I used to be a fan of Hush Puppies, but these days its crap. Be lucky to get 8 months out of them. In the old days they use to last me 2 years. Have 2 pairs that either ungluing itself or with a split/holey sole.
Can anyone recommend ok quality work shoes that will last at least 1 year, maybe 2? I normally try to sick with shoes below $150 range. I went from Florsheim -> Hush Puppies, now need to try something else.
Save up and get some RM Williams, i have had mine for 5 years and only need to get them resoled every 12-18 months.
Best advice
So ~$400 for the boots, plus $50-100 per re-sole?
Yeah, but I have orthotics and work really heavy on my heels, i used to burn through a pair of shoes in under a month, and I do a tonne of walking and standing. RM's are the only shoes that have held up to my needs. Sometimes through secondary retailers they are cheaper:
http://www.nungar.com.au - cheapest but they have had issues with stock in the past and ordering
https://portphillipshop.com.au/men-rm-williams-boots - reliable, free shipping
Roger Shoe Repairs in Redfern put an original RM heel on and a protective layer on the bottom for $70, better value then sending it to the RM Williams factory in SA, faster turnaround as well. Worth sussing out shoe repairers.
@RupertMurduck: This is the best advice you will get all day. I too used to burn through a pair of $100 "dress" shoes in 3 months or less (i.e. $400 a year). I now resole my RM Williams approx every 2 years.
to tell you the truth, I actually freaked out when I saw the price of RM Williams. :-/ dunno if I could ever spend $500 on a shoe..
The longevity of shoes comes down to how you walk, how far, how often and how you maintain said shoes.
I have found my Florshiems do OK butI only buy them on special, never full price.
Before I found Florsheim do be hard kind of leather that would rub against my feet.. plus I have wide feet which normally Hush Puppies were perfect for.
I think Florsheim kangaroo leather is not too bad, softer.. I havent tried Florsheims in 15 years :P I use to go to the factory outlet in Springvale which has relocated somewhere.
Quality of materials is a big factor.. Hush Puppies dont last as long as they use to.. Everyone is complaining about ungluing/holes/cracks within 8 months or so.
I have two pairs of Florshiems, which I bought because of recommendations on here in older threads like this. Only 6 months in, but seem to be wearing a lot better than others I have had.
I bought then on special for about $100 a pair.
They can be a bit stiff to start with, but are fine once you wear them in a bit.
Windsor Smiths
my Rockports last more than 2 yrs
+1 for Rockport
I like rockports comfort but the rubber soles just wear out too fast. Can you even get them resoled?
clarks
use to have these in high school many many moons again.. might revisit these.
I wear business shirt, black pants, and Oliver high cut boot. Nobody cares and some hardly notice. I get about 3 years out of a pair, that with about 7-8 hours on my feet a day. Only cost about $160, super comfy (well to me they are), and very hard wearing.
dont think I can do boots. I think my feet would heat up and sweat a bit.
Leather boots will be ok, synthetic no way
I understand. All I can say is that my feet never sweat in these boots.
But they also do an "executive" shoe, https://www.oliver.com.au/boots/38-275_lrg.jpg
Ecco/Clarks - but they are more expensive as well.
I was really disappointed with Ecco, paid $250 or so for a pair of shoes, burned through them, they didn't want anything to do with them and no one could repair them. Went in the bin.
I use RM Williams, Rockports and Hush Puppies, and have to say the RM WIlliams and Rockports fare much better than the Pups.
I don't wear business shoes anymore though since I work from home…
Have had Hush Puppies, Rockports and others
Dr Martens win hands down - a bit stiff to star with but once you break them in they are great and last forever
Brookes, ive had 3 pairs in the last decade.
Colorado Adam shoes here, last me a few years
Looks like the model isn't sold any more though, but very close to these:
https://www.styletread.com.au/alamein-black-leather.html
Or these:
https://www.williamsshoes.com.au/C-COLLINS-Black-383373.aspx
Sorry if this is thread jacking, but do you mean you wear the 1 pair 5 days a week?
I have feet issues so i have 5 pairs, 1 pair per day, this way the shoes have time to air out.
I spend between $50 to $80 per pair on sale, landed cost- full leather uppers.
All different brands - country road, Aldo, Rockports, Geox, Hush Puppies, Clarks, KG Kurt Geiger and various others.
I get about 18-24 months out of each pair of shoes this way.
I work in an office job - do under half an hour walking all up in a day ( including lunch time break walks around the block )
I purchased 2 pairs of Puppies for a 5 day week, and use shoe trees on the shoes day off. Started to notice they were falling apart after 6 months. When I was younger 17 years ago I would of had 1 pair of every Puppies that would have lasted 1.5 years, abused and all.
Damn you wear shoes out fast. If you wear a pair of shoes one day a week and you still need to replace them once every 18-24 months you're getting terrible wear out of them, hope the feet issues aren't also causing you pain
You wear each pair of shoes let's say 50 days a year, the equivalent of 10 work weeks, so you're getting 15-20 weeks out of a pair of shoes if you replace them every 18-24 months
I leave my shoes in the office and wear something more comfortable to and from, I get 2 years plus out of my $60 shoes… Plus my feet don't hurt!
never thought about this, but probably feel a bit odd walking back home in office wear and sports shoes :P
I did at first though others like me looking unfashionable.
Doc Martens - I have a pair over 20 years old and still going (only wear them from time to time now, but they were a daily wear for 3 years.)
Yeah I researched Doc Martens.. Seems like the ones we get here are made in Thailand and not built like they use to ? Apparently its better to get UK made ones (if they still exist). They are not bad, but I think they have more styles in boot format..
Ditto - just can't kill them.
I used to love Florsheim as they were really comfy. They would only last 8 months or so as I walk about 5km/day. A work mate recommended Marco Gianni which I wear now. They are a lowish cut boot which are really comfortable. After a few months I've had to replace the heel for $25 but the rest of the boot is still in great shape.
What do you mean by wearing out?
Good quality shoes can be maintained for ever, as long as you look after them.
I have Barkers, Zegna and Canali that have lasted me over 20 years.
They all have 'Goodyear welted soles', which means that they can be taken apart and re-built of necessary,
though all I have done is replaced the rubber stick-on soles that I had applied to them when they were nicely worn in.
Mainly split/holes in soles and ungluing of leather from sole within a short time frame. It seems they are made cheaply these days and dont last even one year, alot of ppl have the same issues. https://www.productreview.com.au/p/hush-puppies.html
Shoes that are distributed world wide are made to a basic spec' that does not account for the kinds of temperatures we expose them to over here. The glue often fails at high temperature.
I think Hush Puppies are licensed, so quality may differ from region to region as well depending on manufacturer. 15 years+ ago I never had issues with the glue for same brand, which is a shame since they use to be my favourite brand
Double pluggers
I have a pair of Dr Martens 1460s boots, I wear them every day rain hail or shine. They are still going great three years later, but the soles are wearing thin. Just have to use a bit of saddle soap every other week to keep the leather in good nick. They make great work shoes if you get them in a black or brown (I wear my purple ones to work, no one seems to mind).
Meermin.