Looking for "tactical" dress shoes

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AdmiralD7S

AdmiralD7S

Senior Voice of Reason
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Nov 30, 2017
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Living in the white-collar world, I'm stuck wearing business clothes 4-5 days a week. I've been trying for years to find dress shoes that aren't loafers, aren't shiny as mirrors, and that I could actually do something physical in. Everything I can find is thin on the backs of my ankles/heels (chaffs after a full day and wears holes in my socks), are flat-soled, have no tread, and spaghetti shoelaces.

Any dress shoes I find that feel good look either like hiking boots or combat boots.

Anyone have any advice or leads on comfortable dress shoes?
 
This link. I know guys who have used ECCO brand because they walked for two years all over the place in dress shoes and suits, but scroll through on the dress shoes pages for men. You can tell what looks comfy and what doesn't. Just for ideas. https://shop.nordstrom.com/c/mens-shoes

Check LLBean's pages for men's shoes too. https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/506764?page=mens-casual-shoes

I've bought SASS shoes. Love them, some of the comfiest shoes I've ever had. https://sasshoes.com/men/men-footwear
 
Thanks for the input! Maybe to help guide the conversation, I can find shoes all over the place. I can (and have) browsed shoe stores' inventory online for hours, and been to nearly all brick and mortar stores to try shoes on. After all that, I haven't found anything that fits the bill.

What I'm hoping to get from this thread is "hey, I've been in your place before...you should look at ABC's <insert shoe model number>." So, less of a brand name and more towards a specific shoe.
 
Well, I'm not a guy, so there's that.
But I know the ECCO brand is highly reputed to be top notch for support and comfort when you need to look good but are going to be walking a lot.
I'm sorry, I can't remember any specific shoe model, but everybody's feet are different.
The SASS shoes are all very squishy inside and I've had two pairs.
Go to a Nordstrom if you have an especially large mall you can get to, they carry ECCO brand.
And that's it on my advice and leads. :green man:
 
I have numerous pairs that would fit this bill. Ever since going from the road, the part time in an office to almost full time in an office I have been trying to bridge the gap between response ready and office comfort. My preferred shoes for this role are Brooks Addiction (all black leather), New Balance anti-slip Industrial (all black leather), and Original SWAT "Chase" (black leather). I have lots of different boots and shoes that fit the roll as well but those 3 have worked out the best for me. The first two have more of an athletic shoe look but offer motion control and good tread. The last one has more of a boot look and is stiffer. I also recommend a good thick black sock and not those worthless thin dress socks. Another piece of advice on a functional dress shoe is to search for shoes approved by the USPS. They are usually designed to look very nice and be very supportive and comfortable.
 
Patchouli said:
This link. I know guys who have used ECCO brand because they walked for two years all over the place in dress shoes and suits, but scroll through on the dress shoes pages for men. You can tell what looks comfy and what doesn't. Just for ideas. https://shop.nordstrom.com/c/mens-shoes

Check LLBean's pages for men's shoes too. https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/506764?page=mens-casual-shoes

I've bought SASS shoes. Love them, some of the comfiest shoes I've ever had. https://sasshoes.com/men/men-footwear
Click to expand...
Love my ECCOs. I have Both Brown and Black.
 
New Balance has a cushion system that works for me. The call it Abzorb and I look for it in the heel and forefoot both. Model numbers change so I can't help you there. I find their black shoes dressy enough unless I'm going to a wedding then I go with New Balance's, Dunham brand. One of my early podiatrists turned me on to them and with all my feet problems I am pleased. I really can't walk in anything else that I've ever tried.
 
Heres a Pic of both pairs. I think the number "45" on the bottom of the soul may Identify the Model. They are 5 years old. I bought them at Dillards and they were on sale for 99 Dollars a pair. Very nice Leather. I use a Colored "Cream Polish" on them.
DSCN0071.JPG
DSCN0072.JPG
 
My husband and I both 'walked a beat' for years. We always swore by Bates shoes, with 'forward thrust' soles. Soles are hard crepe, so comfortable, shoes look like dress shoes, originally made for police personnel. You can get the ultra shiny if you want, but we just had the plain black ones. Nondescript, but comfortable. I have to warn you though, because if you walk more than 6 miles a day they wear out in about 6 months. But they are the most comfortable we ever found....
 
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To follow up on this, I spent a couple weeks trying to find most of the above shoes in stores to no avail. I ended up ordering online, hoping the shoes fit without being able to try them on first. I got the Brook's Men's Addiction Walker.

I've been breaking them in this week. Aside from the initial stiffness, they're working out very well. Good support and no pinching/rubbing.

Thank you to all of you for your advice, insight, and recommendations!
 
AdmiralD7S said:
Any dress shoes I find that feel good look either like hiking boots or combat boots.

Anyone have any advice or leads on comfortable dress shoes?
Click to expand...

This site has a selection of dress shoes for the military and police, some have patterned/grip soles. They carry various brands and choices in all price ranges along with user reviews. Realize different shoes styles will feel different, you can't expect a dress style to feel exactly like a hiking boot but after you wear it for a while you won't mind it.

https://uspatriottactical.com/dress-military-police-postal-shoes/
 
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