1. Saman Amel City Moc
I’d wager that the undisputed shoe of the year is Saman Amel’s City Moc, which is slated to be restocked for the third or fourth time due to excessively high demand. Stockholm atelier Saman Amel’s handmade-in-Italy moc has a tough, comfortable rubber sole, but on top of it sits a quiet silhouette—no boat shoe-style side lacing here. This means they can play with a suit as well as some Dickies, and it’s exactly that versatility that has had so many folks willing to fork out the admittedly eye-watering $630 for a pair.
2. Quoddy Maliseet Oxford
What truly sets Quoddy’s mocs apart—beyond its four eyelets, premium leather upper, and ultra-grippy Vibram sole—is a breathable insole that’s specifically designed for barefoot wearing. The beauty of that? Once you’ve broken these in beautifully over the winter, they’ll be ready and waiting for your sockless summer.
3. L.L.Bean Handsewn Moccasin
When many people think of Mocs, their first association is with L.L. Bean—and for good reason. Introduced in 1936 by Leon Leonwood Bean himself, the brand’s handsewn (and handsome) Camp Moc currently has over 1,000 five-star reviews testifying to its durability, comfort, and style smarts. And honestly, there’s something almost Miu Miu-esque about the way the leather has been finished—props to the Bean for leaning sophisticated when they could have otherwise gone full Grandpa.
4. Morjas Boat Shoe
For a similarly pared-back, well-made, elegant moc—only at less than half the price—take a look at Morjas. A Recommends-favorite when it comes to rising shoe brands, the Stockholm-based shoemaker crafts its designs by hand in Italy, in this case adding flexible rubber soles, sanded soft suede leather, and the same three finish options as Saman Amel’s category-definer.
5. Yuketen Canoe Suede Boat Shoes
Through his Yuketen brand, Japan born, L.A.-based Yuki Matsuda has been making slightly freaked, exceptionally covetable American footwear for years now. He’s perhaps best known for his blucher, but it’s these supple, “canoe suede” stompers—complete with memory foam footbeds—that play right into this moc moment.
6. Rancourt Classic Ranger Moc
Handcrafted in Maine, Rancourt’s classic Ranger Moc is, by the brand’s own admission, their most comfortable, best fitting design. (In part, that’s thanks to the three-to-four eyelets on the lacing, which hold the foot a little more snugly than two can.) Their original Ranger is still available, but this Huckberry exclusive adds a lug sole for even more comfort and capability on urban adventures.
7. G. H. Bass x Madewell Ranger Moc
Just as Huck and Rancourt linked up to perfect their Ranger, Madewell and loafer legends G.H. Bass joined forces to create their own. The Wallace suede moc has all the loose, relaxed appeal of a Wallabee, but raised above a stronger, thicker sole for years more durability.
8. Paraboot Michael Shoe
What hasn’t already been said about potentially the most important shoe in menswear? Well, maybe just that the eternal, goes-with-anything Paraboot Michael has wrongly always been put in the derby category, when it’s actually—with just two eyelets and that unmistakable toe stitching—a total Moccasin.
9. Sebago James Fringe Lug Derbys
We now enter the world of Moc-style footwear—like these from loafer experts Sebago, which provide all the presence and structure of a classic black derby, only softened at the last second thanks to a Moc toe and fringed kiltie.
10. Astorflex Carlifex
Blend a Wallabee, Derby, and traditional Moc, and you get Astorflex’s Carlflex shoe. And if those elements alone weren’t enough to win you over, consider that Astorflex—a sixth-generation shoemaker that still crafts entirely by hand, in Italy—has an untouched reputation for combining the comfort and flexibility of rubber soles with the durability and charm of leather uppers.
11. Vinny’s Michel Mocassin in Black
Alongside Morjas, Denmark’s Vinny’s also earned a nod in Recommends’ top five hard-bottom shoe brands to watch. Their take on the Moc is as close to a loafer as I’ve seen Mocs come—which might also make it the first Moc I can picture striding through the gates of Goldman Sachs.
12. Clarks Wallabee Derby
Perhaps the most iconic take on the classic moccasin look is the Clarks Wallabee. The distinctive, squared-off moc-toe remains, as does the use of supple suede leather, but Clarks built on a traditional moc by adding a crepe sole and higher ankle, for extra comfort and support. Consistently in production for 57 years now, the shoe has at different times been embraced by 1960s Jamaican “rude boys” and 1980s New York rappers. It’s your turn next.
13. Red Wing Shop Moc Oxford
Red Wing’s Classic Moc needs no introduction, but its lower profile Oxford Moc just might. Like its taller parent, Goodyear welting means these can be resoled as many times as you’d like. But unlike the OG, the low-top means this is that rare pair of Red Wings you can slip on as you hurry out the door.
