What are the Best Sandals for Painful Feet?

When you live in a warmer climate, choosing supportive footwear becomes challenging, even when our so-called fall has arrived.

It’s one thing for us to tell patients to opt for sneakers when they’re spending the day on their feet. But when it’s 95 degrees with 90 percent humidity, wearing socks and closed-shoes is completely unappealing.

Of course, flip-flops are always appealing. Cheap, fairly comfortable and always easy to slip on-and-off, flip flops are always a favorite in Houston and other hot cities.

The thing is, wearing flip flops is basically the same as going barefoot. Yes, flip-flops protect the bottom of your feet from sharp objects and contagious foot fungi, but that’s about all that they do well.  And that's why we see so many patients with foot pain from sandals. 

You see, they leave your toes completely unprotected, so you’re vulnerable to injuries from bumping into hard objects or, worse, from anything that drops on your feet or toes.

Plus, they are completely flat, meaning that flip-flops offer absolutely no arch support. Without arch support, many people find themselves experiencing foot and heel pain, even if their feet are otherwise perfectly healthy!

Also, flip-flops are notoriously thin. They offer almost no protection when your foot strikes hard pavement. As a result, your feet absorb almost all of the impact, making pain and injury more likely when you’re in thongs or other flip flops.

Cloud Slides: the Best Summer Sandals for Sore Feet 

Now that you know what we don’t want you to wear when the temperatures heat up, let’s explore some safer options. 

One of our favorite choices is a pair of sandals that comes with a nice, sturdy ankle strap. Just avoid plastic material, since this can rub against your skin and leave you dealing with painful blisters.  Can't handle ankle straps? Try the TikTok famous Cloud Slides. I like them better than other slides because they mold to your foot bed, providing more stability. They've got a broad foot strap, so your feet won't grip as much. Even better, they've got a thick, shock absorbing sole to prevent impact. And, Gal Gadot just rocked them on Instagram. And who doesn't love that? 

Other Important Sandal Features

Don't want to buy into the latest trends? Just stick to these sandal rules. You should always watch the heel height of your sandals. While you don't want a completely flat sandal, as I already mentioned, you also want to avoid towering platform or even wedge heels. We do, however, like a low wedge sandal, since the gentle slope of the sole can offer you some much-needed arch support. 

Finally, let's get back to the topic of materials. You really need to avoid plastic straps and seethrough plastic uppers (even if they're in style right now.) You see, when you slip into clear plastic sandals--especially in hot summer months--you're trapping feet in a hot, sweaty, unbreathable box. And that's a recipe for foot and nail fungus, not to mention more rubbing. Which can also lead to summer feet cursed with blisters, corns and calluses. 

So what is the best summer footwear for your feet? Try a closed-toed espadrille in breathable cotton, with a low wedge heel (2 inches or less.)

But, if you aren't in the market for new summer shoes, just keep reading for tips to make your existing summer shoes safer and more comfortable.  

Five Ways to Stay Safe and Comfy in Sandals

Rule #1: More is More. Backless sandals may be cute (and make for fewer tan lines) but when it comes to your shoes, more material means more support, not to mention less foot pain. When you walk in shoes without backings, your toes have to grip down to keep your shoe in place. Plus, your heels slide back and forth, causing damage to your skin and possibly leading to the buildup of calluses (hardened areas of skin that develop overtime as a result of repetitive friction.) As a rule of thumb, if you’re spending more than an hour or two in a pair of sandals, make sure they have a back end to prevent rubbing and other problems.

Rule #2: Make SURE the shoe fits. When you find the last pair of designer sandals on sale, and they’re just a touch too big, the temptation is to buy them anyway, since the looser-style shoe lends itself to a broader sizing interpretation. In fact, some women think of this idea as a ‘shoe hack;’ they buy shoes that are a little too large, so that, if their feet start to swell, the shoes will still fit (we're looking in your direction, Meghan Markle.) We understand how hard it can be to walk away from an otherwise perfect pair of shoes, but we're here to warn you—DON’T give in to temptation! Wearing sandals that are even half a size too large can lead to blisters and, over time, foot pain caused by the extra gripping you need to do to keep your shoes in place while you walk (see Rule #1 for further clarification.)

Rule #3: Go for a stretch. As anyone who’s lived through our insanely-hot summers can attest, feet swell in warm weather. If you choose a pair of sandals with some give in them (for example, a pair equipped with elastic straps) the shoes are less likely to cut into your feet. In turn, the shoes will be less likely to cause discomfort as your feet naturally expand throughout the day. This, again, is a better way to handle foot swelling than buying shoes that are too big (check back with Rule #2 if you’ve forgotten our previous points.)

Rule #4: Get creative. Do you have a pair of sandals that gives you blisters every time you wear them? Here’s a little trick that just might help. Figure out what spot on the shoes is rubbing or cutting into your skin, then place some padded adhesive strips on that area or, if you don’t have any, try rubbing some of your antiperspirant on the spot. Yes, this one is for real.  Antiperspirant makes your feet less likely to sweat and slicken up, reducing the odds that your feet will rub uncomfortably against the side of your shoe. Of course, if these hacks don’t help, you should stop wearing shoes that hurt your feet. I know that’s common sense, but it bears repeating for my die-hard shoe lovers.

Rule #5: Plan ahead. Don’t set your sandals up to fail. You wouldn’t wear sneakers to a wedding (most likely) so why would you put on a pair of flip-flops for an all day hike? If you know you’re going to be on your feet all day, choose a super-supportive shoe and leave the more open styles for days around town or by the pool. You can live with slightly sweaty feet for one day, can’t you? Isn’t that preferable to a full week of foot pain?

Finding it hard to wear sandals without pain? It's time to come in for an appointment. Houston podiatrist Dr. Andrew Schneider will provide a comprehensive evaluation to determine why your feet are hurting you. Then we'll work together to come up with a solution.