I work at home, live in Florida. Flip flops are my main footwear. My latest two pairs have been Sanuk. Latest are these 'Beer Cozy' and they are light and comfortable. I see they make a 'light' version too. SanukŪ Beer Cozy Flip Flops | Official Site

Mark

Hey, done. That search put me in touch with a local store. I'm on it. Thanks

Rainbows or Oakleys

Rainbow Sandals

Oakley

Oakley Vault

I prefer my Teva Mush Flip flops. My first pair lasted 7 years of reasonably heavy use. They aren't super expensive but plenty comfortable and long lasting.

I would also +1 on Five Fingers. I have 6 pairs and I love them. If you consider the shape of your foot as strange than they look strange but if not they are awesome.

If those options aren't up your alley, I will say that Sanuks are quite comfortable (I don't own a pair yet but I have tested them at work). They make flip flops and sandals that look nice enough to go out to a restaurant or some place a little fancier without drawing too much attention.

For the suggested uses, ripo-crocs are way better. I wear them in the winter through to swimming off rocky beaches in the summer. Certainly flip flops are cooler looking, probably even in the middle of the crocs craze. You don't see many movie stars in crocs. But flip flops are largely useless, and so far, at almost any price they all seem to fall apart in short order. I also know of several people including one of my daughters, who have been seriously injured (required two surgeries) wearing flip flops, but I guess something bad can happen from anything.

Reefs. You'll be happy with your choice. I've been a practically year-round, daily flip-flop wearer for probably 15yrs now(started in high school) and have tried Many brands, from cheapo to expensive. In a quality, lasting flop, you want something with a firmer rubber sole, a slightly raised heal, and a solidly anchored fabric band between the toe. Reefs will have all of that, a bottle opener(for most models), not be too heavy, be very comfortable, and last. I've blasted through plenty of cheapos in a month or two, tried the longer lasting heavy leather types, the slightly lighter, but expensive leather types, and Reefs are the best I've found. I'd recommend something in their $50 range. I would support what others are saying about Tevas too. I've owned a couple pairs of them. They make some totally decent flops, but not quite as nice as Reefs in my experience. Vibrams are also nice, and that's what I'll wear when it hits freezing or below if I'm going to be outside for more than a couple minutes. For taking on tour for shower use and the like, I'd go with flops. Vibrams aren't as convenient, tend to get smelly if you don't wash them regularly, and aren't generally considered as comfortable for someone not used to wearing them regularly.

MassiveD - Try Reefs. I promise they won't fall apart. I wear flops more than most people and therefore wear them out more quickly. I'd kill a pair of cheap flops in a month or less depending on how crappy they are, but Reefs will last me nearly a year(just as long as shoes that I wear daily for work) And what do you mean flip-flops are largely useless? I'm asking this genuinely, not as a smart-ass rhetorical question. As far as I see it, they're just like any other footwear minus sporting activities that require footwear firmly secured to your foot like soccer or something. I wear flip-flops daily for anything except sports activities. I bike in them as long as it's not below ~50 degrees or raining. How do they not work out for you?

Best flip flops for men,, has got to be Bruce Jenner............

Oh I see what you did there. Heh.

Will check them out. They aren't sold in Canada. Cheers

I have enjoyed every pair of Olu Kai sandals I own. 5 pair to date. Might give them a try. Very comfortable in my opinion.

OluKai | Luxury Hawaiian Sandals, Shoes & Boots

Good luck!

Ya they look pretty good. Not sure if they are available in Toronto though. I'm off to see a local shoe place that has some others mentioned in this thread. Maybe they are there, not sure.

Cheers

Wanderer for the win!

Best flip flops for women: Chastity Bono.

Google soccer slides. I like the ones w/o velcro, they dry faster. You can wear socks with them since they don't have the toe separator.

Yeah, not a fan. I prefer ff's.

I like the Croc flip flops...Athens or Modi models.

I've used croc knockoffs extensively in the past. Light weight counts for a lot. But they are very noisy to walk in when wet. And I always cut off the strap.

But I also have often used slides like these from Walmart -- in fact, when I am in North America, that's where I usually buy my next pair when the old ones wear out.

No thing between the toes, Velcro adjustable, wide top, comfortable to walk in whether to/from the shower, through campgrounds, and at the beach. But they are also lightweight, easy to stow, and I like the moulding for the footbed.

Back in Australia, there are quite nice variations appearing now, and I am wearing a comfortable pair right now.

So the slide designs are the best flip flops for me.

Rowan - -
In Saudi Arabia there is capital punishment for adultery.
On Fire Island there is capital punishment for wearing slides like those.

I vote for Tevas or lookalikes.
Most rear panniers have velcro loops or rings where you can strap the Tevas on the outside.
So even if they are a little bulky, they don't have to go in the panniers.

I saw Teva's Original sandals at REI for 10$ today.

I own two pairs of OluKai's, love them.

I have been touring on a pair of these going on three years now. Same shoes cleated in for pedaling, wading in the creek and in the shower. Just bring these and no spares now. One shoe does everything very well.

I have a pair of Shimano sandals and have considered them for extended touring. But the answer has been no and likely be the same into the future.

Sure they can be used for bathing in, but they do take time to dry, and in cold weather that can problematic.

When dining out, I prefer to be a bit more formal with enclosed shoes.

Sunburn on the feet can be an issue.

Playing in the ocean means corrosion for the cleats and the screws will likely have to be drilled out.

And I have it on good authority that the stink they take on is not very pleasant for others in the vicinity, especially in a tent.

Some love their sandals, but I am not so enamoured except for day rides like today's or weekend tours.

I love sandals for riding, speaking of cycling specific ones. The are pretty much shoes really. There is not a lot that is left uncovered. I always wear socks with them. I don't know where this anti socks thing comes from, but British people, and Japanese people don't seem to hold with it. It isn't a sexy look like flip flops on nice feet, but then neither do jeans compare to thongs, but both have their place. Sandals are like boots with only the technical component left in place. That actually frees things up for creative solutions to keeping warm, rather than having components integrated. It works better to have warm socks and goretex covers than trying to integrate goretex into a boot, which is a bit of a nightmare. I'd buy ice climbing boots and X-country ski boots in sandal form if they made them. For a while they made fly fishing shoes in sandal form, but I missed that craze.

I use sandals exclusively for touring, but I still carry crocs for the showers, and kicking around. It is too bad that crocs aren't fashionable any more, as understandable as it is that they aren't. Because having them accepted in restaurants was just a bonus.