As you’re walking the shoreline collecting seashells, with the cool waves hitting your feet, you want a shoe that can stand up to the sand, salt, and water. Sometimes, that quick walk turns into a few miles of walking as you keep filling your pockets and taking in the sunshine vibes.

　　Your feet shouldn’t pay the price for this extended trek, though, so you also need a shoe that is going to be able to handle the sand and water, and also bring the ultimate comfort. 

　　In short: Chaco found a way to bring together the qualities I was looking for in a flip-flop, and add in some style, too — the battle of function versus fashion didn’t exist when testing this shoe. Chaco Classic Flip has great grip and stability, is water resistant, dries quickly, and offers wonderful arch support.

　　While the corrective footbeds are recommended by podiatrists, you don’t need to have foot problems to appreciate the feel of these. The one thing you do need to have, though, is a regular width foot, as these aren’t made for those with wider feet.

　　Chaco Classic Flip $65 at REI$52 at Amazon

　　Specs Sizes: 5-12 Strap: Traditional Y-strap Number of colors available: 3 Pros Good for those who need a little arch support Thin design makes it easy to pack for your beach vacation Footbed provided great stability when worn in the water Cons There is a break-in period for the straps Not a good option for those with wider feet Brandy Jo Hastings Chaco Classic Flip Review

　　The Chaco Classic Flip performs well, but they’re cute enough to throw on with a sundress, too; (photo/JP Fiorenza) I’ve been testing the Chaco Classic Flip for the last 5 months and have had a chance to get to know this shoe well, as it’s traveled to the beach with me multiple times, been my companion at pool parties, traversed through Florida springs, and has even taken an island vacation with me. I’ve also worn it all around town in my daily life, and have gotten to know the good and bad things about this shoe.

　　First Impressions Aren’t Everything

　　The Chaco Classic Flips held up well in a variety of terrain; (photo/JP Fiorenza) Although my relationship with this shoe got off to a rocky start, the Chaco Classic Flip is proof of why we continue to test in every way possible. After the break-in period that only lasted a day, these quickly became one of my favorite flip-flops.

　　When this pair of shoes arrived at my house, I thought they were super cute, and I decided to wear them the very next day. My friends and I had made plans to go to the local botanical gardens, which meant a full day of walking. I realized the straps were a little stiff and snug when I unboxed them, but I didn’t feel any discomfort when I tried them on, so I ignored it.

　　Wearing a brand-new pair of shoes for a long day of walking probably wasn’t my smartest idea ever — but the Everley black-and-white color matched my outfit, so I did it. Within the first hour, I started to feel the rub on the top of my feet and realized the straps were creating blisters.

　　I didn’t have another pair of shoes with me, so I just dealt with the rub for the next 5 hours. That’s the bad news. The good news is, that was all the break-in that these shoes needed, and since that first day, I have not had that problem again.

　　Chaco Sand dune blue shirt. The tread on these shoes performed well trekking through the sand, climbing over rocks, and even playing in the water; (photo/JP Fiorenza) The polyester jacquard textile straps have softened up, and even though that first day was rough, there’s not been a blister since. I’ve actually tried different scenarios of immersing them in the pool and getting them sandy at the beach to see if it would create any uncomfortable rubs, and nothing has happened.

　　The straps also have a reinforced toe post that never rubbed me the wrong way — even on that first day. The short-term pain was worth the long-term gain of finding these shoes.

　　Another thing that was a little annoying, though, was the tag inside the strap. This never rubbed my foot or caused any discomfort, and I actually forgot about it when I was wearing the shoes. I just felt it was a little unsightly to see when the shoes weren’t on my feet. 

　　I left this on for a while, and then eventually ripped the tags off. The size of the shoe is also marked on the back of the heel, so Im not sure why this tag is needed.

　　What I Loved

　　The tread on the soles made me feel secure — even on wet surfaces; (photo/Brandy Hastings) There are a few positive things that really stood out to me about these shoes when I first tried them on — one being the stiff sole. These have the stiffest soles of any flip-flops I’ve worn in the past, and I feel that allows for much better stability — especially in the water.

　　The ChacoGrip rubber compound on the outsole has amazing traction and further contributes to the stability I found with this shoe. The textured footbed helped keep my feet in place, too.

　　I’ve worn other flip-flops before that didn’t have this level of stability. One time, while fishing from shore, I actually slid out of a different pair of flops as a wave hit my feet. I never felt like that was going to happen in this shoe when I was in and around the pool, walking in and by the ocean’s edge, and maneuvering over wet rocks and logs. These performed great in the water and dried quickly — making them even more desirable for aquatic activities.

　　Recommended by Doctors

　　These shoes have an awesome arch and are recommended by the American Podiatric Medical Association; (photo/Brandy Hastings) Another thing that is quite noticeable the first time you put them on is the Chaco LUVSEAT arch support. To be honest, I was a little apprehensive at first about wearing a shoe with a corrective footbed. I know that is supposed to be considered a positive thing, but I was kind of wondering if these would make me feel like I was wearing grandma-style orthopedic shoes.

　　I don’t even have diagnosed foot problems, so did I really need a shoe that is recommended by the American Podiatric Medical Association? Would I automatically get gray hair and start telling stories that started with “Back in my day …” as soon as I slipped these on my feet?

　　I didn’t love seeing the tags inside the straps, so I ended up ripping those off after awhile; (photo/JP Fiorenza) That was totally not the case, though. I realized the pronounced arch support also promotes good alignment. While I don’t have foot problems, I do have back problems from a previous car accident, and I’m learning that proper footwear can help with that, too.

　　While the arch was more prominent than a lot of other flip-flops I’ve tried over the years, it actually felt good, and I didn’t feel like there was a “getting used to it” period. The contour of this shoe cradles your feet in a caressing way, and the textured footbed gives it a massaging feel.

　　These don’t have your stereotypical orthopedic shoe style, either. Sometimes, it can be easy to think that something that’s good for you can’t look good, too. These shoes defy that thought, though, and I liked that these were rugged enough for me to splash around in and get sandy, but cute enough to pair with a sundress and wear out to brunch.

　　Sizing

　　Don’t let the W on the back trick you — that stands for Women’s, not Wide; (photo/Brandy Hastings) As with many flip-flops, the Chaco Classic Flip doesn’t come in a half size. Since I’m one of the many that usually wears a half size, I ordered a half size up and these shoes fit me perfectly — these would have been too small if I ordered down a size. 

　　I will also point out that I don’t have wide feet, and I feel this wouldn’t be a good option for those who need a wider shoe. This one doesn’t come in a wide width at this time, but this is a shoe that has proven its worth.

　　And, it would be great to see Chaco expand its width options in the future so that more people could enjoy these shoes. The W on the size (shown on mine as the W9) can be a little confusing, because it can be easy to think that stands for wide, but that actually means women’s.

　　Conclusion

　　Even though there was a little break-in period, these flip-flops became one of my faves after that initial period; (photo/JP Fiorenza) The Chaco Classic Flip is a great option for those who spend a lot of time around the water because of the extra stability and traction it provides.

　　Since the Chaco Classic Flip is recommended by podiatrists, this is also a great option for those with existing foot problems, or those who just want that extra arch support — even if you’re just running errands in these and wearing them as your daily flops.

　　If you typically wear a wide-width shoe, though, this isn’t the one for you.

　　At $65, these aren’t the cheapest flip-flops, but they aren’t the most expensive I’ve tried either.  I think that’s a fair price, because in the 5 months I’ve been wearing them, I feel they’ve shown that level of quality.

　　You can find these on Chaco’s website, but since Chaco has become such a well-known brand with outdoor adventurers, you can also find these flip-flops at many outdoor retailers like REI.

　　The Best Flip-Flops for Women of 2024We tested the best flip-flops for women of 2024 with options for every budget. Top picks include Olukai, Teva, HOKA Chaco, and more! Read more

　　$65 at REI$52 at Amazon Brandy Jo Hastings