Chaco Classic Leather Flip - Women's Review

The Chaco Classic Leather Flip is a great-looking flip flop for daily use and non-technical adventures. Continue reading to see how it held up to our rigorous testing.

Performance Comparison

Comfort

During our comfort testing, we consider whether or not each flip is true to size, if it's comfortable right out of the box and after a break-in period, and how it feels across different terrains. The Classic Leather Flip performs very well in this department.

These flip flops are mostly true to size, but sizing up is your best option if you are on the fence. The Luvseat PU footbed material, high arch support, and concave heel cup make for a comfortable shoe right out of the box, but they become more comfortable with time. The thick strap evenly distributes weight across the top of the foot, ensuring no rubbing or pinching, even on long walks. This pair weighs in at 7.6 ounces, making them on the lighter side of the pairs we've tested. Keep in mind, our wide-footed testers feel that the Classic might be a little narrow, and they also take a while to dry and are less comfortable when wet.

Support

There is a lot more that goes into support than a pronounced arch. While testing for this metric, we paid attention to whether or not additional support is offered via the strap design, general stability and fit, and the support offered by the arch.

The general fit, shape of the footbed, and plentiful arch on the Classic offer enough support for most easy terrain. The thick straps and form-fitting footbed mold to the shape of your foot over time, ensuring a perfect fit. The support offered by these traditional flip flops is not meant for particularly steep, uneven, or moist terrain but that's pretty typical for this style of footwear.

Traction

While most people associate traction with the texture found on the bottom of the sole, that is not the only attribute we test for during our traction evaluation. We also test the footbed traction when dry and in the presence of moisture.

The bottom sole traction is great for such a casual flip flop. The ChacoGrip material holds up well to moisture and slippery terrain, but the footbed traction is a different story. The general shape and ability to mold to your foot give the Classic a leg up, but the leather becomes slippery when wet, so tackling steep terrain without your food sliding out the back is tricky. Overall, this shoe has no issue with easy terrain, but if you plan to hop across wet river rocks and up muddy hills, you may want to find something a little more technical.

Versatility

During our versatility testing, we determine what kind of terrain each flip can endure and how much time and distance each model can cover before it becomes uncomfortable. The Leather Flip performs admirably in this department, but its casual nature inhibits its versatility a bit.

The Classic Leather Flip is a great daily option. If you are looking for something comfortable that looks great with most outfits to wear around town, for a walk in the park, or even a short flat hike, the Classic is a great choice. However, if you are in the market for something that can cover all types of terrain, you will not be satisfied with this shoe's performance.

Style

While style is objective, we consider the opinion of all our testers before issuing a definitive score. In this case, the results were unanimous. Offered in a few neutral colors, with nice stitching and a classic flip-flop look, Chaco's Leather Flip is a crowd-pleaser. It offers a casual option that looks just as great with a sundress as it does with a pair of shorts.

Value

The Classic Leather Flip is not an inexpensive shoe, and as a result, its value highly depends on what you are looking for in a flip flop. If you are looking for something lightweight to throw in your backpack that looks great with everything, then you may have found your match. But if you're in the market for a flip flop that will carry you up a mountain, then it is not worth the money.

Conclusion

The Chaco Classic Leather Flip is a casual, narrow-trending option for daily non-technical use. It is comfortable and supportive but isn't the best for longer, more technical uses. If you're looking for a lightweight daily flip flop and don't mind spending a few extra bucks for comfort and style, this is a great choice.