Think flip flops for men are only for getting from the pool to the locker room? Think again, because these days, the best flip flops for men are both fashionable and functional. They also offer great arch support, and some even come with high-end leather construction.
So maybe you’re rafting in a river, or out to dinner on an island vacation. Or maybe instead, you’re simply strolling on the beach with your family. Regardless of the reason, there are flip flops for every occasion.
Keep reading, because the ease, convenience, and style of a great pair of flip flops awaits.
Our Top Picks
The best flip flops for men: don’t do summer without some.
Slip into each pair of flip flops in our ranking.
  | Best Flip Flops for Men: Indosole Men’s ESSNTLS Vegan Flip Flops With recycled rubber outsoles and an eco-friendly strap, these flip flops are more than comfortable: they’re sustainable. |
  | Best Budget Flip Flops for Men: NORTIV 8 Flip Flops Choose NORTIV because flip flops should be comfortable, not an investment. |
  | Best Leather Flip Flops for Men: Olukai Mea Ola Flip-Flop For the look and feel of real leather, choose the Mea Ola flip flops from Olukai. |
  | Best Flip Flops with Arch Support for Men: UTENAG Arch Support Flip Flops Without a doubt, UTENAG makes the best arch support flip flops available. |
  | Best Flip Flops for Men with a Heel Strap: Astral Filipe Flip Flop With an optional heel strap, Astral Filipe combines the comfort of a flip flop with the reliability of a water sandal. |
A Closer Look: Best Flip Flops for Men
Try on a pair of flip flops and take a closer look at each product in our ranking.
1. Indosole Men’s ESSNTLS Vegan Flip Flops
The best flip flops for men overall
Brand: Indosole | Construction: Natural Rubber | Sole: Recycled Tires | Uppers: Vegan | Price: 💰💰
What first caught our attention about the Indosole ESSNTLS flip flops were the arch support, cushioned midsole, and non-slip footbed. Looking into the sustainable manufacturing practices of the Certified B-Corporation, though, and we liked these shoes even more.
I mean, we’ve all heard of vegan diets, but have you heard of vegan uppers?
Well, that’s exactly what you get from the ESSNTLS. What’s more, the soles are made from recycled rubber tires, and the enviro fiber strap is produced with less water and dye than many other similar products.
We also liked to hear that the arch support is good, and that the shoes are made with excellent craftsmanship, offering a perfect fit. There are some nice color options to choose from as well.
Reviewers Like
- Sturdy
- Super cool looking
- Mold instantly to your feet
Reviewers Dislike
- Kinda spendy
- Sole should be better, some say
2. NORTIV 8 Flip Flops
The best budget flip flops for men
Brand: NORTIV | Construction: EVA | Sole: Rubber | Uppers: Rubber | Price: 💰
Choose NORTIV 8 for a comfortable pair of men’s flip flops that won’t bust your entire vacation budget. Made from EVA with rubber soles and uppers, these flip flops have an EVA sponge footbed, and vegetarian-friendly PU straps. There’s also good skid and wear resistance, thanks to the rubber outsole.
The NORTIV 8s are a great choice to wear both indoors and outdoors, we learned, and they won’t slide off when your foot is wet, or make that annoying squelching sound other sandals can sometimes make. And not only are they comfortable and well made, they come in nine different colors to match your summertime wardrobe.
Reviewers Like
- Straps nice ‘n’ wide
- Ribbed and contoured insole
- Some buy several pairs in different colors
Reviewers Dislike
- Fit a little loose
- Some doubt durability over time
- Makes that “flip flop” sound when walking
3. Olukai Mea Ola Flip Flop
The best leather flip flops for men
Brand: OluKai | Construction: EVA | Sole: Rubber | Uppers: Antiqued Leather | Price: 💰💰💰💰
Because flip flops can sometimes be sort of…well, dressy…we like the Mea Ola flip flops from Olukai. Not only do these flip flops look great, they’re sold in four color options, with antiqued leather uppers, a compression-molded EVA midsole, and synthetic pigskin lining. The backing is neoprene, and there’s molded rubber pods for added traction.
Overall, they’re great sandals, made with quality craftsmanship. They feel great right out of the box, with good attention to detail in the manufacturing that creates a snug and comfortable fit. Some do say, however, that the leather strap takes awhile to contour to the foot.
Nevertheless, these comfortable flip flops for men come highly recommended, and they’re super comfy and stylish, according to reports.
Reviewers Like
- Nice laser-etched footbed art
- Made from high-quality leather
- Stylish, comfortable beach apparel
Reviewers Dislike
- Run a bit short
- Not enough cushion
- Bit too heavy, some say
4. UTENAG Arch Support Flip Flops
The best flip flops with arch support for men
Brand: UTENAG | Construction: Rubber | Sole: Rubber | Uppers: Rubber | Price: 💰💰
Construction: Rubber Sole: Rubber Uppers: Rubber Price: 💰💰
When we think of footwear that’s good for arch support, we may not often think of flip flops. There are flip flops out there, though, offering great support in this area, and the best available are the arch support flip flops made by UTENAG.
Entirely constructed from different kinds of rubber, these affordable flip flops with built-in orthotics conform to many different foot shapes, crading both your arch and heel. All this makes them a great solution for flat feet, but also plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, and general arch and heel pain.
We liked to hear they’re nice and comfy, even for those without arch support issues. Most do recommend ordering one size down, however, as they tend to run a little large. You can also take your pick from five different color options.
Reviewers Like
- Deep heel cups
- Non-slip sole good for poolside
- Great support in the ball of the foot
Reviewers Dislike
- No half sizes
- Bit heavy, some say
- Not enough support for some
5. Astral Filipe Flip Flop
The best flip flops for men with a heel strap
Brand: Astral | Construction: Dual-Density EVA | Sole: Rubber | Uppers: Synthetic Leather | Price: 💰💰💰
There’s this notion that flip flops are only for laying around the pool sipping fruity drinks with little umbrellas. The Filipe flip flops from Astral offer a removable heel strap, however, making them a great middleground between a river sandal and thongs. We’ve also tried a pair of the Astral Loyak water shoe, and we can attest to the overall quality of the brand.
Otherwise, these versatile flip flops are made from dual-density EVA with rubber soles and synthetic leather uppers. They’re designed to drain water from the sides, with a tapered instep and heel for optimal foothold and better control. Fans of the Filipe say they have serious staying power.
Reviewers Like
- Grippy sole
- Super comfortable
- Strap works well for rivers
Reviewers Dislike
- Pretty steeply priced
- Not the best arch support
- Attaching and removing strap tricky, but doable
What to Look for
Still not sure which pair of flip flops are right for you? In our next section, we’ll provide some tips and pointers for choosing a pair of flip flops.
When to Wear Flip Flops
Gone are the days when flip flops were strictly for beach bums. Although there are some dressy occasions for which flip flops might not be acceptable, like a business meeting, these days flip flops — and especially the fancy leather kind — are fine to wear in all sorts of situations.
At their most basic, though, flip flops are the perfect choice to wear to the beach, by the pool, or even just around the house.
How to Buy Flip Flops
1
Size
Like any kind of shoe, getting the right-sized pair of flip flops is crucially important. Your regular shoe size is a great place to start when selecting a pair, but once you try them on, be sure you can see about a ½-inch of footbed all around your foot. Also, walk around a little to make your feet don’t slip and slide around too much.
2
Support and Comfort
The next thing to check for when choosing a pair of flip flops is adequate foot support and other comfort features, especially for those with flat feet or for anyone who suffers from plantar fasciitis or a related condition.
To this end, many flip flops have a cushioned, extra spongy sole. And some find flip flops with a little bit of a wedge or a slight heel particularly comfortable. At this point, it’s also important to consider the strap. The broader the strap, the less likely it is to cause a blister.
What’s more, added features like a heel strap help keep your feet securely in place, helping you walk properly, and keeping the flip flop on when wading in water or while rafting or kayaking. Some also find flip flops with a higher, t-bar design particularly comfortable.
Flip flops may seem simple at first, or like they couldn’t possibly be comfortable when worn for an extended period of time. The truth is, flip flops aren’t like they used to be, and these days, many pairs of flip flops are durable, comfortable, and most of all — they simply look great.
We hope this ranking of the best flip flops for men helped you find your perfect pair.
Our Process
For this guide on the best flip flops for men, our team spent 5 hours researching the most popular options from over 25 brands and manufacturers big and small. We then read about twenty-five user reviews (both positive and negative) to discover what shoppers thought about each of the best flip flops for men. After comparing this data, we narrowed our list down to the top 5 flip flops for men on the market. You can count on this research to guide you to a mindful purchasing decision.
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Further Reading
