Can You Actually Walk in Jelly Flip-Flops? I Tried 7 Pairs.

I’d been covetingChloé’s Jelly Sandalfar too much for my own good when these not-so-dissimilar Gap ones caught my eye. They seemed too good to be true: stylish, perpetually on sale (often for under $20), and available in eight colors. They turned out to be even cuter in person, and I wanted to love them. But however large my tolerance for a flat sandal may be, these far exceeded my limits for what’s appropriate on city pavements. I was often grossed out by the proximity of near-nuclear rainwater to my toes. One night, while wearing these out on the Lower East Side, I had to stop to wipe my feet off because they’d gotten gross from New York sidewalks. They’re surprisingly comfortable despite their thinness — I managed 15,000 blister-free steps in them — but they’ve been officially cast aside as an adorable but not-for-the-streets shoe.

These Senso ones suffered a similar fate to Gap’s. While wider in the toe bed and overall very comfortable — I wore them out of the box to run errands and had no issues — the soles were simply too thin and floppy. They’re slightly thicker than the Gap ones, but I could still feel every pebble and divot on the ground and didn’t feel far enough removed from sidewalk grime. They’re great for casual walks, with a soft, almost suede-like sole, and I loved styling their pop of red with black poplin skirts, shorts, and jeans. But I couldn’t get past the utter flatness.

These were the first pair of jelly sandals I tried, and they nearly put me off the style entirely. They’re stunning and, like all Ancient Greek shoes, great quality. But the thick straps and thicker leather sole (so heavy that even my not-a-fashion-girlie brother picked them up and asked, “Aren’t these too heavy?”) made for blisters galore. I had to stop into a supermarket 30 minutes into my first time wearing them to buy Band-Aids. I gave them another gander two weeks later on a day spent largely poolside (with some very light strolling in Dumbo). By that evening, my feet were marked with the beginnings of blisters. I had sized up to a 39 in these but wondered if I should have sized up even further; the sole and toe bed seem to skew narrow. Regardless, I needed something less painful, so I left these behind.

These were everywhere this summer. It felt like everyone was talking about them (includingthis very site), and now I get why. They fit and feel how I imagineArchiesdo: very supportive with a sloped, wedge-like sole and straps that run nearly the entire length of your foot. They’re essentially a more attractive version of a performance flip-flop. This pair’s PVC is firm and hard underfoot compared to thinner, softer ones on this list. While this puts more distance between your foot and the ground, it makes them somewhat uncomfortable for longer distances, which is ultimately why they weren’t winners. I wore them for about 15,000 steps through the Upper East Side on a rainy day, and while I didn’t get blisters, I did feel the beginnings of some on the top of my foot, where the straps had begun to slightly dig in and create soreness. That aside, I was surprisingly really into these, despite their slightly athletic look. They’re a solid, oft on-sale option that keeps your feet far away from city grime.

I enjoyed thesemuchmore than the brand’s leather-soled version above. The plastic is soft and pliable, and the straps mold to your foot instead of feeling thick and clunky. The wide footbed made the shoes comfortable right out of the box. I never once got blisters in them. They were safe to wear poolside, too, with no slipping or sliding even when wet. I only deduct points because, while thicker than the too-thin pairs above, these still felt pretty flat. I could manage a few miles in them without discomfort but wouldn’t go farther. But for shorter-term wear, they’re great, and the green’s an especially striking shade for summer.

I’d love to know what’s in Zara’s water these days. The brand’s shoes have come out on top in two of my recent hunts (jazz sneakersandballet mules), and now they’ve won again. These sandals have no business being as comfortable — let alone as attractive — as they are. As soon as I received them, I wore them to get a pedicure and do some reporting in Kips Bay. No issues. Soon after, I wore them through a weekend of hilly, sandy, and pebbly walking on Long Island, and although my feet were coated in sunscreen and water, these stayed put. The placement and length of the straps on these makes for a much longer silhouette, which, coupled with the generous toe bed, means my toes aren’t dangling off or touching grime. But the shoe bottom’s grippy texture is the star of the show: It doesn’t just help prevent any tripping or slipping; it’s what distinguishes this pair from all the others. It’s not so thick it becomes heavy, like Gap’s, but not so thin I’m grossed out. They’re cute enough to wear to the office and comfortable enough to toss in my bag in case of a shoe emergency. The now sold-out clear/black colorway I tried is reminiscent of asignificantlypricierChristopher Esberpair, but I’ve spotted them in other colorwayson stylish women across the city, too. Just note the those other colorways are selling out fast, too, including the brown shade linked here.

It’s rare to be able to use the words “jelly” and “dressy” in the same sentence, but with these, you can.At first glance, they don’t even look like a jelly sandal; they’re more akin to the kitten-heeled flip-flops every 20-something is wearing right now. The slight heel gives the shoe a sloping fit that somehow provides support at the center of your heel.This explains why I easily logged several miles in these on the first few wears, walking through the city with zero blisters or soreness. And these were just as safe to wear through a soaking and sweaty pool day in Dumbo as they were styled for an evening out in LIC. The ribbed thong straps are wide at the base, cradling the sides of the foot securely. And the jelly is so soft it’s nearly buttery; I never had issues with chafing. All these elements make the shoe not just comfortable but universally flattering — so much so that they’ve begun to rival some of the beloved genuine leather heels in my closet.