UNDERSTANDING THE FIT OF SOLE FOOTWEAR

At the beginning of every season, we get neurotic about how this season's products will fit. Because of our shaped footbeds, the fit is very specific and the upper must be produced with precision in order to ensure your satisfaction and comfort. We constantly make small changes to try to make our footwear and insoles the most comfortable you will ever wear. Initial, step-in comfort is important, but we also want SOLE footwear to last and become more comfortable over time. Will they ultimately become your favorite footwear? That is our most important goal.

REMEMBER TO LET THEM BREAK IN

Something to always remember about SOLE footwear is that our footbeds (not just the straps) break in, like a treasured baseball or softball glove. The break in period is around a week but depends upon your foot shape, weight, and the length of time you wear them each day. You can speed up the break in period of the strap by stretching it by hand. So when you first try on a new pair of SOLE sandals on, it won't feel like last years pair. This is what makes our footwear so special; SOLE footwear breaks in and moulds to match YOUR feet. So when you buy a new pair of Premium Flips, they won't feel like last year's Sport Flips that you wore every day last summer, but give them a short time, and they will break in, to become your new favorite shoes. At least, that is our goal with every pair we make.

EACH SHOE FITS DIFFERENTLY

Each product in our footwear line has a slightly different fit and personality. Even though the straps on the Casual Flips and the Sport Flips are the same outer shape, they actually fit differently because of different materials. Because the characteristics of each strap material are different, we actually use different lasts (the foot shape around which the footwear is made) for each model.

Sport Flips should be a snug fit. The strap stretches more than the others and you can start with snugger straps because of this. They are "wear anywhere" flips that can go the distance.

Sport Slides have an elastic gore in the strap. This way we can avoid cheesy, Velcro straps. The Sport Slides accommodate different foot shapes while still being snug: no blisters and a great fit.

Casual Flips should be a more relaxed, looser fit. The sustainable materials of these straps are not as forgiving and don't stretch as much over time as the Sport Flips straps, so they should fit a bit looser when you first try them on. As with the Premiums, the footbed of the Casual Flips may feel a bit harder than the Sport Flips. This is because of the cork wrapping the footbed. We lowered the hardness of the footbeds on these sandals so that they will break in and become the same hardness as the Sport sandals as the cork softens.

Premium Flips are made with quality, vegetable-tanned leathers. Like any leather shoe, they will break in as the straps stretch a bit and take on their own personality. Just like the Casual Flips, the leather-wrapped footbeds need a break in period to become as soft as the Sport sandals are right out of the box.