This is the spin off of my thoughts in another thread. Through the years I've run the gamut of shoes from Cole Haan, AE, Alden, Churchs, C&J, Alfred Sargent, etc. At the beginning you think Cole Haan is high end. Until you read Dappered and you believe Walnut Strands are the greatest shoe ever. Especially since they can be recrafted to last your entire life time. Then you realize maybe they aren't that comfortable and you waste a lot of money trying different brands. You may even end up spending quite a bit on 'Shell' as you read that was touted as way better than leather shoes. Until eventually you realize 80% of the people around you wear square toed Frankenstein shoes so almost anything is a step up so you may as well go for comfort and forget what the fashion blogs are saying.
On a Sidenote, has anyone ever had a shoe recrafted? I've owned dozens and dozens of shoes and have only ever had 1 pair recrafted. And that was a used pair of Churchs I had picked up off Ebay for cheap. Not a single pair of shoes I've bought new have needed recrafting. Although me not living in a city like NY or London that requires a lot of walking may play in to that.
Back to the topic at hand. I thought it would be nice to list what are some overrated or underrated brands I've come across.
Overrated:
Allen Edmonds - Might as well start with what will end up being the most controversial one since some people swear by them. AE's are built like tanks but just like a tank, that doesn't mean they are the most comfortable. They are usually stiff at the beginning so require a lengthy break in period. The quality control at the price they are now commanding is atrocious. They were a good value when they could be had on sale for around $200 but at around double the price now . . . they are very overrated.
Underrated:
Nordstrom 1901 - I've owned a pair of their chukkas (which Joe talks about quite often on the main site) for a while now and they have exceeded my expectations in both quality and comfort. For around $100 that I spent for them, they are underrated.
Beckett Simonon - When the brand first came out they were not very good to put it nicely. They've reworked things and came back a few years ago with a different brand strategy and product. I have 2 pairs of their shoes (1 which I'm wearing right now) and they may the most worn shoes in my rotation. I've found they run slightly large so I had my cobbler create a thin leather insert for me for both pairs. With the insert, they fit more snugly and gave it a little extra cushioning. I can not recommend giving them a shot at the $160 price point if you like the look of one of their shoes.
Santoni - I've neglected Italian brands for a long time now as I like the look of American and British shoes more. I have recently tried on several pairs of Santoni and they are more comfortable to anything else I've ever owned. You will pay for that comfort as they are not cheap, but if you are already looking at Alden, Crockett and Jones, etc., why not give them a shot?
Rider Boot Co - Ron Rider doesn't manufacture shoes himself but does have shoes made to his specs. They are only sold on his site but the 2 pairs I've owned have been extremely comfortable and of very high quality. I frequent his site sometimes and see what I can pick up on sale at the end of the season. Only issue with that is, the highly discounted stuff has a no return policy so shop at your own risk. Unless you want to pay full price which will bring you more in line with more established brands and will negate the savings.
Feel free to comment on my list or share your own.