The 10 Best Men's Sandals

For a flip-flop that holds up through a long day, the OluKai Ohana is the pair to beat. OutdoorGearLab named it the best flip-flop in a group test that ran for months, praising its grip and arch support. The molded footbed takes a few days to settle into the shape of your foot, and the lining dries fast after a swim. It runs true to size with a roomy fit. It is heavier than a thin foam pair.

Two buckled straps and a contoured cork footbed make the Birkenstock Arizona the classic choice for walking around town all day. The footbed has a raised toe bar and a deep heel cup, and it slowly takes on the shape of your foot. Expect a stiff first couple of weeks. It comes in narrow and regular widths, which few sandal makers offer. It is not made for water, so save it for dry days.

After a run or a long shift on your feet, the OOFOS OOriginal Sport gives sore soles a thick, soft foam bed to stand on. OOFOS says its foam soaks up more impact than ordinary shoe foam and that the shape cradles the arch, but those claims come from the maker. The whole sandal can go in the washing machine. It looks chunky with jeans, and men should order half a size down.

The Rainbow Single Layer Premier is a plain leather flip-flop that has looked the same for decades, and that is the appeal. The nubuck strap feels soft from the first day, and the footbed slowly presses into the shape of your foot. It gives less arch support than a molded pair. Soaking the leather pulls out its natural oils, so this one is for the boardwalk, not the surf.

If you want a soft flip-flop for beach days and errands, the Reef Cushion Phantom LE is a safe middle-price pick. A padded strap with a jersey lining keeps the toe post from digging in, and the cushioned footbed has a gentle arch. Foam and rubber shrug off a dunk in the ocean, and Reef covers defects for a year. With no heel strap, it is not the pair for long walks.

For the pool deck, the gym shower or a quick walk to the mailbox, the adidas Adilette Shower does the job for very little money. It is one piece of molded foam, so it rinses clean and dries in minutes. Adidas lists the materials as vegan. The footbed is nearly flat with almost no arch support, so it suits short stretches, not a full day on your feet.

The Quiksilver Carver Suede brings a shaped footbed and a soft suede strap to a budget price. Its textured foam rises under the arch and cups the heel, and a woven nylon toe post sits between the toes instead of hard plastic. A rubber sole with angled lugs keeps its grip on wet decks. Suede can stain and stiffen once it gets soaked, so let a wet pair dry in the shade.

Men who want their toes covered should look at the Dockers Searose, a fisherman-style sandal that passes for a casual shoe. A wide hook-and-loop strap sets the fit over the instep, and a memory foam footbed adds cushion. The upper is a synthetic made to look like worn leather, so a splash won't hurt it. It comes in whole sizes only, which leaves half sizes with some slack.

Straps at the toe, the instep and the heel let the Skechers Garver Louden hold a foot snug on long walks over pavement. A memory foam footbed with a padded lining keeps it soft, and the rubber sole bends with each step. Skechers cuts it with extra room through the forefoot. The look is sporty, and the padded lining holds water, so skip it for river crossings.

Vionic builds its sandals around arch support, and the Vionic Tide II brings that idea to a simple flip-flop. The footbed has a contoured arch and a deep heel cup that steadies each step, and the light foam midsole flexes easily. Leather trim on the strap dresses it up. The firm arch can take a few days to get used to after flat sandals, and stock in some sizes runs thin.