Editorial Disclosure: Products featured in this article were provided as complimentary press samples, and this piece includes paid sponsorship. However, all opinions, reviews, and recommendations remain entirely our own and are completely independent.
Admittedly I’m a bit out of touch with the world of 3D printing, but I had absolutely no idea that 3D-printed shoes were a thing. So when I got to try out the Pollyfab AirFlow 3D Printed Flip-Flops, I was kind of amazed.
I’m not normally a flip-flop person. I used to be able to manage them, but I’ve given up a lot of things over the years that don’t feel comfortable: skinny jeans, underwire bras, you get the picture. I was fed up with the skin between my toes being rubbed raw by a flimsy bit of rubber. So I was unused to wearing flip-flops at this stage of my life.
Luckily for me, these flip-flops in particular worked out well.
Unboxing & first impressions
I was impressed by how well these shoes were packaged. They were well-wrapped, protected with tissues, and presented in a dust bag inside the box. So they arrived with me flawlessly.
For this review, I picked Light Brown. I figured it would be the kind of colour that goes with everything. I like this colour; I’d say it’s more taupe, closer to khaki than tan. I’d love to see more colour options, including true tan (which is my usual colour of choice for sandals).
But slipping them on, I was surprised at how supportive and comfortable they felt.
A few wears in
After a few days of wearing these out and about with the kids, pottering around in the garden, and (in one memorable moment) dashing to the house in a sudden torrential downpour, I became used to the way that they feel. They’re definitely more sturdy than I am used to for flip-flops. These don’t mould to your feet, becoming worn in specific areas like flimsier sandals; these maintain their structure and arch support, which is good, but took me some getting used to.
I find that these slip around less than regular flip-flops. I don’t know whether that’s down to the lattice design, but they seem to grip better than I was expecting.
While we’re on the topic, the lattice design is meant to channel water smoothly and efficiently, rather than soaking it up. Which did work in the downpour situation – they dried out pretty quickly!
Also, the design is meant to be ‘crush-proof’, so if you fold them up in your suitcase or they get a bit squished by accident, they’re meant to spring back. Admittedly I was reluctant to try this, but it does work. They jump right back to their original shape.
Overall, I was really impressed with these. They’re so sturdy that I can see myself taking them on holidays for years to come. They’re the kind of sandals you want to have around when you’ll be in and out of water, or if you’re wandering along a beach. And they seemed to be able to handle trips to the park and the corner shop without feeling uncomfortable.
Who would benefit from Pollyfab flip-flops?
The Pollyfab AirFlow flip-flops are designed to be waterproof and sweatproof. This means they’re really ideal for holidays, but also for general summer use. They’re the kind of shoes you want to have kicking around for everything; from running out to the car to wandering back to your hotel room after a swim.
While I think that these work really well for shorter trips, I’d probably still pick trainers or walking shoes for longer walks. As someone with tendonitis I do have to be careful with my footwear for long walks. But for short trips, these are so much more supportive than the flip-flops I used to wear. These are a winner for me!
Imagery: Megan Bidmead
