16 Brands Like Reef for Stylish & Comfortable Sandals
Your favorite flip-flops are starting to fall apart, and you already know the replacement drill. But what if your next pair came from a brand you haven't tried yet? Reef has been a staple of surf-inspired footwear since brothers Fernando and Santiago Aguerre founded the company in 1984 with just $4,000 and a garage full of ambition in San Diego. From the iconic Fanning sandal with its built-in bottle opener to their cushioned everyday slides, Reef nailed the formula for beach-to-street comfort decades ago.
But the sandal world is bigger than one brand. Whether you want more arch support for long hikes or a premium leather pair that looks sharp at dinner, there are plenty of labels worth your attention. We rounded up 13 brands that share Reef's love for laid-back comfort but each bring something different to the table.
Sanuk
Jeff Kelly started Sanuk in 1997 with one goal: make people smile. The brand built its reputation on the Sidewalk Surfer, a shoe-sandal hybrid made from unexpected materials like indoor-outdoor carpet and AstroTurf. It was weird, and it worked. Today, Sanuk is best known for its Yoga Mat collection, which uses actual yoga mat foam in the footbed. If you have ever rolled up a yoga mat and thought "I wish I could walk on this all day," Sanuk had the same idea and ran with it.
Where Reef leans into classic surf culture with structured rubber soles and sporty silhouettes, Sanuk goes softer and quirkier. The brand's flip-flops and sling-back sandals feel like slippers you can wear outside. They are not built for heavy trails or rough terrain, but for boardwalk strolls and backyard hangouts, they are hard to beat. The fabric uppers also tend to run lighter and more breathable than Reef's leather or synthetic options, which makes Sanuk a strong pick for hot, humid climates where your feet need to breathe.
Best for: Comfort-first shoppers who want ultra-soft footbeds and a playful, carefree aesthetic.
Teva
Teva was born out of pure necessity. In 1984, a Grand Canyon river guide got tired of watching his flip-flops float downstream and strapped two Velcro watchbands to a pair of old thongs. That improvised fix became the first sport sandal, and Teva has been refining the concept for four decades. The brand's Universal sandal remains one of the most recognizable pieces of outdoor footwear on the planet, with its simple webbing straps and rugged outsole showing up on river trips and city sidewalks alike.
Reef and Teva share a founding year but took very different paths. Reef stayed close to surf shops and beach culture, while Teva headed upstream into hiking trails and whitewater rapids. If you need a sandal that stays locked to your foot through wet rock scrambles and river crossings, Teva delivers in ways a traditional flip-flop simply cannot. The adjustable strap system means you get a custom fit every time, and the EVA midsoles provide enough cushioning for all-day wear without adding bulk. Recent collaborations with fashion labels have also given Teva a streetwear edge that makes them work well beyond the trailhead.
Best for: Outdoor adventurers and active travelers who need secure, water-friendly sandals that perform on rugged terrain.
Chaco
Mark Paigen was a Colorado river guide in 1989 when he decided to build a sandal that would let his feet dry in the sun without sacrificing support. He consulted a pedorthist and engineered an adjustable Z-strap system that wraps continuously around the foot, creating a sandal with serious arch support baked into the footbed. That original design philosophy still drives every Chaco made today. The brand's LUVSEAT footbed is podiatrist-certified, and the Z-strap can be adjusted to fit virtually any foot shape.
Chaco occupies a different space than Reef. Where Reef is the sandal you grab for a quick run to the beach, Chaco is the sandal you pack for a week-long backpacking trip. The Vibram rubber outsoles grip wet stone and loose gravel with confidence, and the straps hold your foot in place during river crossings or steep descents. Chaco also runs a ReChaco program where you can send in your worn pair to get resoled and re-strapped, which speaks to how long these sandals are meant to last. They are heavier than a typical flip-flop, but the trade-off in durability and foot health is significant for anyone who spends serious time on their feet outdoors.
Best for: Hikers and river guides who need podiatrist-level arch support in a sandal built to survive years of hard use.
Havaianas
Havaianas launched in Brazil in 1962, originally inspired by Japanese zori sandals made from rice straw. The textured rice-grain pattern on the rubber sole is a nod to that origin, and it has barely changed in over sixty years. What started as a working-class staple in Brazil became a global phenomenon when the brand started releasing colorful limited-edition prints in the late 1990s. Today, Havaianas sells hundreds of millions of pairs annually across more than 100 countries.
These are not high-tech sandals. There is no arch support system and no adjustable straps. What Havaianas offers is a dead-simple rubber flip-flop that weighs almost nothing and dries instantly. They are the sandals you throw in your beach bag without worrying about sand or saltwater damage. Compared to Reef, Havaianas run slimmer and lighter with a thinner sole profile, which makes them feel more like going barefoot. The price point also sits well below most Reef styles, so you can stock up on multiple pairs without guilt.
Best for: Budget-conscious beachgoers who want a classic, lightweight flip-flop in every color under the sun.
Rainbow Sandals
Jay "Sparky" Longley bought a sewing machine and some rubber for $200 in 1972 and started making sandals in his Laguna Beach garage. By 1974, he had moved operations to San Clemente, California. That scrappy origin story has turned into a brand that produces over two million pairs a year. Rainbow Sandals are famous for their triple-glued, double-layered construction and premium leather straps that mold to your feet over time. The break-in period is real, but once a pair of Rainbows conforms to your arches, most owners say they feel custom-made.
Where Reef builds around synthetic materials and cushioned foam, Rainbow goes old-school with genuine leather and dense rubber soles. A well-cared-for pair of Rainbow Sandals can last five to ten years, developing a personal patina that flip-flop lovers treat almost like a badge of honor. The brand's Southern California roots give it strong credibility in surf and beach culture, and you will find Rainbows on the feet of surfers and college students up and down the coast. If you have always wanted a sandal that actually gets better with age, this is your brand.
Best for: Leather sandal loyalists who value long-lasting construction and want a pair that molds to their feet over years of wear.
OluKai
Bill Worthington founded OluKai in 2005 after years in the footwear industry, drawing direct inspiration from Hawaiian island life. The name combines two Hawaiian words: "olu" meaning comfort and "kai" meaning ocean. OluKai was one of the first brands to put a contoured midsole into a flip-flop, giving their sandals a level of support that most casual footwear simply did not offer at the time. The brand also partners with its Ama OluKai Foundation to support Hawaiian cultural preservation and community programs across the islands.
OluKai sits in the premium tier of the sandal market, using full-grain leather and anatomically contoured footbeds across most of its lineup. These are sandals you can wear to a nice restaurant without feeling underdressed. Compared to Reef, OluKai runs more polished and refined, with less of the sporty surf aesthetic and more of an upscale island vibe. The price reflects that positioning, but the quality of materials and construction justifies the investment for anyone who wants one great pair of sandals rather than a rotation of cheaper ones. The Ohana flip-flop, with its water-resistant synthetic leather and coral reef-textured outsole, remains the brand's bestseller.
Best for: Anyone who wants premium materials and refined island style in a sandal comfortable enough for all-day wear.
Birkenstock
Birkenstock has been making footwear since 1774 in Germany, though the contoured cork footbed that made the brand famous arrived in 1896 when Konrad Birkenstock developed the first flexible arch support insole. The Arizona two-strap sandal, introduced in 1973, became a counterculture icon and has barely changed since. That cork-and-latex footbed molds to your individual foot shape over time, creating what many wearers describe as a personalized fit that no foam-based sandal can replicate.
Birkenstock and Reef exist in completely different style lanes. Reef is casual and sporty with a flip-flop silhouette, while Birkenstock is structured and surprisingly versatile. You can pair Birkenstocks with jeans or a summer dress without them looking out of place. The brand has also earned a serious fashion following in recent years, with high-end collaborations and runway appearances pushing the price ceiling well above the classic models. For everyday use, though, the standard suede-lined Arizona or Gizeh thong sandal offers outstanding foot support at a price point that competes with mid-range Reef styles. The brand's commitment to repairable, long-lasting construction also means a single pair can serve you for many years.
Best for: Style-conscious wearers who want a contoured cork footbed and a timeless silhouette that works across casual and smart-casual settings.
Keen
Martin Keen and Rory Fuerst launched Keen in 2003 with a radical question: can a sandal protect your toes? The answer was the Newport, a hybrid sandal with a rubber toe bumper that shielded feet from rocks and roots while still letting air and water flow through. Footwear News named it the "Launch of the Year," and the Newport went international the following spring. That toe-protection concept remains Keen's signature, and the brand has since expanded into hiking boots and work footwear.
Keen fills a gap that Reef does not really try to address. If you want sandal-level ventilation but need the protection of a closed-toe shoe, Keen's hybrid designs deliver exactly that. The Newport and its updated versions use bungee lacing for quick on-and-off convenience, and the multi-directional lug outsoles grip trail surfaces with confidence. The washable polyester webbing uppers handle river crossings and muddy conditions without complaint. Keen sandals tend to run bulkier than Reef's streamlined flip-flops, but that extra structure is precisely what makes them work for scrambling over rocky coastlines or hiking through creek beds where a standard sandal would leave your toes exposed.
Best for: Outdoor enthusiasts who want toe protection and closed-toe security in a breathable sandal built for trails and water.
Crocs
Crocs debuted in 2002 as a boating shoe made from a proprietary closed-cell resin called Croslite. The material is soft, lightweight, and waterproof, which made it an instant hit with nurses and anyone else who spent long hours on their feet. The Classic Clog became one of the most divisive shoes in fashion history, but love them or hate them, Crocs now sells in over 90 countries and has pushed well beyond the clog into slides and platform sandals.
Crocs and Reef both prioritize comfort above formality, but they get there through very different materials and design philosophies. Reef uses traditional rubber and foam constructions, while Crocs relies almost entirely on Croslite foam that molds slightly to your foot with body heat. The Crocs sandal lineup includes the Classic Flip for a minimal beach option and the Crocband for something with more structure. The brand's Jibbitz charm system also lets you personalize your pair, which has fueled a massive collector culture. If you care more about cloud-like cushioning and easy cleanup than surf-culture credibility, Crocs delivers a surprisingly comfortable alternative to traditional beach sandals.
Best for: Comfort maximalists who want waterproof, easy-to-clean footwear and do not mind making a bold style statement.
Vionic
Vionic was founded by podiatrist Phillip Vasyli, who spent years developing orthotic technology before applying it to everyday footwear. The brand's core innovation is its Vio-Motion support system, a three-zone footbed that provides biomechanical alignment without requiring a bulky orthotic insert. That technology earned Vionic the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance, putting it in rare company among sandal brands that take foot health seriously at a clinical level.
Most sandals offer cushioning but not true structural support. Vionic is different because its footbed actively positions your foot to reduce common issues like overpronation and plantar fasciitis pain. The brand wraps that podiatric technology in designs that actually look current, from leather slide sandals to woven platform wedges. If Reef's cushioned footbeds feel good but do not go far enough for your feet, Vionic provides a meaningful step up in biomechanical support. The sandal selection runs wider than you might expect from a health-focused brand, with options that work for casual weekends and dressier warm-weather occasions alike.
Best for: Wearers dealing with foot pain or alignment issues who need podiatrist-approved support without sacrificing style.
Freewaters
Freewaters started in San Francisco when two surfers and design students decided to build a sandal brand with purpose baked into its business model. Since launching, the company has funded clean drinking water projects in Haiti and Kenya, completing over 85 projects that have improved water access for more than 12,000 people. A portion of every sale goes directly to these initiatives, making each pair of Freewaters a small act of impact.
On the product side, Freewaters builds surf-inspired sandals with a comfort focus that puts them in direct conversation with Reef. Their footbeds use a proprietary Super Suede lining over contoured foam that feels broken-in from the first wear. The brand keeps its lineup tight, focusing on flip-flops and slides rather than trying to cover every footwear category. Pricing sits in the affordable range, and the materials hold up well against sand and saltwater. If you already love Reef's surf-culture roots and want a similar product from a brand that channels revenue into global water access, Freewaters makes that an easy switch.
Best for: Socially conscious surfers who want comfortable beach sandals from a brand that funds clean water projects worldwide.
Roxy
Roxy launched in 1990 as the women's counterpart to Quiksilver, pulling directly from the same surf and skate culture that shaped its parent brand. The company carved out its own identity with bold prints and designs built specifically for women's feet rather than scaled-down versions of men's styles. Roxy's sandal lineup runs from simple rubber flip-flops to cushioned slides, all carrying that unmistakable beach-lifestyle energy.
Reef offers unisex and men's options alongside its women's line, but Roxy is built from the ground up for women who live in and around the water. The brand's Coastal Cool slide and its cushioned flip-flop range deliver the same kind of laid-back comfort that Reef is known for, wrapped in more colorful and fashion-forward packaging. Roxy also extends beyond footwear into swimwear and apparel, so if you like building a full beach look from a single brand, they make that easy. The price points stay accessible, and the designs refresh seasonally with new prints and colorways that keep things feeling fresh.
Best for: Women who want surf-inspired sandals with vibrant prints and a brand that designs exclusively around their lifestyle.
Bedrock Sandals
Nick Pence and Dan Opalacz founded Bedrock Sandals in 2011 while working river restoration jobs in Northern California. They were inspired by the traditional huarache running sandals worn by the Tarahumara people of Mexico but wanted modern materials that could handle serious outdoor use. Their first pairs were handmade for friends and fellow river workers before a Kickstarter campaign turned the project into a real company. Bedrock is now based in Missoula, Montana, and continues to focus exclusively on minimalist adventure sandals.
Bedrock occupies a niche that Reef does not touch at all. These are stripped-down, performance-oriented sandals designed for trail running and fast-packing where every ounce matters. The Cairn model uses a Vibram Megagrip outsole for serious traction on wet rock and loose dirt, paired with a quick-drying strap system that adjusts with one hand. The minimalist sole lets your foot flex and move naturally, which appeals to runners and hikers who believe in ground-feel over cushioning. If you find most sandals too bulky for technical terrain and too heavy for ultralight backpacking, Bedrock builds specifically for you.
Best for: Minimalist hikers and trail runners who want a lightweight, high-traction sandal for technical outdoor terrain.
Finding Your Perfect Pair
The right sandal depends entirely on where your feet spend most of their time. If you stick to beaches and boardwalks, Rainbow Sandals and Havaianas keep things simple and classic. For serious trail time, Chaco and Bedrock Sandals bring the grip and durability that casual flip-flops cannot match. And if foot health is your priority, Vionic provides clinical-grade support in surprisingly stylish packages. Every brand on this list delivers quality footwear worth trying alongside your trusty Reefs.
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Written by
Spencer Lanoue
