I wear Birkenstocks for the arch support but these are so soft that there is no arch support...and no other kind of support. I got them to walk out in my lawn in the morning and evening dew when I didn't want to get my regular cork soled leather sandals wet. The soles have so little stability that the strap actually pulls on my foot and is painful while I am just standing. Walking across my lawn to water flowers just once produced angry red marks on both sides of my foot where the strap joins.<br />  Perhaps they would work for someone who did not need arch support who was walking on concrete but why would you pay for Birkenstocks if you don't need arch support. Dollar flip flops from the discount store would work as well for the swimming pool.