ProView – Chaco Men’s Rapid Pro Flip Review

If you think all flip flops are just flip flops, then you fall into one of two buckets: Either you don’t wear flip flops (outside of using them in public shower stalls) or your view of flip flops is that they are just a slipper to lounge in or to be comfortable in. If you’re the latter, you’re not entirely wrong, but it’s far from the whole picture. 

There are many options of adventure ready sandals if you include some sort of heel strap to securely attach the sandal to your foot. However, very few companies have, in my opinion, successfully created an adventure worthy performance oriented flip flop that looks and feels just as good on the river, on the trail, at the brewery or catching the bus. Wherever you want to go, you can do it in the new Rapid Pro Flip. 

I have worn Chaco Sandals for decades. I have hiked to mountain basecamps in them and completed multi-day backpacking trips in them. I have trekked through jungles in them and climbed to the top of temples and pyramids in them. I have been down countless flows of water with the protection and confidence that having a pair of Chacos on your feet allows. In more recent years, I have grown fond of the simplicity and durability of the flip line of flip flops by Chaco. I was eager to try the newest addition called the Rapid Pro Flip. 

Performance/Features

The Rapid Pro Flip looks very similar and has a similar aesthetic to other versions of Chaco’s flip flop line. The Rapid Pro Flip, however, has the added benefit of an outsole designed in partnership with Vibram. This outsole is what shines in this rugged flip flop. Chaco claims this exclusive outsole offers 6x the grip vs. other adventure sandals. While I can’t speak to the exact magnitude of how much better the grip is, I can confidently state that the Rapid Pro Flip offers the best grip that I have experienced in owning several other versions of the Chaco flip. I definitely had my doubts that the grip would actually be much better, but I am happy to say that my doubts have all been quelled. 

These flip flops, like many, are easy on, easy off, but the Rapid Pro Flip has a major advantage that sets it apart from the competitors. It has Chaco’s signature LUVSEAT footbed that mimics Chaco’s longtime favorite footbed, the Flip Ecotread footbed. This footbed allows me to feel confident that I am not going to lose contact with the sandal no matter if I’m sprinting through a field of grass or wading across a creek.

Size/Fit 

Any Chaco sandals, including the Rapid Pro Flip, require a break in period. This is, for me, probably the only reason I would consider switching to another high end flip flop. The quick drying straps are wide and lie flat, but are very unkind to soft feet especially when mixed with sweat, water, sand, dirt, etc. Your feet will take a beating while they build up calluses to where the straps, and especially the toe strap, contact the foot and toes. 

I size my flips a touch small (I wear a 11-11.5 in most shoes and wear Men’s 10 in Chaco Sandals) as I like the snugger/more secure fit. I love these flip flops and yet I hate every year when it gets warm enough to wear flip flops that I get blisters and sores on my feet as they “get used” to the friction points again for the season. These Rapid Pro Flips are, unfortunately, no different. Once I’ve built up some calluses and I can consistently wear these flip flops without injury to my feet, you will have a very hard time getting these off my feet. 

Weight/Durability

A minor issue for me, that could be a bigger issue for some, is the fact that these flip flops are not lightweight. They are, compared to other flip flops, actually quite heavy. For me, that was never an issue when they were on my feet, but when I am choosing what to bring as a pair of camp shoes on a backpacking trip, weight tends to be a pretty convincing metric. As mentioned, this is definitely not a problem when wearing the sandals. In fact, I prefer a bit of stiffness and heft to the soles as it gives me more confidence that my foot is protected. Walking over rocks and uneven ground, the solid vibram outsole of the Rapid Pro Flip provided superb protection from bruising the sole of my foot and it offered a stable platform that did not buckle with repeated use. The overall construction of the Rapid Pro Flip was excellent and unsurprisingly durable. 

Friendliness to the Earth

Chaco offers lifetime repairs. Chaco has a very robust repair department that does repairs such as resoles, strap replacement, new buckles, change in strap length, etc. for very reasonable costs. This push to repair instead of replace has helped keep hundreds of thousands of pairs of sandals out of the landfills!

The Final Word

The Rapid Pro Flip was pretty much exactly what I expected with no real surprises. I was disheartened by the long painful break in period, but pleasantly satisfied with the much improved grip with the Vibram outsole. 

As someone who looks for quality pieces of gear that will last, I have always been a fan of Chaco sandals. I have literally taken them all over the world and put them through many wringers! These flip flops will last years of heavy use and will only be retired when one is lost, or a new colorway is more appealing. 

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