Made in U.S.A.–it’s a label we need to see a lot more of in order to have a prosperous country. On a recent trip to my local Walmart, I saw a display of sandals and flip-flops for men and women that proudly proclaimed that they were Made in U.S.A. Not only were they made in U.S.A., they were made in a factory only 50 miles away in nearby Buford, Georgia. I immediately decided to make some room in my budget. The attractive display had many colorful shoes to choose from, but I chose some cool looking black “Surf” flip-flops.
When you look at Okabashi “Surf” flip-flops, you quickly realize that they have a sophisticated design for flip-flops. First, these flip-flops have a level of arch support that rivals a good pair of running shoes. Second, Okabashi “Surf” flip-flops have raised areas of stippling on parts of the foot bed to massage and stabilize your feet. If you turn the flip-flop over, you’ll see that they have an aggressive tread design that would look right at home on a high performance, speed-rated, tire. When I put on my new pair of “Surf” flip-flops, I found that they were much more comfortable than the cheaply-made flip-flops of my youth.
If you visit the Okabashi website, you’ll learn that the design sophistication of all their flip-flops and sandals extends beyond their physical appearance. My “Surf” flip-flops are made of dishwasher-safe, microbial, latex-free material. If you are concerned about the environment, you’ll be glad to know tha the Okabashi shoes are made of a 100% recyclable material called Microplast. Each pair of flip-flops is made of 15 to 25% recycled material. While the shoes have a two-year warranty, when they do wear out, you can either take them to a recycling center or send them to Okabashi in exchange for a discount coupon good towards your next purchase. If shopping “green” is important to you, then you’ll note that shipping a domestically-produced pair of flip-flops to a store near you is a lot more efficient than putting flip-flops on the slow boat from China. Amazingly, “Surf” flip-flops are even vegan friendly. But, I sure wouldn’t recommend eating them. They are incredible, but not edible.
In the past couple of weeks, I’ve found the Okabashi “Surf” flip-flops comfortable for short walks with our dog and other quick jaunts. At first, it took a few minutes to get used to the idea of flip-flops that actually have arch support. But, then I found them much more comfortable than an average flip-flops. Overall, I’d highly recommend Okabashi “Surf” flip-flops. At a retail price of less than $20, you get a comfortable, long-lasting, well-designed, recyclable product that is made in America.
Sources:
Okabashi Brands, Inc. Website
Other articles by this contributor:
Surprisingly Made in the USA: The Wristwatch
Knife Review: Buck 119 Special Hunting Knife
“Y’all” Should Be Considered Proper English
