Montrail Men's Lithia Flip-Flop Sandal

Hard to believe it's been almost 2 years since I wrote this review.I'd forgotten about it already.First, customer support DID get back with me and replaced my old shoes at only S&H cost.Thanks a bunch, Montrail!The shoes themselves:I didn't bake mine this time, knowing that I'd flatten them out in the heel area as I mention below. (I walk VERY heavily on the heel.)Even still, over the course of time, the flip-flips did flatten out and mould to my feet anyway.They REMAIN wonderfully comfortable, and they stick to my feet like glue.I absolutely would NOT hesitate to hike in my 2-year old Lithias! Traction is still excellent!**And here I must describe a person-specific issue.Since I walk heavily on the heels, I've worn through the original tread on the bottom in heel area.I've also worn through some of the comfortable heavy-duty foam.Crazy, right? Well, that means, ironically, that if I step on a wet, slippery surface, the foam is slick and slides (sometimes dangerously!)I find it completely amusing, actually.So 2 years of tanking anything I throw at it and still going (mostly) strong. $50? For a normal person, bargain. For me...I'll let you know when I get a hole in the heel.---Old content---I ordered these based on good reviews I'd read touting them as some of the toughest in the world. I received them in the mail about 3 weeks ago, and so far, I concur. They came well-boxed in retail boxing and included a hanger for if you wanted to sell these off the shelf.Brief:+ Comfort+ Durability+ Hiking Grip+ Well-sizedo Have to be comfortable with baking your brand-new flip-flops- Customer Support- EXTREME dependence on thermo-moulding processExpanded:+ When I pulled them out of the box, I was stunned at how thick the back of the soles were! The best word to describe them is MEATY! I tried them on first without doing the manufacturer-instructed thermo-moulding process to test fit, and the sizing seems spot-on for Men's US-7. They seemed a bit tight, but after some wear and a bit of frolicking in the ocean, they're perfect size.+ The tread on the bottom is unorthodox, but the grip is for real-better than any other flip-flops I've seen or heard of by far.+ The thermo-moulding process was simple, and you definitely have to thermo-mould them before you make any judgments on comfort, because they change shape significantly based on how you mould. Just follow the instructions to a tee. I used some foil to support them in the oven (just to ensure there weren't unsightly rack marks), heated them to 225 degrees F, pulled them out, immediately put them on (they weren't that hot), and stood on them for about 2 minutes. I then walked around a little to see how they felt. Here's where I noticed a bit of an issue.- I walk VERY hard on the heels. Just to illustrate, I wore through a pair of cheap Wally World flip-flops in a weekend, "wore through" being defined as "asphalt showing through". Because the thermo-moulding process is based on how you walk and that sort, the heels, where I place a lot of my weight (this is my problem and not any of the shoes') sank down, as designed. I bought these in an effort to find some that would last, and I am concerned this thinning may have reduced their service life. I will have to make sure I keep up with this review so I can provide my experience with the wear.- Furthermore, I believe, due to the initial before-break-in tightness, I might not have seated my feet completely into the flip-flops for the moulding process, so mine are a bit off-kilter. Lesson? Be ABSOLUTELY particular when you're moulding them. The process has a profound effect on comfort, and, as far as I can tell, you can only do the process once. After you do it right, though, they feel AMAZING.- I attempted to contact customer support to see if the thermo-mould process could be re-executed, but it's been a week, and they still haven't gotten back to me for it. Points off for that. If they come back with a response, it'll still be points off, but a lot fewer.Overall, as long as you walk more normally than I do AND you're comfortable baking your brand-new $50 flip-flops, I STRONGLY recommend these guys. They're supremely comfortable and durable. Just make sure you do that moulding process right.

Just got my new pair of Lithia this week but have owned a pair of Molokai for one year. I have high arches and my feet pronate so I take footwear seriously ..... I am very active/athletic and have suffered through plantar fasciitis previously. I have mostly worn various models of Reefs but believe I am a new convert to Montrail. The initial molding off the sandals definitely gives these more support in the arch areas and the deep heel allows for additional help in keeping foot correctly positioned. When I first wore them last year after molding, I did not like them initially and put into closet.....they made me feel like I was leaning back and did not feel as comfortable as some of my older pairs. I decided at the end of summer that I needed to try them out so I wore them for a 2 weeks period. Now that they have "broken in", I love them. I am in the same process with the Lithia right now so time will tell. The soles of the these flips are much wider through most of the foot so there is an adjustment there also in terms of your comfort in wearing them.....this is not a dainty flip flop!! Agree with another review that they seem to be better than most when they get wet in terms of foot movement and slipping. I typically wear a size 13 EEEE in all other shoes but wear size 14 for all sandals .... the 14s fit me just about perfect so I would suggest ordering up. The only reason I have not given 5 stars is I want to see how durable they are since the foot bed feels a little softer than most of my older pairs......I am lucky enough to wear sandals every day all summer since I work mostly from home. I have researched orthopedic flip-flops and so far these look like the best for me.

I have worn Montrail sandals to help combat my plantar fasciaitis and as recovery footware post long runs. I am an ultramarathoner and do the vast majority of my running on single track trails. I am typically averaging about 26 miles over Saturday and Sunday runs which (as a 200 pound, 47 year old) leave my joints (particularly my arches) a little beat up. These sandals have been great, but I forgot that I usually go up about a full size to accommodate my wide foot. I normally wear a 10 1/2, but in these sandals, should have probably gone with 11 1/2 as they are VERY snug around the arch. I wear these pretty much every day and they generally last about 9 months (though I have had to super glue the sole back to the sandal on my last ones). The tread was fine, but had separated from the sandal. A couple drops of super glue gave me another 2 months or so of wear.

I had a history of wearing flip-flops with poor construction and support, and when I was diagnosed with minor arthritis in both big toes in my early 30s, my podiatrist made it clear that something had to change.I am now on my third pair of Montrail sandals, and they have been excellent. I've worn three different styles. The Lithia is most similar to my first pair. They have padded straps, and are very comfortable. I originally ordered the Size 9, which is the size of my older models. They ran a bit small, so I went up to the 10 - which are roomier than I would like but still okay. The sole construction and support is excellent, and they are very durable.I recommend the Montrail line of sandals to people who need extra support and comfort, and for people who prefer flip-flops as their primary footwear.