Thick rubber soles beat everything for hot sand.

Yes, you need a thick sole. That’s the only real requirement.

Flip-flops have thin soles that transfer heat fast. You’ll be doing a painful hop-skip across the beach within ten seconds. Birkenstocks look cool but cork gets hot and the footbed traps sand. EVA foam (like Crocs) can soften or even melt if the sand is truly scorching.

What works: sandals with a thick rubber outsole and a decent air gap. My favorites are Teva Hurricane XLT2 or Chaco Z/Cloud. They have enough tread and thickness to keep the heat at bay, plus straps that don’t fill with sand. Reefs with a thick rubber footbed also work.

Don’t overthink it. Hot sand is solved by a thick barrier, not by brand or style. Your feet will thank you.