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 like a grooved sole for better traction and a padded, moisture-wicking insole for extra comfort. 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.