Shoes

[ThunderGuts]

I (frustratingly?!) work in an environment where I'm expected to wear smart shoes, i.e. standard black office shoes. The thing is, I walk about quite a bit (e.g. across the city to meetings etc.) and will walk in the shoes between 3 and 5 miles most days. I get through shoes like there's no tomorrow; I've tried expensive(ish) shoes, cheap shoes . . . all are worn through within a year.

Can anyone recommend smart shoes that genuinely last? I hate throwaway culture but getting shoes re-soled is frequently comparable in cost to buying new ones!

Cheers
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TG.

[Easy-X]

Annoying but you might consider jamming some trainers in your briefcase. Or get a little fold up eScooter, they're popular right now Titanium-framed Brompton for the more discerning gentleman
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Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Tracey Suntan-King]

Trickers, Grensons and the like. Cost a fortune but can be repaired over and over, like Trigger's broom.

Are DM's out of the question?
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Whether you think you can, or think you can't, you're probably right

[MarJay]

I used to wear my alt berg boots when working in Sainsburys in my yoof. I used to walk something in the region of 6 miles a day just walking between the shop floor and the warehouse.

However, some colleagues of mine swore by ecco shoes as they are as soft as trainers. Mind you, proper runners will tell you that you should replace trainers after every marathon distance (26 miles). Not sure if everyone does... but still.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[WreckTangle]

whatever shoes you go for, for gods sake, don't buy any work shoes from a shop called 'deichmann uk'

I wear work shoes (as I work in a bank office) and I brought about 2 sets of shoes from the same place........both sets lasted about 2 weeks. I think that they are made with slave labor in sweat shop at gunpoint.

It's always the back of the shoe becomes disconnected from the rubber sole.
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My wife asked me to get her something that goes from 0-100 in under 5 seconds for her birthday. ......................I got her a bathroom scale.

[ThunderGuts]

Cheers all.

DMs are a bit borderline unfortunately, although I've heard mixed reports about their quality in recent years anyway?

I've actually got a Brompton already (albeit a 9 year old one), but it doesn't work well trying to get through turnstiles!

I will have to do a bit more investigation.
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TG.

[MCN]

[Easy-X]

[Peanut_Butter]

I bought dad some black 3 lace DMs with black stitching instead of the yellow. They look smart and now they are worn in are comfort too. They are handy as they were the for life ones that he can send back to DM to repair when they need it

[stinkwheel]

Have a look at Haix and alt-berg. Alt berg make smart vibram-soled waling shoes. You'll struggle to wear those out.

There are a lot of fake DMs out there as I recently found. My last two pairs have been distinctly "meh". Wore out quickly and not as comfortable as I remember them being.

My new pair are exactly the same in appearance but are what I was used to wearing with comfy, bouncy soles and made to a very high standard. Clearly very different shoes suggesting the last couple of sets from ebay were fakes. Soles seem to be holding out very well. I always used to get 3-4 years out of a pair, the last two sets only lasted 18 months. I wear the same pair of shoes all day, every day until they are worn out then get new ones.

I'm currently rocking a set of DM 1461s in "gaucho crazy horse" leather.

I'd suggest buying them direct from the doctor Martens shop if you are going for this brand.

Army/RAF issue parade shoes will not wear out in a hurry. The brogues they issue to Highland regiments in particular are utterly indestructible but expect to take weeks to break them in.

EDIT: Or ask your postie what he wears. Posties walk all day long.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[MCN]

[ThunderGuts]

Thanks all. I might take a look at DMs - they do brogues now which I could probably get away with and at £120 ish they're not extreme expensive (although they'll be the most expensive non-specialist footwear I've ever bought)
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TG.

[Nobby the Bastard]

DMs never used to last well. Not in comparison to para boots anyway....
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Sprint ST 1050

[JackButler]

There are shoes & there are Walkley's Clogs.

Interesting to see that most of you simply cannot no longer recognise the difference between a quality shoe & something that just looks like a shoe.
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I clean my guns with the tears of the snivelling, left wing scum.

[A100man]

[steve the grease]

What about something like these , they should be virtually idestructable and yet smart enough for an office environment.

https://www.protecdirect.co.uk/Personal-Protective-Equipment-PPE-/Safety-Footwear/Work-Shoes/Black-Leather-Gibson-Shoe-SB~p~658129
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All the above is my personal opinion, you can see my lips move, but I'm talking out of my arse.
I've been riding, and fixing , bikes for 50 years, in that time the more I learn, the less I am absolutely sure of.....

[Riejufixing]

[Diggs]

[A100man]

[Riejufixing]

[Ribenapigeon]

[A100man]

[bhinso]

In order to understand this thread, I did some research and found out why 'Cobbler's' is offensive.

It is rhyming slang for 'Balls' ('Cobbler's awls').

I also learnt that my father should probably stop calling people 'Berks'.

[arry]

I walk similar miles to you in work shoes.

I have a pair of Barkers and a pair of Loakes. The Barkers had a standard leather sole and heel, and I got a rubber stick on sole stuck on it straight away. Every time the stick on sole goes through, I stick a new one on. The soles are original apart from that. Heels get done every ~9 months or so. I've also had some new backstitching done to them which was ~30 quid for a bit of reinforcement and tidying up.

They were ~£130 new. Now 4 years old. Still in very decent nick.

The Loakes have a rubber dimpled sole and I've yet to do any serious miles in them but I have a similarly soled pair of casual boots and they seem to be wearing well. The Loakes are expensive so I'm hoping for good life out of them.

[ThunderGuts]