# You own how many pairs of flip flops? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 20, 2006, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-own-how-many-pairs-of-flip-flops/353482 "2006-04-20T15:35:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-own-how-many-pairs-of-flip-flops/353482/1 "2006-04-20T15:35:02Z")
Was inspired by comments in this thread: > **[BROAD BRUSH ALERT - Moseying Teens](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=368064)** > > Damn kids! Just cross the frigging street at a normal pace, not your disinterested, just rolled out of bed, the weight of the world has got me down saunter that seems to be in so much fashion. It isn’t going to ruin my day but it sure as hell is... mentioning teenaged girls wearing flip flops. I and my credit card had the pleasure of accompanying my 14 year old to Old Navy last weekend, and was somewhat astounded by the multiple walls-o-flipflops ™. My amazement increased when my youngest and dearest actually expected me to pony up for 4 pairs of the things (blue paisley, orange, tan, and black FYI). They must match with her various outfits and - after all - they are only 2 for $5! Well, along with the privilege of footing the bill for your offspring, goes the opportunity of embarrassing them in public while doing do. So, much to my dear bairn’s utter mortification, I proceeded to conduct a poll of every woman I encountered in the store, young or old, inquiring how many pairs of flipflops they thought a teenaged girl should own. I discovered that the correct answer is that there is no answer, because a teenaged girl CANNOT have too many flipflops. And she must constantly replace pairs that get dirty and wear out because - after all - they are only 2 for $5! So here’s the question folks - how many pair of flipflops do you presently own? Tevas, Birkies, swim shoes, etc need not apply. To improve the statistical validity of our study, please include your gender and age. Myself, a 46 yr old man, currently own 1 pair of flipflops, and have never owned more than 1 pair at a time. ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-own-how-many-pairs-of-flip-flops/353482/2 "2006-04-20T15:40:37Z")
I own at _least_ a dozen pair of flip flops, probably more. You can get them with crystals, stones, in leather/suede/silk, with or without heels–what’s not to love? I’m a chick in her early thirties. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-own-how-many-pairs-of-flip-flops/353482/3 "2006-04-20T15:44:15Z")
1. One pair. (But I have OTHER sandals - yes, yes I do!) ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-own-how-many-pairs-of-flip-flops/353482/4 "2006-04-20T15:46:34Z")
Zero. I’m 39 and male. ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-own-how-many-pairs-of-flip-flops/353482/5 "2006-04-20T15:46:45Z")
At present, I do not own any. Though I almost bought some on Saturday. Instead, I bought a pair of brown thong kitten heels. That said, I am seriously thinking of buying some this weekend when I go to Old Navy with a friend (I mean come on, 2 for $5!). If I do, they’ll probably be something sparkly. FTR, I’m 28. ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-own-how-many-pairs-of-flip-flops/353482/6 "2006-04-20T15:48:10Z")
Oh yeah, I’m a girl too. Though you might have guessed that because not too many guys wear kitten heels. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-own-how-many-pairs-of-flip-flops/353482/7 "2006-04-20T15:48:45Z")
I’m 35, my daughter is 15, we wear the same size, and between us, we probably own 30 pairs of flip flops. Unless heeled ones count. In which case, it’s more like 50. ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-own-how-many-pairs-of-flip-flops/353482/8 "2006-04-20T15:49:02Z")
Gal, late thirties. I own four pair of flip flips. Two pairs of old flip flops for the beach or river, one pair of “inside” flip flops that I wear instead of slippers in the summer, and my one pair of “good” Havainanas which are heading into “old” territory and need to be replaced. I love flip flops but only wear them when running errands. They’re too slippery on the docks (I wear soccer sandals instead) and I never want to waste an opportunity to wear really great heels when I go out. ---
**Author:** ![Auntbeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Auntbeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Auntbeast)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-own-how-many-pairs-of-flip-flops/353482/9 "2006-04-20T15:53:46Z")
I am a 38 year old female. I currently have 5 pairs. I never wore flip flops in my life. Happy circumstance combined my pregnancy with cute flip flops. They really are specific to the outfit nowadays. You march your happy little butt down to old navy, pony up for some 2 for $5 flip flops and thank your lucky stars she isn’t pining away for “special edition” Air Jordon tennis shoes. or that fabulous brown linen skirt at Banana Republic that I have the PERFECT pair of shoes for…an yes, they cost more than $2.50. I am a shoe whore. FWIW. I have bought a pair of shoes so I could have change to buy a pack of gum. I have shoes I will never or rarely wear, know it when I buy 'em, just for the sheer joy of knowing I own them. I once knew a man who very often posed as a girl online. No one had ever been able to bust him. I was able to. It’s the shoes man. Try as a man might, he just won’t ever have the genetic make up to be at one with the shoes. Take ice cream, PB&J’s, sports, and watches away from a man. It is a shallow existence. Life without the perfect shoe? Well, it’s not the lowest layer of hell, but ya know, does cause internal bleeding. 🙂 No, your daughter is not paying me. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-own-how-many-pairs-of-flip-flops/353482/10 "2006-04-20T15:55:15Z")
They are called thongs in Australia. I have always maintained that wearing them drops your IQ by 50 points and if a naked Uma Thurman approached me wearing a pair I would have to knock her back. I wouldn’t own or wear them for a bet. ---
**Author:** ![vix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a88e4f/32.png) [@vix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vix)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-own-how-many-pairs-of-flip-flops/353482/11 "2006-04-20T15:56:11Z")
Actual flipflops? Two pair. And I live in south Florida, even. 33-year-old woman and old fogey ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-own-how-many-pairs-of-flip-flops/353482/12 "2006-04-20T15:58:38Z")
I’m not sure what’s a flip-flop. Are they heelless and toeless (basically just a sole) and stay on your feet because of a thong that fits between your toes? If that’s them, we used to call them thongs, before thong undies became popular. I could never walk in them without tripping, so I don’t own any. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-own-how-many-pairs-of-flip-flops/353482/13 "2006-04-20T16:00:57Z")
Damn, now I wish I didn’t have orthopedics-needing flat feet. ---
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-own-how-many-pairs-of-flip-flops/353482/14 "2006-04-20T16:04:15Z")
Zero. I don’t like the thong part that runs between your toes, it’s uncomfortable. I don’t even have sandals right now since I only wear them on the beach and I haven’t been to the beach in years and years. Actually, I maybe own five pairs of shoes overall (sorry to skew your sample **Auntbeast** , but I am not one with the shoes). Female, 24. ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-own-how-many-pairs-of-flip-flops/353482/15 "2006-04-20T16:06:56Z")
Brings out all the old thongs jokes too for the Underclass Group Of Your Choice hereafter called UGOYC: Q: How do you tell the bride at a UGOYC wedding? A: She’s the one with the new thongs. A UGOYC bloke is walking down th road wearing only one thong. A passer-by asks, ‘Lost a thong, mate?’ Our UGOYC replies, ‘Naah mate, found one.’ ---
**Author:** ![foxymoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d26b3c/32.png) [@foxymoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foxymoron)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-own-how-many-pairs-of-flip-flops/353482/16 "2006-04-20T16:08:42Z")
I just bought my first-ever flip-flops about a month ago. Two pair, actually. One hot pink and one black. My almost-six-year-old has four pair. Hot pink, black, brown, and aqua. He wears the pink ones the most. ---
**Author:** ![cruel\_butterfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5daacb/32.png) [@cruel\_butterfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cruel_butterfly)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-own-how-many-pairs-of-flip-flops/353482/17 "2006-04-20T16:19:31Z")
I own seven pairs. Only one pair is the plain Old Navy kind (light blue). All the others are decorative: sequins, beads, brocade, heels, leather. I’m a 30-year-old woman. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-own-how-many-pairs-of-flip-flops/353482/18 "2006-04-20T16:19:37Z")
1. One. They are for going to and from the shower at the gym. Otherwise I’d never wear them. I seriously think anyone over the age of 10 who wears them in public is messed up. Do I have a good reason for that? Nope. Just my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-own-how-many-pairs-of-flip-flops/353482/19 "2006-04-20T16:22:51Z")
Male, 50. I own 2 pair. The wife, OTOH, owns at least 8 pair. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-own-how-many-pairs-of-flip-flops/353482/20 "2006-04-20T16:23:26Z")
> [@Push You Down](#): > > 1. One. They are for going to and from the shower at the gym. > > Otherwise I’d never wear them. I seriously think anyone over the age of 10 who wears them in public is messed up. Do I have a good reason for that? Nope. Just my opinion. If I wasn’t older than you I’d think the hospital separated us at birth. Female, 35. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-own-how-many-pairs-of-flip-flops/353482.md?page=2)