[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Flip flops (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 3/7/2010 7:54:49 PM EDT
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Why the hate?
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| If your frowned upon in Va for wearing flip flops.....just come on down to SC. People wear them with everything down here and they wear them year-round. I saw a guy last week with a layered northface jacket, scarf and knit cap and...he was still rockin the flops. |
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I don't think it's hate...they just aren't practical outside of hitting the shower at the gym or letting the "dogs" breath at the campsite after a long hike. Actually, they are not good for extended wear as most people who wear flip-flops don't walk properly as they need to "drag" their feet...not good for the feet or posture. Now, a more secure sandal such as Teva's or Chaco's have more value as an outdoor footwear.
ROCK6 |
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This is a forum about survival and flip flops are about the most unpractical footware there is. Maybe wood shoes are worst.
Besides the protection aspect, they are not good for running and unless you take baby foot shuffles even can be dangerous to walk in. They're just not practical for anything other than taking a shower. Tj |
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No, it doesn't have the sniper nubs to dig into the dirt. |
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No, it doesn't have the sniper nubs to dig into the dirt. True, but the grip says 5.11, that's worth something right? |
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This is a forum about survival and flip flops are about the most unpractical footware there is. Maybe wood shoes are worst. Besides the protection aspect, they are not good for running and unless you take baby foot shuffles even can be dangerous to walk in. They're just not practical for anything other than taking a shower. Tj I can run in flip flops faster than most can run in the best track shoes. I have proven this time and again. |
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This is a forum about survival and flip flops are about the most unpractical footware there is. Maybe wood shoes are worst. Besides the protection aspect, they are not good for running and unless you take baby foot shuffles even can be dangerous to walk in. They're just not practical for anything other than taking a shower. Tj I can run in flip flops faster than most can run in the best track shoes. I have proven this time and again. Good for you, all you have to do now is find that nice flat track in a survival situation. 
The idea isn't I can do it but can you do your best and in a survival situation best it what counts. Flip flops rate right up there with better than nothing. 
Tj |
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This is a forum about survival and flip flops are about the most unpractical footware there is. Maybe wood shoes are worst. Besides the protection aspect, they are not good for running and unless you take baby foot shuffles even can be dangerous to walk in. They're just not practical for anything other than taking a shower. Tj I can run in flip flops faster than most can run in the best track shoes. I have proven this time and again. Good for you, all you have to do now is find that nice flat track in a survival situation.
The idea isn't I can do it but can you do your best and in a survival situation best it what counts. Flip flops rate right up there with better than nothing.
Tj Oh I absolutely agree. I wouldn't want to be caught in them if things got hairy - but what I am saying is if I need to boogie with them on, I sure can. I enjoy wearing them and have become proficient in all sorts of movement with them. I keep an extra pair of socks and shoes in my car. |
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I own flip flops. They are for going back to the academy each year when I live in a dorm for about a week or a bit less. I take sneakers if going hiking with a group where I know we will be playing around the fire or playing in the creeks a lot. If out and about by myself or a quiet group I have zero issues loosening the laces on my boots and letting my feet be out of the boot while sitting around the fire and then putting the boot on to step over to my tent for something if I need it. Just how I prefer to do it after dealing with flip flops and bugs when stepping away from the fire. |
| Flip flops are essential summer wear, period. Reef make by far the most comfortable flops on the planet. I wear them all the time, because lets face it, here in Fort Collins the day to day combat is pretty low and If I am not riding a motorcycle or engaged in combat I like to be comfortable and feel the cool air between my lower digits. Just saying yo. |
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I always take my Crocs back packing and camping. They give my feet a chance to breath after a long hike and let my boots dry out. They don't weigh any thing either, so it's an extra pair of foot wear without adding any weight. smart Here, we call them slippers. Good for going out to dinners, weddings, funerals,..... Easy to take off when you enter someone's home - it is kapu to enters ones house with shoes on. Plus, no more stinkfoot! I was in OK and came out of the store during an extended downpour. Everyone was huddled under the roof, because right beyond the sidewalk was a rushing river 4 inches deep. Needless to say, I was the only one who walked through it, got into my car, removed the slippers, no problem. Try crossing a river with boots! |
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Quoted: Quoted: I always take my Crocs back packing and camping. They give my feet a chance to breath after a long hike and let my boots dry out. They don't weigh any thing either, so it's an extra pair of foot wear without adding any weight. smart Here, we call them slippers. Good for going out to dinners, weddings, funerals,..... Easy to take off when you enter someone's home - it is kapu to enters ones house with shoes on. Plus, no more stinkfoot! I was in OK and came out of the store during an extended downpour. Everyone was huddled under the roof, because right beyond the sidewalk was a rushing river 4 inches deep. Needless to say, I was the only one who walked through it, got into my car, removed the slippers, no problem. Try crossing a river with boots! TEOTWAKI will have us hoarding Spam, eggs, rice and slippahs.  |
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Here in Florida the parking lots got shortchanged by the construction companies when they built drainage sewers...so in a downpour with water up to my shins I just take off my flipflops and walk to my car.
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I always take my Crocs back packing and camping. They give my feet a chance to breath after a long hike and let my boots dry out. They don't weigh any thing either, so it's an extra pair of foot wear without adding any weight. smart Here, we call them slippers. Good for going out to dinners, weddings, funerals,..... Easy to take off when you enter someone's home - it is kapu to enters ones house with shoes on. Plus, no more stinkfoot! I was in OK and came out of the store during an extended downpour. Everyone was huddled under the roof, because right beyond the sidewalk was a rushing river 4 inches deep. Needless to say, I was the only one who walked through it, got into my car, removed the slippers, no problem. Try crossing a river with boots! |
| Reef shoes, water shoes or SCUBA booties do everything flip-flops do but better. I've spent over 30 years hunting and living in tropical jungle; jungle boots for hard work and reef shoes for camp and water are all you need. NOTE, if buying reef shoes get the ones with drawstrings or they will slip off in mud. |
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If you habitually carry a gun in case of that one time you may need it, why would you wear shoes that prohibit running... just in case you have to get away?
I've got Tevas and Crocs, but I won't wear flip flops - have to remain able to move, shoot, and communicate. Call me paranoid. |
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Reef shoes, water shoes or SCUBA booties do everything flip-flops do but better. I've spent over 30 years hunting and living in tropical jungle; jungle boots for hard work and reef shoes for camp and water are all you need. NOTE, if buying reef shoes get the ones with drawstrings or they will slip off in mud. except they make your feet stink like shit. Sandals for me in the summer. They're good for running errands, taking the trash out, etc. I could easily go through a pair or two of shoes a summer just filling them with stink (the kind that doesn't come out) if I didn't wear sandals. I just throw a pair of shoes or boots in my car and I'm set. The added plus of growing up in AZ is that most people around here can do just about anything in flip-flops. Run, hike, jump, etc. |
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Flip flops are essential summer wear, period. Reef make by far the most comfortable flops on the planet. I wear them all the time, because lets face it, here in Fort Collins the day to day combat is pretty low and If I am not riding a motorcycle or engaged in combat I like to be comfortable and feel the cool air between my lower digits. Just saying yo. QFT Mick Fannings rock the bottle openers too, I wear them all summer; and have a few different styles & colors. Camping, on the boat, to the store...all good. I draw the line at shooting in them though, as I've been burned between the toes by hot brass before when shooting barefoot. They let your feet breath & the neopreen interior grip the sides of your feet so there is no "dragging your feet". You can run like hell with them on, even on uneven ground, & through sand. ETA: for pics. 
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The Flip Flop hate in SF, in my mind, comes from the following points:
-The average SF flip-flop wearer has carefully weighed their footwear options, discovered that flip-flops meet their requirements for appropriate footwear for the occasions they would be wearing them, and likely made a choice to invest in some quality flip flops. I would be willing to bed that those people also keep a pair of closed-toe footwear nearby for any event that would require an upgrade in foot protection. No one is blowing up your spot, SF is about examining your gear and discovering what works best for you. -Most people in this world who wear flip flops, do so in wildly inappropriate situations. We have a memo at work that is posted very clearly stated that flip flops are not work appropriate...yet every year, there is a certain segment of the population that comes into a work environment where they fully understand they might be stepping in dog crap, mud, broken glass, or any number of other things that are bad for poorly protected feet, wearing these shoes. They simply do not think about anything beyond their immediate comfort, and it results in injuries every year. In a SHTF situation where people might have to be on foot, and the footpath is clogged with hazards, the simple fact is that the person wearing the least protective footwear is going to suffer the greatest injuries to their PRIMARY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. -Most americans live their lives in extreme comfort. People can get away wearing poorly constructed footwear, because if they break or somehow fail, there are a million replacement pairs at Old Navy or the Family Dollar for a dollar a pair. What happens if you are trying to get out of a situation on foot and the flimsy injection-molded thong snaps? or the foam sole is shredded to nothing in a few miles on hot ashpalt? I can guarantee the average flip-flop wearer is not carrying an extra set of better shoes in their vehicle or otherwise easily at hand. -The average american is not a battle-hardened Spartan warrior like some Arfcommers, and their feet are not tough like leather. Where in some parts of the world, a lifetime of hard living with poor or no shoes toughens the feet, Americans in general are used to walking on carpet, or clean, smooth floors, and are on their feet few hours per day; if we are on them more, we wear shoes with better support. Whole industries surround the notion that soft, smooth feet are the best, and sell lots of product to women and men who want to achieve that goal. -The "sheep" of the world probably aren't doing much exercise to begin with, and running with cheap flip flops on is an even further handicap. The only worse shoe, in my opinion for running, is some sort of high-heeled open-toe sandal that women wear all the time. I was on a home visit with a female psychiatrist to a schizophrenic guy's house, and when he started flipping out, she kicked off both shoes and ran down two flights or stairs. After the cops came and took our guy, I had to go back inside and rescue her shoes from his apartment. She stood barefoot in the muddy grass for like 45 minutes while the arrest was being made. She told me later how stupid she felt, and its a story I tell co workers when they first get hired to remind them to wear reasonable footwear for the environment they will be in. I don't know why I wrote a huge long rant on this issue...I guess I just work in a place where I see people paying the price for bad footwear on a pretty regular basis, mostly surrounding a woman wearing some kind of flip-flop, weak sandal or high heel shoe. |
| Only cute girls with cute feet should wear them outside of a shower shoe environment IMO. No one wants to see a guy's nasty feet, and more importantly as others have covered, they're terrible in situations of adversity. Since most of us carry guns we can get onboard with the fact a simple run to Barnes and Noble might change quickly. |
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Guess I look at things differently...I guess I "train" or "prep" for how I live
Most of you here post pics of your BOB, GHB, or whatever you name it, to provide the items you need to make it home "in case" Well, mine contains a good pair of boots. Its in my truck. I also never wake up wearing shoes, nor do I wander the house wearing them. Which is where I'll be in a "home invasion" ( I'm not too worried about that ) But, I also have another good pair of boots They are in the closet I go barefooted whenever, just 'cause I like it. So while I may not have feet of stone, I can get by on them So, for the majority of the time I'm covered, so to speak If for some reason I can't get back to my truck.... well then I won't be too worried. That just means apparently a building is on top of it.. either way I wouldn't have my go-bag or rifle, and at that point, all bets are off Active shooter maybe??.... still gotta get to the truck terrorist attack maybe??... still gotta get to the truck angry mob approaching.....still gotta get to the truck zombies wreaking havoc.......uh, there is no such thing, lighten up Francis Whats that..CCW you say... aren't you are always carrying a gun?? No, I dont swim with one. Maybe some here do, but again, I would have to get to the truck. So, what I have learned to do, is be prepared for things that could go wrong and use common sense. Do I go out and replace 500' of fencing that just got washed out because of a flash flood wearing flip flops....uh, NO Do I run a chainsaw in flip-flops ........uh, NO Do I walk home in 2' of snow wearing flip-flops....uh, NO common sense, people Do I shoot barefooted...uh, yeah, Why? 'cause thats what I'll be wearing at 3 am if someone does break in As far as being able to move in them, thats an individual thing. Hell. I know guys that trip over their own two feet. You may be one of those guys I'm not. I get around just as well in flip-flops. Again common sense... if you can't walk in them, don't wear them. (that's universal, shoes can be the same) So aside from the " Men don't wear those" or " They look ghey" or " They're not survival rated" they're really aren't any real reasons presented to preclude including them in your gear. Sometimes its the wolf in a sheep's clothing...or something like that Maybe if Magpul only made a pair ?................... |
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I don't like flip-flops as I've never liked that cord sitting between my toes. Didn't like it as a kid, don't like it now. Crocs (and similar knock-offs) are very useful though. We try to take our footwear off right inside the entranceway so we don't track mud through the house. If you're just going outside to feed the chickens or grab a bag of firewood, Crocs can't be beat. Easy on, easy off. When they get muddy, hose 'em off. I've always figured the Crocs-haters are folks who don't have to go in and out of the house twenty times a day. Which piece of footwear would you rather put on if you're just going out for a quick chore?   |