I buy slip-on synthetic shoes to wear walking to and from a swimming pool and around the home after a shower when my feet are wet. This means two types of footwear, thick soles for walking outdoors, the same or similar towelling for indoors.
Slippery on wet floors. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
Slip-ons which slip!
Some slip-ons slip on wet surfaces. In Singapore I slipped on outdoor stairs running to the swimming pool after rain. My thin flip flops had tiny thin stripes of raised synthetic material. They did not have sufficient grip.
Results of a Slip - injury
I spent an agonising 14 hours flying back to London, hardly able to sit, trying to lie prone or stand except when eating and being forced to bring my chairseat upright.
When you turn over your flip-slops, you see how dirty the soles have become. Most which are entirely synthetic can be dunked in cold or warm water and washed clean. You may need to allow a day or two for them to dry.
Substantial Slip-ons
Back in London, England, I looked everywhere for flip-flops with non-slip soles. Eventually I bought some Everlast shoes which I found in a sport shop called Sport Direct. The shoes seemed expensive, but eventually in the sales I found an offer for two pairs.
My old EverLast brand sandals from Sportsdirect.com . Photo by Angela Lansbury. Notice the fabric edging.
In January 2019 the website, responding to my clicking on UK as my location, was selling at 12 pounds sterling for two. If you log into their website from another country, you might get different offers and prices in a different currency.
My family objected: 'Why buy two pairs when you only need one? That's an illusory saving! You are spending more.'
However, I now had pairs in two colours, and a pair in storage for when the favourite colour got dirty. These items had thick soles and deep grooves.
Fabric Edging
I wore them for several months and the white fabric edging strip eventually turned grey and mouldy. I tried washing them, which sort of worked. They improved, not really smart looking, but better.
Hunting For Replacements In Singapore
I hunted all over singapore and could not find flip flops which covered the upper part of my foot. I wanted to protect the upper part of my foot from the sun because I was swimming daily and did not want to risk getting melanoma (skin cancer caused or aggravated by the sun's rays).
Vietnam Choices and Prices
On holiday in Vietnam, in the capital, Hanoi in the north, the old quarter has numerous shops selling trainers and causal shoes including flip-flops. At first the seller of a pair I wanted was asking a high price - for what were clearly basic shoes.
We walked away - and the price came down! I bought.
Not Nike but Nkie. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
Fake Brand Name?
When I got back home, I noticed that the brand name was NKIE, which looks like an attempt to fool the customer into thinking they are buying Nike. I don't care what the brand name is. I wasn't fooled into thinking they were NIKE. I just wanted that particular style covering my foot.
Simple Style
The first time I wore my smart shoes they pressed on my toes and rubbed them. The shoes were OK indoors, when my feet take small steps and are more or less flat. The soles bend, but the front edge rubs against your upper foot.
Fabric Edging
When I looked back at other shoes, I realised that they have a fabric edging strip across the upper part. I now realise that is not just for decoration, but comfort.
So, now when buying shoes, I consider the non-slip quality of the sole, the flexibility of the sole so the front of the upper does not rub my toes, and whether the shoe comes with fabric edging.
I realise that a shoe with a thicker sole and fabric edging might cost more.
I am wearing my cheap shoes happily around the house. Many shoes are uncomfortable on day one. they feel unfamiliar.
Special shoes come with even more fabric for decoration and comfort.
Fabric toe-post, fabric edging to uppers. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
Prices
I hope my experience has taught me and you how to inspect and judge shoes, to understand why some cost more, and why the cheaper shoes should be cheaper, and are not worth the same price as the branded and better made shoes. So bargain when buying the simpler styles if you are being asked for a high price, and decide whether you are getting a good deal on a cheap shoe, or getting a great comfortable shoe, just what you need, regardless of the price.
Beach Shoes
What the British call flip-flops used to be worn only on the beach and some people might call them beach shoes (which could also describe shoes which are worn in the water, but should have thick soles to protect you from sharp stones or stepping on sharp shells.
Toe-post shoes might come off in the water when the cold makes your feet shrink or the sank and tide suck them off.
Toe-posts - Plastic or Fabric?
I used to avoid toe-posts because they quickly made my feet sore. I later discovered that the synthetic all in one toe posts were rubbing. The more expensive shoes have fabric toe posts.
Toe-Post - Advantages - Easy Off
Shoes which have merely an A shape plastic top with a toe-post allow your feet to stay cool in hot weather. You can also take them off quickly when entering a temple or a house where you are expected to remove your outdoor shoes. They are inexpensive so if they were lost or stolen when you took them off at a beach, or a temple, not a lot of money to replace.
Pool and Beach Shoes
Other reasons for wearing Beach shoes:
a) Pebbly beaches are uncomfortable underfoot.
b) Sandy beaches are too hot to walk on.
c) To protect your feet from sharp litter, stings, insects.
Other reasons for wearing pool shoes:
a) You are afraid of catching verrucas.
b) You already have athletes foot or verrucas.
c) The pool requires it.
Pool shoes. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
Shoes without Proper Support
I noticed many elderly people walking along dragging their feet in flip-slops, making a slopping noise. Shoes without a back do not support your feet properly. Not lifting your feet might lead to dropped arches. Clenching your toes to grip your shoes on, might lead to hammer toes.
You are more likely to trip when you move your feet forward and hit an uneven protruding paving stone, instead of lifting your foot off the ground and planting it on top.
Pack Spare Pairs
If you get blisters from a new pair of shoes, it is handy to have packed a spare pair of toe-post shoes which allow your toes and heels to recover.
Smart Shoes
Smart Shoes
For a pool party you might want smarter toe-post shoes. You can buy shoes with glitter or flowers.
Shoe Words
Incidentally, when asking for shoes, here are the words:
Singapore
Flip-flops - British term - named from the sound they make. Toe-post shoes.
Slippers - Singapore term - what we in Britain call flip-flops, in Singapore any slip on backless shoe, with a completely covered front and open back - or those with toe-posts.
Carpet slippers - not made of carpet but for walking on carpet, soft shoes which worn indoors wo as not to dirty carpets.
British slippers from Marks & Spencers worn in the house and on carpets. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.
Slippers - British term for soft footwear worn in the house, either those with soft soles, worn all the time to protect carpets, or more comfortable with soft tops and wide fronts worn with night-wear such as pyjamas.
When your outdoor shoes are wet from rain, or snow, or heavy Wellington boots, you change into slippers indoors.
Thongs - Australian and New Zealand term for toe-post shoes.
Thongs - British term for skimpy underwear with a t shape string back.
The latest words on websites are sandals and sliders.
Everlast brand is available from:
sportsdirect.com
Travel Tips
Singapore Airlines:
Author
Angela Lansbury, BA Hons, ACG, ALB. Travel writer and photographer, author, speaker, trainer specialising in the English language, etiquette and communication.
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