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The Camp Moc

In the early 1930s, Leon Leonwood Bean was inspired by handmade Native American moccasins and aimed to make a shoe that was as comfortable and flexible as it was durable. The camp moc debuted in 1936 with adjustable leather laces, a molded rubber sole for support and a hand-sewn upper that conformed to your foot as you wore it. Three quarters of a century later, the design remains relatively unchanged. The camp moc by L.L. Bean is still one of the best bargains for your money. There have been some improvements over the years, like a grooved sole for better traction and a padded, moisture-wicking insole for extra comfort. And it has gone on to inspire other brands to take on the moccasin, in a range of styles and leathers—from the green Chromexcel used by Rancourt & Co. to the vegetable tanned Horween leathers Eastland uses in their Made in Maine line.

L.L. Bean, $79

Quoddy, $285

Rancourt & Co. for Taylor Stitch, $230

Russell, $165

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  This image, from an old L.L. Bean catalog, illustrates the hand-sewn technique used on the moccasins' uppers.