OV9

OV9. The thrill of work shoes conversations.

I was always told you should never skimp on anything that puts you in contact with the ground: shoes, matresses and tires. Alas, being a nerd and being constantly reminded fashion isn't my strong point I struggle to really give a shit about good shoes.

For me, £50 was always "decent" and £80-£100 was "saved for best" - might be a bit outdated, as a conversation about work shoes on another forum (not PH, but equally London-centric) had people turning up their nose at anything <£100, and £150 was where it was at to start for something that actually lasts. My working class roots don't let me spend that much.

M&S were my usual, but they've let me down recently....so recommendations are welcome.

I try to keep it in the £80-150 range, but am quite limited by having size 14 feet, not many options, often quite expensive.

£80-100 isn't unreasonable, when a decent pair of (VAT exempt) kids shoes easily cost half that.

i wear trainers to work…

Current pair are £10

Take the below with a pinch of salt as someone who works in the City and therefore fully realise it is not "typical"...

I would say Barkers are a good entry into Northamptonshire formal shoes. They look to be c.£200 now but I think commonly on discount (see https://herringshoes.co.uk/products/bar ... qEEALw_wcB for example) and in the budget your talking about probably don't have any competitor.

Prices overall have spiralled ridiculously in the last 10 years. Years ago I would generally buy Church's on seasonal discount and I think would generally have been mid to high £200s. I would have them resoled at the factory for I think £70 and I believe two pairs got me pretty much 3 years of daily wear. Then they went nuts and re-priced the same shoes for £700 and looking again now they're actually now £900

After that I switched to Crocket and Jones which are c. £500 but again buy when they're on discount post Xmas at c.£300. Quite topically I've misplaced the pair I wear daily in the house move and have dug some Church's out the cupboard complete with holes in the soles. Annoyingly they are better than the C&J pair which is very annoying as I'm not spending what they now retail for out of principle.

Like most “blokes”

£50 or so for trainers
£50 each for a pair of Black and Brown dress shoes

But

£300 for hiking boots
£150 for hiking shoes
£150 for Golf Shoes

Trainers seem to be about £100, but last years and years. I’m weirdly fussy about what I like, so I’ve bought three pairs in the last 6 months but probably won’t buy any more for about 5 years.

Work shoes are some all black Nikes which were about £50.

I have one smart pair of shoes which were about £100 from jones’ and bought for a wedding a couple of years ago. Thinking of using those as work shoes to get some use out of them.

Around £100 for trainers/walking shoes if I have to but ideally £60 if I can, but don’t buy cheap- I always aim to buy good stuff cheap, eg just got some Salomon x-ultra 360 edge gore tex shoes- full rrp is £140 but bought with discount under £100

Steel toe work boots around £50-£70

Proper shoes just whatever next have will do as they only come out for weddings and funerals

What's work?