The 6 Best Flip-Flops With Arch Support for Healthy Feet

After a long summer day in your daily trainers, there’s no feeling more satisfying than slipping into shoes that let your feet stretch and breathe. For some people, that shoe is a slipper or a sandal, preferably one that’s well-designed to support and preserve the natural shape of your feet—after all, you don’t want sore feet when you’re ready to hit the treadmill again. Others, however, may prefer something they can kick off with a bit more ease, perhaps right before settling into a hammock or hot tub. The perfect compromise? Flip-flops with arch support.

Flip-flops don’t often come to mind when we think of foot health, especially when it comes to arch support. The shoe’s name alone elicits imagery of flat, flimsy strips of foam purchased hastily at a beachfront bodega. As runners, many of us are tuned in to shoe ergonomics well enough to see shoes like those and look the other way. Our feet have surely thanked us for it—but what if we told you that there are flip-flops out there that not only provide support for your arches, but are also carefully designed to be as lightweight and comfortable as possible?

We’ve done the research on this unicorn footwear—read on to see which models we think perform the best.

Best Flip-Flops With Arch Support

• Best Overall: Olukai Ohana Flip-Flop Slides
• Best Value: Teva Reflip Sandal
• Best Women's: OOFOS Oolala Luxe Sandal
• Best for Post-Run Recovery: Hoka Ora Recovery Flip
• Best for Lots of Standing: Crocs Baya II Flip Flops

What to Consider

Material

Quality flip-flop soles are made with a combination of synthetic materials, such as rubber and EVA foam, and natural materials like leather and cork. Rubber and foam make your flip-flops more water-resistant and aid with comfort on your first wear, whereas natural materials add an aesthetic touch that ages beautifully and forms to your foot over time. We’ve also found cork and leather flip-flops to last longer, generally, than rubber or foam options.

Function

We all wear our flip-flops in different places—by the pool, at a campsite, around the house, or in a public shower (which isn’t a bad idea, by the way). Someone even ran the Baltimore Marathon in a pair. We aren’t recommending anyone try that last one, but it goes to show that flip-flops have quite the range of applications.

Some of our recommendations maximize traction and waterproofing for walking in mud and sand; others are all about comfort and don’t have much tread.

Your Foot Health

Even when wearing flip-flops with improved arch support, it’s crucial to acknowledge that flip-flops aren’t for everyone. Because most flip-flops are only secured to your foot around your toes (and only two of them, at that), your foot is constantly scooping into them to keep them on your feet as you walk. That additional strain on your feet can add up, especially if you have any pre-existing issues with foot pain like plantar fasciitis. If this is a concern of yours, look for straps that extend farther back on the foot, or perhaps give these summer sandals a peek.

How We Selected

Several of the picks on this list are personal favorites that some of our Runner’s World editors keep in their arsenals at home. For those we haven’t directly tested, we pooled together experience from friends, family, and fellow reviewers online to make sure every pick had a solid balance of comfort, durability, water resistance, and value.