Chaco Flip Sandal Review

Likes
The Chaco Flip is a great flip for more active pursuits. We chose it for water sports such as rafting, canoeing, and kayaking. Or just walking around the creek with a dog. Even in wet terrain our feet rarely slipped, thanks to crisscross grooves in the footbed that seemed to channel water right off the shoe. Also, the straps sit tighter over the foot and never stretched out, making our feet more secure from above as well. The Ecotread is surprising lightweight for being so tough, which came in handy when we needed to keep them on for hours at a time.

Dislikes
Most of the reasons why I liked the Chaco in certain situations are also the reasons I disliked it overall. The grooved footbed wasn’t all that comfortable. While it helped in wet situations, or on casual hikes, it wasn’t what I wanted for just hanging out. Same thing with the straps – while they helped me feel secure they were also quite tight and stiff, and even caused some chaffing in the early days. Overall, this flip is stiff and rigid, which is reassuring for action, but just not “everyday” comfortable.

Most importantly, they may fail the most important test of a flip flop: the ability to slide it on without bending down and using your hands. Maybe it was because we sized ours a little tight, but we couldn't just slide our feet in these at first because the strap is too tight and too flimsy. Over time, it got a little easier, but still, it was never as easy as the Reef Fanning Sandal, which offered a similar high performance once it was on.

Best Application
Chose this flip flop for more active pursuits and anything involving water.

Value
For a supportive, extremely durable flip, $50 is a good price if you really abuse your sandals. It is the most burly flip we tested and will likely last for years of heavy use. After a year of use they almost look like they just came out of the box!