REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable
Good support
Grippy outsole
REASONS TO AVOID
Pricey
Dad-style design
ECCO Yucatan Review
Classic three-strap sport sandals that provide high-end comfort and solid all-around performance
The right sandals will provide versatile comfort across a wide variety of terrain and conditions.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
RELATED: Best Sandals for Men of 2024
Our Verdict
A relatively recent addition to our lineup, the ECCO Yucatan swiftly captivated our testers with its premium design and luxurious, comfortable materials, earning it a Top Pick award for the most comfortable sandal in our evaluation. Boasting a contoured EVA footbed that gently embraces the foot and neoprene-lined straps that prevent rubbing and chafing, these shoes possess all the essential features to ensure your feet remain comfortable during a long day on the move. Perfect for hikers, adventurers, or casual users seeking the ultimate all-day comfort and support in a sandal, the Yucatan distinguishes itself with its high-end design and reliable overall footwear performance. See how it lined up against other options in our full review on the best men's sandals.
Editors' Note: This review was updated on May 5, 2023, to adjust our metric weightings. After doing so, we exchanged the Yucatan's Editors' Choice award for a more applicable Top Pick award for overall comfort.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
ECCO Yucatan | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Most Comfortable Sandals |  Best Overall Sandals |  Best Bang for the Buck | Best Barefoot-Inspired Option | Best Closed Toe Sandals |
| Price | $140 List $69.10 at Amazon | $115 List $115.00 at REI | $42.00 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $89 List | $89.95 at Backcountry Compare at 4 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Consistent performance and high-end comfort combine to make these classic sport sandals one of our favorites | A well designed minimalist sandal that is ultra-resilient and ready for the long haul | This affordable sandal packs high-end comfort and performance into a lightweight package | A lightweight and minimal sandal with wonderful traction, flexibility, and small enough to carry as a second set of footwear on any adventure | Our favorite closed-toe design for water use |
| Rating Categories | ECCO Yucatan | Bedrock Cairn Adven... | Teva Katavi 2 | Earth Runners Alpha | Keen Newport H2 |
| Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Traction (25%) | |||||
| Stability (20%) | |||||
| Adjustability (15%) | |||||
| Versatility (15%) | |||||
| Specs | ECCO Yucatan | Bedrock Cairn Adven... | Teva Katavi 2 | Earth Runners Alpha | Keen Newport H2 |
| Weight (per pair) | 1.51 lbs (size 43 EU) | 1.10 lbs (size 10) | 1.36 lbs (size 9) | 0.57 lbs (size 10) | 2.01 lbs (size 12) |
| Sole Material | Rubber | Vibram XS Trek Regolith | Durabrasion Rubber | Vibram Morflex | Rubber |
| Upper Material | Nubuck leather | Premium webbing | Suede | Two-ply webbing | Washable polyester webbing |
| Footbed Material | Dual-Density EVA | Granite Grip Rubber | Contoured EVA | Moisture Wicking Canvas | EVA |
| Midsole Material | Polyurethane | Rubber | EVA | Moisture-wicking canvas | Compression Molded EVA |
| Width Options | Medium | Medium | Medium | Medium | Medium |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Yucatan might not be the most stylish or athletic-looking compared to other top-ranked sandals we've evaluated, owing to its traditional three-strap sport sandal design. However, it compensates for this with its remarkable comfort and all-around performance. This flawless sandal is made of premium materials, features a comfortable contoured footbed and well-lined straps, and has a high-quality sole that delivers excellent traction and support.
Performance Assessment
The ECCO Yucatan is perhaps one of the most plush and cushioned adventure ready sandal we tested.
Credit: Jacob Clark
Comfort
The Yucatan excels in comfort, making it the most comfortable sandal in our selection, thanks to numerous high-end features that support and cushion your foot throughout your walking motion. ECCO uses sophisticated terms for these technologies, but we can attest to their evident comfort.
Upon wearing these sandals for the first time, you'll immediately notice how well they support your feet, starting with the contoured EVA foam footbed covered in soft microfiber material. The Fluidform foam with Receptor technology in Yucatan's midsole offers outstanding cushioning and support. The rubber outsole has a slight rocker shape to guide your foot's natural walking motion. ECCO invests more research and technology into their sandals than most other manufacturers, resulting in a comfortable and supportive product evident in every step.
The straps above the foot are soft nubuck leather featuring a neoprene lining for a smooth and comfortable fit without any odd textures or pressure points. The soft upper material and well-cushioned, supportive midsole make the Yucatan an exceptionally comfortable sandal.
Perhaps the most comfortable sandals make even these sharper rocks a breeze.
Credit: Jacob Clark
Traction
Although the Yucatan is designed for comfort, it offers impressive performance on the trail. The rubber outsole and aggressive tread pattern provide confident traction in various conditions, even though they may not be as grippy as the Vibram-branded soles on some other models we tested.
The rubber's density is firm enough for long-lasting durability yet soft enough for high-end traction on various surfaces. The comfortably aggressive tread pattern grips loose or rocky materials, and performs surprisingly well on the river. While the footbeds of many sandals can become slippery, the microfiber material on the Yucatan keeps your foot securely in place, even when wet, sweaty, or dusty.
The shoe is stable on flat, cantored, rocky, and even wet terrain. A solid nod to its strengths in both stability and traction.
Credit: Jacob Clark
Stability
The features and technology that make the Yucatan comfortable also make it stable and supportive. The contoured microfiber footbed, Fluidform midsole foam with Receptor technology, and rockered outsole with firm rubber material create a solid and supportive platform for your feet.
The upper strap system offers excellent coverage and support and comfortably encases the foot with its neoprene lining. The classic three-strap sport sandal design with one sidebar is similar to several other sandals we've tested, but it doesn't provide as much support as those with overlapping straps or closed-toe designs. Nevertheless, the combination of the soft, supportive upper material, top-notch midsole design, and sturdy outsole makes the Yucatan one of our selection's most stable and supportive platforms.
Either fresh out of the box or after logging the miles, the ECCO Yucatan is one of the most comfortable and stable models we tested.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Adjustability
The Yucatan features a classic three-strap sport sandal design with three Velcro adjustment points; one at the heel, one at the ankle, and one at the forefoot. While not as adjustable as some more modern designs with overlapping pull-through strap systems or adjustable buckles, this traditional design strikes a good balance between comfort, simplicity, and adjustability.
The three straps are made of durable leather and backed by a soft neoprene material for added comfort. The adjustable heel strap allows for personalized heel positioning, which can be securely locked. The ankle strap helps keep the rear of the foot firmly planted without restricting movement or creating pinch points. The forefoot strap secures the midfoot and forefoot area, aided by anchor points that widen as they connect to the footbed, offering additional coverage and support. While this classic strap system may not be as versatile as some modern designs, it is easy to use and provides enough adjustability for most users in most conditions.
The classic three-strap design is easy to adjust on the go.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Versatility
At first glance, the Yucatan might appear to be a comfortable but basic sport sandal that might struggle to keep up with challenging conditions. However, our findings contradict this assumption. The Yucatan boasts excellent comfort and stability, surprisingly capable traction, and high-quality materials that perform well in wet and dry conditions. This sandal suits various activities, from beach outings to rocky trails to casual strolls around town. The classic three-strap design also accommodates socks for cooler temperatures, as a camp sandal, or to complete the dad-style look.
Our testers were impressed with the all-around performance and versatility of these sandals. They are truly comfortable and supportive under any conditions. During our testing, we took the Yucatan on rocky trails, steep dirt, gravel roads, wet and mossy steps, to the beach, and around town. These sandals easily handled every situation, maintaining a stable and comfortable platform on dirt, rock, or pavement, whether wet or dry, uphill, downhill, or sidehill. While not everyone may appreciate the classic “dad-style” sport sandal design, those who can look past it will be impressed by the comfort and performance these sandals offer in any situation.
Truly an underrated “dad-sandal” that looks like a dad sandals but up with all the young whippersnappers sandals on the market.
Credit: Jacob Clark
Should You Buy the ECCO Yucatan?
The ECCO Yucatan quickly impressed our testers with its outstanding comfort and performance. Featuring high-quality materials and comfort-focused technologies, it performs admirably across all aspects and stands out for its comfortable footbed that cradles and supports the feet. Capable of handling various conditions, the Yucatan earns top honors and is a sandal we're confident you'll enjoy wearing. However, given its high price, the Yucatan might not offer the best value for everyone. Other options provide excellent traction or similar comfort and stability at a lower price, offering better value for most users. Nevertheless, with its top-tier materials and construction, impressive comfort and support technologies, and consistently high all-around performance, the Yucatan could provide solid long-term value for those seeking comfort.
The ECCO Yucatan, is the ultimate comfort adventure sandal bringing both top end comfort and stability with high quality traction too.
Credit: Jacob Clark
What Other Sandals Should You Consider?
The Teva Katavi 2 is a more affordable, similar option. This high-quality shoe has a similar strap design and performance marks but is half the price of the ECCO Yucatan. Both sandals are comfortable and offer good traction, with the Teva is just behind the ECCO in all metrics. Most savvy buyers will likely be happy with the tradeoff of performance for savings. If you want the best of the group, the Bedrock Cairn Adventure is a versatile shoe with impressive traction and a design that quickly sheds water, sand, and rocks, keeping you comfortable on any adventure.
—
Nick Bruckbauer and Jacob Clark
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