{"id":1240,"date":"2026-08-05T06:47:24","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T06:47:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/are-summer-sandals-killing-your-feet\/"},"modified":"2026-08-05T06:47:24","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T06:47:24","slug":"are-summer-sandals-killing-your-feet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/are-summer-sandals-killing-your-feet\/","title":{"rendered":"Are summer sandals killing your feet?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Flip-flops have long been the go-to choice for keeping feet cool and comfortable during scorching summer days. Now, they’ve received a stylish upgrade, but questions about their impact on foot health remain. Are these breezy staples secretly harming your feet, or can you wear them without worry?<\/p>\n

The Flip-Flop Debate: Are They Really Bad for Your Feet?<\/h2>\n

Fashion expert and trend forecaster Angela Baidoo notes that the most fashionable way to wear flip-flops this season is with a kitten heel. “It’s not a high heel and it’s really kind of easy to just slip in and slip out of,” she explains. However, heel or no heel, flip-flops have earned a reputation for lacking support and potentially causing foot problems. Is that criticism justified?<\/p>\n

Podiatrist Dr. Helen Branthwaite, chief clinical adviser at the Royal College of Podiatry, says it’s “not accurate” to label all flip-flops as bad. The real issue arises when you suddenly switch from wearing highly structured shoes to flip-flops for extended periods. This transition places extra strain on your feet, making them more susceptible to injury.<\/p>\n

“The foot does start to change shape and tends to splay a little bit over time,” Branthwaite warns. She offers a vivid analogy: “A good analogy is if you were to wear a corset all the time and then took the corset off, everything would sort of all hang out, so to speak.”<\/p>\n

So, what are the stylish yet comfortable alternatives that keep your feet happy all summer long?<\/p>\n

How to Choose Healthy Sandals<\/h2>\n

Baidoo suggests opting for more supportive flip-flop styles, such as those from FitFlop, which feature sturdier, contoured soles. These are a far cry from the flat, thin foam flip-flops that offer virtually no support.<\/p>\n

Trendy Options That Prioritize Comfort<\/h3>\n

For younger generations, sliders are out, and Crocs are in. Though often considered “anti-fashion,” they are designed orthopaedically and are “really comfy,” according to Baidoo. Footbed sandals like Birkenstocks offer similar benefits, combining style with arch support.<\/p>\n

The wooden clog is also making a comeback, favored by professionals like doctors and chefs who spend long hours on their feet. Scholl slider mules, the original orthopaedic shoe, are another option. Baidoo admits she once owned a pair in pink suede.<\/p>\n

Wedges can be a great choice in hot weather, especially for those seeking extra support. “When I speak to some of my friends and some of my clients who work in the plus-size category, the wedge actually provides a form of comfortable footwear. And it provides a nice kind of silhouette for the ankle. You’ve got the support all the way through the shoe,” she shares.<\/p>\n

Classic and Modern Alternatives<\/h3>\n

If you’re looking for something different, consider fisherman-style sandals, reminiscent of a 1970s history teacher\u2014socks optional. “Men can wear it as an alternative to a loafer. It’s not as casual as a flip-flop, which might not be suitable for certain environments. It’s a really cool kind of style to adopt for women too,” Baidoo says.<\/p>\n

What about the trend for minimalist barefoot shoes? Branthwaite emphasizes the importance of easing into them gradually. “Don’t buy a pair and then decide to go on a 5-mile hike,” she advises. Start with short periods to let your feet adapt.<\/p>\n

Expert Tips for Happy Feet<\/h2>\n

Dr. Helen Branthwaite shares her top tips for maintaining foot health during sandal season:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Pay close attention to the sole of the shoe and what it’s made from, because that will influence how your foot moves and how you walk.<\/li>\n
  • If you can bend your flip-flops in two, ask yourself if you’re strong enough to take on the extra load your normal shoe would support.<\/li>\n
  • Don’t forget to check the condition of your feet\u2014the skin can dry out quickly in open footwear like flip-flops. You might not notice until your heel gets firmer and your toenails start to look fragile.<\/li>\n
  • Lather your feet in emollient, a moisturising water retention cream containing urea to hydrate the skin, every day.<\/li>\n
  • Your feet change constantly throughout your life, so get them measured regularly. Just because you start out being a size 6, doesn’t mean you’ll remain a size 6.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    By choosing the right sandals and caring for your feet, you can enjoy the summer without sacrificing comfort or health.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Flip-flops have long been the go-to choice for keeping feet cool and comfortable during scorching summer days. Now, they’ve received a stylish upgrade, but questions about their impact on foot health remain. Are these breezy staples secretly harming your feet, or can you wear them without worry? The Flip-Flop Debate: Are They Really Bad for…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1237,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1240","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1240","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1240"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1240\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1237"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1240"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1240"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myhealtho.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1240"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}