Toe-post sandals - instruments of torture? - YouLookFab Forum

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Toe-post sandals - instruments of torture?

Summer

Veteran

Whatever you call these in your part of the world - toe-posts, flip-flops, thongs - these sandals are perennial summer favourites with many women; but the fact is, I've never been able to wear them without crippling my feet. I've tried on numerous occasions, but, each time, I have found them unbearably uncomfortable. After a few paces, my walking speed slows to snails' pace, and my toes are in agony.

So, to those of you who wear these successfully: what's the secret? Do you just have to persevere until your feet toughen up? Or do you just find them comfortable from the off? I'd love to know.

Conversely, if there are others out there who find these tortuous, I'd be relieved to know that I'm not alone!

General

34 replies

Latest reply was from Kat

Irene

Veteran

You know what, I once had two pairs of thongs (not rubber flip-flops, but actual leather or pleather shoes). I walked in them for ages, but that was 10 years ago, I was a teenager, and now I'm surprised I could ever manage that.

My first pair was an orange platform thong-sandal. It was heavy, and the thong was thick. I can't find anything remotely similar to them online. These were leather.

My second pair had really thin soles and they were pleather. I remember the thong being sort of shiny. I wore those to death. Again, it's a wonder how they didn't kill my feet, but after a while I definitely killed them.

Currently I don't find thongs that appealing any more, and I don't think I could ever wear them again anyway.

Summer

Veteran

Thanks, Irene. I think my teenage self might have had a higher pain threshold, too. I don't feel that drawn to them either, but I'm always amazed when I see others walking around quite happily in them. Maybe I'm just a wimp!

Staysfit

Veteran

I'm not able to wear the standard poolside toe posts, however I find Bikenstock Gizeh's very comfy and I also have a pair of think sandals with a toe post. The Birk's and the Think's are leather, maybe that makes a difference, plus they have supportive footbeds!

Jeweled

Veteran

My toes are very unhappy whenever there's anything between them - flip-flop straps, toe socks, toe rings, etc. I've learned that I need to choose sandals that don't go between my toes.

Astrid

Veteran

As a teenager I wore them happily, but no more... My feet don't like them at all, I can't even wear high quality leather ones. I can't wear the Birkenstock Gizeh for example, I have to stick to other Birkenstock sandals. The only pair of flip flops I still own are over ten years old and were really cheap, I still wear them on trips for taking showers in icky bathrooms.

Liz

Veteran

I have never found these types of shoes uncomfortable at all.

There are shoes that others find perfectly comfortable (pointed toes, for example) that cause me nearly instant pain. I always wondered how other women dealt with the pain of pointed-toe shoes, because I could not fathom they actually found them comfortable, but apparently they do. Sounds like toe-post sandals are that type of shoe for you.

Momo

Veteran

Yes! They are the worst. I absolutely cannot wear them. Some people seem to have no difficulty at all but to me they are an annoyance at best and true pain at worst.

Summer

Veteran

Staysfit - That's interesting. I've always tried leather, but still with discomfort. Maybe the foot-bed makes a difference.

Jeweled and Momo - I quite agree. Normal sandals only for me.

Astrid - You mention the teenage factor as well. I think we suffer for fashion when we are young.

Liz - There you are, someone without any issues with them at all. Maybe you're made of stronger stuff than us! Oh, yes, I also have problems with pointy toes - my feet don't like those either.

Astrid

Veteran

Summer, I don't remember any suffering. I don't think I have ever in my life worn uncomfortable shoes for the sake of looks. They were comfortable to me back then! But curiously not anymore.

Liz

Veteran

Well, I wouldn't say I am made of stronger stuff -- just that my feet are apparently shaped in a way that works for toe-posts.

Joy

Veteran

I wore these as a child and teen and remember that my feet had to toughen up each spring for them to be comfortable. Not only are the toe posts uncomfortable, but the foot is so exposed that the bottoms of the feet are constantly walking on dirt or stones outside. I also had to scrunch my toes to walk and keep them on. I don't wear them now.

Laurinda

Veteran

My younger feet were okay with them, back when 'thongs' referred to a type of footwear. My summers were spent in Bass sandals (Lucca) as a teen. Now they cut in and make me miserable. (I wish there was a terminology I could use when browsing sandals on-line to exclude any with 'toe posts'.) The worst was a pair of wedge sandals that ended with a toe post, adding gravity to the situation; ouch. I sold those at a consignment store the next Spring, within a couple months I saw the same pair back in the shop with a little more wear, so I am not the only non-fan.

Toe loops such as White Mountain Carly or B.O.C. Laurina are comfortable for me.

I need padded heels now too for PF, no more flat flats :-(.

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anne

Veteran

I can't wear them either, and never have!

Kirstjen

Veteran

I agree with Laurinda above. I've had some luck as long as it's a loop around my big toe, as opposed to a strip which goes between the toes. Aside from the foot pain, the sound of the clicking/slapping that thongs make drives me crazy as well, so I tend not to wear them anyway.

always trying

Veteran

In my area they are the prime footwear for everyone. Whole families from toddlers to grands. I do know a few people who don't wear them though. I have worn them for 50 years. There are some, be they leather, faux leather, rubber, or whatever, that are just too hard,and the too hard hurts.

I have found White Mounyain Burk like to be very comfy. Price or brand seem to have nothing to do with how they feel. I just have to try them.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I think some are just not made well and are uncomfortable even for people who can generally wear them. I have a couple of pairs that feel perfectly fine, but I've tried some on that are immediately uncomfortable. I think that some feet have an easier time with them then others. I have relatively long, thin toes, with space between the first and second toe, so maybe that helps? I do find that softer, real leather pieces work much better than plasticky or hard ones.

kkards

Veteran

i find most of these comfortable, but sling backs, now that's a different story. for some reason, i find them to be uncomfortable and after an hour so, i've got the back pulled down and tucked under.

Anonymous

Summer, you're definitely not alone; although I can wear these (after some seasonal breaking in), I have friends who can't stand them. Makes me wonder if thongs -- literally -- hit a nerve on some people. There are two things I find make them easier: 1) A well-made thong with no seam right at the point where the thong hits skin. 2) A contoured footbed (like on Birkis) keeps my foot in place and stops the "toe cleavage" from pushing against the thong.

Anonymous

Interesting. I wear them without any issues - other than the rubbing that can occur from posts on the really cheap flip flops. I have quite a few pair of Havianas, and a pair of Birks that are thong-style. I know from a foot= health perspective that flip flops are not good things to wear, but I admit in summer that they are what I stick on to putter around poolside or in the yard.

rabbit

Veteran

I thought I could never wear them, the area between my toes is delicate I guess, and any rubbing there just hurts. But I currently have some light flat sandals that have a very narrow part that goes between the toes (of a soft material) and have straps over the top of the foot that do all the supporting, so that the toe strap has little pressure on it while walking.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Toe thong sandals -- you either love them or hate them! I don't think I've ever heard anyone express middling feelings about them.

For me, they were comfortable from the off. I'm sorry; there's no secret. If they're not comfortable for you, they're probably not going to be. I'm not sure what qualities a foot must have to tolerate (or even prefer!) a bit of leather between the first two toes, but there must be something. I find thong flip flops far more comfortable than slide flip flops, because the thong prevents my foot from going to far forward on the footbed. Plus I kind of like the feeling of a bit of leather between my toes. I always have a pair or two of thong flip flops on the go for summer.

One thing, though, is that podiatrists warn against overdoing it with flip flops. I don't think they're good for your arches, and you unconsciously employ toe muscles to grip the thong, which I think can contribute to foot problems. So I always buy high-quality leather flip flops, and I don't wear them for long distance walking. I don't want to invite foot trouble! So if you're feet don't like thongs, it may be a blessing in disguise. They're not that good for your feet.

(I think if the thong sandal has a back strap, they are fine for your feet, though).

MsMaven

Veteran

I could never wear them when I was younger, too uncomfortable. Now I can. I started in my 50s with a pair that had a round rubbery toe post. Now I wear Vionics. They took some time to break in because they have fabric toe posts. My troubled feet love them. I only wear them around the house though, not for walking or shopping.

rachylou

Veteran

Oh, they are so uncomfortable. But my cousins make me wear them because that's 'what *we* wear in the West Indies.' They won't be seen with me being uncool. Lol. Haters.

Faith

I agree with Staysfit and Rabbit that there are rare toe post sandals--including the Birkenstock Gizeh--that I find to be completely comfortable. Ok, to be honest, my list includes the Gizeh* and one other example, a long-discontinued Corso Como model. I think the trick with both of these was that the post fell exactly in the empty space between my toes (I do have a good space there, but I guess most posts don't hit it quite right), and the rest of the sandals were sufficiently supportive that the post didn't rub, really, it barely even touched, the crease(?) between my toes. So, no pressure at all between the toes is the key for me, and that is a really rare fit to find. I don't know whether those who find them easier to wear have feet that are easier to fit, or whether they are less sensitive between the toes.

*The original Birkenstock Gizeh. The slightly narrower profile of the Papillio Gizeh does not work for me. That's how narrow the margins I'm talking about are!

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I try to avoid having a toe post on 'regular' sandals, because they do tend to require some break in when you haven't worn them in a while, and can rub when you wear them for a long day. I've always owned a pair or two of flip flops, though, to wear around the house and in the summer for quick errands and such, and they've never caused me a problem. Last year I invested in a pair of Vionic Orthaheels, which have got a lot more arch support that your regular cheap flip flops, and I've been really pleased with them. Since they're basically my summer slippers, I wanted something that was more supportive than going barefoot.

I think this is one of those foot anatomy/natural stride things that just varies among people. Some people don't like toe posts; I mentioned in Angie's blog post about the return of 90s shoes that I don't wear mules or clogs, anything without a back, because I always walk out of them. Other members have mentioned that they find flats uncomfortable and a slight heel suits them better. We're all different and walk a bit different so it's no surprise that not every shoe works for every person.

Summer

Veteran

Thank you for your interesting and diverse comments, Ladies. It seems we are definitely divided down the middle when it comes to these sandals, and I now suspect that toe spacing may play a part, as suggested by Liz and Janet. It's interesting to see that the Birkenstocks seem to have proved successful for many of you, though, and that the foot-bed might be a factor in addition to the thong itself.

I think I will be giving these a wide berth in future, and sticking with normal styles.

Echo

Veteran

I've always found them quite comfortable. There is a rare instance where the post is situated too far to one side or the other, but in general I've never met a thong sandal I didn't like. And interestingly, I do not have widely spaced toes; indeed, there appears to be no space at all between my toes. DH has narrower toes with space between them and cannot wear them at all, so I'm not sure toe spacing has a lot to do with it.

I was shopping with my mom and expressed interest in toe thong sandals for DD, and my mom slipped her lid about how awful that would be and how uncomfortable sandals like that were, etc. Still, I brought them home and DD loved them and wore them almost daily for the summer, so she must have inherited my feet!

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I've never worn them and never will - can't understand how others find them comfortable, but I know they must.

Anonymous

When I was young they were uncomfortable, now I find them very comfortable. I don't know why. I like the feature of how they keep your big toe aligned straight too, a personal quirk of mine I guess.

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