[Misc] Is it me or are shoes SHIT

[The Clown of Pevensey Bay]

Last summer I dropped £90 on some nice new size 12 black Barbour Chelsea boots at John Lewis. They’re by no means my only pair of semi-smart shoes but I wear them pretty regularly. I’m fairly tall and heavy but not unusually so.

But only MONTHS LATER they’ve fallen apart. The stitching below the ankle has gone and the heel, which I’ve replaced once already, has fallen off. This happens more often than I’d like. The trainers I buy seem to last OK.

Why are shoes such rubbish quality these days?

 

[Whitechapel]

I feel your pain

I have size 14 feet (no, it’s tiny) so the only consistent place for trainers is Sports Direct. Anything but Nike/Adidas and I might as well not bother as I wade through them in a couple of months.

I don’t want to spend £80 on Air Max or the likes but everything else cheaper is absolute guff sadly.

 

[BNthree]

Last summer I dropped £90 on some nice new size 12 black Barbour Chelsea boots at John Lewis. They’re by no means my only pair of semi-smart shoes but I wear them pretty regularly. I’m fairly tall and heavy but not unusually so.

But only MONTHS LATER they’ve fallen apart. The stitching below the ankle has gone and the heel, which I’ve replaced once already, has fallen off. This happens more often than I’d like. The trainers I buy seem to last OK.

Why are shoes such rubbish quality these days?

Hopefully you’ve emailed Barbour to complain?

 

[jcdenton08]

Hopefully you’ve emailed Barbour to complain?

Barbour OUT

 

[The Optimist]

I’ve always founds Jones Bootmaker decent for a pair of smart work shoes. I’m 6ft and 14 stone, so not huge but not tiny.

 

[Hamilton]

#BarbourOut

(Posts crossed. Fair play Denton)

 

[ChickenDipper]

I feel your pain

I have size 14 feet (no, it’s tiny) so the only consistent place for trainers is Sports Direct. Anything but Nike/Adidas and I might as well not bother as I wade through them in a couple of months.

I don’t want to spend £80 on Air Max or the likes but everything else cheaper is absolute guff sadly.

Have to say I’ve become one for air max 90s and they are so much comfier. Do last a bit longer too but still wear at the back very easily.

 

[Knocky's Nose]

I splashed out on some Oliver Sweeney boots in the January sales. £349 down to £199, which made my eyes water a bit I tell thee...

End of February they were winging their way back for a refund as they'd split around the ankle padding. All I did was walk around Bruges with Mrs Nose on a short break!

The best wearing boots I've owned over the years have been Timberland. Neither avant-garde or ultra-fashionable, but they're made to last.

 

[ROSM]

I am heavy footed size 12. Since covid my work shoes are blacked out adidas trainers. They last ages.

I have some Paul smith smart shoes that have lasted since my wedding 21 years ago. Had the heels done 5 years ago. They are for weddings, funerals, interviews and court appearances (joking about 1 of the 4)

I did have a pair of brantano smart shoes..Lasted 1 year of 3 days a week before falling apart

 

[Han Solo]

I spend £3 on second hand shoes every second year. Don't know their name, brand, value, societal status but they fit my feet and keep them warm. No idea why anyone would splash £100 on a new shoes.

 

[Jack Straw]

Last summer I dropped £90 on some nice new size 12 black Barbour Chelsea boots at John Lewis. They’re by no means my only pair of semi-smart shoes but I wear them pretty regularly. I’m fairly tall and heavy but not unusually so.

But only MONTHS LATER they’ve fallen apart. The stitching below the ankle has gone and the heel, which I’ve replaced once already, has fallen off. This happens more often than I’d like. The trainers I buy seem to last OK.

Why are shoes such rubbish quality these days?

Clown-shoes?

 

[Blinkers]

Never had a problem with Cheaney shoes (a notch below Church’s) but they do cost a small fortune. Their resole/refurbish service, again pricey, is excellent and as such I have a number of pairs over 20yrs old And still going strong.

 

[BrightonCottager]

Disappointed by the build quality of DMs since they moved production abroad (there are YouTube videos that literally pull them apart to demonstrate this), I bought a pair of Solovair boots about a year ago. They are excellent, made in the factory that used to make the decent DMs.
This is their equivalent of your Chelscum (sorry, I can't type it) boot.

 

[jackanada]

Cheap boots I break in no time. Expensive ones start to fall apart by the time I've broken them in.
In fact I've trashed every type and brand of footwear in no time so must assume it's me.
I do have a pair of v very expensive black Oxfords bought at just expensive as a mistake in the cutting meant they can only be worn by someone with a very high instep. Hardly ever get worn but must be close to 20 years old and still looking good. They have been through several sole protectors and been reheeled many times though.

I thought this thread was going to be someone giving up shoes entirely and extolling the barefoot lifestyle.

 

[Grizz]

For proper shoes I always look at Barkers and wait for their sale. Yeah you're paying £150-200 a pair, but they last for donkeys years and then you can pay and send them off to be repaired and resoled three times.

 

[Shropshire Seagull]

Last summer I dropped £90 on some nice new size 12 black Barbour Chelsea boots at John Lewis. They’re by no means my only pair of semi-smart shoes but I wear them pretty regularly. I’m fairly tall and heavy but not unusually so.

But only MONTHS LATER they’ve fallen apart. The stitching below the ankle has gone and the heel, which I’ve replaced once already, has fallen off. This happens more often than I’d like. The trainers I buy seem to last OK.

Why are shoes such rubbish quality these days?

The cause of this may be obvious ...

Look very closely ...


Seek the words "Made in ...."

The word that follows may reveal the true source of the problem ....

Please report back with your findings.

 

[Albion my Albion]

Blame Biden & Zelenskyy

 

[bhafc99]

I spend £3 on second hand shoes every second year. Don't know their name, brand, value, societal status but they fit my feet and keep them warm. No idea why anyone would splash £100 on a new shoes.

But you haven’t left your apartment in years, according to NSC lore.

 

[Hovegull]

John Lewis are pretty good at sorting stuff like this out, I’ve found. Worth a try at letting them know maybe with a photo of said boots. £90 is a lot to spend on boots that last a few months for sure, and I’m thinking consumer rights would cover this.

 

[akipling]

A bit of an older person response here. Since Covid I’ve vowed not to wear school shoes (or (uniform) to work again but have some Clarks brogues that last for donkeys. They’ll do for interviews and funerals. Otherwise I’ve got Merrells for everyday walking, you just can’t go wrong