Chaco Flip

I got a pair of these after doing research on footwear that "actually" support your feet and don't just "look good". Chaco's are the BEST sandals my feet have ever stomped on! I'm a TOTAL convert. Goodbye Tevas, goodbye Reefs, and especially my meager pile of 3.99 fly by night flip-flops!!! Anyone need x-tra thick beach-themed drink coasters....seriously...

I wore these religiously walking the uneven streets of Playa Del Carmen, Cancun and Cozumel for 4 days straight. My feet were not as tired, they did not feel as sore and my arches were not cursing at me! This was a real test, I walked on the sandy beaches, got them wet repeatedly, cobble stone streets, toured Tulum in them, trotted through the cenote riddled mayan-owned jungles, shopped the overly-commercialized streets and even took them dancing on Playa Del Carmen's 5th street for about 6 hrs. After all that, feet were as happy as I was.

In terms of durability, they are outstanding. After my 2-week trip, the vibram soles showed NO WEAR...almost like I never wore them...AWESOME! They are very comfortable and they DID ACTUALLY support my arch! The only 'thing' I noticed is that after about 3 days of walking on them they did wear my skin a bit on the outside strap of each sandal. Hard to describe exactly where, outer-lower left on left foot & outer-lower right on right foot. Now this is MY fault because I took a flip-flop when I should have been wearing a trail-shoe or maybe even a boot. Being a former Teva & Reef man myself, the Chaco flip's straps do come back a bit farther than the average sandal, in order to create a more stable platform, however this is also what rubbed the skin on my feet raw. No blood or anything but it was sore and red. I only mention this because I was new to Chaco and this took some adjusting to after about 27hrs of wear. Don't let this deter you one bit, I liked them so much that as soon as I got back I bought myself another pair!!! A stylin' beach bum...am I

Chaco will resole or custom fit them if you so desire. Needless to say I'm moving in on the Chaco Z's now and they are all worth every penny. Plus Chaco is a very green company, for those that care.

Don't take my word for it...Buy a pair, your feet will thank you.

After being a loyal fan of both Reef and Teva Mush flip flops, I found a pair of Chaco Flip on sale and decided to give them a shot. Overall, I've concluded that while the Chaco Flip is not as comfortable as the Reefs and Tevas, they are much more durable.

I'll start with the soles. In the past I've easily worn through at least one pair of Tevas/Reefs each summer. The Chacos, on the other hand, sport Vibram soles and are very durable. They seem as though they will last for many years. Unfortunately, this durability comes at the expense of comfort and weight. In contrast to the the soft, squishy, light (3.4 oz) foam sandals I have worn in the past, the Chaco soles have a rough, hard, heavy (10.4 oz) design. At 3 times the weight of my old sandals, I am still adjusting to them. In addition to the durability of the soles, they have a better ergonomic fit and become grippier when wet which is a plus if you plan on wearing them in wet conditions. I've found that foam sandals get very slick when wet and provide little or no support. The strap is not as soft as the strap on Reefs and Tevas, but it is well made and fits well. I found no need to size up or down. Lastly, the sandals are more expensive than the foam variety, but this is warranted as they are likely to last much longer. All in all, these are very stylish and well-made sandals. If you are used to heavier shoes you will have no problem with them and will love the legendary Chaco durability and quality. However, if you like the squishy, soft feeling of lightweight foam flip flops (ala Teva Mush), I would suggest trying them on before pulling out your credit card.

I generally don't like flips--they are sloppy and cheap. So if I was going to get any I'll admit it, I wanted Reefs. I wanted to be able to open bottles with my feet and/or sport a few shots of liquor in my footbeds. I tried Reefs, turns out those gimmicks came at the sacrifice of function and comfort. I reluctantly tried on Chaco's. The contoured footbed with arch support cups my foot and keeps the sandal in place far more than your average foam plank flips. The strap swings back farther on your foot for a more secure fit. The textured surface of the flip keeps them on your feet even if they get soaked. The Vibram souls promise to wear more gradually than the average flip. The price is more than standard flips, but you're buying more than a standard flip, and that $$$ isn't going towards fashion or gimmicks either. It is true that these are heavier than some flips, but if you're looking to shave ounces from your extreme light-hiking pack perhaps you don't need to bring flips in the first place. I would challenge anyone to walk a few miles in these flips vs. foam planks and tell me that softer non-supporting foam didn't leave their feet just beat down at the end of the day! Wait until they're on sale, or buy them full price--either way they're worth it.

i think i bought these sandals one size too big, but i still love them. after living in flip flops for two years as a peace corps volunteer on a pacific island for two years and continuing to do so in grad school for another couple of years, i was a Reef fan. they were relatively durable and relatively comfortable... until i got into a pair of Chacos. i always loved the foot bed of Chaco sandals, but their straps always rubbed me raw; so i stopped wearing mine. when i saw they had flip flops, i bought a pair immediately. i'm a huge fan. like many other reviews have pointed out, my feet aren't as tired when i take them off at the end of the day. the flip flops don't fall off my feet when my feet get wet (like they do in Reefs). and i don't slip in when i wear them in the rain. the traction is great. also, the support is pretty good too - not a lot of soft cushion like with reefs, but much better support.
overall, i would recommend these to everyone, so long as they get the right size. i bought them a little big, but still love them and will wear them whenever i can!

I haven't been wearing these for more than a few months, so the long term durability remains to be seen, but these things fit so nicely! They were definitely a little tight at first, I'm glad I opted for the slightly larger size, maybe half to a full size, but they are not too long on my foot at all, and they have broken in perfectly. They have a super solid feel, and very comfy with the curvy arch of the rubber.

I really like these, I was tired of all my flip flops breaking at the thong, so I hope these last, I'm sure they will. Super solid construction, great fit, great look too. Pay up a bit and get these, especially since your cheapies will be breaking soon, it's just better to get something that will last. BTW, I bought them on amazon for 23 bux, so I didn't even really pay up much at all.

As a lifeguard I have gone through many pairs of flip flops. At first I got Tevas, but they only lasted me a year because the sole would wear down to nothing. Not to mention, the soft foam padding was horrible for support. Then one day my wife bought me a pair of these. At first I was hesitant on the price, but it wasn't long before I knew nothing could compare! These have lasted me over 2 years of very heavy wear, getting wet daily in harsh pool water, beat down by the rays of the sun, hundreds of miles walking, and more. I am around 200 lbs and these give me the support I need to be on my feet and walking all day (on hard and abraisive concrete). They're expensive for only being flip flops, but after my experience I would pay full price any day. Buy these and you'll be spoiled for life.

Ok, so the Chaco Flip might not be as functional as the more traditional Chaco designs. But as far as flip-flops go, they're hard to beat. A friend of mine has owned her Flips for over four years, and the only visible wear is the spot where a dog tried to chew the strap apart. I've had my own flips for two years and they are holding up fantastically. At least one reviewer noted that the Flips are not as comfortable as Tevas or Keens... I don't find that to be true. I prefer the fit and materials of the Flip. They also seem to provide more support for your foot.

The long and the short of it - if you have to give up your regular Chacos for a stylish flip-flop, you can't go wrong with these. These are the only flip-flops that will survive a nuclear holocaust and then some.