Teva Women's Tirra Sandal (Open Box)

This wasn't an awful purchase. I like the color, the fit. They are comfortable on my feet and provide good support for my arch while fitting my wide feet well. My size is normally 8.5 wide so I selected 8.5 and the sizing seems appropriate. It is perhaps a tiny bit too long and I may have sized down if I had the opportunity to try on multiple sizes at once, but for shoes bought over the internet, sight unseen, I can't really complain about the size. The straps enable a nice, snug fit around my wide feet though I can see how it may be a bit too loose for people with narrow feet. I have one problem: the ankle strap causes blisters on the back of my ankle when worn without socks. I got these specifically for a supportive shoe that I could wear in summer without the need for socks, but I can't really use them beyond short trips (around 30 minutes of walking). I was hoping that they would break in over time, but so far they have not. This was not a problem with my last pair of similar sandals from another brand, which were comfortable for sockless wear right from the get-go. While there are a few differences at play that might explain why my older shoes were more comfortable (including a softer, more fabric-like material and a lower ankle strap which wraps around the heel more then the ankle) I think this issue is more to do with the construction of the shoe. My old ones actually had an ankle strap that was separate from the rest and attached with a piece of elastic. I think this construction enables the strap to move *with* my foot instead of against it as I walk. In contrast, this shoe is made all in one piece which results in an inflexible back strap which wears against the ankle. Some may feel that this provides more support, but I personally don't notice any difference and the blisters are enough to outweigh any potential benefit in that area. It is now past my return window, so I guess I'm just going to deal. I'll wear them for short trips out of my apartment, but for anything longer then that I'm going to need to figure out something to protect my ankle, either socks, bandaids or something else. In any case, I think I will steer clear of this brand (or at least, this model) in the future unless there is a design change. At least I think I've learned something to bare in mind when buying sandals again.