Occasionally, high heels and flip flops tend to come in for a bit of a beating in the national press. It’s suggested that high heels can lead to back pain and foot pain, and flip flops can lead to blisters (well yes, probably, if you choose to walk miles in them. Most shoes would!).
The reality is, there are very few types of shoes that don’t lead to problems when worn for long distances or periods of time (and certain newspapers love to claim that anything and everything is harmful anyway). Run a marathon in a pair of trainers and you’ll still likely to get blisters, and badly-fitting boots can be tight and uncomfortable at the calf. All footwear has side effects if worn for longer periods of time than usual.
The key with most shoes is to make sure they’re comfortable and that you’re treating your feet well. Flip flops from established brands are designed to be as comfortable as possible, with spongy soles that support the foot and thongs that don’t irritate the feet. Some brands such as Birkenstock, Sunak, Fit Flop, Reef & Teva specifically design in arch support to some of there flip flops and sandals. If you plan on wearing your flip flops for a long time, it’s worth investing in some of the little plasters you can now buy in Boots, to have in your bag just in case. Grab some foot balm too to keep your feet super-soft!
High heels can lead to blisters too, so it’s worth carrying plasters for them too. But we always find a pair of flip flops slipped into your bag (rather than an expensive pair of fold up shoes) sorts any post-party feet aches.