Help me recapture the magic of my favorite pair of shoes.
March 21, 2016 11:12 AM   Subscribe

Almost exactly 10 years ago I bought an amazing pair of shoes by Privo. This is the only pic I can find of this style. I wore them everywhere for three or four years and finally reluctantly got rid of them. Clarks bought Privo a while ago and the quality doesn't seem to be as good. Can you suggest other options?

Here are things I liked about the shoes:

- Supportive! That's the number one. I could go on very long walks with these with no pain.
- Slip-ons, with a rubber, massage-y sole that didn't stink if I wore them with no socks.
- Mary Jane style with thick criss-cross straps that were elastic enough that they were held close to my feet for lots of support.
- HEAVY. These were not the super-lightweight synthetic-y shoes that Privo By Clarks seem to be. The sole felt sturdy and held up after miles and miles and miles of walking.
- Casual. A bit too clunky to wear with a dress, but dressier than a sneaker or a hiking boot.
posted by rogerrogerwhatsyourrvectorvicto to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (11 answers total) 4 users marked this as a favorite
 
Those evoke Keens to me. A few similar styles: Sienna, Rivington
posted by babelfish at 11:45 AM on March 21, 2016 [2 favorites]


Came to suggest keens, but also to if possible go to an REI store and just look at what they stock. My old boss pretty much exclusively wore shoes close to this, from there. It seems like they carry a ton of very very similar ones. Looking through non-lace-up shoes(of which there were like 450 results!) i didn't immediately see anything super duper close, but a lot of similar stuff.
posted by emptythought at 12:02 PM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]


Camper?
posted by mumimor at 12:16 PM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]


I had a pair of those in green! Seconding Keens. I wear Keen Harvests for my house slippers and I'm thinking about a pair of canvas Siennas for summer. I've had good luck buying Keens on ebay.
posted by sarajane at 1:13 PM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]


Best answer: I've been searching for a replacement pair of Privo shoes much like yours, and EBay has failed to come through for me (size 11 scarcity, I guess). The only shoes I've found that come close to matching the squishiness of those Privo insoles are from Ahnu. I like Keen, but their insoles are not squishy. Also try Cob Hill (dressier shoes made by New Balance) - I'm going to spring for those for my next pair.
posted by Maarika at 5:44 PM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]


I have gone down the eBay rabbit hole to find a replacement for a pair of Privo shoes I couldn't live without. I was able to find a replacement that was close, but still not as comfortable as the originals.

Keen is okay, but not the same. I have the canvas Siennas sarajane linked, and they have nowhere near the support that Privos have.

It's a different direction, but the other brands I have had luck with are Merrells and Alegria. Both are comfortable and last a long time, and they tend to have weight and are largely slip-ons.
posted by guster4lovers at 7:42 PM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: Thanks so much, all -- really helpful suggestions so far, including some brands I've never heard of!
posted by rogerrogerwhatsyourrvectorvicto at 9:36 PM on March 21, 2016


Not all Jambu fit the 'heavy' part of your list, but I have these Sloane Mary Janes and they are heavy. Cushy memory foam insole. Velcro strap makes them fit tight--not slide around. Vegan & biodegradable, too.
posted by Nosey Mrs. Rat at 9:47 PM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]


I have those shoes in brown leather. I have been nursing them for years because I cannot find them anywhere. Other Privo styles are just not the same. I have had the best luck with Keens, some styles of Jambu, and Born.
posted by cairnoflore at 11:11 PM on March 21, 2016 [1 favorite]


My sister and I both love Keens for their support and durability, but with us at least, the footbeds get AMAZINGLY stinky in the summer if worn without socks.

Right now, I'm wearing this from Merrell, which is super-comfy, has diagonal straps that don't cut into my feet while still keeping the shoe tight, have lots of support, and a sturdy, solid sole that holds up to sidewalks. They took some breaking in because the shoe is structured and I have freak weird feet, but now that they're broken in, I'm a huge fan.
posted by joyceanmachine at 8:57 AM on March 22, 2016 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: Thanks again, all. I ended up buying the Ahnu Tullia -- which I like for the adjustable strap, supportive sole (no lovely Privo massage-y sole, sadly) and the general look and feel (a bit dressier than the Keen Siennas, which I know lots of people love but look a little too 'comfort shoe' for me). Hopefully these become my new favorite shoes!
posted by rogerrogerwhatsyourrvectorvicto at 12:31 PM on March 31, 2016


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