The best jelly sandals of 2026 aren’t those stiff, blister-inducing plastic shoes we (or at least some of us older mamas, haha) wore in third grade. Imagine our surprise when we discovered that these modern jelly shoes now have cork footbeds, cushioned insoles, soft PVC, and grown-up silhouettes. And, after testing more than a dozen pairs across our team, we’re calling it: this is the easy summer shoe for 2026.
Jelly sandals are back in a serious way this year, after The Row, Chloé, and Tory Burch all rolled out lattice and Mary Jane versions – per usual, all of our usual high-street brands followed fast. Below, our team reviews the 10 best jelly sandals we’ve actually worn out of the house including a really comfortable, walkable pair, the best pair for wide feet, the best for rainy days, and an under-$25 pair we didn’t expect to love.
Best Jelly Shoes of 2026: Cheat Sheet
- Best, Most Comfortable Overall: Sam Edelman Michaela
- Best To Wear In the Rain (or Beach): Ancient Greek Iro
- Best For Problem Feet (Bunions): Jeffrey Campbell Jellz
- Best For Wide Feet: Vince Barcelona Cage Mule
- Best Under $25: Time and Tru Huarache
- Best For Dressing Up: Steve Madden Grove
- Best Clear Jelly: Dolce Vita Jam
- Best Fisherman Style: Melissa Possession
- Best Jelly Thong Sandal: Jeffrey Campbell Gummy
- Best Budget-Friendly Thong Sandal: Gap Jelly Thong
Still unsure? Keep scrolling. We’ve got the full breakdown on every pair with details on fit, feel, and where to buy.
Our Favorite Jelly Shoes, Reviewed in Full
The Mom Edit team has been testing jelly sandals for over a year – across narrow feet, wide feet, bunions, and city sidewalks. Every pair below has been worn by at least one of us in real life, not just photographed. We update this guide as new styles launch and as we wear-test through the season.
And even though many of us have either slightly or very different styles in general, it seems there are plenty of jelly style shoes out there to fit each of our vibes. They’re an easy fix when you want a little bit more femme feel to an outfit but want to feel the breeze on your…toes? lol. I’m not even typically a flats gal but these won me over.
1 | Best, Most Comfortable Overall: Sam Edelman Michaela Jelly Mary Jane Flat
Where To Buy: Nordstrom
PRICE: $65
COLORS: 7 total, including ‘transparent brown’ (pictured)
INSOLE/FOOTBED & OUTSOLE: Cork footbed, Synthetic upper, lining and sole
AVAILABLE WIDTHS: Medium
FIT: TTS
These are the jelly flats that – finally – made me a believer. The cork footbed is legitimately comfortable (it’s squishy!) and the jelly part is soft and supportive. I also appreciate that the mary jane strap holds them in place really nicely – these are honestly comfortable to walk around in.
Jess’ Take: Howdy, Jess here! I am also a big fan of Sam Edelman’s Michaela Jelly Mary Jane Flat that Shana also loves. I fell first for this pair because I saw the ‘soft blue’ option and couldn’t resist them in that color, plus I appreciated the affordability of this pair. They just so happen to be even better, IRL. They are hands down, the most comfy jellies I have ever worn. Also, Sam Edelman also makes a very similar version for kids, with some really cool color combos.
Where to Buy: Nordstrom | Zappo’s | Macy’s | Sam Edelman
Dress (S) | Tote | Jellies (7.5)
2 | Best To Wear In The Rain (or Beach): Ancient Greek Iro Jelly Shoes
Where To Buy: Ancient Greek | Shopbop | Net-A-Porter | Bloomingdales
PRICE: $140
COLORS: 10 total, including ‘nude’ (pictured, sometimes called ‘blush’)
INSOLE/FOOTBED & OUTSOLE: Recyclable PVC
AVAILABLE WIDTHS: Medium
FIT: TTS (if ordering euro size), otherwise, if between sizes, go up.
These jelly shoes are like a really well-made, grown-up version of the shoes I remember as a kid. There’s no padded footbed (they’re really flat), but the overall design and feel of these shoes are wildly comfortable. Made by Ancient Greek Sandals, these jelly shoes are built on the same foundation as the rest of their collection – handmade in Greece by skilled craftsmen, using techniques that have existed for centuries.
And since I plan on wearing my jelly shoes to the beach and/or as rainy day shoes…this is the pair I’m keeping (the lack of a padded footbed actually works perfect for this). I also love how they almost seem to sparkle, ever so slightly. They don’t – there’s no glitter – but the way they catch the light is really fun.
Abby’s Take: Oh how I loooove these. I agree with S above, they have the slightest shimmery sheen to them (but absolutely no glitter so it’s kind of magic?) and are by far the softest jellies I’ve tried. And I LOVE this red for a fun pop to pair with all my neutrals. They’re so fun.
3 | Best For Problem Feet (and Bunions): Jeffrey Campbell Jellz Slip-on Sandals
Where To Buy: Nordstrom | Bloomingdale’s | Dillard’s
PRICE: $54.95
COLORS: Clear silver, mocha, green matte, brown matte, teal matte, black matte, natural matte
INSOLE/FOOTBED & OUTSOLE: cushioned insole; synthetic upper, lining and insole
AVAILABLE WIDTHS: regular
FIT: whole sizes, TTS but size up if between
I didn’t think this jelly shoe trend could be for me until I tried these Jeffrey Campbell flats. They are super soft, flexible and have a cushioned insole. I love the matte finish for my vibe and they come in a few other fun neutrals, as well as a few shiny finishes. TTS (but size up if between or you’re a 1/2 size) and really good, even on my problem feet (#bunions.) -Laura
Tee | Similar Jeans | Shoes
4 | Best For Wide Feet: Vince Jelly Barcelona Cage Mules
Where To Buy: Nordstrom | Vince | Amazon
PRICE: $138-$198
COLORS: 11 total, including ‘oceanic and jade water’ (pictured)
INSOLE/FOOTBED & OUTSOLE: Synthetic upper, leather lining and sole
AVAILABLE WIDTHS: Medium
FIT: Size up if in between sizes
I began my deep dive into jelly shoes last year and the first two pairs I tried were from Vince and Amazon. While I loved both shoes (check out the comparison review here), I personally liked the Vince jelly sandals more. They’re intentionally designed, comfortable for extended periods of time and fit my wider foot so much better than the pair from Amazon.
5 | Best Under $25: Time and Tru Women’s Huarache Jelly Sandal
Where To Buy: Walmart
PRICE: $24.98
COLORS: 3 (they keep coming in and out of stock, so check back if the color you like isn’t available)
INSOLE/FOOTBED & OUTSOLE: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) upper; Polyurethane insole; Thermoplastic Rubber (TPR) outsole
AVAILABLE WIDTHS: Medium
FIT: TTS
I’ve been jelly curious for months now, but these huarache jellies are the ones that finally made me take the leap. (At this price point, it’s perhaps more of a baby step than a leap, but I needed a nudge all the same.) The styling makes them feel more familiar than some of the other styles out there, and as someone who is fully averse to my feet ending up with any kind of embedded texture on them, I very much appreciate that my feet don’t look like two laced Christmas hams when these come off at the end of the day. Also, not sure why jellies weren’t always made like this, but these are supremely comfy. No sharp edges, no digging, no blisters, and a truly comfortable, padded insole.. True to size. – Em
dress (s) | tee (S) | jeans (TTS, wearing the 28” inseam) | jellies (TTS)
6 | Best Fisherman Style: Melissa Possession Jelly Fisherman Sandal
Where To Buy: Urban Outfitters | Nordstrom
PRICE: $79
COLORS: 24 total, including ‘brown’ (pictured) – UO has the best color selection
INSOLE/FOOTBED & OUTSOLE: Synthetic upper, lining and sole from MELFLEX™ PVC (durable, flexible, hypoallergenic and recyclable)
AVAILABLE WIDTHS: Medium
FIT: TTS
If I’m not wearing flip flops in warm weather, I’m wearing these jelly fisherman sandals. What began as ordering purely out of curiosity turned into a full fledged love affair. I can wear the shoes all day without any rubbing, sweaty feet, etc. and genuinely love the way they look on my feet. Plus…they smell freakishly good. You can wear them any which way, but I’ve been preferring them with all my spring jeans and linen pants! -Amy
Laura’s Take: I have also tried these Melissa jelly sandals and loved them during my huge fisherman sandal try-on last year…so much so that I keep thinking about them (and especially now that Amy has the cute brown pair.) They’re surprisingly cushioned inside and really cute and the platform version is great for a little more height and cushion.
Melissa Fisherman Sandals | Platform Fisherman Sandals
7 | Best Dressed-Up Jelly: Steve Madden Grove Jelly Flat
Where to Buy: Zappos | Steve Madden | DSW | Nordstrom
PRICE: $69
COLORS: 7 total, including ‘tan rhinestone’ (pictured)
INSOLE/FOOTBED & OUTSOLE: Cork footbed, Synthetic upper, lining and sole
AVAILABLE WIDTHS: Medium
FIT: Size up if in between sizes
These are not the jelly shoes I remember from childhood. Those were stiff, scratchy, blister-inducing little torture devices…even if they were ridiculously cute. 😂 Thankfully, jelly flats have come a long way because these Steve Madden Grove Jelly Flats are actually soft, stretchy and comfortable on my feet. I obviously love the subtle sparkle on this pair, but they also come in a bunch of colors without the rhinestones too, and the tortoise + butter yellow versions are SO good.
shoes | pants (6R) | t-shirt (xs)
NOTE FROM SHANA: Gang, I can also vouch for the comfort of these Steve Madden jelly shoes. The only reason I sent mine back is because I had ordered the clear color and it was…weird. It almost looked blue? And glow in the dark? Anyway, comfort leve is HIGH (but maybe go with something other than clear, haha).
8 | Best Clear Jelly Flat: Dolce Vita Jam Flat
Where to Buy: Dolce Vita / Nordstrom / Anthropologie
PRICE: $65
COLORS: 5 total, including ‘crystal jelly’ (pictured)
INSOLE/FOOTBED & OUTSOLE: PVC upper, synthetic outsole and foam-padded insole
AVAILABLE WIDTHS: Medium
FIT: Size up
So initially, I hated these. Yup. The footbed was too padded and it squished my pinky toes. But then on the third or fourth wear (walkin’ all around the city), they softened and somehow molded perfectly to my foot?! Old Navy used to make my favorite pair EVER but this is the closest to that exact style.
similar top | similar jeans | shoes
9 | Best Jelly Thong Sandal: Jeffrey Campbell Gummy Ankle Strap Sandals
Where to Buy: Nordstrom | Dillards
PRICE: $65
COLORS: 4 total, including ‘kahki’ (pictured)
INSOLE/FOOTBED & OUTSOLE: Synthetic upper, lining and sole
AVAILABLE WIDTHS: Medium
FIT: Size up if in between sizes
I’ve been testing out different styles of jelly shoes for over a year now and have to say I’ve fallen pretty hard for the jelly shoe trend. I bought these ankle strap jelly sandals when I was at Nordstrom and have to say they are a thousand times more comfortable then the much more luxe brand I also tried.
similar top | leggings (2x) | bag | sandals
10 | Best Budget-Friendly Jelly Thong Sandal: Gap Jelly Thong Sandal
Where to Buy: Gap
PRICE: $40 (but often on sale for under $20)
COLORS: 8 total, including ‘Havana yellow’ (pictured)
INSOLE/FOOTBED & OUTSOLE: 100% PVC, metal buckle
AVAILABLE WIDTHS: Medium
FIT: TTS
I thought this thong style would be fun to try as I obviously am a huge fan of all things jelly – and I love them! They’re comfy, the ankle strap keeps them secure (and way more interesting than a regular jelly flip flop, IMHO) and they’re oddly comfortable for being so flat. Love the colors!
Shoes | Tee | Similar Shorts
Frequently Asked Questions About Jelly Shoes
Yes – they’re one of the biggest shoe trends of the year! As we mentioned, The Row’s lattice Mara flats kicked off the revival (back in 2024? I think?) and they’ve been going strong ever since. This summer is likely their biggest year yet, with jelly shoe styles expanding into kitten-heeled sandals, flip-flops, etc.
Yes! And trust me – we were the most skeptical people in the room. Most of our top picks have cushioned or cork footbeds and soft, flexible PVC. The Sam Edelman Michaela (cork footbed) and Jeffrey Campbell Jellz (cushioned insole) are the two we’d hand to a first-time skeptic. But honestly? None of our editors are willing to deal with uncomfortable shoes, so any of the jellies on the list will be comfortable.
The right pair shouldn’t. Older jellies got a bad reputation because the PVC was stiff and the edges were sharp – modern pairs have softer materials and smoother seams. We specifically looked for styles with no sharp edges, soft uppers, and secure straps, and none of our top picks gave us blisters. That said, the Mary Jane or ankle-strap styles (The Sam Edelman Michaela) keeps the shoe in place if you’re worried.
Most are, yes. Since they’re made from PVC or similar synthetics, they handle rain, pool decks, and beach days without a problem. The Ancient Greek Iro and Gap Jelly Thong are particularly great for this since they don’t have a footbed to soak up water – Shana specifically kept the Ancient Greek Iros as her beach and rainy-day pair.
Most PVC jellies will soften and conform slightly to your foot over the first few wears, but they don’t truly stretch the way leather does. Abby’s Dolce Vita Jam flats are a great example – she initially hated them because they squished her pinky toes, but by the third or fourth wear the footbed molded perfectly, giving her feet more room.
PVC isn’t breathable, so feet can sweat more in jellies than in leather sandals, and the sweat is what could cause a smell (not the shoe itself). To clean them, wipe the inside with a soft cloth, mild soap, and warm (not hot) water, then air dry in the shade. For stubborn odor, soak the shoes in equal parts white vinegar and cool water for 15 to 20 minutes, scrub gently, rinse, and air dry. Skip the dishwasher and skip hot water – these will warp the shoe.
A few things help: dust clean, dry feet with a little cornstarch or baby powder before putting them on, or choose styles with a cork or padded footbed (like The Sam Edelman Michaela or Steve Madden Grove).
Pretty much everything. Our team has been styling them with spring jeans, baggy jeans, linen pants, dresses and shorts. They’re surprisingly versatile.
xo,
Laura & team TME
