Why Are My Current Sandals So Uncomfortable
Most footwear companies just dont focus on advanced quality features so their sandals may feel thin, flat, and uncomfortable. When the biomechanics of the human body Is not taken into consideration in the design of shoes and sandals, they will lack adequate support and will start hurting your feet over time. Sandals should include orthotic insoles, a cushioning footbed, a sturdy sole, made from durable and breathable upper materials and be available in wide widths to accommodate different foot types. If you have sensitive feet or a specific foot conditions such as diabetes or arthritis, other features will be essential to keep your feet healthy. Seam free linings, extra depth, and padded interiors are a few examples.
A good pair of shoes and sandals would mean that that you dont even realize they are on your feet!
How To Find The Best Flip
Yes, you can rock flip-flops without your feet having to pay the price. However, there are sandal features that you should keep in mind to make that possible. For one, your flip-flops should never be paper-thin . In other words, if the flip-flops can easily break, they can easily damage your feet. Here are three other tips to keep in mind while shopping:
Tips For Buying Shoes
Shopping successfully for orthopedic shoes requires a little research and strategy.
Know your purpose and foot condition. Talk to your podiatrist. Your doctor can give you shopping guidelines on factors like heel height, width or shoe flexibility. And consider the activities youll be doing when you wear the shoe. You may be looking for orthopedic walking shoes or shoes to help with balance problems.
Buy in person or be certain of the return policy. An internet search can help you figure out where to buy orthopedic shoes in your area. But dont order online if possible. You need to try on shoes to make sure they fit properly. Ideally, you should go to a store that carries a variety of styles. But if you must order online, double-check the companys return policies before you buy. A size chart and a customer service rep can help, too, whether youre looking for casual footwear or the best walking shoes.
Shop and try on shoes in the late afternoon or evening. Feet can swell throughout the day, so its best to shop toward the end of the day. This will help avoid a tight fit.
Check the fit. Feet can grow as we age and our feet can be different sizes, too. So, its a good idea to have both feet measured each time you buy new shoes. Stand while being measured, as your body weight will make your feet expand.
Once youre trying on shoes, it pays to be nitpicky. You should have one half of an inch between your longest toe and the tip of the shoe. Look for any areas that may rub.
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Best For High Arches: Aetrex Jillian Braided Quarter Strap
Aetrex is a trusted and tech-advanced footwear brand that offers a unique footbed to stabilize high arches, relieve pain, and support the other structures of your footall in a stylish package. What’s more, the leather straps and decorative flourishes are better for city walking than for more adventurous endeavors.
As one of the leading orthotics and footwear brands, Aetrex brings a depth of technology to its sandals. With an option for every foot issue, including plantar fasciitis and bunions, we particularly like these stylish sandals to support high arches.
Higher arches mean less of your foot touching the shoe when you walk, so there’s less shock absorption. And according to Dr. Parthasarathy and Dr. Levine, shoes with improper support can throw off your biomechanics and leave your feet tired, sore, and stiff.
The Aetrex Jillian sandals have proprietary arch support designed to stabilize higher-than-average arches and relieve arch pain. Additionally, they have a memory foam footbed for cushioning and support, including a Met Bar Pod to alleviate discomfort in the ball of your foot and a padded heel.
The heel height on these sandals is just over one inch, as the podiatrists recommended, and the adjustable straps make these sandals work for narrow, wide, or regular feet.
And with a timeless design and 16 colorways, these sandals will go with almost any outfit.
Price at time of publication: $125
What Types Of Sandals Are Good For Your Feet

The best comfortable sandals for your feet are low wedges with adjustable straps covering most of your forefoot and ankle. They should also have a supportive footbed with arch support and a heel cup.
Per the APMA, the worst types of sandals for your feet are traditional flip-flops, which don’t provide support or keep any part of your foot held down, and often slides, which usually don’t offer support or maintain the back of your foot locked down.
“Finding the right sandals can prevent foot pain in the long run,” explained Dr. Parthasarathy.
Here’s a tip: If you’re shopping in person, try on shoes at the end of the day to get the most accurate fit. That’s because your feet swell during the summer .
When choosing a supportive, comfortable sandal, the most important factors to consider are straps, footbed, heel height, materials, and width, among others.
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What To Look For In Sandals For Arch Support
When purchasing shoes its important to consider your feet size and your everyday activities before you buy. If you have wide feet, make sure you pick out a pair that can accommodate wide widths. After all, a foot needs space to splay, Cutri said. If you’re walking 10 miles around Europe your feet will require different support than running after your kids at the playground. Either way, Cutri says one thing holds true: flip-flops are not going to provide you with enough support.
You can also examine the sole a little bit closer. When DeGirolamo evaluates shoes with patients, she first grabs the sole and tries to fold it in half. If you can fold it up or curl it up and bend it in half, its technically just covering your foot, she said. Its not supporting it.
DeGirolamo recommends shoppers look at the American Podiatric Medical Associations seal of approval program. This is about as close to getting a shoe handpicked by a podiatrist as you can get. If youre ready to get the footbed support you need for all your summer walks, we sourced expert-recommended sandals from Hoka, Amazon, Keen, and more. Youll find popular brands like Birkenstock and Crocs, along with a few others.
All products featured on SELF are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
What Sandals Do Podiatrists Recommend
Countless brands make supportive sandals, but Dr. Parthasarathy recommended Birkenstocks, OOFOS, Hoka, Chasco, and Dansko. Dr. Levine seconded a vote in favor of Birkenstocks, as well as Jennifer Tattanelli’s platform sandals.
Here’s a breakdown of the 12 best comfortable sandals that Dr. Parthasarathy and Dr. Levine recommended, depending on your preferences.
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Utenag Womens Orthotic Arch Support Sandals
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UTENAGs orthopedic sandals with arch support are eco-friendly and odor-resistant while also being stylish. The insole is made of foam which not only provides cushioning but is patterned as well, which helps keep your foot secure. Elastic cords are soft against the skin and allow you to customize the fit as they can be adjusted with a deep heel cup. In these arch support sandals, womens traction is taken care of as the outsole is thick and skid-resistant to keep you comfortable when you move around.
Pros
If weve answered your question of what are the best sandals for arch support above, lets get into how you can select the right pair for yourself!
Our Favorite Comfortable Orthopedic Sandals
If you want to step into your shoes and feel immediate relief, a pair of OOFOS should 100% be in your future. The foam sole of this sandal is curved to support the movement of your foot while walking, and the OOfoam technology claims to absorb 37% more impact than traditional footwear. We can see why these have earned the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance!
Get the OOFOS OOlala Sandal starting at $75, available at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of article update, August 22, 2022, but are subject to change.
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Best For Walking: Vionic Walker Classic
Clove shoes are extremely popular among healthcare workers but you dont need to be a medical professional to rock your own pair. These shoes are lace-free and super supportiveagain, designed for healthcare workers who are on their feet all day. They also have plenty of room for custom orthotics if needed. The outer material is water-resistant and wipeable, and the insole is odor-resistant and machine washable, too. Something else we love? Clove has donated more than $300,000 worth of shoes to front-line healthcare professionals across the country since March 2020.
What Customers Say:
With nearly 1,000 reviews on the Clove website, these shoes have a staggering 4.9 out of 5-star rating. One reviewer who uses custom orthotics says, So comfortable, I can walk 12 hours without any problem. So easy to put on. Most people recommend sizing up a half-size with these shoes, so keep that in mind if youre in between sizes or prefer a more wide toe box. And while they have a lot of fun colors and patterns available, the wipe-clean material might not be for everyone.
Walk In Comfort With Our Arch Support Sandals
Now you can enjoy waking comfort all summer long. Say good-bye to flat unsupportive sandals and start to walk in comfort again with Footlogics. Many people wear orthotic insoles inside their shoe, whether they are store-bought or custom-made, one thing is for sure: they are almost impossible to fit into sandals or thongs. Footlogics comes to the rescue with a range of biomechanical sandals that provide a proper arch support. The pre-formed anatomic footbed feels amazing to walk on. Not just because of the arch support but also since the footbed is made of a super-cushioning ReSorb Plus material that helps relieve many foot complaints including heel pain and ball of foot pain .
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Best Arch Support Gym Shoes
Arch support gym shoes are shoes that have extra support for the arch of the foot. This can be helpful for people who have flat feet or who are prone to foot pain. Arch support shoes typically have a higher price tag than regular shoes, but they can be worth the investment if you have foot problems.
Brooks Addiction Walker 2 105 Men& s White

- Comfortable and durable full-grain leather upper
- Extended Progressive Diagonal Rollbar support system strategically positions arch support to guide and keep your body in its natural path of motion
- BioMoGo DNA cushioning adapts to your stride, weight, and speed to protect you by reducing the impact on your joints
- Removable insole
- HPR Plus carbon rubber sole
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Product Details
Enjoy a slower pace in the updated Brooks Addiction Walker 2. This walking shoe was designed with a refreshed leather upper that offers a classic look. The full-grain leather upper is both comfortable and durable, and complements an innovative outsole thats certified for slip resistance.
The Brooks Extended Progressive Diagonal Rollbar is a support system for your entire body, as it strategically positions arch support to guide and keep your body in its natural path of motion.
Brooks proprietary cushioning, BioMoGo DNA, adapts to your stride, weight and speed to protect you by reducing impact on your joints. Features and Benefits Full-grain leather upper is both comfortable and durable Updated outsole is certified slip resistant Extended Progressive Diagonal Rollbar support system BioMoGo DNA cushioning HPR Plus Carbon Rubber sole Size: 10.
5. Male. Age Group: Adult.
Active, Comfort, Lace Up, Walking |
Heel Height |
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Orthofeet Womens Plantar Fasciitis Orthopedic Diabetic Walking Athletic Shoes
- The soft interior lining helps keep your feet comfortable while walking
- Meticulously designed, these shoes help reduce heel and foot pain
- Orthotic insole helps reduce the underfoot pressure for a smooth stride
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The Coral Turquoise womens orthotic sneakers work wonders for sensitive feet, arthritis and bunions. These sneakers are made with stretchable knitted fabric uppers that offer a non-binding fit, extra room for toe movement, and maximum protection against pressure points.
The anatomical orthotic insoles and the ergonomic sole offer cushioning support and excellent stability, making every step you take soothing with comfort. FEATURES AND BENEFITS Comfort Fit Stretchable design offers a relaxed fit at the forefoot.
Helps relieve pressure on Bunions, Hammer-Toes and sensitive feet. Orthotic support contoured orthotic insole, with anatomical arch support and gel padded heel-seat. Forms to the contours of the foot, and helps alleviate pain at the heel, foot, all the way up the knees, hips and lower back.
Easy Gait Light-weight cushioning sole with Ergonomic-Stride design. Softens step, enhances stability, adds spring to your step, and helps facilitate foot motion. Protective Interior Soft, seam-free interior lining.
Adjustable fit Two sets of removable spacers . Allow the adjustment of the space inside the shoe for a perfect fit.
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Reviews From Real Customers
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Best Budget Sandals: Birkenstock Gizeh Eva Sandals
These shoes come from a trusted brand and have nearly every podiatrist-backed featureincluding strap support, arch support, and a deep heel cup. Still, due to the complete EVA construction, you might find it hard to find traction in these Birkenstocks compared to the leather-cork-EVA construction on most of their other sandals.
Considering Birkenstock’s reputation for support and shock absorption, it’s no surprise they made our list twice. The Gizeh EVA Sandals were Dr. Parthasarathy’s favorite from the brand and are a fraction of the cost of most Birkenstocks.
The Gizeh EVA Sandals have a thick, thong-style strap with an additional midfoot strap to support the top of your feet. Then, they have an EVA footbed to provide an arch, a deep heel cup, and traction on the outsole, which is sometimes a problem in slippery EVA shoes. That EVA foam construction also keeps weight and heat down.
Price at time of publication: $53 for 6 in metallic silver
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Skechers Mens Louden Sandals
Best Orthotic Walking Sandals
Contrary to popular belief, its possible to walk a significant distance in sandals without pain. The key is to be securely strapped in, as with Skechers Mens Louden sandal, so the foot stays in proper position. High-rebound memory foam ensures a cushy, comfortable ride, while a moisture-wicking insole guarantees breathability. Available in regular and wide widths to help you achieve the perfect fit, theyre hailed as superb walking sandals by thousands of Amazon reviewers.
The Best Sandals For Arch Support: Clio
With their soft and thin toe-post and advanced Orthofeet technology, the Clio toe-post sandals offer the ultimate solution for women looking for arch support without compromising on style.
The Clio flip-flop style sandals feature premium orthotic insoles with anatomical arch support that makes walking that much more comfortable. In addition, this advanced feature improves the alignment of the foot and body for better posture and together with the firm heel counter, also improves stability.
The Ortho-Cushion system features an ergonomic sole with mild rocker design that propels the foot forward, so you can expect to feel like youre walking on a soft cloud.
The added bonus of these toe-post sandals is that they have a strap on either side of the foot that allows you to fully customize the fit for a better grip, while the rubber outsole prevents slippage and allows you to walk freely.
The soft straps are padded with foam and are ideal for sensitive feet with diabetes, neuropathy and arthritis, while the thin and equally soft toe-post prevents irritation and blisters between the toes.
Finally, the Clio sandals are available in a wide range of widths, including wide-width, and come in two colors: brown and black.
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Opt For Contoured Footbeds
The footbed shape should follow your natural foot shape, Dr. Andersen says. Contoured footbeds are ideal because the molding tends to fit feet better. This type of footbed is often made of cork or natural latex and provides even distribution of your weight across the shoe. A contoured footbed is also more comfortable, because they consistently support your foot alignment while also helping to prevent painful injuries like shin splints and collapsed arches.
What Types Of Sandals Should People Who Need Arch Support Avoid
Wearing proper shoes is important for people with foot pain, and several sandal styles can provide the support you need. According to Robinson, you should avoid wearing “flat sandals with a thin sole and minimal straps, particularly if it’s flimsy and made of poor thin material. Lobkova recommends avoiding sandals with thin soles and a single or non-adjustable strap.
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Which Sandals Can You Wear With Orthotics
Sandals can sometimes be tricky to use with custom orthotics, since they generally have an open upper design and one piece footbed that prohibits the insertion of a custom insert. However, there are a few brands out there that offer sandals with a unique design, making them orthotic-friendly. Look for ones that have: