FoamLife

The humble flip-flop has been flimsy, disposable and plastic-heavy for so long that most people assume that's just how it has to be. The gang at FoamLife disagree. Founded by a collective of surfers and beach-lifers whose mantra is 'time well wasted', they set out to create a more comfortable and durable flip-flop that switched out the virgin plastics for more sustainable options – and without driving the price too high.

It’s the sort of thing we’re often told can’t be done, but they’ve done it all the same. You'll find footbeds made from algae-blended foam or post-consumer recycled EVA, straps in hemp canvas or plant-based bio leather, and outsoles from natural rubber or RPET recycled plastic bottles. You’ve got arch support, grippy outsoles and anti-slip footbeds with soft padded straps that won’t blister. The entire collection is vegan and PVC-free too – and yet, despite all of that, the prices stay firmly in the affordable bracket.

Here at WildBounds we love our big-ticket fancy gear, but there’s something quietly radical about the idea that even a low-key staple can – and should – be done better.