Let me start by saying that I am PICKY about my sandals. I wear them 6 days a week, year round, everywhere I go - not just in the summer, since I live in a hot area. So whatever sandal I wind up choosing needs to be very comfortable, suitable for sidewalks and offroad alike, and able to last for years with daily use. I ordered these Yucatan Brandy lux color as well as the Yucatana Bison and Yucatan II Cocoa, decided to stick with these and send the others back. For whatever reason, the Brandy lux color looks either very dark red, or dark brown, depending on the light - the picture is pretty accurate, but I was surprised how hard I had to look to see they were red. Also, this color is impossible to find in physical stores (they only ever carry black or brown), and very difficult to find on other online retailers, so thank you Amazon for having such a wide selection! First thing that jumps out at me is, the footbed between the Brandy Lux and the Bison are slightly different; there are ever-so small curve differences in the footbed, and the heel straps feel different. I can only assume that Ecco changes small details about the Yucatan sandal every so often & never mentions it. So if there's something about the sandal that rubs you the wrong way, like a curve in the footbed or a strap that rubs your foot a bit too much, try a different color, you may notice a difference. The Bison color top foot strap rubbed my foot raw, but the Brandy lux color strap is as comfortable as can be; but I like the Bison footbed more because the heel is slightly less molded, more flat, than the Brandy lux. The top foot strap on the Brandy lux is slightly longer than the Bison color, but it can be tightened more than the Bison, but the Bison has a little more velcro to work with than the Brandy lux color. All that said - these are minor quibbles. The Ecco Yucatan is the most comfortable sandal I've ever worn, and prior to this, I only wore Teva's. The footbed is harder than the Teva, but the sandal has better molding of the footbed. I like it more than Teva's flatter footbed, though I completely understand why some people would prefer the Teva - it really is pure personal preference. Previously I've tried on Rockports and Dockers, and they always have some problem - either the sandal is stingy with material and doesn't span the entire footbed, or there are size/information stickers on the side that rub the foot raw, or the gimmicky cushioned double-heel has stitching that you just can't stop noticing - there's always something irritating about them. Not so with Teva or these Ecco Yucatans - they slip on like a glove and they just feel "right" with the very first step. A good sandal shouldn't need to be broken in - if you're paying good money for it, the sandal should feel great with the first step, and after you've walked in them for an hour or more. The Teva's I've always loved, and Ecco Yucatan that I just discovered, fit this bill. They're expensive, but you're paying for comfort, and the long-lasting quality that will keep your feet comfortable for years & miles to come - you won't have pain or blisters even after walking around all day, that's what (and why) you're paying for with good footwear. When these wear out (and all sandals do after a time), these will be at the top of my list for replacements
