Am I doomed to buy three pairs of sneakers a year?

April 28, 2008 7:45 PM

What are some durable everyday men's sneakers?

I walk a lot and I shuffle my feet. I've been wearing New Balance shoes for awhile (usually I buy the "casual" or "retro" ones like 574s; I know they're not the best but I like the style and find them comfortable), and I find I tend to wear holes in the soles after about 4 months of daily use. What sneakers can I buy that I can wear every day for more than four months?

posted by goingonit to clothing, beauty, & fashion (16 comments total)

I recently got a pair of Reebok DMX Max shoes. They are actually quite nice. Were about $50. I had pretty much exactly the same criteria you describe and I think these should work out fine.
posted by Riemann at 7:49 PM on April 28

I've been wearing a pair of NB 964s (recently replaced with the 965, sadly) for over three years now, having worn through a previous pair's soles in about two years. In both cases, everyday wear. You might look at those; they're walking shoes with a more rugged, boot-style tread.

Just how much walking are you doing that you're massacring soles that fast? I still got a couple of years out of a pair I was wearing at college, walking miles a day across campus and the city.
posted by Tomorrowful at 7:50 PM on April 28

BTW: The shoes I mentioned were a replacement for another pair of Reeboks that had held up for about 3 years. I have no recollection of what model they were though.
posted by Riemann at 7:52 PM on April 28

On a side note, Shoe Goo is the best sole repair substance I have ever seen.... been wearing my pumas for 16 months now.
posted by yoyoceramic at 8:29 PM on April 28

I swear by Keen. Confortable, casual, durable. And Garmont shoes just can't be killed (though they're more hiking-ish shoes).
posted by ddaavviidd at 8:32 PM on April 28

Since you like New Balance, the NB 479 is a very durable trail shoe that has a thicker urethane sole, yet still manages to maintain a light weight. I've had customers wear them for years.
posted by netbros at 8:32 PM on April 28

You might look into shoes designed for tennis players. Tennis plays notoriously drag their feat as they serve and return volleys. This is obviously hard on the shoes and the companies have responded by including harder and more material.
posted by mmascolino at 8:52 PM on April 28

Indoor soccer shoes, something like Adidas Samba Milleniums. They have no support though, so if you have flat feet you'll need insoles.
posted by xotis at 9:14 PM on April 28

I have the same problem and tend to wear down my soles every six months or so. My solution is just to have a few pairs around I can alternate in and to whip-out the heavy hiking boots for some occasions.
posted by georgemandis at 9:50 PM on April 28

The rule of thumb that I've heard is that three pairs of shoes bought simultaneously will last as long as five pairs bought sequentially.
posted by rhizome at 10:47 PM on April 28

three pairs of shoes bought simultaneously will last as long as five pairs bought sequentially

I think that's because, with each passing year, shoes are manufactured increasingly shittily.
posted by dersins at 12:04 AM on April 29 [1 favorite]

Ecco and New Balance both make good shoes. I find the Eccos more comfortable.

Of course, I don't drag my feet, so my last pair of Ecco sneakers lasting four years might not hold for you. They still work fine, but the uppers are getting ratty. I even played tennis in them for a few months before buying actual New Balance tennis shoes.

Now, I've had a pair of Track IIs since 2003, and other than being scuffed, they are as comfortable as the day I bought them, if not more so. Of course, I was also wearing the sneakers part of that time, although have done some hiking in them.

I keep thinking I need to buy new shoes, but I hate to spend the money since the problems with my current shoes are solely cosmetic.

Another option is to buy some of the incredibly cheap Shoes for Crews and replace them regularly. The soles won't wear out (they never do, from what I've seen), but the uppers will separate from the sole after a year or two. But for less than $30 a pair, they're no more expensive than my Eccos and have a much lower cost of entry.
posted by wierdo at 12:16 AM on April 29

Dunlop Volleys.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 2:11 AM on April 29

Tretorn. Extremely hardwearing and stylish to boot.
posted by fire&wings at 3:12 AM on April 29

I must put in a good word for skateboarding shoes, the most comfortable (and some of the most durable) sneakers known to humankind. They are made to have long-lasting soles, and they fit my (big) feet in a nice, not-too-loose, not-too-tight way.

I am especially fond of Etnies, which don't cost much more than "regular" sneakers. And I've gotten various compliments on them from hipsters and teens! (which may actually be a bad thing, now that I think of it...) They don't all look like a graffiti artist's nightmare; I wear solid black, and love 'em.
posted by Dr. Wu at 5:32 AM on April 29

Seconding the Keen line. Besides the sandal type shoe, they make actual sneakers that hold up great, and have a casual shoe type look
posted by Mr_Chips at 9:13 AM on April 29