I wear socks in the winter and wear them even if it rains. I have several different styles of the Keen sandals so I know nothing of the other styles, but the arch of my feet and the heel spurs I had no longer hurt. My husband turned me on to these sandals about 7 years ago and when I find them on sale I buy them whether I need them or not at the time. I stick with a black as much as possible since I wear them to work and to church. In the south we don't have snow so I can get away with wearing the sandals year round. I wear the Newport or the Venice style always.