Foot Health FAQ: Are Thongs (Flip Flops) Bad for Your Feet?
In Australia, thongs are practically a cultural institution. Beach, backyard barbecue, quick trip to the shops – they’re the default footwear for a huge chunk of the year. So, it’s a fair question: are they actually bad for your feet, or is that just podiatrists being killjoys?
The honest answer is: it depends entirely on how much you’re wearing them and what you’re doing in them. Thongs aren’t inherently evil. But they’re not designed for all-day wear, and using them as your primary footwear day after day does come with some real trade-offs.
What thongs don’t provide
A standard thong offers almost no arch support, no heel cushioning, no structure around the ankle, and nothing to keep the foot from sliding around. The sole is typically flat and thin, which means the foot absorbs impact with very little help.
To keep a thong on, the toes have to grip the strap with every step. This is a small but constant muscular effort that, over a long day of walking, can lead to overuse of the smaller toe and forefoot muscles. This gripping action also slightly shortens the stride and changes how the foot moves through each step, which can place extra load on the plantar fascia, Achilles tendon, and calf muscles.
What this can lead to
For most people, occasional thong use is completely fine. But wearing them as your main footwear for weeks or months – as plenty of Australians do through summer – can contribute to:
Achilles and calf tightness, from the flat sole and shortened gait pattern
Forefoot pain and fatigue from the constant toe gripping
Blisters between the toes from strap friction
Ankle sprains, since there’s nothing stabilising the ankle if you step awkwardly
People who already have plantar fasciitis, flat feet, or Achilles issues tend to notice a significant flare-up when they switch to thongs for summer. That’s not a coincidence.
So, should you ditch them entirely?
Not necessarily. Thongs are perfectly reasonable for short-duration wear, like around the pool, at the beach, through the shops for a quick errand. The issue is using them as your everyday walking shoe for hours at a time.
If you love your thongs and aren’t willing to give them up entirely (fair enough), look for options with a contoured footbed, some arch support, and a slightly thicker sole. Brands like Archies were specifically designed with this in mind and are a much more foot-friendly option than a flat rubber thong, while still being genuinely easy to wear. For more on what to look for in everyday footwear, our guide to appropriate footwear is worth a read.And if you’ve been spending summer in thongs and your heels, arch, or calves are starting to protest, it’s probably time to rotate in some more supportive footwear and maybe have a chat with a podiatrist if things don’t settle. Book an appointment with the team at Hurst Podiatry and we’ll help get things back on track.
