Remember way back in 2006 when you guys helped me pick out flipflops? Life was so much Simpler then…. The intervening years, however, have been very rough on my Toe Foos — so much so that those flippies have been relegated to my balcony, to be worn only when I’m gardening alone.

And so I tried out some new flip flops from Ocean Minded, a surf-inspired footwear line that uses sustainable and recycled materials like organic cotton, bamboo, recycled car tires and recycled plastic bottles. Headquartered in San Clemente, Calif., Ocean Minded organizes beach cleanups all over the world, working with a roster of 16 pro U.S. surfers to popularize the events and raise environmental awareness.

I opted for a simple black pair of Del Mar flip flops (right, $32), made with an EVA outsole with at least 35% recycled content and metal-free leather. While I wish the shoes were made in the US instead of China, and that the leather used was more sustainable, the Del Mars are comfy, cute, and more eco-friendly than most flip flops on the market.

I think the Del Mars will also look better and last longer over time than Simple Shoes’ Toe Foos, which were made with very eco materials but did start looking grungy (biodegrading?) fairly quickly. The Del Mars’ recycled EVA outsole also provides a lot more comfy cushioning than the Toe Foos.

Interested in a pair of your own? Ocean Minded has a store locator as well as a web store. For more flip flopping fun, here’s my roundup of eco-friendly flip flops on the market (at least as of April 2007).

[crossposted on BlogHer]

Images via Ocean Minded

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