Primark flip-flops have doubled in price – are they still worth it?

Primark flip-flops. Those humble little foot soldiers of bargain shopping. 

For years, they’ve been the hero of the high street. 90p a pair, always there when you needed them, no questions asked. 

They’ve lived in gym bags, been emergency replacements, and made their way into the occasional wedding basket when heels became just too much to handle. 

And now they’re £2. Inflation has finally caught up with one of the UK’s most reliable cheap buys. 

But are they still worth it? Here’s my verdict. 

The classic 90p flip-flop

For years, 90p was all you needed to grab a pair of these rubbery essentials. They weren’t glamorous, they weren’t durable and you weren’t wearing them for style, but they did exactly what you needed them to do. 

Cheap, cheerful and reliable, they were a no-brainer. 

If you grew up shopping in Primark, you’ll remember the wall. Rows of flip-flops in every colour you could think of. Bright pinks, bold blues, neon everything. It felt like a pick and mix, but for your feet. 

Now it feels a bit different. 

Now £2, what’s changed?

I went into Primark to see for myself and yes, the price has doubled. But honestly, not much else has. 

• Soles: Thicker than before, so they feel slightly sturdier, but still not comfortable enough for proper walking 

• Straps: Just as flimsy as ever 

• Colour options: In my store, only gold and black were available. No wall of colour, no choice overload, just the basics 

Fun fact, you won’t even find them online. They’re in-store only, so if you want to see the £2 version for yourself, you’ll have to go in. 

Quality check: Are they better? 

Honestly, not really. 

The soles feel a bit thicker, but that does not translate to comfort. If anything, they feel heavier and a bit clunkier to walk in. 

And because the straps are still just as flimsy, that extra weight feels like it is putting more strain on them. So instead of feeling sturdier, they feel more likely to snap. 

It feels like a bit of a false improvement. 

Overall, they are still semi-disposable, still convenient, still very much doing the bare minimum. 

£2 feels different right now 

£2 is not a lot of money. 

But at the same time, it kind of is. 

Not on its own, but when everything else is creeping up in price too, it all starts to add up. The little things do not feel so little anymore. 

And that is where these hit differently. They have gone from being an automatic, no thought purchase at 90p to something you notice on your receipt. Not enough to stop you buying them, but enough to make you pause. 

The real question: Are they still worth it? 

When something is 90p, you do not think twice about replacing it. Lose a pair, wear them out, leave them behind somewhere, it doesn’t matter. 

At £2, it is enough to make you think, do I need another pair? 

And if you have already got a pair lying around at home, this might be your sign to hang onto them a bit longer. 

Because this is where it starts to feel like a shift away from that classic Primark ethos and the cheap, cheerful, no questions asked bargain we all loved. 

Want the originals back? Try resale 

If you’re missing the 90p era and those walls of colourful flip-flops, there is still a way to get your hands on the originals. Resale apps like Vinted are full of Primark flip-flops and a lot of them are brand new with tags still on. 

You will find more colour options too, from the classic pinks and blues to the brighter shades that seem to have disappeared from stores. 

It might not work out quite as cheap once you factor in postage, but if you are after that original style and do not mind paying a little extra to get it, it is a solid option. Have a check for when Vinted are running free postage deals and you can get yourself a pair of brand-new flip-flops for a pound again. 

And as a bonus, you are also doing a bit of good. Giving a new home to something that has already been made helps cut down on waste and keeps perfectly usable items out of the landfill. 

Plus, it does feel slightly satisfying knowing you have skipped the £2 version altogether. 

Final verdict 

Online, people are already saying the same thing. The quality feels the same, if not worse, but the price keeps creeping up. 

Nothing feels noticeably better. It is just more expensive. 

And it does make you wonder, who do Primark think they are? 

In a time where everything feels like it is going up (and it is), this is just another reminder that even the smallest staples are not immune. 

To be fair, they are still the cheapest flip-flops in Primark and probably the cheapest on the high street by a mile. You are not exactly being priced out of the market here. 

But still… we are allowed to be a bit petty about it.