SOLE Blog
April 23rd, 2012
Breaking in your SOLE flips
We've been hearing a little bit of feedback from customers about tight fitting straps on the new 2012 flips, so we wanted to remind everyone about the key points of breaking in a new pair of SOLE sandals.
Why a break in period?
When you first try on a new pair of SOLE sandals, they won't feel like last year's pair. This is what makes our footwear so special; SOLE footwear breaks in and moulds to match YOUR feet. We feel a short break-in period is a good trade off for the most comfortable sandals you will ever wear.How long do they take to break in?
Like a treasured baseball glove or pair of hockey skates, you need to give your flips the time to properly break in. Generally the break-in period is around a week but depends on factors like your foot shape, weight, and length of time you wear them each day. Remember you're not just breaking in the footbed of the sandal, you're also breaking in the strap.Speeding up the strap break-in time
Waiting for a new toy to break in isn't always the best of times; we want it to work now! However, you can speed up the break-in time by stretching your straps by hand. Hold the bottom part of the shoe in one hand and just pull the strap from the center, away from the bottom of the shoe, stretching one side of the strap at a time. Please see the image below for how to properly hold and stretch the strap. Go for it, you won't rip them!
Each shoe fits differently
Each product in our footwear line has a slightly different fit and personality. Even though our straps are based off the same outer shape, they fit differently because they are made from different materials. Due to the use of different strap materials, we use different lasts (the foot shape around which the footwear is made) for each model to provide an optimal fit.How should my Sport Flips fit?
Our Sport Flips' strap is the most stretchy of all our sandals, and they therefore have the most snug fit. Sport Flips are great for general use and they're our "wear anywhere" sandals that can go the distance.How should my Sport Slides fit?
The Sport Slides feature an elastic gore in the strap to accommodate different foot shapes while still being snug: no blisters and a great fit. The elastic gore also allows us to avoid cheesy, Velcro straps. Personally, I love using my Sport Slides around the house as they are super easy to slide on and off.How should my Casual Flips fit?
Due to the sustainable materials we use, the straps are not as forgiving and don't stretch as much over time like the Sport Flips. Therefore, we made them a bit looser when you first try them on for optimal comfort. The Casual Flips' footbed may feel a bit harder than the Sport models, which is due to the cork wrapping on the footbed. For 2012, we've decreased the hardness of the footbeds so that over time, as the cork softens, they will become the same hardness as the Sport Flips & Slides. Safe to say the Casual Flips may require a little extra break-in time.How should my Premium Flips fit?
Premium flips are made with quality, vegetable-tanned leathers. Similar to any leather shoe, you need to give them a little extra time to stretch into the perfect fit. Not to mention, the leather-wrapped footbed performs much like the cork-wrapped platform, so it will also require some additional time to properly mould to your foot shape.Hopefully this post has helped to better explain the break-in period for a pair of our sandals. However, if you still have questions please feel free to leave a comment below.
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Comments (5)
On May 18th, 2012, jack walzer said:
Tried the stretching process. It actually worked to an extent and created less pressure but the sandels ripped. The sandel straps are just sewn in too tight.
On May 23rd, 2012, Paula said:
I don't find the top strap too tight on my Sport Flips but I do find that the material has changed from past years. What is there now literally cut into the top of my foot within an hour of walking in them. Go back to the old stuff...it was soft and super flexible.
On May 28th, 2012, Rob said:
Hi Jack and Paula: We are sorry to hear about both of those problems. I hope your feet are fine now, Paula, and if the Flips have not worn in yet to your liking, and you would like to exchange/return them, please let us know. Jack, please contact customer service if your sandals ripped and we will be happy to replace them too. They should definitely not rip! Thanks for letting us know of your problems. We take them seriously and are trying to make the most comfortable footwear on the planet, so when it is not, we like to know about it. Regards Rob Product Director
On June 9th, 2012, Rachel said:
When I first got my Casual flips a couple weeks ago, they fit perfect. I understood that the straps are not as forgiving as the Sport Flips and don't stretch as much over time. I told everyone I could how wonderful these sandals were. Today they seem to be too big. They have definitely stretched, there is way to much flopping around on my foot. What happened? Needless to say, not happy anymore. I will be returning them.
On June 11th, 2012, Alyssa said:
Hi Rachael. I'm sorry to hear that the Casual Flips aren't fitting anymore. Definitely want to get you a replacement, but I'd love to talk to you first to ensure that we are getting you the right sandal and the right size to fit your foot! You can reach me at 1-866-235-7653 ext. 118 Alyssa Customer Service Manager