Our testers especially favor the Adilettes' sporty feel and appearance. They have a trendy look while still being convenient enough for running errands or making treks to the pool. One tester even wore them while riding a bike "with no problem at all." Although there are plenty of things to love about these slides, we don't recommend them for prolonged walking and urge you to remember that the break-in period can be uncomfortable. Try on at the end of day: "Your feet swell throughout the day, so you will find a more true size if you measure your feet at the end of the day," explains Dr. Deming. We recommend trying on shoes at the end of the day instead of the morning to find your best fit. Are you still searching for your sandal "sole" mate? Our teams of footwear experts have spent many years testing hundreds of pairs of adventure sandals, flip flops, slides, and more to find the best footwear for every summertime adventure. This article sifted through our four subcategories and over 65 pairs of currently available GearLab-tested sandals to bring you the top 10 contenders. We've worn them on 27-mile hikes and multiweek rafting trips, trekked across dozens of countries, and spent years keeping it cool all summer. Every pair of sandals was worn extensively and compared rigorously to its competitors to bring you the best and most affordable pairs around. Thanks to two velcro straps at the toe and heel, as well as a flexible and stretchy strap at the midfoot, ECCO’s Women’s Flowt Sandals are a solid true-to-size fit for most foot shapes. Besides easy adjustability, we found the shoes to be both functional and fashionable—and who wouldn’t want that? When it comes to sandals, one red flag to keep an eye out for is if it isn't wide enough for your whole foot, noted Dr. Parthasarathy. So, ensure your sandals offer support across the forefoot and that the shoe accommodates ailments such as bunions, neuromas, and hammertoes.

Sizing: Deming suggests starting your shopping journey by considering your shoe size. He says many women are actually wearing the completely wrong size shoe! Make sure to consider the width and height of your foot to prevent any pressure build-up in the toebox. Try styles with wide or narrow options if you experience any discomfort in the toebox. Whether walking long distances on your daily commute, exploring new terrain on a hike or just running errands in your neighborhood, you need a pair of comfortable sandals that's up to the job. And if you're looking to upgrade your walking shoes, the footwear experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have you covered.

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Durable materials like rubber and leather are always wise choices when it comes to sandals, as both are typically lightweight and easy to clean. Rubber also expertly repels moisture, while leather remains breathable even in heat and humidity. Leather can take longer to break in, but once you have, it wears well. Other materials, like suede and memory foam, make for soft and comfortable footbeds. However, foam usually doesn't last as long: even if a foam shoe still looks good, long-term wear can diminish its supportive qualities, so keep an eye on any pairs with foam footbeds to see when they might need replacing. After interviewing multiple podiatrists and physicians over the years, we continue to hear that comfort should be prioritized when shopping for shoes. Innovative features just don’t matter if your feet hurt! "It can be a challenge, saying it mildly, to find a pair you like cosmetically and a pair you’ll be comfortable in," Dr. Deming says. Hoka is a brand of shoe that most runners are familiar with thanks to their commitment to high-quality footwear. But, you might be wondering—what does that have to do with plantar fasciitis? A lot, actually, because Hokas are well-constructed for support and spreading out the pressure of impact. Contoured footbed: Many fashion sandals have a completely flat footbed, but for sandals that you'll wear walking all day, choose footbeds with arch support and cushioning materials like foam. After the lengthy testing period, we were pleasantly surprised by how well the sandals held up. Besides some expected signs of wear, the pair still looked new with no unwanted odor left behind. The material on the well-structured shoe is durable, high-quality, and made to last.

We updated this guide in May 2023 to include new recommendations and shopping tips from podiatrists and footwear experts.Arch support: What does the natural arch of your foot look like, and how much arch support does the shoe provide? We love how lightweight these shoes felt on our feet, which is especially important when wearing them in water. Sanuk’s Sandals are a great choice for water-shoe wearers or those with sweaty feet, but if you prefer a super cushy and bouncy feel, we recommend Skechers’ Go Walk Massage Fit Sandals instead. We love that the leather strap is soft and doesn’t dig into the skin—which is important to avoid blisters and chafing during long days of adventure. Also important, the durable sole is supportive and springy, keeping your feet extra comfortable between strides. These sandals come in nine sizes and two widths, and they have three adjustable straps (at the toe, midfoot, and heel) for a fully customizable fit. After the break-in period, we found that the shoes start to contour to the shape of your foot, providing the proper arch support and foot alignment for you. Our editor who tends to overpronate especially appreciated this feature.

Ugg Yarrow Espadrille Wedge Sandal: While they're certainly stylish, our testers felt the zipper on the heel rubbed badly enough to keep them off our comfort-based list.The sandal’s straps are padded around the heel, which helps to prevent blisters and adds comfort. Another comfort-forward feature, the super soft and squishy soles do take some getting used to—we don’t recommend this pair if you prefer a firmer sole. Overall, Keen’s Elle Sandals are a lightweight, durable, and stylish option that can be worn all day for a variety of summer activities. New Balance has made an extra effort to accommodate a variety of foot sizes and needs. They typically offer every shoe in a wide and standard version, and they put thought into the designs to make sure you're comfortable if you have other needs like flat feet. If you can fold a sandal in half, do not wear it, said Dr. Parthasarathy. Instead, you want a sandal with built-in arch support—even if you have low arches and cushioning in the balls of the foot.

When choosing a supportive, comfortable sandal, the most important factors to consider are straps, footbed, heel height, materials, and width. Slides aren't typically the best choice for comfortable shoes. However, if you need or prefer a pair of slides for your trip, these are your best bet. This style from Adidas has been a go-to sandal for women ever since the silhouette was originally released in 1972. The water-ready shoes feature a contoured footbed that molds to your feet and a rubber sole that makes them super durable, so if your plans include heading to the beach, this is a great pair to consider throwing in your bag.Available in width sizes SS-WW, Muro’s Corine Sandals are made to fit all foot shapes and sizes. But after trying on our regular sizes, we do recommend that you go up in size and width because these sandals definitely run small and narrow. You can use the brand's helpful size chart online. Suzanne Levine, DPM, a board-certified podiatric foot surgeon and professional associate of podiatric medicine at the New York–Presbyterian Hospital Naot’s Dorith 4710 Sandals look more like classic fashion footwear, than a comfortable walking sandal—and they feel that way, too. The pair offers great stability, but the thin, firm, and unresponsive sole is not suitable for long-distance walking or all-day wear.