I’ve Bought These $5 Gap Flip-Flops 3 Summers in a Row
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A colleague recently told me I don’t strike her as an “ugly-shoe person,” and she’s right. I’m not. I don’t care very much for inclement-weather-friendly shoes, and I can get by without proper foot support (I’m a flat-shoe fiend). In the spring and summer, I largely live insandalsandflip-flops, and while I have several elegantly cut leather pairs likeA. Emery Kintos,Margaux Deais, andGewls Chiaras— all well made (and accordingly priced) — one of the constants in my summer shoe rotation isGap’s plastic men’s flip-flops.
They’re the sweatpants of flip-flops for me: no frills, slightly drab, but consistently reliable. I buy the men’s version in a size bigger than my normal one for a roomier fit (thewomen’s versionis too slim for my liking, with a narrower footbed and straps, and the Gap logo is bigger). I have two pairs in my closet at all times: one I consider my indoor “chanclas” (literally the Spanish word for flip-flops or a kind of throwaway house slipper) and one I reserve for wearing outside.
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For a pair of 100 percent plastic shoes under $10, they have, surprisingly, taken me places. They’re my go-tos in the summer for all kinds of casualwear. I’ve comfortably trod miles in them, summer in and summer out, without ever getting a blister, including on aimless six-mile evening walks around Astoria and early-morning commutes on Metro-North to an upstate cottage. They’ve gone on the subway to a hotel pool in Greenpoint and on strolls around Williamsburg on 100-degree days. Their foamy feel underfoot help prevent heel pain, at least for me, and because I buy them large, there’s extra cushioning around my heel and toes (especially when they slightly swell in the heat).
The soles do wear down more easily than, say,Havaianas, but I’ve never had a hole in a pair and the thong has never torn out (save for the occasional pair I’ve worn for house chores, which require more bending and contorting). And importantly, I’ve never slipped when wearing them at the pool, nor do I ever feel bad about getting them covered in sunscreen, tanning oil, and sand; they rinse clean in minutes.
They’re not at all fit for more glamorous occasions, like dressier dinners and nighttime dates, but these are the flip-flops that get me through the simple times. I never stray from buying them in black, where the Gap logo on the strap is almost invisible, and I can always count on their being in stock online or in store a block away from me if I need a new pair. And they’re almost always on sale for under $6, as they are right now.
The other flat sandals I live in
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I've logged the most miles in these from Astoria to Amalfi.
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This newer addition to my rotation is now among my favorites. I like the wide, square footbed.
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I've worn these all month. The suede is soft, and they're light on the foot with a unique toe strap.
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For the strapless averse: The minimal straps make for an understated look and hours of easy wear.
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I love the clear jelly against a dark leather sole. But be warned: Blisters may occur.
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I own these in a sold-out red. Once broken in, the straps are supple and suitable for trekking.
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