Post: #1

I've noticed that when it comes to shoes you have the option of two of the three:

cheap
comfortable
good looking

I'm willing to forgo cheap and invest in a pair of good shoes. I do a considerable amount of walking in Boston and I'd like to look good.

Does anyone know where I can find and try one a pair of dress shoes that are not only comfortable but also good looking? My budget is around 150-250$ maybe more depending on how comfortable they are.

I'd like to be able to have them last as well (I shine my shoes) and get them resoled at a shoe repair shop when the time comes.

Any suggestions or ideas guys?

Post: #2

Go to a custom shoe maker. Google for ones in your area.

Post: #3

At that price point, Allen Edmonds is probably your best best. Nordstrom has a half year sale and an Anniversary Sale in June and July and Allen Edmonds usually are $75-100 off.

I'd recommend Alden, they are probably double your budget (on the high end) but they are really quality and comfortable. Also based out of Massachusetts if that matters to you?

Post: #4

The amounts some of you players mention is mind boggling. Then again, quality is quality.

Post: #5

Cole Hahn. But they used to make an even better rubber soled shoe that they discontinued. Back in 2010 I bought 4 pairs of these because they were literally the best and most comfortable dress shoes I have ever worn.

Hard leather soles are antiquated and on the way out. Rubber soles are where its at for comfort. You want a flexible sole. Look for rubber soles first. Hard leather soles are a technology which stuck around from the middle ages, and in my opinion the most uncomfortable and unhealthy things you can stick on your feet.

Post: #6

My bro just sent me these. Pretty cheap Cole Haan Lunagrands on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IBBL3O2/

Here too: http://www.amazon.com/Cole-Haan-Mens-Lun...s_sh_1_fbt

Just copped the camouflage longwings, should be pretty dope.

Post: #7

White's Semi Dress shoes. They're way outside your budget ($400 on the low end) but they will last a looong time, and they are rebuildable. The cost to rebuild varies with what they have to do, but a simple resoling probably wouldn't cost more than $100 including shipping, or you could have a local cobbler do it. You can get them custom made if your feet warrant it, but most people don't do that. You do need to have someone measure your feet, because their sizes aren't standard. I wear a 10 or 10.5 D running shoe, but my White's are 9.5 C. They have forms for that on the website.

http://www.whitesboots.com/index.php?dis...ory_id=446

I don't have a pair of their semi dress shoes, but I have three pairs of their boots. They were worth every penny; I've never had boots so comfortable after break-in. I can be on my feet all day on uneven rock and my feet will only be lightly sore at the end of the day. My boots are all 4 years old and I wear boots all year, but my most worn pair won't even need new soles for several more years. In contrast I'd been going through a pair of $200 boots every year before I bought my White's, my feet hurt all the time, and I'd feel like I had stress fractures by the end of a shift.

Post: #8

(05-08-2014 12:22 PM)Cattle Rustler Wrote:  The amounts some of you players mention is mind boggling. Then again, quality is quality.

It's really a quality thing. My dress shoes get DESTROYED even though I polish weekly and use shoe horns.

With a better quality shoe, I can at least have it last upwards to a year and then take it to a shoe repair guy to get them fixed.

I also do a lot of walking and these calvin cleins I have are complete sh!t. They hurt my calves.

I figure if they at least last, look, and feel good then the money is well spent.

@Weambulance, nice website. I would not mind saving up for that if it meant that they'd last and be repairable by a cobbler. Thanks for that find!

Post: #9

There's a Nordstrom Rack just west of Chinatown and Boston Common. There should be some good choices there at reasonable prices. There's a lot of variance in the quality of selection of clothes at the Rack, but every one I've been to all over the country has plenty of good shoes.

Post: #10

Ecco shoes are very comfortable and the ones I usually use for work. Their highest-end models like this are around $200-250. A lot of their shoes have rubber soles, which makes them more comfortable for walking, but I don't think you can get them resoled when they wear out. I'd say they are one step below in quality than Allen Edmonds or Alden. They likely won't last as long as those two brands, but they may be a little more comfortable for walking. Some of their models have Gore-tex lining to make them more water-resistant if you will be walking in the rain.

Ecco shoes are often sold at a deep discount during Norstrom's 4th of July sale.

Post: #11

I require the most comfortable shoes available, because I am an underpronator -- meaning that my feet do not roll enough to absorb all the shock that occurs when walking.

After trying a boatload of shoes, I tend to stick with Rockport. I am not saying that every Rockport shoe is comfortable, but they always have a very high percentage of shoes that rank very high on the comfortableness scale compared to other companies.

Another company that always gets high marks for building a comfortable shoe is ECCO, but I do not care for their style -- at least in regard to their caual shoes. I just noticed that someone else mentioned ECCO while I typed this out.

Post: #12

(05-09-2014 12:23 AM)Tail Gunner Wrote:  I require the most comfortable shoes available, because I am an underpronator -- meaning that my feet do not roll enough to absorb all the shock that occurs when walking.

After trying a boatload of shoes, I tend to stick with Rockport. I am not saying that every Rockport shoe is comfortable, but they always have a very high percentage of shoes that rank very high on the comfortableness scale compared to other companies.

Another company that always gets high marks for building a comfortable shoe is ECCO, but I do not care for their style -- at least in regard to their caual shoes. I just noticed that someone else mentioned ECCO while I typed this out.

Yes, I think Ecco sacrifices style for comfort to some degree.

Post: #13

Carlos100 is right

Ecco is really comfortable and also if you go for there more higher end models you can get them pretty stylish.

I have 2 pairs that I still wear and are over a year old. When freshly polished they still look brand new.

Post: #14

Honestly, I was having problems with my eccos and getting good arch support. I got some "Superfeet insoles" and now even my previously uncushioned driving shoes feel like sneakers. Try some of the insoles, they make a big different. They have several different kinds depending on how you walk. Don't go cheap, mine were like $50 and are pretty worth it.

http://www.superfeet.com/en-us

I mean Eccos are good for comfort, but for the most part its hard to feel any kind of pride wearing them. They are not good looking shoes, they don't take a good shoe shine well, and when you're walking the rubber squeak sounds pretty unprofessional versus the awesomeness of leathered soled shoes.

Post: #15

Mephisto are the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn and they look good. I could walk for miles in them without feeling any problems. It's a French company and all the shoes are handmade in either France or Portugal.

I own this pair:

http://en.mephisto.com/product/goodyear-welt/marlon



They're somewhat above your upper price limit but the combination of comfort and quality might be worth it.

Post: #16

I love my Cole Haan shoes. Very comfortable, look good, and a decent price!

Post: #17

I have qualms about dropping 500+ (yet) on shoes. I hit up nordstrom rack this weekend and picked up a pair of Bruno Magli monk-strap black shoes. Super soft leather. Really fit like a glove for me. Price = 200 buxs.

Post: #18

Agree with previous poster, Mephisto is the way to go if you're goal is style and comfort. Shoes range more in the $300 category. Buy those shoes if you'll be walking a lot.

I have a pair of Mephistos, but I also have some Allen Edmonds that I wear with Dr. Scholls insoles (which I change every three/four months). Those also work very well.