When we looked to create a list of the best, we felt it was important that each of the shoes we picked for the list met the following criteria in terms of their style:

Shoes that went too far from the original or could not be said to be a creative interpretation of the original, were nixed as there were no elements that could rightfully be attributed to the building of the original shoe.

Setting aside the aesthetic design of the shoe for a moment, our next criteria deal with the quality of the material used. The original ones used leather soles and leather strapping that were later updated to vulcanized rubber soles and leather strapping; we’ll start therefore with leather and rubber:

When choosing this product, or any shoes, you should look for the very best quality materials that you can afford - for comfort and for durability. Remember that the longer you can use them, the more value you achieve for your hard-earned money.

Traditional ones are a hard-working, long-lasting shoe. There’s no reason yours should not last as long as they can either. The longer your shoe lasts, the more value you achieve for your money as well. The number of factors determine how long a huarache will last, including how you care for them, the material quality, and build quality of the shoe. Here are some tips on what to look for and how to care for your sandals:

Good quality material - see our criteria above for material tips.

Good quality builds - look for shoes that are sewn together with solid stitching preferably as these shoes tend to last longer and can be repaired more easily. Many will be cemented (glued) together so look for faults in the cementing. Read reviews to help you determine where the shoes wear most frequently and whether or not the straps come apart. People are great about telling you when and where shoes they’ve purchased are faulty.

Forming leather straps - forming leather straps to your feet, like traditional ones, will help them fit better and last longer. Real leather straps can be formed by either wetting the shoe and then wearing them as they dry or massaging leather cream into the straps and then wearing them until they dry. These options work well for shoes that are slightly tight on your foot.

Weatherproofing - leathers, canvas and other natural materials can be treated for water and stain resistance to help them live longer. Ensure you use a product that is recommended for your shoe and your type of leather and repeat the coating as appropriate with wear.

Repair - if you’ve invested in a good pair and the straps have finally begun to give way after years of use, it may be worth repairing leather strapping that has worn through. Check with a cobbler in your local area to determine whether and how strapping can be replaced. Plastic straps normally cannot be replaced or repaired.

Avoid direct sunlight - your shoes can handle quite a bit of sun but leaving them exposed to UV radiation for long periods will dry out the leather straps too much, making them brittle and breakable. When you’re not wearing them, be sure to store them away from direct sunlight.

Regardless of the size you’re wearing one of the key aspects when it comes to footwear is its comfort. Comfort determines how much time you can spend wearing a design, how much distance you can cover, how long you can stand for, walk for, work, dance, exercise for. While the appearance, the quality and the durability of design are also important, nothing can beat comfort when it comes to actual wearability.

Achieving that perfect level of comfort is not an easy feat. It requires trial and error, testing, innovation, and a careful combination of traditional construction methods and the latest technologies. Different brands deliver comfort in different ways - through special systems, through the materials, the footbeds, the overall construction of the shoe and many more.

Fortunately, we can sort all of those into a few categories, to make it easier for us to describe each one. So, let’s begin:

Technologies: Where there are world-renowned footwear brands, there is also an abundance of carefully planned and conceptualized comfort systems that cater to every customer’s need. Or most customers’ needs. In this list, we encounter quite a few of them: the Naturalizer N5 system, the Skechers Air Cooled Memory Foam insole, the OrthoLite footbed in the Clarks Ashland, the HPO2Flex of the Hush Puppies Chaste - all of these and more are outstanding innovations that are not often seen, and most unique to the specific brand (with the exception of the OrthoLite footbed).
Each of these technologies includes a set of features to help with a particular problem you may be having while walking. This problem can be that you require a bit more cushioning, or arch support, or would like a moisture-wicking experience, or perhaps even motion control the New Balance Rollbar technology can provide.

If you’re keen on having a shoe with any of these advanced features, take a bit of time to study them, and carefully consider if they would work for you. Remember that, even though systems like these are useful to have, and may even make a big difference in the way you approach footwear, they don’t necessarily agree with everyone. Each person is different, and each pair of feet is different, and it is quite alright if you discover that these fancy hi-tech options don’t work for you.

Footbeds: What you can look at, instead of - or together with - a comfort technology, is what the footbed of the design is like. Extra padding in this area helps with absorbing impact from your steps; instead of that impact traveling up to your joints and causing damage in the long term, it gets distributed throughout the footbed and minimizes the pressure put on your ankles, knees, hips and even lower back.
A step further are footbeds which have contours to them. These molds in the footbed correspond to the shape of your foot sole - or should, at least - and gently support it as you walk, providing you with stability and comfort like no other.
Molded footbeds can also have arch support in them, which is probably the ultimate comfort experience. This reduces tiredness in your feet at the end of the day and also helps you avoid medical conditions such as flatfoot and overpronation.

Materials: While we will expand more on how materials affect the overall design, here we will briefly discuss why they matter for comfort.
Materials are the ones which surround the foot, essentially, and because of that they should be soft and malleable, but still firm enough to provide security within the design. They should have the ability to take on the shape of your foot, like genuine leather and suede do, for example, for that sock-like fit. They should also be lightweight, and not cause any chafing or blisters, such as canvas, or mesh materials.
If, by any chance, the design you’re trying on feels stiff, unyielding and is even digging into your skin somewhere - there is a chance that these issues will resolve themselves with a little breaking in. But there is also a chance that they will get worse the longer you wear the shoe for. Choose wisely when you’re shopping, and opt for materials which you know are reliable, and which will provide you with enough support as you go about your days.

The price of a shoe can sometimes be a deal breaker. That’s part of the reason why footwear manufacturers invest time and energy into creating cost-effective technologies to incorporate into their shoes to make them durable, long-lived, versatile, and inexpensive.

Durability & Longevity
Footwear, usually, lasts more than a few months, because shoes that are going to fall apart after a few months of use aren’t worth the investment of more than a few dollars. Leather and synthetic overlays can be used to make the shoes more durable without sacrificing flexibility. Firm leather or synthetic uppers provide durability and support.

Versatility
Great footwear can be used for more than one activity. Walking and running shoes, for example, can be used in some casual sports. Stylish athletic footwear could be used in informal work environments. Sandals can be used in casual and semi-formal settings. The more situations you can use the shoe in, the more value it offers for the price.

Maintenance
Good footwear is easy to maintain and clean. They don’t require a lot of expensive shoe treatments or time-consuming upkeep. Shoes that need a lot of effort, time and money to maintain, don’t sell as well as shoes which are easier and cost less to keep.

Removable inserts
As mentioned earlier, removable inserts in footwear make it customizable, but that’s not the only bonus to removable inserts. Removable inserts increase the longevity of the shoe, which is why some come with removable inserts.

Cost
A hefty price tag can be a deal-breaker for people on a budget. That’s why many can be found in the low-to-middle price range. They’re affordable, and if they are priced a little higher than others, then they offer many features to make the footwear worth the extra investment.