The Best Arch Support Thongs - Thongthotics
Arch Support Thongs (Flip Flops)
Sorry but all of our arch support thongs are sold out – we will update this page as soon as we get stock.
Supporting your feet is not something we usually think of when selecting thongs (flip flops for the internationals). Before we begin, to clarify a point, in Australia, they are called thongs, and in the USA, they are called flip flops.
There has always been a problem, particularly in hot climates, with what I wear on my feet to keep them cool but still support them to avoid tired aching legs and pain in the feet. It is in our DNA to wear thongs as Australians, so changing our footwear habits is not an option.
The Problem
Regular thongs have very few positive attributes to talk about. They are completely flat (non-contoured), provide no real arch support, cause several foot problems, are detrimental to overall foot health, are sloppy on the feet, and can be dangerous in wet weather.
It is time for a change in this trendy section of Australian footwear. When wearing regular thongs for an extended period, the effects of the lack of support can be felt immediately.
Other arch support thongs are too hard, have too much arch support, have toe sections that cause blisters on the toes, and have straps that don’t fit correctly and wear out too quickly, to name a few of the issues we were trying to solve.
The Solution – Make More Comfortable Thongs
It was time for a shake-up in the thong and arch support thong market. It needed to be a real game-changer. There needed to be a product that would hold your foot in the optimal foot posture, keep your feet cool, look good and help limit foot and arch pain points.
We have developed the Thongthotic to solve all of the issues that we were having in our own lives.
Drawing on the last 20 years as a podiatrist, we have set out to develop the most comfortable and best arch support thongs in Australia. We have drawn on the knowledge of biomechanics, patient treatment experience, and positive and negative features of existing products.
Some of the products we are looking to improve on are Birkenstocks, Orthaheel, Fit Flops, Archies arch support thongs, Aussie Soles, and Lightfeet thongs, to name a few.
Why is Pronation Bad for Your Feet? Why Do We Need Arch Support?
When the foot is allowed to pronate (roll in), the joints of the feet no longer line up, and the foot becomes a loose bag of bones. When we try to push off the loose bag of bones in the pronated feet when walking and running, the joints of the feet grind against each other, which can hurt the joints of the feet.
The muscles that support the feet and legs are also forced to work harder to maintain the alignment of the foot so it can be used for propulsion. Continuing to do this over time will overuse muscles in the feet and cause wear and tear on the foot joints, arches, and muscles that support the foot and body.
Using a thong (flip flop) with built-in arch support (orthotic thong) will help control over-pronation and limit leg fatigue.
What Do Orthotics Do?
A typical orthotic will help support the foot and keep the foot in a better functional position. There are many benefits to wearing an orthotic; by controlling over-pronation, an orthotic insole will support the arches of the foot and allow the foot to work without overusing muscles. This will lead to overall more comfortable feet and better foot health.
When we support our feet, it helps to unload the knee and hips and helps to keep whole-body alignment.
Good arch support will enable your feet to walk and be comfortable all day long.
Orthotic thongs: Thongthotics
So it seemed natural to us that we should combine our insole technology and add this into a flip flop that we could wear like casual sandals.
We took a thong and added the arch contour of our Orthotic support to create the Thongthotic.
Thong + Orthotic Support = Thongthotic
We know that you will be pleasantly surprised by how supportive and comfortable our arch support thongs are.
What Types of Pain Can Arch Support Thongs Help?
1. Plantar Fasciitis / Heel Pain / Heel Spurs
Plantar fasciitis and heel pain are some of the most common foot issues people suffer. When the arch of the foot is not supported, the plantar fascia (supporting ligament of the arch) is strained and becomes inflamed and painful. By supporting the foot with arch support thongs, it rests the plantar fascia and relieves plantar fasciitis.
2. Arch Pain
When the arches of the foot are allowed to drop, the muscles of the feet are forced to work harder to maintain the shape of the foot. The extra work strains the muscles of the feet and arches. Regular thongs also allow the arches to drop, which causes wear and tear on the midfoot joints. When wearing an arch support thong like the Ergonx Thongthotics, the relief felt in the arches from the extra support is amazing.
3. Flat Feet
When the foot pronates and the arch collapses, it gives the foot the appearance of a flat foot. Foot arch support is an important aspect of treating flat feet. By supporting the feet, only the best flip-flops provide arch support and rest the feet all day long. Thongthotics help support all of the arches of the foot and help ease the pains felt from flat feet.
4. Ball of Foot Pain
How is foot arch support related to the ball of the feet? When we provide arch support to the foot with our orthotic thongs, it takes some of the weight in the arch and rests the forefoot allowing it to heal. Keeping the feet in a neutral (not pronated) position will also help stop the twisting and grinding of the bones in the feet and relieve discomfort in the balls of the feet.
5. Toe Clawing
When the foot over pronates (roll in), the long flexors that control the toes are recruited by the body in normal walking (the technical term is flexor substitution). Unfortunately, this causes the toes to claw. Wearing arch support thongs will keep the alignment of the long toe flexors in a normal range, and they will not be overworked. This will keep the toes straight and happy.
6. Shin Pain
When the arch support is insufficient, the feet are allowed to over pronate. This strains the muscles of the shin that actively support the arch causing shin pain. Arch supporting thongs like Thongthotics are designed to support the arch and rest the shin muscles all day long.
7. Knee Pain
Pressure increases on the knee when the foot is allowed to over-pronate in people with flat feet and collapsed arches. Knee pain can be relieved by using arch support thongs and cushioning the feet. Just like when we wear a shoe to support and cushion the feet, arch support thongs will support and cushion the feet and limit the grinding feeling and the pressure feeling at the knee by keeping your body alignment more neutral.
Features and Benefits of Orthotic thongs:
1. Arch support
The arch support increases your arch height and helps keep the feet in optimal posture. Your feet will feel more comfortable and ache less.
2. Heel Cup
The heel cup helps keep the fatty heel pad in the feet in place, adding to the cushioning effect. This will make our arch support thongs the most comfortable thongs you have ever owned.
3. Soft Cushioning Material
Our arch support thongs are made softer, so they are instantly comfortable. They will also become more comfortable as you wear them as they will mold to your feet.
4. Firm Flexible Strap
The strap is flexible and firm. The strap is made from the same soft material as our arch support. The strap will fit better and keep our arch support thongs on your feet when walking. If the strap is too tight, it can be stretched to a comfortable length.
5. Textured upper held against the feet
It prevents slipping and wearing out too quickly. Our arch support thongs have a 60-40 split between indents and extrusions on the upper (foot side), so you can wear them for longer without wearing them out.
6. Flat toe section to prevent blisters when rubbing
Toe clawing can often become irritated on any artwork or grip sections around the toes. Our arch support will also help to prevent toe clawing.
7. Textured outsole to provide grip and less slip
An old-school “Dunlop volley” inspired grip pattern helps you keep a firm grip on whatever surface you are walking on.
8. Water-resistant
So it is ok to wear them on the beach.
9. Wider fit
Each pair of our arch support thongs is made slightly wider than the regular thong fitting. This will make them more comfortable for the average Australian’s feet but still maintains the sense of style.
10. One-piece construction
So there are fewer blowouts and more uniform arch support.
What to Expect When Wearing Thongthotics
When you first start wearing your Thongthotics arch support thongs the first thing that you will feel is that the arch is quite high and a little harder than expected. This is normal and only temporary.
Over the next 1-2 days, you will notice that the arch support begins to soften, and the thong starts to take the shape of your arch.
On days 3-5, your thongs will become comfier, and you will instead have them on your feet rather than off.
By day 7, you will love the great arch contour of your arch support thongs and prefer them to shoes. They will give you all-day comfort, even at the beach.
How to Wear Your Arch Support Thongs
- Begin by wearing your Thongthotics for 1-2 hours on the first day. If there are no problems at this stage, you can continue to wear them for as long as you like.
- Increase the time by 1-2 hours every day until they can be worn all day.
- If the strap feels too tight, give it a gentle stretch to the optimal comfortable length.
- Suppose there is discomfort in the legs or back during the adjustment period. If this occurs, reduce the adjustment time by 30 minutes daily. This is due to the newly aligned position of your body, and your muscles will take some time to get used to it. This is usually temporary and a sign that some changes are occurring to you in your lower limb to aid in your whole body alignment.
- Only progress through the wearing-in procedure to your tolerance (don’t overdo it).
- After about 2 – 3 days, you’ll be ready to keep them on your feet every day!
What to Do if I Have Issues?
If you are having any issues with wearing your Thongthotics, please get in touch with us, and we will be able to find a solution to your problems. Usually, it will take around 2-3 days for your feet to become accustomed to the new arch height of our flip-flops.
Other Information
We offer free shipping on all orders over $49.95 from our online store
If you have any problems with your arch support thongs, we are happy to offer a 30-day money-back return.
About the Author:
Kent Elliot (Podiatrist). B App. Sc. Pod (Hons), B.Sc(HMS). M.A. Pod. A
Kent has been working as a Podiatrist since 2003.
Kent graduated from the University of Queensland (Australia) with a Bachelor of Science (majoring in Human Movement Studies) and from Podiatry at QUT (Australia). During this time, Kent took a special interest in exercise and conditioning training. Kent has a personal interest in and has participated in many sports, including rugby, athletics, boxing, tennis, and running.
