Alright, let’s talk about beach thongs. Not the skimpy kind, the ones you put on your feet, you know? Flip-flops. I needed a new pair badly. My old ones basically disintegrated last summer after maybe three trips to the coast. Just fell apart. Total junk.
Finding the Right Pair
So, I started looking. First, I just went to the usual big discount store. Loads of ’em there, all bright colors, cheap plastic. Picked up a pair for like five bucks. Felt flimsy right away, but hey, five bucks. Took ’em home.
Wore them around the house for a bit. The little plastic bit between the toes? Felt like it was trying to saw its way through. No good. Knew they wouldn’t last an hour on actual sand without causing serious pain. So, those went straight into the donation pile.
Next, I thought, maybe I need something sturdier. Went to a sports store this time. They had more serious-looking ones. Some with fabric straps, thicker soles, arch support even. Found a pair that looked promising. Not cheap, mind you, compared to the first ones. But they felt solid.
- Tried them on in the store.
- Walked up and down the aisle a few times.
- The strap felt okay, seemed wider, less likely to cut in.
- Sole had some cushion. Felt decent.
Decided to give these ones a proper go. Paid the price, took ’em home. The real test was gonna be the beach itself.
The Beach Test Drive
Headed down to the beach the next weekend. Slipped the new thongs on. First impression: much better than the cheapo ones. Walked across the hot sand from the car park. No problem. Feet didn’t feel like they were burning.
Got down near the water. Walked along the edge where the sand is wet and firm. Still comfy. The strap wasn’t rubbing, which was my main worry. Sand got in them, obviously, happens with all thongs. But it wasn’t getting trapped under the strap in that really annoying way.
Spent a good few hours walking around, collecting shells, just messing about. Feet felt fine. No blisters starting, no sore spots between the toes. They got wet, dried out, got sandy again. Held up fine.
Even walked on some rougher ground, bits with small stones and dried seaweed near the dunes. The thicker sole actually made a difference there. Didn’t feel every little rock poking through.
The Verdict
So yeah, ended up finding a decent pair. Took a bit of trial and error, wasted five bucks on the first rubbish pair. But the second, sturdier ones seem to be the winners. They just feel more comfortable, more durable. Guess sometimes you do get what you pay for, even with simple stuff like beach thongs. Happy with these ones so far. Let’s see if they survive the whole summer this time.
