Hi,
Looking to invest in a quality pair of daily shoes for corporate work. The fellas in the office all wear R.M. Williams and seem happy.
Can anyone attest to the quality of R.M. Williams boots? Is it worth the price tag? Do they really last a lifetime? How do I take care of them?
I get a 35% discount through my employer hence why I'm considering buying them.
What are other good brands for quality shoes?
Thanks!
Risk Analyst @ Big 4
You will look like every other dude on casual Friday at a Big 4. So if you want to look like everyone else, go for it.
That's why I don't wear them to work anymore. The (profanity) ruin everything.
if you're a true OzBargainer - you'll know functionality comes before that superficial bs ;)
Username checks out!
should've guessed
Oof wait till you get promoted to Senior.
I'm a Senior Associate now
There’ll be a lot of engineers who will chime in on this thread and just say yes.
I will start - Yes.
Required foot-ware for anyone in (or aspiring to be) upper management or finance.
This comment is very true.
Cuban heels?
Comfiest pair of leather shoes I've worn! I got the dynamic flex.
Only had mine for about 2 months so can't really comment on longevity myself..but do intend to use the recommended products (cleaner, conditoner and polish) every 2 months.
@mchoodie any updates on the dynamic flex a couple of years down the track?
Depends… are you in middle management yet?
black kayano for me hehehe
not big 4, wannabe bank lol
risk manager
They're dad shoes lol
do KT26ers come in all black?
Almost. IIRC a bit of the sole is white. Boot polish should fix that.
I had the limited edition Light Blue ones back in 1980. Or so i was told.
meh I fill the bill lolz
For 35% off, why not. A decent pair of dress shoes outlast cheap stuff with some basic care.
Other brands to consider is Loake (specifically 1880 line) in that price range.
My brother loves them, he wears them everywhere. Lives out in a country town, and he thinks they are definitely worth the money.
Does he live in Toowoomba?
Way out past Toowoomba.
Toowoomba is nowhere close to being a country town.
Was just checking your sense of country town :)
If he doesn't live in Roma or beyond it just isn't west enough!
EDIT, meant to be a reply.
Yes. Absolutely.
Are they expensive? Yeah, but worth every dollar. Get yourself a pair of comfort craftsmens and they WILL last you a lifetime. Bought my first pair a year ago and looking to add a 2nd…maybe even a 3rd :P
Edit: how to take care of them? For about $20 you can buy their leather conditioner, (depending on the leather you use they offer different products) which you apply every so often. And apart from the obvious polish there really isnt much else.
Probably a question I'll ask the retailer but what's the difference between comfort and normal craftsmen?
comforts have rubber soles, which are comfier, softer and better grip. Classic (normal) have leather soles which are a bit firmer
Basically comforts are for daily use, work etc etc and classics are more formal events.
But hey, try both on for size and see which you prefer.
The quips and laughs about RM's and middle/upper management never get old!
If you like the 'look' then just get them, at 35% off the RRP you'll certainly get excellent value out of them compared with churning through cheaper $50-150 shoes from Myer or the like every 9-18 months.
Just remember to maintain them well and they will last 5-10 years, you may need to re-sole them from time to time but again just depends on usage and maintenance.
you may need to re-sole them from time to time but again just depends on usage and maintenance.
It is interesting because if people chose to re-sole a $150-$200 pair of shoes every 3 or 4 years they'd also last 10 years. Just people use and dispose of them.
Do you know of any $150-200 AUD shoes that can be resoled? I agree that it's possible but am not aware of any brands making blake/gyw shoes at that price range.
I've been doing exactly that… churning through cheap shoes every year. $100 a year isn't too bad but I'm thinking long-term now and the health affect it could have on my feet.
I have some comfort craftsman.
I like them but find them too hot to wear in summer.
I have high arches and the comfort craftsman take ages for me to wear in.
At the start I thought I had made a mistake.
Still not the most comfortable shoes as others make out.
Quality is great, but is it worth 5x the amount I paid for a pair of florsheim boots on sale?
Possible but 5 pairs of florsheim will last me 5-10 years and I don't have to worry about maintenance or replacing soles.
Yes, they're worth it for now.
The company was sold off recently so who know what corners they'll cut at some point, but hope they keep the same quality.
I have the opposite problem… flat feet :(
Best to get fitted.
I was fitted and still had problems.
Dynamic Flex with a high arch insole might have suited you better
Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.
All the big bosses where KT26s to really set themselves apart from the tryhards.
Make sure you size absolutely perfectly and don't take a punt. Wear them for 5-10 minutes and get the correct size. I bought a pair and the size was ever so slightly tight and they never loosened up. Ended up being the worst shoe I ever bought. Just sitting there in the cupboard. But if you size correctly I have heard they are fantastic, I just couldn't be bothered repurchasing another pair at that price.
From people that wear them, DO NOT assume they are sized the same as your other shoes and order them online or something, without trying them on first. Few people I know have said they are sized different.
[I'm] Looking to invest in a quality pair of daily shoes for corporate work.
It seems like you're seeking a pair of high-yield investment shoes. I present to you the John Lobb Philip II.
What…..the….hell.
One day ;)
According to John Lobb:
“It takes 190 individual steps to make a pair of John Lobb shoes, a process that proves the company’s devotion to excellence.”
I wonder if they list those 190 manufacturing steps somewhere. Or would that be a trade secret?
Or do they mean 190 footsteps by the boot maker as he wanders around the shop grabbing stuff as he makes the shoes?
I guess we’ll never know.
Now there's a shoe that screams Audit partner.. and then tells you about how things were better in the 90s when you could build true client relationships.
CHEANEY
Threadneedle Chelsea Boot in Black Calf Leather made in the UK.
I had mine before they were a 'thing' and wore them as riding boots (horses) for about 20 years. They were a bit like Grandpa's axe-(6 handles and 4 blades) but had the elastic bits replaced twice and resoled and heeled a few times but they were soooo comfy!
I wear Blundstones instead. But I bought mine for working, not in the office.
Good shoes will last forever if maintained correctly. I have a few pairs of good shoes, and have had them for 10 plus years.
Make sure you find yourself a good cobbler/shoe repair place, and get the heels and soles replaced regularly. It will depend on how much walking you do, but dont let the heel or sole wear down to its under layers, otherwise it will get much more expensive.
Give them a good clean and wax/polish regularly and you will not be disappointed.
I have had 3 RM's and they were made from fittings in the George Street store. The last were kangaroo, and were terrible. The others had been "fixed" through the SA boot maker, but really, are thy worth it as either in casual or business use settings? No. The heels wear too quickly, the leather uppers came away from the sole area. The last pair have resided in the cupboard and come out for funerals, mostly because I know I'll be on my knee's.
Since retirement my daily "around the paddock" boots (6 years) have been Mongrel Hiker boots -and I cant wear the soles out! For $110, hands down more comfort and a few replacements for the liners (when they get wet, they get smelly). If you want chic in the office, I'd go for aforementioned Florsheim - comfortable and I got a couple of years wear, didn't need to buy the expensive creams and polish (which arguably was little better than saddle soap).
These are not statement making iconic foot wear now.
I bought mine at half price at their factory outlet, In Victoria, it is at DFO in Essendon. They are a lifetime investment and made in Australia, they will resole them in the future for a price as well. They are worth looking after.
Hmm they seem good quality indeed. Gonna rip my old Windsor Smith in half to see what cheap crap they're made out of lol
I bought a pair about 4-5 years ago when Qantas lost my luggage for a few days and gave me $150 to spend. I wear them every day and they are the best most comfy shoes I own. Make sure you don't get leather soles. My rubbers ones hardly show any wear.
I wear US made Thorogood boots. Don't just be another sheeple.
They're currently on sale at the oz site
Also, make sure you maintain your leather boots so they last forever. Clean & oil periodically.
how long have the thorogoods lasted and with what sort of work environment?
also what style and how is the sizing?
They have a discount centre at DFO Essendon, I secured a 2nd for a good discount, a minor imperfection in the leather.
They are worth it, but fit is super important. I have 3 pairs, two were fitted in an RM Williams store, one pair I bought in the UK, and had to buy what they had. Problem was that if you don't get a perfect (super tight when you buy them, to the point where you need someone else to take them off), they move around a little. That movement results in premature wear. Because the shoes are handmade, no two pairs are exactly the same, so it's a pretty laborious process of trying on pair after pair to get the perfect fit. But its worth it in the end. I've got some pairs that are pushing 15 years old and look great. My newer 10 year old pair, which doesn't fit quite as well is pretty worn out. I've got a much newer pair too, and they look great (although they came with rubber soles, and I prefer the leather soles).
Thanks for the tip
yes - Theyve out lasted every Aquila, Julius Marlow, floreshiem, blaq pair ive owned.
They're also made in Australia and very comfortable.
But highly recommend you go into a retail store and try them on for correct sizing.
If you're looking for nice formal shoes at a similar quality there's lots of Goodyear welted (or GYW) options.
RM's are good but definitely quite commonplace here in Australia. Still a classic look if you're into that however.
Here are some other alternatives for GYW boots similar or below the RM price point:
Thomas George collection:
-$300 - $400
-Oxfords, loafers, and boots
-An Australian collaboration with Vietnamese shoemaker Fugashin
Carmina:
-$400 - $1500 (for higher end leather options, i.e shell cordovan or exotic leathers)
-Made in Mallorca
-Huge range of styles and colours, generally a dressier vibe
-Excellent finishing.
Thursday Boots:
-$250 ~ $400
-Some very good value GYW offerings
-I'd recommend the Captain boot - lots of leather options, and a very versatile style. You'll find lots of reviews online as well.
Hope this helped! There are lots of other options out there for quality dress shoes, such as Loake 1880, Cheaney, Crockett and Jones, Trickers, Alden, and a hell of a lot more. Of those Cheaney & Trickers has an outlet which may be worth checking out.
Good luck OP!
Also of importance is shoe care - if you're investing in $300 + shoes it's worth getting some shoe trees, and potentially buying another pair down the line so you can rotate them. The shoe trees will absorb moisture and straighten the shoes to avoid developing creases.
You can get them off Trimly.
What do you do for work?