9 Best Huarache Sandals for Men 2026, According to GQ

The best men's huaraches are a unique shoe within the summer footwear spectrum—sandals, but more demure; shoes, but airier. While some shoes check a few boxes in the ideal summer shoe category, huaraches do it with some conviction and more than a little bit of flair. That's why we love 'em.Huarache's were originally crafted in indigenous Mexico with handwoven plant fibers, which kept feet secure and cool at the same time. The more modern interpretation is made with leather uppers and more substantial soles. But that doesn't take away from the huaraches more rustic, handmade appeal compared to other sandals, giving an unquantifiable ease to every outfit. Served with a pair of lightweight billowy trousers and a pique polo, huaraches put an artisanal bow on an otherwise minimalist ensemble. Try pairing them with wide-leg tailored shorts and a crisp button-up to subvert a dressy look. Or play into a more quotidian vibe with your favorite pair of jeans and a graphic tee.The point is, for as niche and specific as huaraches are, they have range and character beyond the usual pair of summer footwear. We scoped out the far reaches of the huaraches market and tested our way through the jungle of woven sandals to figure out the best from the rest, and here are our favorites.The Best OverallNisolo Huarache Sandal 2.0Read moreThe Best BudgetDeer Stags Bamboo2 HuaracheRead moreThe Best UpgradeChamula Cancun Huarache SandalsRead moreThe Best for ComfortMalibu Sandals Latigo SandalRead moreThe Best for the OutdoorsKeen Uneek SandalRead moreBest Men's Huarache SandalsMore Huarache Sandals We LoveHow We Test and Review ProductsHow We Make These PicksBest Classic Huarache Sandals: Nisolo Huarache Sandal 2.0NisoloHuarache Sandal 2.0ProsSoft, but durableHandcraftedComfortable foam insolesConsBreak-in requiredCan feel (and be) a bit delicateNisolo's original huarache sandal was no stranger to these parts, and their redesigned version shouldn’t have any trouble fitting in. In the past, we've praised its sustainable 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 flagship product looks just as good with pressed chinos as it does peeking out from baggy jeans.All that aside, though, it's about more than just the huaraches. Nisolo brings B-corp and climate neutral certifications, and its dedication to ensuring the craftspeople building out its shoes are compensated fairly. Yes, $150 is more than you'd pay if you bought a pair of huaraches abroad. But it's hard to put a price on peace of mind—or the simple pleasure of dressing as well as Chris Pine.Best Budget Huarache Sandals: Deer Stags Bamboo2 Huarache SandalsDeer StagsBamboo2 HuaracheProsAffordableComfortableConsNot the best qualityWhile we respect the utility, versatility and overall summer performance potential of a huarache enough to do an entire guide on the genre, we do acknowledge that you can have a stellar summer footwear rotation without a pair on deck, especially when they’re notoriously Not Cheap. If the price-of-entry is the only thing holding you back, however, Deer Stags makes a sub-$100 option that punches well above the price tag. Now, these won’t arrive with the same handmade touches the others on this list have—the soles are glued on, not sewn, for instance—but something's gotta give at this price. But you do get all-leather uppers, an additional adjustable buckle for a better fit, cushioned insoles, and grippy rubber soles. The Bamboo2 is beloved by fashionable dads and swaggy style enthusiasts on a budget, and they'll scratch the itch if you're just dipping a toe into huarache-tinted waters.Best Upgrade Huarache Sandals: Chamula Cancun HuaracheChamulaCancun Huarache SandalsProsHigh-quality craftsmanship and materialsDurableMade by indigenous Mexican artisansConsA bit of an investment.Often hard to find in stockYuki Matsuda might not be a household name, but to a certain type of menswear fanatic he’s a rockstar. Matsuda is the creative force behind Meg Co., which owns Chamula, Yuketen, and Monitaly—a formidable triumvirate of indie brands that specialize in impeccably crafted next-gen Americana.For his Chamula line, which primarily focuses on traditional Mexican craftwork, Matsuda works with indigenous workers to create the Cancun slip-on sandals, a pair of huaraches that emphasizes quality in every respect. From the natural, vegetable-tanned leather uppers (dyed, cut, and woven by hand) to the natural leather footbed and bouncy EVA soles, the Cancun doesn’t take any shortcuts. Also beautiful: they’re comfortable out of the gate, and the substantially thicker sole means they’ll last longer than the more svelte options out there.Best Huarache Sandal for Comfort: Malibu Sandals Latigo SandalMalibu SandalsLatigo SandalProsUltra comfortableVegan!ConsMight be too funky for someHuaraches aren’t your prototypical endurance shoe—there are other shoes more suited for long-hauls of basically any kind—but if you’re seeking out a comfy ride in addition to a ventilated vamp, there are cushier alternatives like the Malibu’s Latigo Sandals. For starters, they feature an ergonomic footbed layered on top of a dual-density rubber midsole to cradle your feet mid-stride and prevent the types of aches and pains that can cut your scenic walk short. The grommet-adjusted woven upper is made from synthetic vegan leather further locks in your foot without cutting off circulation, which is a feel-good feature that actually, well, feels good. While these mules cut a far different silhouette than the traditional huaraches, they do keep the same energy, allowing you to flex in the utmost comfort all day, everyday.Best Outdoor-Friendly Huarache Sandal: Keen Uneek SandalProsSuper comfortable and lightweightHighly adjustable fitGorpy styleConsTechnically … maybe not a huarache?Trekking along trails may not be the first place you think to take huaraches for a spin, but the Portland, OR-based gorp gurus at Keen channeled the ancient footwear wisdom of pre-Columbian Mexico into an off-road icon: the freaky looking hybrid huarache-sneaker known as the Uneek. It's not only one of the sturdiest options on this list, it's the most adventurous. Flexible polyester cords plus a drawstring cinch that wraps around the ankle ensure you get a locked-down fit, giving you the confidence to rock-hop across Northwestern coastline—or hot-step down a boardwalk. The grippy rubber soles combine with well-cushioned insoles for one of the smoothest strides you’ll ever experience in a pair of huaraches (even if the Uneek is stretching the definition a bit).More Huarache Sandals We LoveEspirituSelva Slip-OnsIt's like we always say: A little color-blocking goes a long way. Yet in the case of Espiritu's top-notch huaraches—handmade by Mexican artisans from organically-sourced materials—the designs might only be the second-most impressive thing about 'em.SunstepsHandwoven Leather Huarache SandalJust 55 bucks for a pair of leather sandals already makes these a no-brainer as your beach kicks. But the slightly squared-off toe dramatically increases the fashion quotient, and ensures you can wear these with more than swim trunks.Mr PSuede Huarache SandalsThe fanciest pair on this list also happens to be one of the most comfortable, thanks to a supple suede upper and an adjustable buckle to lock in the vamp. Meanwhile, the cheeky Vibram outsole blends in seamlessly with the stacked midsole, also making this one of the more practical pairs you can buy.Brother VelliesHuarachesA serious contender for best all-around huarache, Brother Vellies’ faithful take is handwoven entirely in Michoacán, México by local artisans. The stacked rubber sole will grip better than a leather one—especially poolside—and the supple leather starts soft and only gets softer. Or, in other words, it’s a perfect huarache.How We Test and Review ProductsStyle is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the best white sneakers, the flyest affordable suits, or the need-to-know menswear drops of the week, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point.Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t.How We Make These PicksWe make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories: quality, fit, and price.To kick off the process, we enlist the GQ Recommends braintrust to vote on our contenders. Some of the folks involved have worked in retail, slinging clothes to the masses; others have toiled for small-batch menswear labels; all spend way too much time thinking about what hangs in their closets.We lean on that collective experience to guide our search, culling a mix of household names, indie favorites, and the artisanal imprints on the bleeding-edge of the genre. Then we narrow down the assortment to the picks that scored the highest across quality, fit, and price.Across the majority of our buying guides, our team boasts firsthand experience with the bulk of our selects, but a handful are totally new to us. So after several months of intense debate, we tally the votes, collate the anecdotal evidence, and emerge with a list of what we believe to be the absolute best of the category right now, from the tried-and-true stalwarts to the modern disruptors, the affordable beaters to the wildly expensive (but wildly worth-it) designer riffs.Whatever your preferences, whatever your style, there's bound to be a superlative version on this list for you. (Read more about GQ's testing process here.)Production CreditsPhotographs by Bowen Fernie and Natalie PiserchioStyled by Tyler Austin