JillDavis~ It only matters if they are comfortable for YOU. There's no shoe that works for everyone. For me I'd probably break my neck in those (for something with height, I like it strapped on my foot a bit more securely). Also doesn't matter what the company claims. Mephisto, for example, are supposed to be great walking shoes and they are horribly uncomfortable for me.

c1thom - I hope you enjoy them!

I travel business class, have never even seen a Walmart, and also work with university students who would be amazed at the serious nature of the objections to this type of footwear- so guess I am not going to worry too much about my image!

Wow - people do get excited about footwear.

Have a great trip.

I always throw a cheap pair of Walmart flipflops into my YSL handbag. Just in case. You just never know.

bowsprit - it's amazing how good they can feel on tired, weary feet!

I reckon that if flip flops are good enough for the Taliban they are good enough for tourists

wow - sounds like someone's trying to pick a fight.

c1thom: I keep them with me so I can relieve pressure at the start of a blister (foot death for touring). There's less likely to be a blister starting in the winter because socks offer a layer of protection. But in the summer, when feet act funky, I whip out my flip flops, throw my shoes in the big bag and just keep walking.

I wear flip flops as often as I can. When I travel to Europe I try to find dressy ones as they are a little more fashion conscious.

People from beachy communities find it hard to move on to real shoes after life in flip flops.

Flip flops are terrible for those with knee issues. They obviously don't offer any support at all.

I don't wear flip flops on the boat. Very unsafe.

I am one of those who has worn flipflops on every vavation for years. As I get older and wiser, I now realize they are for the beach and kicking around. Not for serious sight-seeing. I have been caught in a rainstorm in the Coba jungle in Mexico,very slippery. In Pompeii, Italy I wished I had sneakers on. The uneaven pavement and cobblestone roads were a deathtrap with flipflops on. I hate having my feet in closed shoes, but twisting your ankle can ruin the rest of your vacation. Having said all that, we will be in France in May, and I will of course pack my flipflops, but I'll be wearing my sneakers.

Wear what you want to. I was in London and Paris last year in April. The weather got hot, and the locals flooded every park wearing shorts, sandals and flip flops and were soaking up the sun>>

yes but the locals aren't walking 5 miles sightseeing in those same flipflops! perhaps if you wear them all day, everyday at home they'll be ok, but mostly people who wear them on holiday don't do that. but by all means pack them - if nothing else, they'll be good in the shower and they don't weigh much.

ds - I'm with you. I wore the same pair of trainers for walking round Rome a couple of weeks ago, and my feet were as happy at the end of the week as they were at the beginning. if it was a late spring/summer trip, I'd have packed some sandals too, but after what they did to my feet in Barcelona last year, I'd not be wearing them for serious sightseeing in the day.

Wow!
Flip flops get alot of attention here and provoke alot of strong reactions. This was not something that came up years ago, BFF (before flip flops)

As much as I personally dislike them the fact is that they are now "acceptable" in many countries. Of course that does not mean they are considered good taste but that is subjective and really not your question. And people who wear them think they look good, even (gasp) cute. Yes I am one of those that thinks they are slovenly looking except on very hot days at the seashore or pool..

If flip flops are comfortable for you by all means take them.

Oh sorry to address you other question:

" What if they were dressy sandals, patent leather or such, that happen to have a thong between the toe?"

Well then they sound more like the dressy sandals you describe not actual FFs. In that case if they are comfy, go for it.

<<yes but the locals aren't walking 5 miles sightseeing in those same flipflops! perhaps if you wear them all day>>

That is the crux of the problem. If you love the shoes then bring them along for short walks to dinner, but bring comfortable walking shoes for sightseeing.

amsdon: Amazing how much attention flip-flops get! and agreed about the strong opinions! Yikes! I decided that since I wear FFs at home, all over, to almost anywhere, I'll take them along, with a pair of closed shoes, in case it's cold. I've worn "dressy" flip-flops (with a kitten heel) to a wedding last summer and received tons of compliments. Amazing how acceptable they've become, and if one has nice feet and painted toenails, they can look lovely - IMO!
Thanks for all the input.

Don't get me started about painted toenails. You have gone too far! :P

I think that the biggest issue here is the definition of "flip-flop". Are we talking about thin plastic/foam/rubber sandals sold at drug stores? Are we talking about dressy sandals with a heel that have a thong between the toes? Or maybe something in the middle like the leather sandals mentioned with the good cushy sole?

so far as I'm concerned [and probably the rest of the europeans here] a flipflop is indeed one of those plastic/foam jobs sold generally at cheap shops; though there are some more expensive fancy ones, they all share the thong through the toes - that's what makes them a flipflop.

$2 at Wal-Mart. Yes, the Parisians wear them.

Hi there Annhig,

I will add the flip flop traditionally made a noise when you walked. Kind of a flopf flopf flopf flip flop sound.

They are also known as zories or chanclas or chancletas....
Interesting to note the urban use is now also including chancletas as a derogatory adjective meaning cheap...http://www.urbandictionary.com/defin...erm=chancletas

My definition of a flip-flop is anything that has two straps, stemming from the thing (thong?) that goes between your big toe and second toe. I have very dressy flip-flops with small heels and sequins and the $2 kind from Old Navy that I would wear on the beach or at the pool. I tool around my town in flip-flops that are somewhere in between - leather straps, slight wedge heel - very cute with shorts or skirts. My favorite look is flip-flops (any of the above), destroyed boyfriend jeans and a tunic or tank. So cute!

And kerouac, I wouldn't leave my house without my toenails painted!

I throw them on when I'm touring a museum. They're great, like wearing slippers. What's wrong with painted toe nails? I haven't had unpainted toenails in 40 years.

I'm too lazy to read all 101 replies. But. You want to wear flip flops in a city? Really?!?
It is dirty and unhygienic, not to mention they are a podiatrist's nightmare. This ain't about fashion. It is eww.

I live in NYC and cringe watching dirty feet walking around in flip flops. Beachwear. Yes. Gettng a pedicure. Yes. Wearing around the house. Yes. Wearing on dirty city streets. No. What is the obsession with people wanting to be barefoot?

Regardless, I guess if you like it, wear what you please though I am silently judging you and staring at your dirty heels.

Make sure you get them on the right feet, otherwise you'll be wearing flop flips.

c1, when you tool around town, are you walking? Do you walk 4 or 5 hours everyday? If so and you wear flip-flops, go for it. But sightseeing in a city means hours of walking, day after day. Interposed with standing, which is more tiring.

But maybe you can find some nice walking sandals to buy. Mine I bought in Bath, also in May, when there was unexpectedly warm weather.

If you are young, live in flip flops at home, and can comfortably walk miles in them... I say go for it.

But most people are more comfortable with something a bit more substantial for all day touring in a European city.

I couldn't resist responding to this thread as choosing shoes for a trip overseas is always of paramount importance for me. If your feet hurt,you are miserable! I second the many responses that say wear what is comfortable for you. My first trip to London, in my twenties, I wore a pair of brand new Famolares, anybody remember the brand?, did not wear them in and was so miserable in the British Museum that I missed the wonders of the Rosetta Stone. This time around, in my fifties, the shoe to wear for our trip in June is a huge issue as I have flat feet and a bunyon.
I just purchased a Romika sandal which is working out so far. I also like Clark's and Merrells; but again your shoe is a personal choice. I wear open-toed sandals all the time here in the southwest and have worn them to London 3 times and am comfortable for awhile. My loving DH carries a spare pair of shoes for me in his backpack so that I may change shoes during the course of the day.
It's true that I never walk as much at home as I do while in London. I dislike white gym shoes, make my feet look huge and they don't feel any more comfortable than any other shoe. You should have seen what I looked like at Fountains Abbey two years ago, in black Keens with white socks and capris. I haven't lived that one down yet; but my feet were cold and they hurt.
My daughter, 13, is coming and I have looked askance at her no support old flats that she is bringing; but as they are comfortable for her she must wear what she must. I will advise that she take another shoe to change out for our time in the country.
So wear what you want, don't worry too much about what people will think, be comfortable, be happy and have a wonderful trip!

idesofmarch: thanks for the advice, and what a sweet hubby you must have - carrying extra shoes around for you! I also will say that, no matter what time of the year I travel, if my feet start to kill me and I don't have other, more comfortable shoes, it just gives me a good excuse to buy a new pair! Which of course I'll be happy to do while in Paris.

While buying new shoes in Paris sounds in theory like fun, I wouldn't want to HAVE to be out shopping because the shoes I brought along weren't working out and my feet were killing me.

I can only reco that everyone who wants to wear flip flops in europe try them out by walking for 4 or 5 hours on city streets. What works if you go form the house to the car to the mall to the cafe to the house - which is really just a few blocks of walking - is very different than 4 or 5 miles on uneven city pavements.

If you can do the latter in flip flops - more power toy ou.

Has anyone had an experience with Aerosoles or Naturalizer? I went shopping this weekend and saw some cute sandals.

Actually, my most comfortable sandles are Etienne Aigner that I bought in tjmaxx but I've seen them online too. A little bit of a heel to release my Achilles tendon always seems to help me. I've worn everything: from the Ugliest naots to cute aerosoles and nothing works day after day. I need to switch them u[. I add gel insoles too to switch them out and redistribute the pressure.

I need to switch them 'up', not u[.

I flop flipped. Sorry.

Some Aerosoles work well (for me) - not all of them have a really cushiony sole but the ones that do are nice. Unfortunately, my foot is a little wide for many of their styles.

The most comfortable shoes for me are my crocs. They are the only shoes I have worn that have never blistered or hurt my feet. I have the relatively cute sling-back style but I know they are hardly a fashion statement.

Humans have existed for around 500,000 years.
They did not have footwear for the first 495,000 years.

Yep, no sneakers, flip flops, sling backs or cute boots.

A large number of people wear in developing countries wear flip flops made out of recycled vehicle tyres.

Wear what you want !

Peter

The good thing about thong sandals is they are light weight. Toss a pair in your suitcase as a second pair of shoes. If you wear them, great. If you don't, you haven't carried around a pair of hiking boots.

did you hear about the man with 2 left feet?

he bought himself a pair of flip flips....... i'll get my coat...

What entertainment!
I flip flopped happily around France for a month because my feet were cool and (for me) comfortable.
Wear whatever you can walk long distances in at home or away.

...And cherry bomb, have fun checking out my dirty heels, it doesn't bother me a bit!

When I am on holidays I have better things to do than checking out other people's holiday garb.

Naot sandals are the only ones I've ever found that I can walk all day in, and even them only certain styles. Ecco and Aerosole both, I've had some good ones, and some real duds.

Ozgirl: it isn't about judging your vacationwear, I stare at gross dirty heels daily while commuting to work in the warm months. Sorry, I just don't get the need to be barefoot while not on the beach and in a concrete jungle.

As far as vacation wear or whatever, wear what you like. I just don't understand the flip flop barefoot need whether on vacation or at home. Just me, and I will silently judge you and occasionally take pictures and post to facebook with my iPhone with my commentary when especially egregious.