How do I learn to walk in sandals with no heel strap?

[BuffaloCauliflower]

Or flip flops for that matter? Or any shoe where the back of the heel isn’t contained in some way. I’ve never managed it. I curl my toes up trying to hold them on, I walk weirdly and it’s clearly not good for my feet and leg muscles. I see women walking around no problem in flip flops and wonder how the hell they’re doing it with such ease! Strappy sandals with thin leather around the ankle also seem to rub, so it’s mostly trainers or sometimes ballet pumps with no support.

Can I learn? If so how?! I’d love to be able to wear something like a Birkenstock. In this sort of weather it would be so much better than always trainers and they look like they support the foot well. But very expensive to buy and then not be able to wear!

No idea. I cant do it either.
Ballet flats also evade me.
Watching for ideas - tho I do wear sandals with heal straps in the summer rather than trainers all year round.

They seem to stay on better when your feet are a bit damp and sweaty, leather or suede foot beds work better than plastic fake stuff. Then you just get used to them. I used to wear slides and flip flops 9 months of the year.

I have no idea how, but I never had trouble walking. Maybe the key is the right size? If I tried to walk with my dh's flipflops, I can't walk properly.

Birkenstocks and clogs with a good strap across the instep stay on. I can't manage the toe strap ones. There are plenty of fake alikes to try footbed sandals.

People's feet are very different, I can't do slip ons or ballet flats but I have been wearing my birkenstocks for 5 weeks.

I can’t do flip flop types for any distance. I did get some Birkenstock’s with 2 straps across your foot and they Seem to be quite fine.

I can't walk in flip flops either. My feet, toes and calf muscles are too stiff. There is a knack. Have a look at this webpage for an explanation of how to walk in flip flops and why they are bad for you.

If I try to wear shoes like those then the heel wants naturally to go in a different place to where my heel actually is. I'm guessing this is to do with alignment and my being out of it. So I just don't wear them.

Flip flops stay on for me, but if they don't suit your feet, you can't force it or you'll just be uncomfortable. And life's too short for that!

Flip flops totally freak me out with that bit between the toes. Am clenching all my toes just writing about it.

I wear proper sandal Birkenstocks. Have owned two pairs, first ones lasted 10 years and second are going strong. They are so comfortable. Wouldn't ever bother with the ones without the back and top strap.

I can't wear flip flops.
I adore a good quality mule: vionics, gabor, Josef Siebel, etc. Have a pair of Clark's fuglies (similar to but softer than Birkies) that I call putting on my feet.

The key for me is to have a strap that is high up the instep so it holds your foot in place rather than you having to crunch your toes to hold onto the shoe IYSWIM?
I have long, thin feet, with a high instep and walk out of flip flops but get on fine with my leather Ugg sandals.

Push your toes down towards the floor of the jandal or shoe as your walk. It pushes the heel of the shoe to your foot and holds the shoe or jandal firmly to your foot.

Thanks all, glad to know I’m not alone!

@twointhemorning that’s a really helpful link, and confirms my thoughts that it’s not good for your feet and legs, though they’re certainly convenient.

@Gibble1 strap high on the foot makes sense, my feet are pretty average all round - not too wide or narrow, medium instep, so nothing is excessively working against me. Perhaps I’ll try some like that?

@dudsville

If I try to wear shoes like those then the heel wants naturally to go in a different place to where my heel actually is. I'm guessing this is to do with alignment and my being out of it. So I just don't wear them.

I'm exactly the same - my heel falls off anything backless or thin straps.

I’m not sure I’ve just always been able to, I grip with my toes ever so slightly, that’s how when I broke my toes wearing flip flops and tripping on a drain cover I knew straight away they were broken. My flip flop
wouldn’t stay on as I couldn’t curl my toes for grip.

My resolution to this problem is that I get Birkenstocks that have a heel strap. They are great, I have two different styles that don't have time posts but there's quite a few more if you don't mind the bit between your toes.

I can’t walk in flip flops either and I also really hate the feeling of anything between my toes so I go for sandals with an ankle fastening and ones that have the strappy bits across my toes rather than between them. I have no idea how anybody finds flip flops comfortable!

I scrunch up my toes as I lift my foot then unscrunch when I put my foot down again. Might need a bit of practice to get a rhythm going. No idea why this works.

I have the opposite problem. Can walk in flipflops but my feet are two narrow for sandals with a strap across the toes and so my feet always tend to fall out.

Ballet shoes are terrible for feet too. The are so flat and then your toes need to spread slightly as you step but they can't because you need them tight to stay on. Try looking at barefoot feet as you walk sometime.

I wouldn't even try tbh. I can't wear anything that isn't strapped to my feet either, so don't bother.
Having to scrunch up toes to hold your shoes on when walking can't be good for your feet