Flip-Flops: Walking on Shaky Ground?
I grew up in Cyprus, which meant I spent the best part of 5 years wearing flip-flops. The air was too hot for shoes, the ground was too hot to go bare-foot: there was no alternative. But when I think back, what springs to mind are the little annoyances. The way the thong plastic stretched, edging my toes over the front so the ground nipped at them when I walked. The strange dull ache in my ankles. The criss-cross sunburn.
In fact it’s easy to argue for and against flip-flops. On the one hand, they’re light, they allow air between the toes, they’re fun and of course they’re very cheap. And on the other? In today’s world, "cheap" equates to "disposable" – and flip-flops are usually made of eco-unfriendly plastics. And that ache in my ankles? It wasn’t in my head. A recent study by Auburn University (via Moms Speak Up) concluded that wearing toe-thonged footwear permanently altered the way you walk, putting unnatural strain on feet and ankles and resulting in the "flip-flop shuffle".
So what’s the answer? The first is easy: don’t wear them for long-distance walking. Treat them like beach slippers. If you’re going further afield, wear some light, well-supported shoes – or invest in a pair of the new molded sports sandals that hug the length of the foot. (Teva’s Kayenta seems a good choice). Your best bet is a beach walking shoe that adjusts to fit you, not the other way round. And finally? Beach footwear rests against sensitive skin – so don’t sacrifice safety to save a few dollars. What’s good for the environment is usually good for you, too. Worth the price, in my opinion.
Image: JAIRO BD
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
The Living Flip-Flop: a Step Too Far?
XHello there! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic. For some reason, human beings
Feel Your Feet
XHello there! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic. “Feel your feet.” Those were
Flip Your Doormat
XHello there! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic. This morning I came in
Hunter Wellington Boots: Gardening and More in Colorful Eco-Style
XHello there! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic. Hunter is the original maker
|
Bookmark |
1 Comment
July 28th, 2008 at 11:59 am
I lived in Los Angeles for 9 years and wore flip flops constantly. When I moved to SF and started wearing “real shoes” again, I noticed my feet seemed to get slimmer and stronger. Maybe it’s just my imagination, but now when I try to wear flip flops they hurt! Hmm…
Welcome! The comment box is all yours to say what you like. Just make sure you use a real name, not a site or company, so you don't get sent to the spam bin. (That makes us sad.)