The Teva Hurricane is the perfect sandal for those looking to replace their tried and true originals. I have a pair of original Teva's that are about 25 years old ...and while they're still hangin' in there they're def showing their age.

The strapping on the Hurricane is the same ...same adjustments as the originals. The straps themselves are a little less robust than the originals and the heel strap needs to be shorter and have the end finished with a rubber tab. As it is, the heel strap is too long and the velcro strip extends past the end of the strap. When you adjust the heel fit you may end up with a lot of extra strap hanging off the sandal along the outside edges and the velcro can rub/scratch you a bit just below the ankle bones. It's a small thing, easily fixed ...I think, but the originals had it right. I guess something got lost in the translation ...and that would be from English to Vietnamese; whereas my originals were made in the USA, the latest generation are made in Vietnam.

Sizing. I tried these on at a locally owned store (doing my thing to support local business). I wear a men's 8.5. Teva's only come in whole sizes. I ended up going with a size 8; they fit me perfectly. Now sandal fit, especially with Teva'a and like genre, is kind of a personal thing. I like my sandals to fit closer to my actual foot size ...some folks like a little more real estate. I tried the 9's and while they were not overly large on my feet, the 8's had the better fit for me. If you're wearing a whole size, then go with a whole size. If you want more protection for the toes, you'd have to go the next size up.

The biggest improvement the Hurricanes have over the "originals" is comfort. Hands down. No comparison. These are a way comfortable sandal. With the right amount of softness under foot and with a nice cushy ride ...I can wear these all day long ...no sweat. And if I do, well, the anti-microbial stuff takes care of that. Whereas my originals tended to get ...shall we say ...a bit "mank-y" ...especially in the hot summer ...the new generation has the anti-microbial treatment given to the rubber foot-bed so they can live in the house when you take them off. Hurricanes are also lighter than the originals with a better shape for your foot; they have a small heel and are not a flat sandal like the originals ...and this adds to their all-day comfort. And you *will* want to wear them ...a lot.

The soles on the Hurricane have an aggressive tread ...more so than the originals. They should work great for light day hikes and general "off road" work. I can't comment on how they handle wet conditions but they are great on just about any dry surface and handle rocky stuff with aplomb.

If you like the simplicity of the original Teva's and are looking for an equivalent replacement for those old faithfuls, these are the modern rendition. Outside of the heel strap ...which might not be a big factor for you ...the Hurricane still embodies the perfectly simplistic original design with a healthy upgrade in comfort, odor control and off-road traction. If you like the originals, you'll probably like the Hurricane.