Resolable, rebuildable work shoe

I guess I'm middle management now, which comes with all of the attire requirement one loathes as a former field goer.

So, I'm used to wearing rebuildable/resolable shoes/boots like Whites that are super comfortable and can be rebuilt. Whites has a shoe that might fit the bill but it runs ~$400, which is a little out of my price range to run a computer.

I figure I find something I can rebuild and is comfy, or something cheap and semi comfy, but don't want to end up dropping $150 on a pair of shoes that is throwaway like a pair of running shoes.

Or, suggest a shoe for a semi casual office setting. IE - I can't wear my trail runners to the office.

Sorry OldLarry, loafers need not apply.

Red Wing makes a couple that can be rebuilt in their "heritage collection" - made by the best Goodhue county methheads. I know the boots can be resoled and rebuilt, I assume the shoes can be as well. STP has some of them on occasion for less than the steep retail price.

Note: don't buy the cheaper Red Wing shoes. They suck balls and wear out quickly.

Old Larry doesn't like them much but Allen Edmonds makes good shoes at a pretty reasonable price, like $150-$200.00. Me and Larry both like Alden Shoes but they're on the expensive side of expensive pretty much. But I have a pair of Alden loafers that are 30 years old and look great. Alden is bomber quality for sure but maybe wait until you get promoted again.

There are exceptions but a Goodyear welt generally means resoleable. The aforementioned Allen Edmonds (AE) and Alden are good choices. So is Brooks Brothers which often rebrands AE and Alden. AE and Brooks have occasional sales. Alden sales are fewer and further between. Rancourt is another good option. They used to make some of the higher end RL shoes. No idea if that's still the case.

how many resoles depends on what the midsole material is - I've had several boots pronounced dead by the cobbler because the midsole died and it becomes uneconomic to repair.

$60 Clark's?

I picked up some thorogood's. very, very comfy

Something to be said for shoes like Clark. Resoleable may generally be a nicer shoe but isn't necessarily cheaper in the long run. Mephisto is another option if leather sneakers work, albeit more expensive.

I’ve had several pair of Allen Edmonds for more than a decade. Reconditioned and resoled by AE every few years, they’ll last forever.

I sprung for a pair of Whites several years ago and had nothing but problems with them. Luckily, I bought them through Baker's Boots, and they did everything possible to resolve the issues. After two botched attempts, the Whites were scrapped and I ultimately ended up in a pair of Nicks. They're what the Whites should have been. If you go that route, skip Whites and go straight to Nicks. A bit more money, but once you're sinking $450-$500 into a pair of shoes, what's another $50-$75? They can also take a while. I think mine were 6 months or so - but totally worth it, especially after I'd already burned nearly a year screwing around with Whites. In the long run, good shoes are far less expensive than cheap shoes.

Don’t overlook Doc Martins. Durable and comfy, without looking like fucking loafers.

Last time I visited White's HQ in Spokane, all the cobblers, I far as I could see, were Mexicans. iOle!

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Wolverine 1000 mile, Redwing heritage, Allen Edmunds, and Frye are all brands I've been happy with for casual work wear. All should be available for less than $400.

I clicked in to suggest Whites shoes - they are spendy, but as pointed out above they're likely to last a lifetime. Allen Edmunds are expensive too. You might try Johnston & Murphy, I think some of theirs are rebuildable. I got some from shoes.com and they have 25-30% discounts available most of the time.

You supposed to be wearing workboots or something more "office"?

If workboots -- well you already have experience White's. Nicks are a good alternative. Otherwise, Red Wing 2nds from STP often come up for <$200. They are solid boots. Not on the level of whites/nicks, but more consistent build quality than Wolverine in my opinion. Plus went you send shoes in for rebuild they do a heckuva a job for the price, new cork, new welt if necessary, rebuilt on the original last. A Redwing heritage ain't gonna get looked down on by anyone, and splits the price/quality difference well. But they are workboots through and through and look out of place with any pants nicer than heavy khaki material.

If more office, Allen Edmonds is the american staple quality shoe. Shoebank.com offers their seconds/closeouts -- free returns on anything you don't like from there. Rancourt is another good suggestion if you're in a more casual environment -- they are the classic moc maker from the NE. Beefroll penny loafers have their place.

If you're interested in a little more Euro look (guessing not from your description) Meermin makes solid, rebuildable shoes.

Thanks, pointed in the right direction now...

Office look. Just used to a quality, rebuildable shoe. Looking for something like this:

https://www.johnstonmurphy.com/howel...eather#start=3

https://www.allenedmonds.com/shoes/mens-shoes/oxford-derby-shoes/southside-plain-toe-casual-blucher/SF2306.html?dwvar_SF2306_color=2306#sz=18&start=20

Do not click this link -> www.viberg.com

I had a pair of Blundstones which I wore for 13 yrs, the rubber started to chunk off the soles but the uppers were definatley still ok so I sent em jpegs of the topside/side the sole, they said you will get warranty so cut the side elastic panels & the boot pull-on tabs off and send up more j-pegs, a new pair of blundstones appeared about 3 weeks later and I can still slip on the old ones to go out to the car or SFT

they come in lots of styles even work rated

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stfu&gbtw

Do not click this link -> www.viberg.com

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Well, those are nice shoes. Really nice.

How does one wear out a sole sitting at a desk?

Edit: Never mind, I had the wrong brand.

But here's a $40 off code for today at shoes.com: EMLSPRINGSHERE

Depends on if you want something dressy and middle management look that you wear to Work or a "work shoe". Based on the title of Work Shoe- I thought of a Vibram soled shoe- old school, not the molded rubber but the lug sole like this: https://www.heddels.com/wp-content/u...ugsolelead.jpg

Otherwise you want to get into all leather shoe with a good shank, anything from something along the lines of Penny Loafers- (Larry's Loafers are probably too high end for your budget) for a bit more casual to dressier Florsheim or Stacy Adams oxford that will not break the bank. Johnson and Murphy would be next step up in budget.

I work in an office and I definitely bring the dress code down from the slacks I’m supposed to be wearing. I split my time between Blundstones, Luccheses, and Hathorn Travelers. The Travelers are a bit more than $200 but they’ll last forever except for resoles and fit the same as Whites. And that is who will resole them when they need it.

I have a pair of Frye oxfords if I need to dress up a bit. I don’t wear them more than a few times a year. I’ve found that Blunstones and Hathorns look better the more they’re worn in. The Johnston Murphys and Clark’s I’ve had looked worse the more I wore them and I had to get them spruced up at the cobbler more often than I would have liked. I’ve gone through a few pair of both over the years. I think the trick for keeping nice shoes looking nice is to have a couple pair you can alternate between. I’ve always been a dirtbag that hates buying dress shoes so I’d have one pair I’d wear everyday until they got haggard. Now I’ve given up on trying to wear dress shoes much.

I think it comes down to the look you’re going for.

Florsheim, Stacy Adams, and J&M are mostly all glued construction shoes. Not meant to be resoled or rebuilt.

Allen Edmonds in the starting point for rebuilded shoes in the US. Overseas you have more option like Loakes, Trickers (sometimes on STP), Meermin etc.

Asking a bunch of dirtbags on TGR about good quality, traditional leather shoes is probably not the best crowd. reddit.com/r/goodyearwelt will have way more information than here.

Just have to look for the stiching around the leather shoe for a good cobbler to be able to at least half sole them and of course put new heels on them. Maybe will not last for 10 or more years but then it also depends on how well you keep the uppers polished and cared for. As mentioned wearing the same pair of shoes every day for a few years will be worst than having even just 2 pairs to rotate and give the shoe a chance to dry out and air out.