Rainbow Single Layer Premier Review

The Rainbow is a flip flop we found ourselves reaching for again and again. The soft finished leather is both attractive and comfortable, and the footbed provides cushion and decent arch support. Even after being completely soaking wet, this sandal dries quickly and efficiently, and the more you wear it, the better it feels. An easy shoe to dress up or dress down, it's an excellent addition for anyone that wants to add a lightweight and classic-looking flip to their summer wardrobe.

Performance Comparison

Brand new and ready to go! We really enjoyed wearing this flip and it's clear why this brand has a dedicated following.

Credit: Penney Garrett

Comfort

The Rainbow Premier offers a classic shape and style that is effortlessly comfortable for a wide spectrum of people. While overly contoured footbeds and wide straps can be very nice for many, there's something to be said for a well-made, simple design. This flip has just enough cushion and arch support to work for many foot shapes without running the risk of chaffing or hurting. Rainbow's sizing system is a bit strange, though, so it's easy to end up with a shoe that's not the perfect length. For example, the Rainbow size for a woman's 8.5-9.5 foot is X-Large (yes, you read that right).

Our main tester wears an 8.5, so we ordered the X-Large, and the footbed was a bit long; this made for zero issues with breaking in, however, because no part of the sandal was tight or constricting. But if you prefer a snug fit and are on the low end of Rainbow's size brackets, we suggest sizing down. All in all, we find this sandal to be soft, supple, super cozy, and an easy go-to.

Slipping into the Rainbow Premier after a hard climb is a very pleasant experience indeed.

Credit: Penney Garrett

Support

As much as we enjoy this shoe, we couldn't score it very high in this category because it has a relatively flat and minimal design. There's nothing wrong with this, as many people don't want a lot of contouring or structure with a flip flop. If you prefer moderate, non-aggressive arch support and an uncomplicated fit, this is a great choice. If you need more support and integrity, then you may want to look to a more heavily featured model.

The Rainbow isn't a highly stable or supportive shoe as it has a simpler, more minimalistic design. However if you're not looking for super intense support in your flip flop then this is a fun and comfortable shoe to consider buying.

Credit: Penney Garrett

Traction

Like with the support metric, the Rainbow performed well in this category for what it is but couldn't out-compete beefier and more featured models. This is a great flip flop, but it's simply not made for super-advanced terrain — and that's okay! If you plan to fjord rivers or scramble around on boulders, you might want something more burly, but with regular everyday use, the traction of the Rainbow Premier is more than adequate.

As long as you don't plan to get into crazy terrain with your flips, the Rainbow Premier has adequate traction for simple hikes and everyday use.

Credit: Penney Garrett

Versatility

This sandal is decently versatile — it's well made and available in various footbed and strap thicknesses. The version we tested — single thickness with narrow straps — is perhaps not quite as long-lasting as thicker variations, though one of our testers has still been wearing hers for years now with no issues and a ton more life left in the shoe. That said, if you want a flip flop for miles of walking or rock scrambling, we suggest sizing down for a snugger fit (if you're on the cusp) and considering thicker straps and perhaps even the double-thick footbed.

While this leather kick may not strike you as a particularly water-friendly shoe, it actually handles moisture excellently. The Rainbow doesn't resist water so much as absorb it, but it still dries incredibly fast even after being fully submerged in a river — within 20 minutes, the whole shoe was dry. The other component that makes the Rainbow so successful with water is its ability to wick all moisture away from the surface — even when the shoes are damp, they feel pleasant and secure to walk in.

Whether it's a light sprinkling or full immersion, the Rainbow Premier handles water with ease, all the while feeling great on foot.

Credit: Penney Garrett

Style

To rate our tested flips in this department, we polled a group of women, and the Rainbow Premier ended up in the middle. It's certainly not an ugly shoe, but its simple and humble look just isn't quite enough to pull it into the top for this metric. Some will swoon for this flip, and some will feel nothing — it all depends on what you like. Rainbow does offer some styles in colors outside of the standard earth tones as well as with braided straps if you want to up the style ante just a smidge.

The comfortable and uncomplicated Rainbow easily became one of our favorite flip flops for all casual endeavors.

Credit: Penney Garrett

Value

This flip flop is moderately priced — on the higher end for a minimal shoe, but not bad. The double-layer version is just a few bucks more, which is nice. And though this particular model is thin and dainty, it's still noticeably well-made. Rainbow makes high-quality shoes that are known to last, and they offer repairs to help extend their life as long as possible. Your dollars are also going to a company with integrity: when your flips are past the point you enjoy wearing them but still have a little bit of life, Rainbow will take them back, repair them, and then donate to the homeless, orphaned, and victims of natural disasters. We love it.

Conclusion