When summer comes around, it’s natural to want to keep cool however you can. You put on T-shirts and shorts, wear a hat, and, yes, swap out your sneakers for sandals. But the heat is never an excuse for looking less than your best.
The best flip-flops for men are a great way to look laid-back and relaxed while keeping cool. As long as you’re someone who doesn’t take life (or yourself) too seriously, there’s no reason not to get yourself a great pair of men’s flip-flops for the summer.
That’s even more true because this list of 8 of the best flip-flops for men contains some products that look really damn cool. These days, you can get a pair of flip-flops that go far beyond what you’d find for sale in a beachside shack.
Let’s jump right into the recommendations.
Key Takeaways
As you can probably tell from the intro, I’m a big fan of wearing flip-flops during the summer. I’ve basically been researching this article my entire adult life.
And, of all the pairs I’ve owned over the years, the OLUKAI Mea Ola Men’s Beach Sandals are definitely the ones I want to put at the top of this list of the best flip-flops for men. They’re made by a unique brand that’s inspired by the history of Hawaii, and both their designs and their materials are simply top-notch.
I also put on a classic pair of Adidas flip-flops that you can always wear, as well as a high-concept, high-design pair of Tom Ford flip-flop sandals. And that’s just getting started—I’m sure you’ll be able to find a pair of flip-flops you love among all these great options.
Why they’re great: These super cool flip-flops from the Hawaii-based OLUKAI brand take their inspiration from polynesian culture. The brown leather and intricate designs look really great together, and as a result you can feel comfortable wearing these in situations that would usually call for more formal footwear than flip-flops.
Who are they for? If you’re a fan of making bold choices when it comes to how you dress, then you might just like what this innovative brand is putting out.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: These are some of the best flip-flops for men. However, they are very attention-grabbing, which might not be great for those who want a pair of flip-flops that are more likely to fade into the background.
Material: 100% Leather | Sole Material: 100% Elastomeric polymer | Sizes Available: U.S. 7 – U.S. 15 | Colors Available: 5
Why they’re great: These affordable yet functional men’s flip-flops are great for wearing around your cabin, cottage, or living space. Their black color and design are perfectly simple in the best possible way, meaning that you can wear them with anything.
Who are they for? I think it’s a great investment to buy a few pairs of these to have around your home so that you never need to go hunting for a pair of flip-flops.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: These are the classic flat profile flip-flops, so you can’t really expect great arch support from them.
Material: 100% Polyester | Sole Material: 100% Brushed synthetic | Sizes Available: U.S. 8 – U.S. 9 | Colors Available: 1
Why they’re great: These reserved flip-flops feature amazing leather and strong and hardy construction. Unlike some of the other options on this list, these aren’t really flip-flops that stand out. And that’s a really good thing in this case.
Who are they for? Anyone who wants a simple pair of sandals they can rely on should check out these men’s flip-flops.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: The rubber sole doesn’t have too much give to it, which isn’t ideal for anyone looking for a softer and spongier flip-flop.
Material: 100% Leather | Sole Material: 100% Rubber | Sizes Available: U.S. 6 – U.S. 13 | Colors Available: 2
Why they’re great: One common bone that people like to pick with flip-flops is their lack of support. That can definitely be an issue for some people, but luckily, it’s one that the Vionic Wyatt Men’s Arch Supportive Sandal solves handily with its arch-supporting design.
Who are they for? If you find that you’re often uncomfortable in conventional men’s flip-flops, then I’d urge you to give these a try.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Some customers have reported that these take a few wears to break in, but after that initial period, they’re quite comfortable.
Material: 100% Leather or Ethylene Acetate | Sole Material: 100% Rubber | Sizes Available: U.S. 7 – U.S. 13 | Colors Available: 7
Why they’re great: Even though I’ve put the adidas Men’s Comfort Flip Flop Sandals in the best on Amazon slot on this list, these are absolutely one of my favorite pairs of sandals ever put out into the world. They’re basically the flip-flop version of the brand’s iconic slip-on sandals.
Who are they for? Comfort is at the top of the list of desirable features for a pair of men’s flip-flops for most shoppers. This product’s incredibly soft yet hardy sole means you don’t need to look any further if you’re looking for comfort.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: You might kinda feel like you’re missing out on the classic adidas slip-ons if you decide to go for these. But, if you’re absolutely sure that you want a pair of flip-flops, then these are a great purchase.
Material: 100% Rubber | Sole Material: 100% Rubber | Sizes Available: U.S. 5 – U.S. 13 | Colors Available: 5
Why they’re great: These upscale leather sandals from Tom Ford, complete with a large golden version of the brand’s logo, are a bold fashion choice. Although they have the thong design like other men’s flip-flops, the thicker and straighter top band gives them a totally different look.
Who are they for? If you’re looking to make an impression with an impressive pair of sandals at your next pool party or outdoor event, then I’d urge you to consider these.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: Those who don’t like large branding elements on their clothes definitely won’t love these sandals. But those kinds of items are definitely in some other fashion wheelhouses.
Material: 100% Leather | Sole Material: 100% Leather | Sizes Available: U.S. 7 – U.S. 12 | Colors Available: 1
Why they’re great: Teva is famous for making great sandals that stand up to lots of heavy use—even in environments like rough hiking trails. These flip-flops are no exception and will be able to put up with the challenge of heavy, everyday wear.
Who are they for? The Teva Men’s ReFlip Sandals are some of the best flip-flops for men. They’re great for a guy who likes to rely on a single pair of sandals during the summer, whether he’s going for a walk or to the grocery store.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: There are only a few colors to choose from with this sandal, and they’re all relatively similar, but there are some good ones.
Material: 100% Recycled polyester | Sole Material: 100% Recycled EVA | Sizes Available: U.S. 8 – U.S. 13 | Colors Available: 4
Why they’re great: These black and white-accented flip-flops from Dsquared2 are the perfect sandals to slip into on your way to the beach. They have a really cool graphic pattern on the sole, so they look great even if you’re not wearing them.
Who are they for? Anyone who spends a lot of time on the beach could benefit from having a pair or two of these around.
Flaws but not deal-breakers: These are on the more expensive side when it comes to flip-flops for men, but they do have a very notable design.
Material: 100% Plastic | Sole Material: 100% Rubber | Sizes Available: 39 E.U. – 46 E.U. | Colors Available: 1
Buying Considerations for the Best Flip-flops For Men
Material
There’s a truly mind-bending amount of options when it comes to the different materials used to make flip-flops. There are all manner of different plastics and foams, as well as natural fibers and leather.
Although I’m generally all for getting clothes and shoes made from natural materials, flip-flops are actually an exception to the rule. That’s because plastic works very well on flip-flops, as it provides a lot of strength and flexibility even though there isn’t much material there.
That being said, I am also partial to leather—as you can see from the men’s flip-flops on this list.
Color & Design
It’s important to get a pair of flip-flops that you can feel cool and confident when wearing. Otherwise, you’ll avoid them and never get the benefits of comfort that they can bring on a hot summer day.
For some people, that will mean getting a no-nonsense pair of black flip-flops; others might want to go for a more colorful or unconventional choice. Both the high-concept designs of the OLUKAI Mea Ola Men’s Beach Sandals and the Tom Ford Smooth Leather Sandals can fit the bill for the latter type of customer.
The more utilitarian among us might consider the Teva Men’s ReFlip Sandals or the Dsquared2 Logo-raised Flip-Flops this summer.
Size
Finally, it’s worth saying a word about sizing in the context of the best flip-flops for men. Although your shoe size is a good guide to what size flip-flops you should buy, the thong style of the sandals can lead to some fitting like a dream, whereas others that are the exact same size can cause a lot of discomfort or even blisters.
The sizing guidelines that a brand puts out are your best bet for figuring what size will be ideal for you. Just to be safe, though, it’s always worth ordering from somewhere that has a generous return policy in case you order a pair of flip-flops that don’t feel quite right.
How We Chose
Flip-flops are a bit of a strange category to do a “best of” roundup list of just because of how ubiquitous and uniform they tend to be. That led us to take an approach that elevated the quality of materials and interesting design above all.
If you take a look at the OLUKAI Mea Ola Men’s Beach Sandals, for example, you’ll see that our top pick for the best flip-flops for men has a strong and recognizable identity. They aren’t something you can just pick up while on vacation.
In addition, we also considered the following four factors for each product we recommended. If a product doesn’t pass all four of the tests below with flying colors, then it doesn’t end up on one of our lists.
Brand Reputation: Does the brand have a long track record of putting out excellent products?
Customer Reviews: Do real customers who’ve bought the same or similar products confirm their quality in online reviews?
Price: Does the value for the money you’re getting as a customer match the price tag?
Transparency: Is the brand transparent about crucial details like the origin of their materials and their shipping and return policies?
Why Trust Us?
As an editorial team that’s a fan of summer, travel, and beaches, we have a lot of experience with both flip-flops we’ve loved and ones we’ve hated. Having owned a lot of different men’s flip-flops helped us zero in on what to look for when we were making selections for this list.
Namely, we focused on finding a comfortable and functional pair of flip-flops that can stand up to a second or third look.
After taking a look back at all the flip-flops we’ve owned and scouring the web for new designs and options, we each brought our favorites to the editorial group chat. After a few hours of healthy debate, we all agreed that we’d put together a great list of the best men’s flip-flops that you can find online for this summer.
We hope you’ve managed to find a pair that you’re excited to enjoy the nice weather while wearing.
Final Verdict
Overall, we’ve recommended the OLUKAI Mea Ola Men’s Beach Sandals as the best flip-flops for men. There were a number of reasons for this decision, from the unique design of the sandals to the high-quality materials that they’re made of.
OLUKAI makes a ton of great sandals and summer footwear, and the Mea Ola Men’s beach sandals are no exception. You’ll definitely stand out in a pair of these.
FAQ
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Opinions on this question definitely vary, but if you’re looking to do a lot of walking around in flip-flops, it’s advisable to go with a model that was specifically designed for that purpose. One of the flip-flops that’s consistently most renowned for being comfortable to walk in are the Teva Men’s ReFlip Sandals. That makes sense since the brand has always been about that active and outdoorsy life.
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Although flip-flops aren’t a type of footwear that has topped any list of the most cool shoes for men, they are more than ok to wear in the right settings and circumstances. Flip-flops are an exceptionally comfortable type of sandal for traveling and walking around in, and they can look great with a laid-back outfit. If anyone ever hassles you about them, just tell them to chill and hang loose.
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It’s not a good idea to wear a pair of non-supportive flip-flops every day for the same reason that it’s not a good idea to wear no shoes every day—your feet won’t get the support they need, potentially leading to adverse consequences. However, there’s nothing wrong with wearing flip-flops often or occasionally, especially if you get a pair that offers a good amount of support.
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