Overall, this is a great sandal. I have worn Teva's for years but was looking for a little more protection. This is it! When I went into the Albany, NY store, the shoe salesman was very helpful. He had me take off my socks and take a long walk around the store. Not just for a minute in the shoe dept. He explained that these had a different feel on the bottoms of your feet because of the water drainage slots. He was right. Although they were not what I expected, I bought them anyway. Why not, with LL Beans guarantee? I'm glad I did. They took about two days to get used to and now they are as comfortable, if not more so than my Teva's. I don't even notice the slots. Although I wouldn't recommend them for a long mountain hike, they are a great everyday all around shoe.
I love the design and look of these. However, they are very uncomfortable as your foot rests on a molded sole with the drainage holes. This makes them very uncomfortable!!!
I purchased an insole insert that makes them very comfortable and now I want to wear them all the time. However, with the purchased insole, I'm not inclined to use them in water.
I bought a pair in early May and have been very satisifed with them. Having read other reviews, I was concerned about the holes letting water (from wet grass/ground) into the sandal or irritating my foot. To date, I have not had those problems. I wear these sandals outdoors only. I find them quite comfortable and believe they are a good value given the cost of sandals. I may buy a second pair to wear around the house.
First off, I am a big fan of most LL Bean products however the Explorer Sandals was the first to disappoint in long time. I tried wearing them for a month however the holes in the bottom of the sandal made my feet hurt so I didn't want to wear them half the time. Also, the bungee that tightens the sandal broke off in less than a month. Too bad...I really liked the styling of these sandals however I was able to return them with L.L. Beans great return policy.
