Comfortable office shoes?
June 21, 2010 10:51 AM Subscribe
Recommendations for inexpensive and comfortable men's office shoes?
I've been wearing my 3 year old falling apart but super comfy Land's End All Weather Mocs to my office job (and everywhere, really) for years, but they really need replacing. I'm definitely getting another pair of the mocs, but I'm also thinking about getting a pair of more appropriate shoes for the office. The dress code is business casual so I'm usually wearing khakis and a polo shirt.
I've hated most dress shoes I've ever worn. They always seem to hurt my feet after just a few hours in them. And I really prefer not having laces. I guess I'm looking for something like nice looking loafers?
When I take the train to work there's a bit of a walk from the station to the office so I need them to be comfy for walking as well as just sitting around the office.
And if this is possible for less than $100, that would be the best.
I've been wearing my 3 year old falling apart but super comfy Land's End All Weather Mocs to my office job (and everywhere, really) for years, but they really need replacing. I'm definitely getting another pair of the mocs, but I'm also thinking about getting a pair of more appropriate shoes for the office. The dress code is business casual so I'm usually wearing khakis and a polo shirt.
I've hated most dress shoes I've ever worn. They always seem to hurt my feet after just a few hours in them. And I really prefer not having laces. I guess I'm looking for something like nice looking loafers?
When I take the train to work there's a bit of a walk from the station to the office so I need them to be comfy for walking as well as just sitting around the office.
And if this is possible for less than $100, that would be the best.
I'd suggest looking at Nunn Bush, they're very comfortable, last forever and they run around $50-75. Something like this perhaps.
posted by signalnine at 11:11 AM on June 21, 2010
posted by signalnine at 11:11 AM on June 21, 2010
I agree with Burhanistan about the Rockports. They are my "dress" shoe of choice due to my wonky feet.
That said, if you do a lot of walking and if you can get away with it, I'm a fan of Brooks, specifically these shoes (which also come in black). They aren't dressy, but they are oh so comfortable, and one of the few walking shoes I've found that look at least a *bit* dressy (i.e., aren't crazy neon/white/high-visibility).
posted by Fortran at 11:20 AM on June 21, 2010
That said, if you do a lot of walking and if you can get away with it, I'm a fan of Brooks, specifically these shoes (which also come in black). They aren't dressy, but they are oh so comfortable, and one of the few walking shoes I've found that look at least a *bit* dressy (i.e., aren't crazy neon/white/high-visibility).
posted by Fortran at 11:20 AM on June 21, 2010
I heartily second Clarks as my favorite brand of men's shoes. Well made and comfortable. Rockport, Timberland, and Ecco are good too. If you want a great pair of dress mocs, Clarks Vivo's are excellent (my favorite pair) but just above your price range.
I find it is better to stretch my budget to buy the best shoes I can possibly afford. The kind that you take to have resoled instead of buying another pair. They'll be more comfortable and last longer, saving you money in the long run.
One trick I have is to monitor the thrift stores in a upper middle-class part of town. I can usually find shoes there, with a little patience and persistence, that I could not afford to buy retail. The trick is to monitor the store over time because any one visit has a low percentage for success in finding the item you are looking for. I have one store within a mile of my work, so I stop in for 15 minutes every week or so with my short list of items I'm hunting.
Life is too short to wear cheap shoes!
posted by cross_impact at 11:21 AM on June 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
I find it is better to stretch my budget to buy the best shoes I can possibly afford. The kind that you take to have resoled instead of buying another pair. They'll be more comfortable and last longer, saving you money in the long run.
One trick I have is to monitor the thrift stores in a upper middle-class part of town. I can usually find shoes there, with a little patience and persistence, that I could not afford to buy retail. The trick is to monitor the store over time because any one visit has a low percentage for success in finding the item you are looking for. I have one store within a mile of my work, so I stop in for 15 minutes every week or so with my short list of items I'm hunting.
Life is too short to wear cheap shoes!
posted by cross_impact at 11:21 AM on June 21, 2010 [1 favorite]
Kenneth Cole's men's shoes are surprisingly comfortable, especially the ones with rubber soles. They may look really dressy on the site but I find that they're a little less dressy in person. No loafers though - in the end I personally hat they always end up looking too casual and I prefer having a snuger fit. But I've had 2 pairs of the Merge over 4 years now and when the streetcars in Toronto used to break down on me I've done 5km walks home in them without any discomfort.
posted by GuyZero at 11:44 AM on June 21, 2010
posted by GuyZero at 11:44 AM on June 21, 2010
Clarks Desert Boots. Casual, but surprisingly versatile. I don't even wear sneakers anymore, they're so comfortable.
posted by bennett being thrown at 10:36 PM on June 21, 2010
posted by bennett being thrown at 10:36 PM on June 21, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks for everybody's suggestions! I'll probably start off with stuff I can try from Zappos and see how good their legendary return policy really is.
posted by kmz at 8:59 AM on June 23, 2010
posted by kmz at 8:59 AM on June 23, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Balonious Assault at 11:08 AM on June 21, 2010