiving midsole soon begins to have one. With the Americana I felt ok driving with them on day one. But not to cut my grass in. I felt like they needed to mold to my feet better. I wore the Mokupuni to cut my lawn with a push mower an hour after they arrived. Yet when done I slipped on the Americana shoes. The Mokupuni feel like shoes, the Americana feel like slippers. Mostly because one Mokupuni was as much or more than both Americana combined.
Both are winners in my view.
Scott are like the Harley of sandals. Where the Rainbow Americana are sorta like a NSX
I was never a big fan of flip flops, but sandal and slides are what I live In during the warmer months, as soon as my workday is done. I’ve settled on Tevas and Birkenstocks. Tevas for pretty much anything, but the Birks when my feet start to hurt after a long day at work. Nothing like them.
I have two pair of Crocs that I wear intermittently for times when I want a closed toe slip on. A few posters were worried about needing the back straps to keep them on; or debris getting in the vent holes. I wear the Bistro, or Specialist models which have a taller heel cup and no vent holes. Never had a problem with them slipping off. I started with them seven years ago in the winter after having a hip resurfacing and I needed an all weather slip on shoe. I can’t recommend them enough.
I have two pair of Crocs that I wear intermittently for times when I want a closed toe slip on. A few posters were worried about needing the back straps to keep them on; or debris getting in the vent holes. I wear the Bistro, or Specialist models which have a taller heel cup and no vent holes. Never had a problem with them slipping off. I started with them seven years ago in the winter after having a hip resurfacing and I needed an all weather slip on shoe. I can’t recommend them enough.
One more pair for the year.
Sanuk cosmic yoga primo are on clearance.
Leather top shoe has a molded foot bed like foam or rubber top shoes. Inside the strap is a nice soft liner. The toe thingy feels like silk between my toes.
Grippy rubber sole with genuine yoga mat inside a urethane core.
The photo causes them to look like raised shoes but they're not. What they are is amazingly comfortable to walk around in or stand on.
Sanuk cosmic yoga primo are on clearance.
Leather top shoe has a molded foot bed like foam or rubber top shoes. Inside the strap is a nice soft liner. The toe thingy feels like silk between my toes.
Grippy rubber sole with genuine yoga mat inside a urethane core.
The photo causes them to look like raised shoes but they're not. What they are is amazingly comfortable to walk around in or stand on.
I did a 3 way compare recently for these leather top sandals.
Top left: Scott brand Mokopuni
Top right: Sanuk cosmic yoga matt primo
Bottom: Rainbow Americana
A full day wearing each one after a few hours of break in revealed they are all sweet. But each one has a virtue. I'll start with the Rainbow.
The Americana is a US hand made sandal that is really light weight with a fairly thin foam mid-sole. The sanded nubuc leather is not slippery at all. When you slide your toes into these shoes the toe post is hardly noticed. No chafing at all after 8 hours of walking around. The leather straps don't bind either. Unlike the original, the straps on these start out a bit loose. Yet, so far don't go flying off my feet when I goose step. The thin foam puts you close to the pavement where you can note small pebbles and changes in the terrain through the grippy rubberized soles. However you don't feel like you've been walking on concrete barefoot after a while. When you put them on you feel your foot mold itself to the shoe. They are supportive enough to wear walking on pavement or hard floors for a couple of hours without issue. The craftsmanship that went into them is top shelf. They come with a lifetime guarentee against delamination and straps pulling out. Bonus, great driving shoes.
The Scott sandal is probably the best of the 3 overall. Again, a sanded nubuc leather top is not slippery. It has a molded heel area that is flat up front. They are based off a model called the Luna that has leather straps like the Rainbow but I chose the Polynesian looking neoprene lined nylon strap version. The shoe is taller than the Rainbow. Think work boot height vs running shoe height. It's kinda weighty due to the rubber sole. I say kinda because they are noticeably heavier than the Rainbow. The sole feels more sunstantial under foot. The mid-sole is plenty soft with great rebound. Like some kind of micro air bubble urethane. The straps are tighter but aren't uncomfy. I did notice some chafe at first but after a few hours of lounging around in them they have stretched and that is no longer an issue. Toe post is non irratating. These shoes are great for a long day with lots of walking or standing on a hard surface. They've molded to my feet and fit great now. Craftsmanship is not quite up to par with the Rainbow due to some minor aestetic's most would not notice and does not affect the quality or durability of the shoe. The lack of feel from the rubber sole does however cause a loss of feedback when driving so I end up smashing the brake pedal at times when driving with these on.
Last, but not least the Sanuk. When I first took these out of the box it was love at first site. It's got an old school look with modern conveniences. Right off the bat it felt like they had used my foot as a mold. Amazing fit. The soft, distressed leather made them feel like an old favorite. The rubber sole is weighty like the Scott, providing a sense of confidence. The yoga mat core of the mid-sole is ridiculous how forgiving it is with each step. The straps and toe posts, again felt like an old favorite. After a few hours I remarked to Mrs Fixer how my legs and hips felt like I had walked 20 miles. I had probably walked about 2 miles by days end. I got home and put on the Scott shoes and finished the day. Suddenly my legs felt refreshed. I attribute the fatigue to the uber squishy yoga mat insole of the Sanuk. If you're in great shape these will be amazing. If you are in shape like me, round, the yoga mat ends up being like walking on shifting ground. Lots of extra effort involved. Again, the lack of feedback through the sole makes driving with these on not such a great idea in my view.
If I could take the footbed from the Sanuk and place it over the mid-sole of the Scott then that onto the sole of the Rainbow that might be the perfect flip flop, at least for me.
2022 Sanuk Happy Placer soft top.
I mentioned these when they first arrived but not much since if at all. Basically these are the shoes I slide onto my feet after work each day to wear around the house.
As seen in the photo the shiney leather top is not grippy. Now they don't slip and slide around while walking because of the soft padding underneath. Kind of a neat trick, really. The leather has some kind of coating or something that prevents stains and dark spots after getting wet with sweat or morning dew from grabbing the morning paper. Matter of fact, unlike rubber tops that become slippery when wet, these become grippier when wet.
After pulling some weeds around a dew soaked.
Uh oh, looks bad right?
Some nubuk leather top shoes not treated get stains easily. A mild soapy water can blend away the dark spots and some Camp Dry and boot leather conditioner will help that.
30 minutes later the stain is nearly gone. An hour from now they won't look like they got wet at all.
The achiles heel to these at first was the crape foam soles covered with a hemp jute mesh. Good gosh they were slippery on hard tiles floors at first. Like you could get a running start and do a hockey slide on your kitchen floor. Not dangerously slippery like on ice, but very much like walking on loose, dry beach sand. Wearing them around the house has removed the slick surface so wearing them to grab a gallon of milk from the grocery store is now normal. So far they are not showing any wear either.
There's some kind of algae based high rebound foam for the mid-sole area that's soft like new memory without the eventual permanently squashed, no rebound of memory foam. That's been a Sanuk tradition since their beginning back in 97. Sanuk has always been a very forgiving shoe. In the beginning they made shoes that wore out quickly though. That is no longer the case. Now will these last 20 years like some Scott or Rainbow shoes? I seriously doubt that.
The tightly woven linen straps feel like socks over your feet. No binding at all yet not loose and clumsy. They stretch as needed yet retain their shape well like a linen shirt does. The death nail of a flip flop, the toe strap is seemingly non existent between the toes. I was amazed at first how silky smooth they are. When the Mrs and I went for our trip to various stores, where we combine trips into a few hours of walking around stores to grab goods we keep stock of, these were great yesterday. If I had to guess I'd say we walked 2 miles all told on hard slippery tile floors and hot asphalt parking lots. Yet my achey feet, ankles, knees and hips never complained.
This is the second edition of the Happy Placer surf rider foundation by Sanuk. The 2023 has a suede foot bed and is molded a bit more like a foot groove. Some famous artist designed them.
It's a nice looking shoe. Aside from the leather accent on the linen strap and the suede footbed it's essentially the same shoe. But I prefered the sorta early 1970's hippy look of the 2022 version, plus it was $10 less.
If origin is of concern Sanuk are made in Vietnam.
Attachments
Cosmic Yoga Mat Primos sent to me by my buddy Whalebone Mike all the way from Outerlimits Banks.
I am now a fan of Nubuk straps and foot beds 🤙
I am now a fan of Nubuk straps and foot beds 🤙
A ringing endorsement from a man who is rumored to climb hills wearing flip flops whenever his slip on Van's are drying.
