Post: #26

long-lasting quality shoes that cost less than $50? seriously?

sure thing. next up I'll recommend a sports car that laps the Nurburgring in under 8 minutes for less than $5k.

spend the money for quality. or keep spending $50 over and over. see which is cheaper over the long haul.

Post: #27

(10-21-2014 08:07 PM)HungWeiLo Wrote:  Double second anyone who said eBay. I've acquired John Varvatos boots, Allen Edmonds, and ferragamo boots/shoes for between $20 and $50 online. You have to be patient and do your legwork through searching all the brands and spelling differences that people might misspell their auctions under. I've saved conservatively $1000-$2000 on high end shoes by bidding smartly and snatching good deals at Nordstrom Rack where you can find wolverine boots occasionally for $100 (I don't work a job where I need them so I've never picked them up. Buying high end shoes brand new is about a dumb a decision as buying a brand spanking new car.

There are more people out there with more money than brains and will sell shoes for just about anything with limited mileage on them. If you're really looking for longevity on a fashion boot/shoe look for Alden, Allen Edmonds, or any other British/Italian brand that advertises Goodyear welting as that particular feature allows you to resole the leather sole when it gets worn dorn for 1/3 of the cost of a brand new pair

The style blog Put this on lists quality shoes and clothes that are on sale on e-bay about every-other-day. If you want to go this route, which I think has merit if you're on a strict budget or want to save some dough, then that site might be helpful.

Post: #28

Here's something relevant to who was going to be in the driver's seat after WW2.

Armaments production 1940-43 (in billions of 1944 dollars)

Country - 1940 - 1941 - 1943
US - 1.5 - 4.5 - 37.5
USSR -5 - 8.5 - 13.9
UK - 3.5 - 6.5 - 11.1

Germany - 6 - 6 - 13.8
Japan - 1 - 2 - 4.5
Italy - 0.75 - 1 - N/A
Source Paul Kennedy, The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers, 1988, p. 355

Post: #29

I was a Red Wing guy for a long time, then I liked Danner. But over the last couple of years I've had great luck with Keen.

For winter boots try Baffin.

I'm not impressed by much these days as the quality of everything seems to be going downhill, but those are two brands that I have been surprised by.

Post: #30

Coincidentally, Amazon is running a 20% off sale on boots this week with code BOOTUP14 here. Those Chippewa boots look good.

Post: #31

They sure do, love the cordovan finish on dress boots. If I needed a pair I'd be all over that. Hell, I might be anyway.

I usually wear Chippewa and Wolverine, and other brands if the price is right. Had nothing but bad luck with Chinese made boots over a number of years past. These days I usually stick to US and Italian boots.

Post: #32

I'm all about the red wing chukkas. retail they're $260 but with a little digging you can score them for about $185 delievered.

they'll last you forever, and when the soles start to wear out get them redone. compare it to the $50-$100 you'll spend every 1-2 years on a shitty pair of Walmart boots and you come out +EV in a few years with a pair of badass boots that are stylish and functional.

if you or anyone else is interested I can point you in the direction to get them for less then $200 shipped

Post: #33

Wolverine 1000 Mile boots for 20% off at Need Supply with code FWB20. I'm not going to post every sale I see, but I had to post this one because these boots are hardly ever on sale because of their popularity.

Post: #34

Shoes are one of the best things a man can invest in to instantly improve his wardrobe. If you have the time, save and slowly invest in upgrading your shoe collection. Invest in shoes from Allen Edmonds, Alden in the US to name two, Churches in the UK as well as many other UK manufacturers. Try to buy shoes made in first world countries and are refurbishable. $300-$400 a pair is a good starting point, buy the classics (Brogues, Oxfords, etc...). They'll last 10 years at least, especially if you take care of them properly and rotate them. I must have at least 8-9 pairs that I rotate (2-3 times) for each season. Fall/Winter, Winter/Spring and Summer. Actually, Summer and Winter you can get away a little cheaper. Wool lined Chukkas or Boots for Winter, Suede light casual shoes for Summer.

One of the best things I've done in uprading my style and get complements all the time on, are my shoes. I had never really noticed(or cared) what people thought about my shoes until I upgraded them. It truly is one of the first things people, especially women notice, about your style and overall presentation.

Post: #35

I have a pair of Edmonds..great handcrafted shoes( don't need more since I don't work lol)

Post: #36

you are looking for quality boots for 50 bucks? even guys in china know they can't expect the quality for that price.

If you are buying at retail store, you need to spend at least $100 to buy decent boots.

Post: #37

Laner is a bad mofo, and I respect his opinion on anything you put on your feet, and across your back to stay alive in a cold environment. Consider him the form 'senior'. I respect it.

Post: #38

(10-18-2014 03:33 PM)RexImperator Wrote:  I have some Alden shoes that have lasted a really long time. One pair is 15 years old and just needs to be re-soled.

One thing about Aldens is that you can send the shoes back to the factory for a rehab, which is pretty cool. It was $120 last time I did it two years ago, and includes resoling and relining.

Post: #39

Opted for another pair of To Boot NY dress boots for the winter. Last pair got pretty beat using them as nightgame shoes, but great quality leather and the rubber soles are a must for wet and snowy weather. $400+ pair for $250 on Ebay. Going to use some wax polish to try to rehab the other pair when I can make it home.

Edit: As I walk the ritzy streets of South Norwalk I just passed a dude in Uggs. Why man, why. Don't care how long they last.