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W-Salam,
Yes, we have the same concern while backpacking in foreign countries and walking long distances. Great care should be taken with footwear.
Good point, Masha’Allah.
I have some personal thoughts after spending two decades in weird forging places on my feet for hours but let me know what you come up with
Personally, I found the £1 flip flops did the job for me during Ihram time when I went in the 90's and they lasted throughout the whole 5 and a half weeks. They didn't even go missing unlike my room mates. They only went missing the day he borrowed them :( luckily it was towards the end of our journey.
Aftrer that, I wore Bata from India with spikes on the sole. Only problem was that my feet would turn blue, the same colour as the flip-flop itself. But lasted and still going. Comfy too
My brother bought a few lookalike Havaianas from Makkah whilst on Hajj and he swears by them. He bought plenty back home too, for himself and to give others. They are called "COOL" and cost about 10 Riyals from the MAll in the clock tower
Not my personal recommendations, but this is what I found online.
1. Rainbows
Original hand made in a Laguna Beach garage (California, USA) in 1974 by a guy called Jay Longley these flip-flops are still THE Californian flip-flop. These amazing flip-flops still come with a guarantee that if they break before they should you get a brand new pair.
2. Havaianas
Well… what can I say about Havaianas? If you’ve ever travelled before you will definitely have seen other backpackers wearing them. People swear by Havaianas so they can’t all be wrong. They are cheap, light, easy, good-looking and more importantly durable.
3. Ipanemas
These flip-flops make me laugh – they are 100% a total rip off of Havaianas. So much so that in the beginning I refused to buy them because they looked like fake Havai’s. But alas – I was wrong. These are in fact a kosher brand of flip-flop that are as comfortable, if not more, than Havianas. They’re also cheaper which is an added bonus!
4. Reefs
These flip-flops are bigger than Havai’s and Rainbow’s… but man, oh man are they comfy! Some designs make you look like a 40-year-old geography teacher but when Reef gets the design right they really pull it out of the bag! It’s also been my experience that these flip-flops are indestructible so if you actually are lucky enough to find a style that makes you look good buy at least 4 pairs! You’ll thank me for this nugget of information!
5. Crocs
Hmmm… I debated about putting these in because, lets face it, they are not what I consider as cool and good looking flips-flops like Havi’s or Rainbows. However… ever single medical nurse I have ever seen or met wear them. When asked why, they simply answer that they are the most comfortable footwear you can ever wear, especially when you have to be on your feet for 13 hours straight. Now backpackers walk around a lot and stand a lot so naturally these would be an ideal choice. To try or not to try that is the question… maybe next year
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
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