Hooray! It’s Labor Day weekend here in the U.S.! Boo! Summer’s coming to an end! But don’t get out your winter sweaters just yet! There’s still plenty of warm weather and lots of time to wear your summer stuff, especially your flip flops! And, if you’re like me, you basically live in them all summer. So, I’m very excited that I’m a brand ambassador for Zakistar Flip Flops (check out my Other Cool Stuff page). As a brand ambassador, in exchange for receiving a product (here, flip flops), I test drive it and review it. I also help spread the word about a company if I like their product. When I first saw Zakistar Flip Flops, I was intrigued, but skeptical. They have pebbles on the footbed of the shoe! Is that even comfortable? Well, here’s what I REALLY think of ‘em! And, since, it’s a holiday here in the U.S., I’ll be brief so we can enjoy the last “official” weekend of the summer!
What They Are:
Zakistar Flip Flops are a unique twist on traditional flip flops. They are made with pebbles on the footbed where the sole of your foot sits, and it’s intended to feel like walking on the pebbles of a river.
The Concept:
Nothing like hearing it straight from the horse’s mouth about where the concept came from. The owner of Zakistar says this about how it all started:
“Close to my house there is a river where take my dog for a walk (by the way his name is Zaki). He loves swimming in the river. While he was swimming I often walked on the pebble river bank. It felt really comfortable, like a massage except for a few painful moments, when I stepped on a sharp pebble. I remembered hearing about how healthy barefoot walking is and I started thinking how could I incorporate it into everyday life without looking like a weirdo or accidentally stepping on glass. In a few days the idea was born.”
What I Really Think:
Like I mentioned at the beginning of this post, I was intrigued, but skeptical about how the whole “barefoot walking pebbly” thing would feel. But, I was pleasantly surprised – I actually love them! First, the pebble footbed - they really do feel like they're massaging your feet as you walk! The pebbles have rounded edges. They aren’t pointy or sharp at all. The leather thong is super soft and comfy. I hate when the thong rubs between your toes and my Zakistars don’t do that.
Sizing:
Zakistars run true to size, for the most part, except my stubby little toes give me some extra room on the front end!
Note: The sizes are listed in European sizes, so you’ll need to convert from European to U.S. sizes. For example, I typically where a size 6 U.S. shoe, so I wear a European size 37.
What they’re best for:
In my opinion, I like wearing Zakistars around the house after a long day, or for errands around town. I will also wear them to/from the parking lot to my office, which is about a seven minute walk. They really do feel like they’re massaging my feet. You might think that they could be uncomfortable. To the contrary, they’re totally comfy, but they do take a bit of getting used to since most people don’t walk on pebbles as part of their daily routine. I appreciate how well made and sturdy they are, especially since I walk on different surfaces – city streets, grass, boardwalk. I’m not keen on stepping on a rock or a piece of glass walking from the parking lot and feeling it through my flip flops.
When they probably aren’t best to wear:
Probably not best if you’re going to be walking all day. No matter how comfy flip flops are, miles of walking require sturdy shoes with plenty of support.
How they wear:
I haven’t had any major issues after two months of wearing my Zakistars consistently. Yeah, I’ve lost a pebble or two, but nothing noticeable. The good news is that the softness of leather has held up even after getting soaked with saltwater from the bay while kayaking.
Pricing:
Final verdict:
I’m giving Zakistar Flip Flops a thumbs up! I’m super happy with them. Yeah, they’re a bit pricey, but they’re unique and well made, which for me, is key. Would I buy them if I wasn’t an ambassador for them? Absolutely! And I’m not just saying that because I’ve been sent a freebie!
