Recommendations for men's dress shoes?

[Monitor]

It´s a dilemma of sorts: if you walk that far, blood will rusch into your feet big time, making them swell. Shoes that foit well in the morning, will be too tight in the evening/after the hike.

I never experienced that, though. I heard about it, expected it, I believe it happens just that I never once felt any of my shoes fit differently later in a day.

Although, there are days when my most worn-in pair suddenly feels uncomfortable from the moment I put it on, while some other feels better than ever.

 

[Pandemic]

I’m a boot guy, so my ‘dress shoes’ are RM Williams chelsea boots and chukkas. I have two pairs of chukkas that were custom made by TLB Mallorca, who are amazing (better than Carmina, but same price point). One pair in brown suede and these in black:

 

[BaslerChrysler]

For few months I am trying to figure out which dress shoes would be best for 10-12 miles walk a day? Several times a year I have to do 5-7 day trip to Washington DC, where I do 10-12 miles a day of walking. It must be dress shoe that goes with suit and tie (no flexibility). Last trip absolutely killed me! I had 4 blisters and serious pain from them. I am contemplating Skechers but their design is definitely not classic. They have some classic designs, but not any more comfortable than my Oxford type shoe now. Any suggestions?

I think Santoni Easy can work. They have several styles on a very comfortable last with the super flexible soles. Also check out Alden Modified last if this is smth for your feet cause I did in Alden Indys on modified more than 12 miles in NYC walking and no problem. In moulded shoe nyc they can even make you your own orthotics to put in Alden shoes.

 

[Fifty150]

which dress shoes would be best for 10-12 miles walk a day?

You have consider how the shoe is built. For some people, they know about different lasts, and how their feet fit with those lasts. Most people know nothing about shoe lasts, and which one fits their feet the best. Allen Edmonds has information online about their shoe lasts. That may help.

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I do 10-12 miles a day of walking.

You have consider how the shoe is built. For some people, they know about different lasts, and how their feet fit with those lasts. Most people know nothing about shoe lasts, and which one fits their feet the best. Allen Edmonds has information online about their shoe lasts. That may help.

The next consideration is what the shoe is built with. Is there a footbed insert? Is the shoe made for an orthopedic insert? How is the insole constructed? Is it a piece of vegetable tan leather, which will mold to your foot? Is there any padding? This is what your foot actually stands on.

What I have found is that you can find over-the-counter inserts which are pretty good. Foam, gel pads, rigid arch supports. You will spend a little time and money finding the right one for you. I have used the footbed from sneakers, trimmed them down with a pair of scissors, and fit them into dress shoes.


Under the insole, there could be layers of cork, foam, carpet padding, leather, reconstituted leather, rubber, etc. A lot of people will tell you to look for Goodyear welted construction, cork filler, a leather midsole........ not bad advice. Most of that is for structural integrity and long-term value. Spend more on a traditional Goodyear welted or stitchdown construction shoe, and you get a shoe which could be resoled in a traditional way.


My experience is that the outsole makes a huge difference. For a comfortable shoe, the softer, the better. I like light weight, soft, and bouncy. My favorite is the Dr. Martens style sole. You can find them on Dr. Martens and Solovair. They sell Derby style shoes & brogues which you could wear with a suit and tie. Extra-Light soles are usually found on Military dress uniform shoes. You could wear a high polished uniform shoe with a suit and tie. Nitrile cork soles are very comfortable. Companies like Vibram, Goodyear, & Dr., Soles offer softer soles.​

dress shoe that goes with suit and tie

That's a matter of personal style. It all depends on what you think will look good with your clothes. Or what you think would be "passable", if anyone looked down and paid attention. Could you "get away" with a sneaker shoe or a boot?​

I am contemplating Skechers

Skechers. That gives us an idea of where your budget is, and what you have in mind. It would be pointless to suggest shoes over $500. We are looking for budget and comfort. I would look at Rockport. Not expensive. Built for comfort. Available in most shopping malls, so that you can try them on, or return them.



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[Fifty150]

Alden Indys

That's a big step for a guy who is shopping for Skechers.

 

[Aloysius]

I am contemplating Skechers but their design is definitely not classic. They have some classic designs, but not any more comfortable than my Oxford type shoe now. Any suggestions?

The New Balance MiUSA line contains a lot of extremely supportive sneakers of different kinds. If you want to nod to TFL stuff, they even occasionally do a model with Horween horsehide and stuff like that.

 

[Fifty150]

My personal bias for shoe comfort leans towards the soles. Your soles are touching the ground, and carry all the weight of your body. From the heel strike, to the balls of your feet pivoting. Your soles will determine whether you slip and fall.


Here are a few of the shoe soles which I like.


The AirWair sole. Soft, bouncy, with a tread pattern that isn't aggressive. Just right for a police officer or mail carrier. You can also buy the soles from Solovair, and have it installed on any shoe you want. I would gladly wear only these, if I had to choose just one.​

The cork sole. Pieces of cork are mixed into the rubber. They feel good. Maybe not so good in snow, on ice, wet grass, or dirt & loose gravel. Your Secret Service job may frown upon the lack of tread.​

Wedge soles. Different manufacturers make them. Some are softer. The idea is that with a full wedge, the shoe does not need a shank. You're on a full piece of rubber that's like walking on a giant pencil eraser. Some people don't like that they wear out faster because the rubber is so soft. For whatever reason, shoe companies use the white and cream color. Although black and brown are available, and most cobblers can easily sand down a shoe and glue these on. It's been on my mind for awhile now, that I will switch to these when it comes time resole my shoes. The Vibram Giloxi Vi-Lite is softer, and comes on Allen Edmonds.​

Extra-Light makes their soles in several different tread patterns. They are soft and bouncy. Almost like a sneaker. Some Allen Edmonds have them. In your Secret Service job which requires you to be in Washington DC several times a year; some of the other agents may remember from military or police academy dress uniforms. These are the soles found on Bate uniform boots. If you think that you can get away with it, or pull it off, I would suggest wearing a shiny pair of uniform shoes.​

 

[Jon Crow]

I wear these a lot, about the only kind of dress style shoes I wear

 

[Fifty150]

I thought about this thread today, as I was out to lunch. Trekking through the mean streets of Chinatown. Stepping over streams of human waste, used condoms, discarded hypodermic needles, haphazardly discarded Starbucks cups, half eaten food, rodents scavenging on dead pigeons, broken bodies passed out on the sidewalk, and other assorted flotsam & jetsam life in the ghetto.

Today's shoe was from the 2010 catalog. I've had these shoes for about as long. I also have some of the other models from that catalog. I realize that they are not in the same budget range as Skechers. However, this is a shoe that can handle long days and lots of miles on your feet. I'm not kidding. They actually make my feet feel good. Even though I was only getting lunch at Sam Wo.


I don't know if this meets your criteria for being a dress shoe. That's individual style and interpretation. What do you feel dressed up in? It's something to think about. May be worth an investment into something beyond the Skechers price range. In the dozen years plus that I've owned these shoes, I would have gone through 3, 4, or maybe 5 pairs of disposable Skechers.




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[大馬伕]

Sam Wo

 

[HeneralVader]

A pair of tassel loafers will be very versatile especially in brown. A penny loafer will suit you better if you do not like the tassels.