Why I'll Never Travel Without These FitFlop Shoes Again

Forbes

04-04-2025

I've worn a lot of different shoes on many work trips over my last two decades as a journalist, yet none have kept my feet as happy as the FitFlop F-Mode Flow sneakers, while also offering a more polished look than the rest. These sneakers kept my feet extra supported and comfortable during a four-night overseas business trip, where I easily walked eight hours a day and navigated my way through airports and the German train system. These shoes are incredibly plush and bouncy—and I want everyone to know about them.
The FitFlop F-Mode Flow sneaker blew me away with its plush cushion, bouncy feel, arch support—and ... More ability to wear well with seemingly everything I tried on.
I went looking for a new shoe to wear after I was invited to attend Spielwarenmesse, the largest international toy trade show that's held annually in Nuremberg, Germany. I knew I would be on my feet for 8 to 10 hours each day of the trade show, and that I'd also want to be comfortable navigating from the airport to the city's underground train to the convention center where the show is held. And while sneakers seem to be more than accepted on trade show floors these days, I was headed to Europe, where the 'business casual' look is typically a little more buttoned up than many Americans' typical Monday fit—and certainly more tailored and polished than my typical WFH outfit that I optimize for comfort.
Amazon
I didn't want to wear the comfy but bright and more chunky-looking Hoka on this international trip, or my comfy but less supportive slip-on Rothy's. My Birdies Starling flats would have looked lovely, but they rubbed a blister into my heel during my last trade show, and my Allbirds Tree Breezers are great for a quick outing but not hours of walking. Even my more neutral New Balance Fresh Foam 1080s didn't quite feel elevated enough.
These supportive FitFlop shoes paired well with jeans and trousers.
I came upon the FitFlop, a new-to-me UK-born brand, in one of our Forbes Vetted travel gift guides. I ordered it in two sizes a week before the show in one of those desperate last-minute packing frenzies and immediately had my Cinderella moment of realizing this shoe was clearly made just for me. The rearfoot cushion was bouncy and plush without looking too loud or too ugly. The midfoot snugged right up to my high arch without feeling restrictive and the toe box was roomy and comfortable. I wore them with dark wash jeans, light wash jeans, a pair of cuffed black Sanctuary trousers and a pair of Spanx ponte pants—and they went well with everything. This meant I left for Europe with a single pair of shoes packed in my carry-on, something that is unheard of for a chronic over-packer who likes her options.
Of course, it wasn't designed just for me—and there's an entire FitFlop site of shoes, including flats, boots, sneakers in women's and men's and kids sizes and styles—all with the brand's amazing Microwobbleboard footbed technology. Dozens of FitFlop shoes also carry the APMA Seal of Acceptance, meaning they have been independently verified for good foot health by podiatrists, including the particular shoe I wore.
FitFlop describes the Microwobbleboard as a triple density foam added to the shoes so that they 'contour to your feet, absorb impact and can help to reduce muscle exertion.' Each of its shoes, whether a flat or a boot or a walking shoe offers some type of cushion designed for that particular shoe and aimed at providing a more comfortable and supportive walking experience. Many of its flats offer Dynamicush instead of the Microwobbleboard with hidden arch support and 'high-rebound cushioning under contoured footbeds' to deliver a more 'pillowy' walk.
Nordstrom
I wanted to know more about the brand's footbed tech, so I asked them directly. Founded in 2007 by entrepreneur Marcia Kilgore, the brand really credits its ergonomic approach to footwear design led by Dr. Kim Lilley as the reason for the instant feeling of comfort I felt upon slipping on my first pair. There are four more types of FitFlop footbed tech or cushion in its shoes, including iQushion (in its slides), Neodynamic with a carbon plate in its running shoes and Anatomicush in some of its trainers.
After several months of wear, the shoes remain bouncy and supportive with only a bit of dirt ... More collected.
A brand spokesperson tells me that the triple-density Microwobbleboard in the F-Mode Flow sneaker I wore includes firm cushioning at the heel to reduce the impact of your foot striking the ground; soft cushioning in the middle to 'diffuse pressure' and a medium density at your toes to encourage that forward motion as you walk. 'The benefit of these three cushion placements is that they work to absorb impact and cushion whilst promoting natural movement for the wearer,' they say over email.
And each of its shoes works to minimize impact on the wearer by syncing to our natural movements, FitFlop adds. 'Because each step is a coordinated movement of joints, we analyze the entire body from the foot up, evaluating how our shoes impact three key areas: body alignment, muscle activity and pressure diffusion.'
Clearly, I'm sold. I returned home after my whirlwind trip with barely a low-back ache despite logging more than 15,000 steps most days. I worn them again to traverse the New York City Toy Fair at the Javits Center—and again left without a blister or any heel or back pain. I've tried to preserve my new FitFlops for future trips into New York for press events, upcoming trade shows like ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas this May and other times when I need a more elevated business casual look. But I've been wearing them on daily walks to school with the kids and around the block with my dog. They remain bouncy and flexible with just a single loose thread and a bit of dirt building up on the white of the shoe.