Chances are, if you’re dead-set on buying a pair of the best huarache sandals right now, you’re either planning a trip somewhere balmy or are already living there. (We’re only a little bit jealous.) But relegating your huaraches to sandy beaches and sun-kissed cobblestone streets isn’t just limiting—it’s a fundamental betrayal of what makes these woven leather shoes so essential in the first place. In 2023, sandals are a year-round style flex (take it from David Beckham, and then buy yourself a pair of funky winter socks to ape his look). And more than any other version, the right huaraches will sync up with the trappings of cooler-weather attire, whether you’re wearing them with corduroy trousers and a luscious suede trucker or pleated khakis and a nubby, artfully-tucked knit.
The Best Huaraches Shopping Guide
The huarache’s appeal is pretty simple: the humble woven slip-on merges the breathability of a sandal with the polished look of a loafer, minus the feet sweat. And unlike, say, espadrilles, huaraches skew far more substantial. In their most traditional form, their leather uppers are woven by hand and threaded or nailed into an outer sole hardy enough to withstand extensive mileage on rugged terrain. Which helps explain why they remain a staple in the regions of Mexico they originated in—and why so many misty-eyed travelers passing through the country return home with a pair.
These days, the best huarache sandals span the gamut, from traditional, high quality riffs crafted in Mexico to artisanal remixes that pull inspiration from around the world. None of the cohort below demand booking a ticket South—but if you’ve got the time (and miles) to burn, it’s hard to beat buying a pair directly from the source.
Nisolo’s huarache sandal is no stranger to these parts. In the past, we’ve praised its water-resistant leather uppers, cushy midsoles, and ultra-low rubber soles, and extolled the virtues of its exceptional arch support and deceptive versatility (in our book, the brand’s hero product looks just as good with pressed chinos as it does peeking out beneath baggy jeans). All that aside, though, what we really dig about the company is its B-corp and climate neutral certifications, and its dedication to ensuring the craftspeople churning out its shoes are compensated fairly. Sure, $150 is more than you’d pay if you bought a pair abroad, but it’s hard to put a price on peace of mind—or the simple pleasure of looking like Chris Pine.
What our testers say: The first time GQ writer Michella Oré took Nisolo’s hero product for a test drive, she walked for hours and her feet felt…great. The sturdy-yet-flexible foam midsole absorbed shock and molded to her feet, while the reinforced heel cup eliminated the nagging worry that her sandal might go flying off into the horizon with one wrong turn. In other words, Oré noted: it is, quite literally, a deceptively solid shoe.
If you live in a city like New York, your exposed toes don’t belong anywhere close to the pavement. (Trust us: It’s seen things nobody should ever have to experience.) Yuketen’s Alejandro sandal is handwoven in Mexico with comfy insole reinforced with a beefy Vibram outsole for maximum cushioning, a welcome boost—and buffer—from whatever you encounter on the streets this summer.
Yuki Matsuda might not be a household name, but to a certain type of clothing fanatic he’s a rockstar. Matsuda is the creative force behind Meg Co., which owns Chamula, Yuketen, and Monitaly—a formidable triumvirate of indie menswear darlings that specialize in next-gen Americana. After visiting Mexico in the ‘90s, Matsuda cooked up an intricately-woven leather huarache cut from vegetable-tanned leather attached to a flexible EVA sole. Decades later, Chamula offers them as a mule, too, but the classic closed-toe silhouette, with its smooth-as-butter footbed, still takes the cake.
Plus 7 More Huaraches We Love
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