Save your soles: These are the shoes podiatrists wear to the beach and pool

Jun 05, 2023

Wearing the right shoes can make all the difference between going about your day in comfort and dealing with foot pain. But things tend to get a little complicated when you hit the beach or pool, where flip-flops and sandals reign supreme. After all, most people aren't going to hang near the water in lace-up, supportive sneakers. So, what do foot doctors wear during their off-time when they head to the beach? We polled five different doctors for their go-to summer fun footwear.

"Footwear on the beach can be fun and fashionable," Melissa Lockwood, a podiatrist at Heartland Foot and Ankle Associates in Illinois, tells Yahoo Life. "I recommend a strong supportive sandal — think, Vionic — for staying on the sand."

Lockwood also gives Oofos the thumbs up, both for their support and ease of cleaning. "Oofos are my favorite right now because they are so easy to clean the sand off of," she says.

"Sandals should have a thick sole and not be flimsy," says Claire Capobianco, a foot and ankle surgeon at Orthopaedic Associates of Southern Delaware, tells Yahoo Life. She likes these Birkenstock sandals for the beach and pool. "Good fit is paramount," Capobianco adds. "No toes hanging over the edge of your sandals!"

Capobianco also gives classic Crocs her vote, "especially in four wheel drive mode with the the back strap down—it's good for hiking up and down dunes, and pulling beach carts."

"For people who want something a bit more economical and with excellent support — but not quite as high of an arch as the Vionic — the Spenco sandals are great," Richard H. Graves, a podiatrist at Sol Foot and Ankle Centers in California, tells Yahoo Life.

Graves calls Vionic sandals his "personal favorite." He continues, "They have a great arch support that feels almost as good as my custom orthotics. The outer sole has just the right amount of stiffness and I can wear them all day without having foot pain."

"I like the Mephisto Shark due to its durability and excellent design," Bruce Pinker, a foot and ankle surgeon with New York's Progressive Foot Care, tells Yahoo Life. "I have worn a few of this model, and one pair lasted nearly 10 years! They are well-constructed."

Sondema Tarr, a foot and ankle specialist at Direct Podiatry Arizona, tells Yahoo Life that she prefers sandals made of synthetic materials. "If your shoe were to get wet, you wouldn't have to worry about the possibility of mold, or the materials of the shoe being destroyed," she explains. "Right now I wear the Arizona Essential Slide Sandal from Birkenstock."

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The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.