You were made as well as we could make you.

October 4, 2016 10:22 AM

So, I wear these shoes daily. They fit all my criterion: slip on, appropriate enough for a casual workplace, very comfortable, decent tread. Except that the tread doesn't last very long.

I tend to wear them flat in places between 12-18 months. Does anyone have a recommendation for similar shoes with a more durable rubber sole? I'd love to not spend a ton of money but I'm at a position where if the shoes will last twice as long, I'd spend twice as much. Thanks!

posted by selfnoise to Shopping (12 answers total)

A year and a half is not bad at all for daily use, and these are currently on sale at your link. Buy multiples and alternate wearing them?
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:28 AM on October 4, 2016 [6 favorites]

If the only problem with them is the sole, could you have them resoled? Depending on your cobbler you might have a selection you could choose from.
posted by FallowKing at 10:28 AM on October 4, 2016 [1 favorite]

Blundstones fit all the same criteria and I find it takes a couple of years to really grind the treads down.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 10:46 AM on October 4, 2016

I doubt you could get those resoled for cheaper than just buying another new pair, since the whole thing is glued together. You might try the similar Merrell Jungle Moc or something by Keen if you want a slightly longer lasting version of the same style. (In my mind, Columbia Sportswear is okay but sort of second tier in terms of quality).

However, I second Iris Gambol that keeping two pair and rotating between them will keep them nicer longer.
posted by cabingirl at 10:50 AM on October 4, 2016

That shoe you linked is classic LL Bean style -- check out this bountiful selection of very similar shoes. Not only is LL Bean generally very high quality (it looks like many of the comparable shoes have thicker treads than the one you've been wearing), but they also have a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If your shoes wear out -- even five or ten years after you bought them -- you can return them for an exchange or refund. I'd suggest picking out your two favorite LL Bean candidates and wearing them on alternate days to lengthen their lifespan.
posted by ourobouros at 10:58 AM on October 4, 2016 [1 favorite]

Nthing buy multiples and rotate daily: wear pair A Monday, pair B Tuesday, pair A again Weds, etc. It's how I've managed to make my similarly-priced Keens last more than twice as long as just buying one pair at a time and making it my daily wear, then replacing it the next year. This is especially true for the insides of the shoes - I find those break down much more quickly if I wear one pair of shoes multiple days in a row.
posted by Pandora Kouti at 11:27 AM on October 4, 2016

I'd look for a Vibram sole instead of a generic or rebranded sole, as that seems to be the crucial feature for you.

Merrell makes a bunch that might fit the bill, like maybe the Moab Rover Moc.
posted by mama casserole at 11:52 AM on October 4, 2016

I have found that my columbia shoes do not last as long as my keens. Like someone above said, they are second rate. I just bought a new pair of keens that are just like yours, except for women. It is like walking on perfectly balanced air. So so comfy.
posted by cairnoflore at 11:55 AM on October 4, 2016

Like others have said, buy multiples and rotate them. Wearing 2 pairs of shoes, each pair every other day, will last more than twice as long.
posted by serelliya at 11:58 AM on October 4, 2016

Rotating shoes will make uppers last much longer, but I don't think it will change how long synthetic soles last. That's a matter of how you walk and what you walk on. You might be able to learn to walk lightly and have it be good for your joints as well as your shoes, but I'd just find a good glue-on resoler and get the more durable soles.
posted by clew at 3:00 PM on October 4, 2016

Best answer: If you have $50 shoes that are lasting more than a year, you are so totally winning.
posted by DarlingBri at 7:14 PM on October 4, 2016 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Ok, thanks for all the advice. In the end, I couldn't find anything that cost twice as much that looked like it would last twice as long, so I ordered another pair of my existing shoes. But I feel better about it now!
posted by selfnoise at 10:12 AM on October 6, 2016