Damien Fisherman Sandal (Men)

Although they were heavier than I expected, I liked the look and the fit. I expected the ankle straps buckles might bother me, but they didn’t. Then after wearing them a bit around the house, I wore them for a full morning and by the end, one of the ankle straps was nearly halfway ripped. I’ve worn Birkenstocks for five years and not had an ankle strap rip. Disappointed, and back to Birkenstocks.

[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Sandals are a rather subjective thing, but the Damien checked the boxes for me. I wanted something that could be dressed up to look smooth with casual linen pants, jeans, or nice shorts, but could also work if I’m doing the Bohemian thing. In addition, the backstrap on these means they are 100% functional if I’ve gotta cover a lot of ground. Make no mistake, these are on the dressier side and not meant for rugged adventures, but you can boogey while wearing them if needed. The leather is great, and they are comfortable.

I'm absolutely in love with the style of these sandals - they've been a long-time dream of mine, especially the Damien Fisherman design. However, I've encountered a small issue with the metal buckle rubbing against my right ankle bone. I'm considering returning them, but I'd love to find a solution first. Has anyone had success with using padding or spacers to alleviate similar discomfort? I'd hate to give up on these sandals, as they're exactly what I've been looking for.