I was skeptical, but these are SO comfortable. Don't wear them whenever there's a chance of rain. The least bit of water will soak right up and saturate the sandal really fast. They are also slippery, but probably not any more slippery than sandals that have the smooth, flat, plastic bottoms. I got some floor grime on them once and threw them in the washer / dryer and they came out fine. The ropes do sort of relax a bit after a few weeks of wear. Overall they are really good sandals, more comfortable and durable than I even hoped.