ECCO Men's Yucatan Sport Sandals - Comfortable Outdoor Adventure & Travel Hiking Shoes for Beach, Walking, and Water Activities

Let me start by saying that I am PICKY about my sandals. I wear them 6 days a week, year round, everywhere I go - not just in the summer, since I live in a hot area. So whatever sandal I wind up choosing needs to be very comfortable, suitable for sidewalks and offroad alike, and able to last for years with daily use.I ordered these Yucatan Brandy lux color as well as the Yucatana Bison and Yucatan II Cocoa, decided to stick with these and send the others back. For whatever reason, the Brandy lux color looks either very dark red, or dark brown, depending on the light - the picture is pretty accurate, but I was surprised how hard I had to look to see they were red. Also, this color is impossible to find in physical stores (they only ever carry black or brown), and very difficult to find on other online retailers, so thank you Amazon for having such a wide selection!First thing that jumps out at me is, the footbed between the Brandy Lux and the Bison are slightly different; there are ever-so small curve differences in the footbed, and the heel straps feel different. I can only assume that Ecco changes small details about the Yucatan sandal every so often & never mentions it. So if there's something about the sandal that rubs you the wrong way, like a curve in the footbed or a strap that rubs your foot a bit too much, try a different color, you may notice a difference. The Bison color top foot strap rubbed my foot raw, but the Brandy lux color strap is as comfortable as can be; but I like the Bison footbed more because the heel is slightly less molded, more flat, than the Brandy lux. The top foot strap on the Brandy lux is slightly longer than the Bison color, but it can be tightened more than the Bison, but the Bison has a little more velcro to work with than the Brandy lux color.All that said - these are minor quibbles. The Ecco Yucatan is the most comfortable sandal I've ever worn, and prior to this, I only wore Teva's. The footbed is harder than the Teva, but the sandal has better molding of the footbed. I like it more than Teva's flatter footbed, though I completely understand why some people would prefer the Teva - it really is pure personal preference.Previously I've tried on Rockports and Dockers, and they always have some problem - either the sandal is stingy with material and doesn't span the entire footbed, or there are size/information stickers on the side that rub the foot raw, or the gimmicky cushioned double-heel has stitching that you just can't stop noticing - there's always something irritating about them. Not so with Teva or these Ecco Yucatans - they slip on like a glove and they just feel "right" with the very first step. A good sandal shouldn't need to be broken in - if you're paying good money for it, the sandal should feel great with the first step, and after you've walked in them for an hour or more.The Teva's I've always loved, and Ecco Yucatan that I just discovered, fit this bill. They're expensive, but you're paying for comfort, and the long-lasting quality that will keep your feet comfortable for years & miles to come - you won't have pain or blisters even after walking around all day, that's what (and why) you're paying for with good footwear. When these wear out (and all sandals do after a time), these will be at the top of my list for replacementsI live on the coast in Florida--lots of sandal weather. I'm just starting on my third pair of Ecco Yucatans. The two previous pairs gave much longer service than I had a right to expect, which took the sting out of the price. These sandals look nice enough that I don't shy away from wearing them with a pair of slacks and a guayabera to church or other summertime "dress-up" functions. At the same time, my experience with the earlier Eccos was that they are quite tough and I have logged a lot of trail miles in them with my sons' Scout Troop. I wear them to the beach and on the boat, and they handle water immersion just fine--although I make sure they get a good freshwater-rinse after dunking in saltwater. The only insult that seemed to stick was a time that I spilled a bit of gasoline on one sandal--the neoprene footbed would not give up the gas smell despite washing with dishsoap, and a small area began to disintegrate soon thereafter. Nonetheless, they continued to serve for many more months.But while the good looks and longevity are nice, the fact is that I have arrived at that point in life where I don't care about the appearance of my footwear nearly as much as I do about comfort. After 50, I refused to wear any tipe of shoe that I couldn't walk or stand in for an entire day. These sandals give my feet an excellent combination of support and cushioning. Of course, feet are highly idiosyncratic and your mileage may vary....Bottom line, in my experience, the Ecco Yucatans are robust, evidence high quality materials and construction, are very supportive and comfortable, and are handsome enough for any event that doesn't require a necktie. I hope your own experience will be as good or better.So for years, I've been pretty solidly stuck in the 'flip flops' camp - because everything else has been just a bit too uncomfortable, and fragile enough that I figure I'm better off focusing on more disposable models. These Ecos, on the other hand, are comfy - and have staying power.They're sufficiently well-fitted to stick to your feet while you're doing active things - you can get them wet, you can sprint, you can climb, and while better suited shoes exist for any particular task, these sandals are probably the best *general* solution I've found to outdoorwear that lets your toes breath without falling off your feet.The only magic that they're not able to work, in my experience, is the 'smelly feet' issue - after a full day of sweaty wear, close contact with the soles is going to bring on some odors, in a way that flip flops or breathable socks with shoes might not be so susceptible to.But for my money (and these *are* a bit on the spendy side) these are the best strappy sandals I've worn for outside activities.It is a great sandalThese sandals are right for me. Wear them all tthe time.Will buy another pair when need arises.I absolutely LOVE these sandals. I bought a pair on the Outer Banks of NC about 5 years ago, and they lasted about 5 years. The original pair is still wearable, but the velcro is starting to give. This is after 5 years! During the summers I wore them every day. Last year I bought a replacement pair at Bass Outlet (not the same), but it was nowhere nearly as comfortable or durable. I would highly recommend these sandals/shoes to anyone. They are absolutely fantastic. Plus, they adapt well to water. I have gotten mine wet a number of times and they were none the worse for wear. I liked them so much that I spent quite of bit of time on-line trying to find exactly the same product to replace my 5 yr worn pair. Thank goodness they are still available. I am thrilled with this product. Thinking about buying another pair in case they are discontinued. That's how good they are.Size is more accurate and light on foot. I never used this brand before one day I saw on YouTube and they explain people how they made the sandal. I like it I hope it will live long. Instead of buying cheap one I bought expensive. But I like it.These are a great fit, extremely comfortable and very light.Not quite as supportive as I had hoped for, but probably similar to a training shoe.A nice range of colours (though I stuck with black!) too.Stitching on one of the shoe come apart after wearing only 5 times. Returned for a refund.Another quality item from “Ecco”. They just seem to make footware that fits all the right places.( oh, and if you can get via Amazon Warehouse then it’s Win/Win )Good comfortable wear