Luke Cuenco 12.01.25
Flip-flops aren’t typically something I put a lot of thought into when buying. For what they are, flip-flops are typically cheap, uncomfortable, and extremely painful to wear for any extended period. There are a few companies out there that put a little more effort into at least offering some arch support, but even then, many of these companies are also chasing style rather than function or long-term durability. This past summer, I got my feet on a pair of Combat Flip Flops Floperator, the company’s flagship flipflop for people who demand a lot from their flip flops and like to rock the style daily. Today, I’ll share my experiences with them so far.
More Clothing and Gear Reviews @ OutdoorHub:
OHUB Review: Combat Flip Flops Floperator – Flops For the Apocalypse?
Men’s Coyote Floperator
Built for those who live life on the move — on land, at sea, and in the air.
The Men’s Coyote Floperator isn’t your average pair of flip flops. These men’s flip flops are engineered with a fully contoured, zero-drop sole for maximum grip, support, and all-day comfort. Whether you’re trekking through rough terrain, crossing rivers, or chasing the next horizon, these men’s sandals are designed to handle whatever comes next.
Made tough. Built for performance. Backed by our lifetime warranty — because gear you trust shouldn’t quit.
Flip flops made to move. Men’s sandals built for the long haul.
- Men’s sizes 7–15
- Injection molded arch support
- Proprietary EVA contoured midsole
- Proprietary rubber outsole
- Military-grade tubular nylon upper
- 2 ⅝” x ⅝” morale patch
- ***SIZING RUNS SMALL – 1/2 sizes should size UP***
- Lifetime Warranty
- HALF SIZES GO UP IN SIZE
- Made in Bogota, Colombia
Each pair of Floperators costs $50, but they go on sale from time to time. $50 is approaching the territory of some less expensive athletic shoes, so right here you’re already looking at a step away from the kind of flip flops you’ll see being sold in the grocery stores and the aisles of Walmart. There are a few interesting claims here, like the “Military-Grade” tubular nylon upper. I’m not sure what “military-grade” means in the context of flip flops, as the United States military, at least, does not have any officially issued flip flops. The Army did issue very simple sandals for operations in Afghanistan, but from everything I’ve heard, most off-duty personnel who had access to them rarely used them. I think what’s going on with the “military-grade” claim is that these flip flops are supposed to be tough and durable and not to be simply used once and then tossed like a pair of dollar store flip flops – these flops are meant for the apocalypse.
Build Quality Impressions
As opposed to your run-of-the-mill flip flops, the Floperator features three layers. Starting with the bottom, the Floperator outsole is made from a proprietary rubber that is sturdy but has enough of a rubbery texture to it to give it a decent amount of grip, even without the aggressive, yet uniformly flat tread on the bottom of the sole.
Going up one layer, the midsole is the layer typically responsible for giving shoes and flip flops their cushioning and support. Here, Combat Flipflops is again using a proprietary blend of material, this time EVA foam, to form the midsole. EVA foam has been used in athletic shoes for years and has excellent sock-absorption properties. Basically, this means that when used properly in footwear, it can reduce the wear and tear that running and walking have on your joints, while also having the firmness to properly support your weight.
The injection-molded arch support, commonly called the “footbed,” on a pair of flip flops is meant to appeal to a broader range of arches. Arches are a bit hard to get right because everyone’s feet are a little different. I think Combat Flip-flops went on the lighter side with no arch, which I think is actually a pretty smart decision for a pair of footwear that more closely mimics walking barefoot than any other footwear. That being said, there is a very subtle arch there, and, as I’ll discuss later, it’s been very comfortable to wear so far.
Finally, the Toe Post and Strap are made from a very durable tubular nylon strap that also features a neat 2 ⅝” x ⅝” morale patch on the outside section of each respective fliop flop – one for the left and one for the right. The Floperators come with two included patches, but you can find plenty of small morale patches online that will fit on this rather small, but useful spot for personalizing your flip flops.
A Summer of Use
I was able to get my hands on the Floperators at the start of summer, and living in the Pacific Northwest, they got to see everything from alpine streams to the Columbia River and all the way to the Pacific Coast for some days on the beach. The flopeators really shine as daily-driver footwear, and I think the biggest difference for me compared to other flip flops comes down to the thickness of the toe post, combined with the very well-designed midsole. What I’m trying to communicate here is that I don’t seem to experience the same level of fatigue as I do with my regular flip flops, which have a much firmer, thinner construction.
The Floperators manage to be not only comfortable to wear wet or dry, but they’re also extremely durable. Out of morbid curiosity to see how tough the outsole was, I took a knife to it, and to my surprise, it’s incredibly tough. I tried to both pierce and slash the outsole, and it was able to withstand quite a great amount of pressure without piercing through even one layer. I would imagine that a piece of glass or sharp metal wouldn’t get through these flip-flops if you happened to accidentally step on something like that. However, I wouldn’t trust these to keep anything extremely pointy (a nail) from going through if you happen to stomp right on one.
One final metric I’ll use to describe my experience with the Floperators is how it feels to be in and around water. I’ve been on and off boats all summer, as well as on and off the beach, and have had plenty of time to assess how comfortable these are not just to wear when they’re dry, but when they inevitably get wet. The Floperators do a great job of not holding onto water. As opposed to cheap, completely flat spa or swimming pool flip flops, the slight arches and the rubberized footbed drain water very well, but have just enough give to still give you a good amount of traction so you don’t slide around in your own flip flops. All in all, these flip flops are true daily drivers, and I think in the right weather are almost as good as most flat-soled shoes for a day out.
Final Thoughts
We’re deep into fall now, and although the temperature has dropped well below what I’d consider flip-flop weather, I’m still using them regularly. Even though it’s only been a couple of months, the flip flops are holding up quite well, especially the soles and the toe post, which are your typical high-wear areas that tend to get worn out first. At $50, the Floperators are kind of expensive compared to your average flip-flop, but come in under budget compared to some of your more ritzy name brands, which can fetch anywhere from $75 to in excess of $100.
For $50, the floperators are not only more valuable to me from a functional standpoint, but they’re also likely far more durable, thanks to the more durable materials used in their construction. I think the Floperators are a great gift for anyone, including yourself, looking for a good pair of comfortable, durable flip-flops that will last a lifetime.
Luke can be reached via his instagram @ballisticavitation
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