These Are the Best Shoes for Travel, and They’re Made with Recycled Foam

We’re in the middle of a quiet revolution in outdoor gear, and frankly, it’s about time. Brands are turning trash into treasure—and doing so stylishly. Think wetsuits made with natural rubber instead of petroleum, like Patagonia’s Yulex Regulator Series, or outdoor blankets stitched from recycled plastic bottles, like those from Oregon-based Rumpl. Like much of the fast fashion industry, footwear in particular has always had a waste problem. Traditional midsoles generate excess foam during production, much of which never makes it into a finished shoe. Enter Fleks Footwear, a fashion-forward brand focusing on slides and clogs that have become my everyday drivers.

Founded by industry vet Leah Larson with the idea that waste could be reimagined rather than discarded, Fleks built its entire identity around protecting the ocean. Instead of creating new foam from virgin petroleum-based materials, the brand collects leftover performance foam (the kind typically destined for landfills) and transforms it into what it calls FLEKSfoam. The result is a comfort-first material that doesn’t sacrifice aesthetics for sustainability, a balance that’s surprisingly hard to get right in the footwear world.

Courtesy of Fleks

The fuzzy, fur-lined forest green Puente clogs are cozy like UGGs and look similar to the ubiquitous Birkenstocks but have much more style—and they’re sustainable. The silhouette feels clean and sculptural, slightly elevated, and modern enough to wear beyond the house (though they’re equally good there, too). I’ve found myself wearing these on dog walks around the city, at the airport, to the farmers market, and to warm up after cold winter surfs here in San Francisco. And they always get compliments.

Underfoot is where the magic happens. Each pair is made with recycled material that’s gathered, ground down, and remolded into their FLEKSfoam. The midsoles contain up to 85 percent recycled content, reimagining what would have been production waste into a cushy, supportive base. Unlike traditional foam manufacturing, which can be water-intensive, the Fleks process uses significantly less water and skips harsh solvents altogether.

And yet nothing about them feels like a compromise. The footbed is soft but stable, with enough support for active days. They’re lightweight and easy to slip on, and their unique design touches—like the corduroy strap and earthy colorways—garner the good kind of attention. Seeing as how I’m one of those people who ends up getting one in every color if I like something, it’s safe to say several more pairs will be in my shopping cart this spring.

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