My buddy Dave swore a $12 pair of flip flops would outlast my $60 hiking sandals in Austin, and he was right
I laughed at him last April when he said the cheap gas station pair would hold up better on the Greenbelt trails, but here I am 10 miles later with my fancy sandals falling apart at the strap while his are still going. He just said 'straps don't need a brand name, they need thick rubber' and walked off. So do I just buy the $12 ones next time or is there a middle ground pair under $30 that won't fall apart on me?
Those cheap ones might not have the same grip on wet rock though, and eating it on a slick limestone slab costs way more than $48. Maybe check resale sites for last year's model of a decent brand instead?