Smarter: Are Flip-Flops Bad for You?

By Pang-Chieh Ho
Senior Home & Appliances Writer

August 17, 2022

This week I’m asking the important summer question: Flip-flops, yay or nay? Eighty-five percent of participants in our Instagram poll said they felt some level of discomfort after wearing flip-flops, and so I asked podiatrists to weigh in on whether this type of shoe is truly bad for your feet.

Also in this issue: How to make the most out of limited storage space, and is watermelon good for you?

THE BIG STORY:
'A Slippery Slope’

I remember my first pair of flip-flops. The bottoms were a warm, almost oak-colored brown, and there were blue leather flowers studded on the straps. They were stunning to look at and an absolute nightmare to wear.

Perhaps it didn’t help that my first time wearing them was during a summer camp when it rained for days, and I went from never wearing flip-flops before in my life to wearing them exclusively for four days straight. I walked in them. When a typhoon hit, I ran in them, my toes clenching the straps tightly the whole time, holding on for dear life. Afterward, I couldn’t really feel my toes for at least a month.

My flip-flops days are mostly gone now. I hardly ever wear them, mostly because I like having feeling in my toes. But given how hot and humid it can be these days, I feel tempted to give them another chance and let my feet breathe. Should I wear them again? Or do the health effects of flip-flops far outweigh their convenience and their comfort in the summer?

Are flip-flops bad for your feet?
They can be because they don’t usually provide much support to your feet. Their structure, as well as their lack of stability, can cause your foot to have to “fight to stay within the shoe” and leads to strain or overuse of the tendons and ligaments within your foot and ankle, says Michael Coyer, DPM, a foot and ankle surgeon who’s based in California and is a Fellow Member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

They can lead to problems such as plantar fasciitis (heel pain), posterior tibial tendonitis (swelling and pain in the middle arch of your foot), and other aches and pains in the feet, says Ebonie Vincent, DPM, a foot and ankle surgeon and partner of Orange County Podiatry in Orange and Long Beach, Calif.

Many of these problems were similarly echoed by our Instagram followers, who said they felt the most pain in their arches, heels, and toes after wearing flip-flops. For one of our followers, it was an unfortunate double whammy: They have plantar fasciitis and heel spurs.

Okay, but if I am already wearing them, is there anything I can do to protect my feet?
Wear them only for shorter distances, such as when you’re at the beach, at the pool, or in the locker room. While flip-flops can seem convenient, if you wear them for extended periods of time, they might cause strain beyond your feet and toes and lead to pain in your knees, hips, or back, Coyer says.

If you are purchasing flip-flops, you should choose a pair that has some degree of arch support, and preferably a stiffer bottom. This can at least potentially diminish the chances of you experiencing a foot or ankle problem.

Also, test out your flip-flops by gently rolling the shoe from end to end, ensuring that it bends at the ball of your foot. If it folds in half instead, that’s a good indicator that the shoes will not support your feet adequately, Vincent says.

What are better summer shoe alternatives?
If you’re looking for shoes to stay cool in the summer, a sandal that straps around the back of your heel and over the foot will allow your foot to remain within the shoe and function more normally. But for longer periods of standing or walking, a stiff-soled shoe with a closed heel will provide better support.

Bonus reading: What’s the best time in the day to shop for shoes if you want to ensure a better fit? Here’s what we say.

THE PUBLIC HAS SPOKEN

Previously, in a poll and on social media, I asked y’all what kind of air conditioner you’re using at home. The majority of you say you’re using a central air conditioner, way more than the people using a portable air conditioner or solely relying on fans, the two least popular options.

Unsurprisingly, location matters a lot when it comes to AC use. Many Facebook users who live in Texas say they need to rely on central air conditioners and sometimes window AC units in conjunction to beat the heat. As one user points out, “not having AC in South Texas in the summer is as ridiculous as not having heat in Northern Minnesota in the winter.”

On the other side of the equation, a Facebook user who is in San Francisco says they can just rely on fans because “living in San Francisco is like standing in front of an open freezer.”

HACK OF THE WEEK

Maybe you’re a college student who’s just moved into a dorm where space is limited. Or maybe you’re living in a small apartment where your bedroom is also moonlighting as a living room/office/storage area. If that’s the case, here are some tips from organization experts on how to make the most out of your space. (You can read the full article here.)

👚 Skip bulky hangers. To save space in your closet, use slim hangers made out of felt or plastic.

🛏️ Elevate your bed. Bed risers are a great way to create additional storage space under your bed.

🔌 Gather your cables. Bundle up all the cables you’re using with rubber bands, hair ties, Velcro strips, or flexible cable sleeves and hide them behind furniture.

Also, check out the 13 storage tools that organization professionals say they can’t live without.

THE GOOD STUFF

Here’s why you should use a handkerchief.

HERE'S OUR VERDICT

Is watermelon good for you? Yes, and it’s more nutritious than you might think.

Fun fact: Watermelon is one of the few foods that is packed with lycopene, an antioxidant that gives the fruit’s flesh its distinctive reddish-pink color and may help protect against heart disease and certain cancers. So the sweeter and the redder the flesh, the more nutritious the watermelon.

THE SHORT ANSWER

Do electric vehicles need special tires? Yes.

"Gotta keep you on your toes."

Pang-Chieh Ho

Pang-Chieh Ho is a senior content creator at Consumer Reports who writes about the intersections of home products and health. She has been working in the media industry for almost 10 years. Books are her first love, but movies come a close second. You can send tips to her at [email protected].