I did not expect them to be this comfortable! The leather is incredibly soft, and it is clear that the shoe naturally adapts to the shape of your foot with ease. The ankle strap sits around the outer ankle bones, which means it does not play a very strong role in securing the shoe to your foot/ankle. Still, this is not something that should concern a purchaser (in my opinion), though it is a small detail that could perhaps be improved in the future. They are absolutely beautiful, perfectly handcrafted, and are super comfortable...definitely worth it!