I used to exclusively wear Havana Joes, but apparently they went out of business.

Those were the most comfortable, longest lasting casual wear shoes I ever wore.

I miss the company dearly. Ecco isn't nearly as good.

Doks used to be high quality English made, now they're made in farking China just like everything else.

It really depends. Since I teach, I'm on my feet all day. I don't mind being tacky and wear skechers or adidas sneakers with my dress pants and can get a few years out of them; I've found that dress shoes will fall apart on me after a year. The oldest shoes I have are five year old heels from piperlime and they are just now starting to look their age.

I'd get more life out of my shoes in general if the damn dog didn't keep breaking into the closet and stealing them.

MaliFinn: I get my shoes at walmart. $15, and I can get them in a size 13. Why overthink this shiat?
[img207.imageshack.us image 309x146]

i just bought nearly the same type...love these damn cheap shoes.

/Will take a sponsorship


just look at those shoes!

hogans: My theory is that you'd have to be on the east coast, or maybe only New England to know the word "cobbler." Any ideas from the peanut gallery?

Interesting question... I'm familiar with the word cobbler, but still chose to use shoe repair guy in my original post. I think I did so because I assumed there would be others out there who wouldnt know the word, and I'd rather be sure that my meaning was understood.

brerrabbit: My patent leathers lasted me a full 4 years on my last tour. Of course they were polished almost daily and were only work at an office, but I think they did good.

Work environment has a lot to do with it, I do IT support for a manufacturing facility and my time is probably split about 50/50 between the office areas and the shopfloor - all the grit and debris out there tears the hell out of pretty much any "regular" shoe, and I can't be wearing combat boots around the office, so I've resigned myself to just getting fairly inexpensive loafers and replacing them every 18-24 months.

I've had a number of Allen-Edmonds dress shoes for close to 20 years now. The higher-end wingtips are the best pure dress shoes I've ever had. I made the mistake of scrimping on a different color of wingtips and regretted it.

Some of their casual dress shoes I wear pretty often and had to re-sole. Good as new, very comfortable, and for significantly less money in the long run.

Cheap shoes never feel right and wear out too quickly. Real adults spend $200-$300 for quality shoes and spend less over time.

I had one real good pair of dress shoes that last 7 years, the last 3 years I was wearing them every single day, through rain, snow, mud, beach sand, working in an office, working in the bush whatever. They were a DAMN fine shoe.

stephen74:

20 years ago I'd agree with you, but since they moved their manufacturing to some sh*t-hole third world nation the quality has bottomed out. I bought a pair of 8053s (new window) back in the early 90s and got 15 years out of them with regular wear. The replacement pair I bought didn't last a year before they started falling apart. I took them in for repair to a good cobbler and he confirmed that their quality has fallen through the floor and that poor quality is now normal.

Missing the most important info, how often are they worn? If they're worn once every week or two, they should last 10 years or so. If they're worn daily, then a year or two. But good shoes can always be re-soled.

As for my Sperrys or Rockports, those last a year or two, but they cost $75ish, so I don't expect more.

Hell, I've got a pair of Red Wing boots I got in college almost 20 years ago, that get a lot of wear. They've been re-soled twice, but are otherwise in great shape.

RexTalionis: You can take it to a shoe repair guy and have them replace the soles.

Yeah, for the cost of a whole new pair! The shoes have to be worth > $100, or be irreplaceable, or be of high sentimental value, to make repair worth it.

LockeOak: TrancePI: Sweet, bold green.

Yes, cheap fu*ks, we pay $5 a month for mundane advice such as this, and to have people make the obvious "I'll pray for your soles" jokes.

But while we're here, I got 2 free months to give away if anyone can be interesting.

How about shoes with boobies?

[ebandit.in image 300x300]

You want interesting, hm... did you know that the parasitic trypanosomes that cause sleeping sickness are immune to cyanide (which inhibits respiration), but are sensitive to other respiratory inhibitors which have little effect on H. sapiens? I thought it was interesting, at least.

It says you're ineligible or already have it?

Back in 96' a local store was going under and had a %70 off sale on Doc Martens. I picked up a pair of 8-eyes and a pair of dress shoes for under $50.

I wore the 8-eyes nearly every day up until around 2005 or so.

The dress shoes are still fine.

I've gone through a few pairs of the 8-eyes. They don't make them like they used to. I've actually returned a pair after the sole separated within three weeks of getting them.

Old Docs are indestructible. New ones suck.

As has been posted earlier, for work/nice dress shoes, get Alden or Allen Edmods. Expensive up front, but can be resoled and refurbished multiple times. You will get 10 years or more out of them.

gambitsgirl: theflatline:

Haahahaha I recently found some reeboks from the 80s in a box, and oddly enough they looked new and weighed about 20 lbs.

This is what I rocked in the day.

[store.tretorn.com image 340x340]

aren't those Treetorns or something of the sort?

Tretorn Nylites - which are back in style BTW

Alonjar: As far as sneakers go, New Balance shoes have been absolutely indestructable for me.. they just last and last and last.

Want to know why?

Because most New Balance shoes are still made in the good ol' US of A, that's why.

I have two pair of Aldens for work - one 15 years old and the other 12. Still holding-up to DAILY wear (although I have replaced soles and laces). Also, made in USA.

Don't buy cheap shiat from China! It costs more in the long run.

I'm lucky if my steel toed boots last a year. Then again I get to walk around at work officemitter.

Dynascape: gambitsgirl: Dynascape:

I cant order shoes online.

I have absolutely no arches, so I have to try them on first.

Any shoe with a serious arch will make my feet hurt like a muthafarka.

As much as I love Doc Martens, the steel arch is impossible for me.



fark it then. drink beer.

Ok.

Never in my life have have I seen a person's arm twisted so forcefully.

gambitsgirl: dolphkhan: gambitsgirl: Thrakkerzog: Green?


today has to be the boringestest day evah

You women just don't understand about shoes..



summer





winter




/is all

Back in high school I had about 25 pairs of shoes. (7 sisters. Don't judge me.) I was particularly fond of classic nikes, old school reeboks, and lugz.

I've matured since then. About 10 pairs of flip flops, with several cheap pair (old navy dollar flops day is awesome) for summer and a couple heavy fabric pairs for beach/winter, with a couple chuck taylors and a pair of classic nikes for those times when you just need shoes. One pair of black leather dress shoes and one pair of brown leather, for interviews or formal occasions, round out the collection.

Also, to those complaining about size 13, I'm a size 13. The selection isn't as large, but I never have trouble finding a pair. Plus several shoe brands are a bit generous, and twelves will often fit.

I have a pair of Florsheim loafers similar to the picture below:


...that I purchased in 2004, and I still wear them weekly after about 3 years of being my default shoes. A little neutral polish, and the occasional murder of someone who steps on them, and they still look quite presentable.

/What do I win?

Cerebral Knievel: Timberlines suck nowadays

Timberlands?

I'm of the same opinion, but they've never been especially great, IMO. They use some kind of nasty oil on the inside leather that imparts an orange color to everything that touches it. The shoes don't breathe at all, and the quick-lace hooks are terribly soft and twist after just a few months of regular usage.

Rockports would be a much better replacement for Timberlands if they could design a shoe with any sort of stylistic sense.

Spreadhead: As has been posted earlier, for work/nice dress shoes, get Alden or Allen Edmods. Expensive up front, but can be resoled and refurbished multiple times. You will get 10 years or more out of them.

I've always had good luck with Cole Haans. They happen to fit my feet excellently. And last a while, and can be re-soled.

I don't think real adults have to spend 200 - 300 for a quality shoe unless you are shopping for the brand name. That being said, i live in Texas where I get to wear sandals most of the year.

Bullhide boots are the best. Shined up look great with suit, tough so they don't scuff, comfortable as can be, and never wear out. Have had mine for aboutt 20 years now. Lots of resoles.

Johnston Murphy's for a midrange shoe will last for years. Since we are on the topic:
In business attire, the socks should match the pants, not the shoes. the shoes and belts should match too.
/the more you know....

Oreamnos: RexTalionis: You can take it to a shoe repair guy and have them replace the soles.

Yeah, for the cost of a whole new pair! The shoes have to be worth > $100, or be irreplaceable, or be of high sentimental value, to make repair worth it.

The thread is about "decent dress shoes". If they cost

trappedspirit: MaliFinn: I get my shoes at walmart. $15, and I can get them in a size 13. Why overthink this shiat?
[img207.imageshack.us image 309x146]

Those are for 14 year olds only. What's he supposed to do when he turns 15?

I work in IT. I can wear whatever the fark I want.

Toms FTW

AncientLurker: Johnston Murphy's for a midrange shoe will last for years. Since we are on the topic:
In business attire, the socks should match the pants, not the shoes. the shoes and belts should match too.
/the more you know....

Those too. Cole Haan and J&M are as nice as I've ever needed to go. Luckily I now wear flip flops or slip ons every day here in south Texas/north Mexico, but I still own my nice shoes from when I did wear a suit daily.

PrivateCaboose: MaliFinn: trappedspirit: MaliFinn: I get my shoes at walmart. $15, and I can get them in a size 13. Why overthink this shiat?
[img207.imageshack.us image 309x146]

Those are for 14 year olds only. What's he supposed to do when he turns 15?

I work in IT. I can wear whatever the fark I want.

But *should* you?

Are you hatin' on my batman snuggie?