I checked the underside of the straps on these sandals to see why they are so annoying. To my surprise, there is no sandpaper; just a rough remnant of the tape-making process. The people who design and make these sandals shouldn't be wearing them. They weren't cheap and I expected a lot more. I gave them a chance but they rubbed my feet until they bled. Also, these sandals tended to throw my ankles uncomfortably over the edge of the sandal no matter how I adjusted the straps. Definitely choose the "Try before you buy" option as it is inconvenient and expensive.