Hi all! I’m a big fan of comfortable shoes and I’ve been wearing eccos for years now. However I’ve recently come to realise that they cannot be repaired (something to do with the material there made from).
I’m on the hunt for a new pair of sneakers that are equally comfortable and also repairable.
For context, I spend a lot of time outdoors in a cool temperate climate so the shoes must be waterproof (i.e. leather or equivalent) as well as able to withstand hours of being walked in. I’m also in an urban environment so style is a consideration. I’m not looking for anything with bright colours or fancy designs, but moreso something simple and versatile that I can wear to work, on my bike and to the pub.
If anyone has any suggestions I’m all ears! I’ve recently been looking at some ON trail running shoes but I’ve been reading mixed things about their ability to withstand heavy use. Plus I’ve no idea how they compare to ecco in terms of how comfy they are so if anyone has any experience with both I’d love to hear it.
Thanks in advance!
Not sure about availability where you are but the German brands Meindl and Hanwag make exclusively repairable shoes.
Including hiking sneakers that can be used for trail running.
Moccasin construction can often be resoled and such, look at the likes of Quoddy, Russell, and Rancourt. Unfortunately, they are very much not waterproof, but they tend to be a lot more comfortable and sneaker-like in feel than Goodyear welted boots and shoes. It’s a tradeoff I’ve learned to embrace, but I still have plenty of GYW for work and wet, and some duck boots for the wet and cold seasons where even GYW isn’t enough. Once it’s winter, it doesn’t really matter because nothing is melting in -20F.
Thanks for these!
You know it’s funny, I live in a place with no extreme temperatures but that’s really wet and I’ve realised that we don’t have shoes to match our climate at all. Lots of people have recommended boots to me (which is a great shout, don’t get me wrong!) but I already have a lovely pair of waterproof winter boots that I have already gotten resoled once by a brilliant cobbler. I’m specifically looking for sneakers that are waterproof because boots are too warm and life’s too short to hang around all day in a pair of wet canvas shoes (remember it doesn’t have to be raining for feet to get wet - one step in long grass or a puddle will do it).
It’s why I love my eccos and have bought so many pairs (now on my fifth). It just seems so wasteful to drop them in the bin when the stitching goes on them.
Yeah, I have the same problem in the summer. We do have extreme winters, but very mild summers with lots of dew. It gets down into the low 50’s pretty regularly at night, and then 70’s and maybe 80’s during the day. You might look towards the Wesco Romeo, but water will get in through the goring, and to a lesser degree through the welt if you start walking through puddles, or even too long in wet grass (hours).
If you want something taller, Nicks makes a Chelsea. There are plenty of other GYW Chelseas, but those are the only narrows which is a requirement for me. Others are available from Grant Stone and RM Williams. I’m pretty sure RM Williams has some that are more weather resistant, as does Allen Edmonds (hard to recommend AE at this point), but weather resistance usually compromises repairability. So make sure to research.
There aren’t a lot of properly welted romeos, unfortunately. I know one of the Canadian boot makers makes a romeo, but if I remember correctly, it’s actually taller like a Chelsea. Georgia Boots makes a lot of romeos, but I don’t think any are welted, and if they are, they’re probably not going to last.
I’m more likely to just own it, and go out in a Quoddy camp boot, or some sport mocs/camp mocs. I’m dreaming of someone making a 4" romeo moc with a wrapped sole, at this point. I want a slip on that protects my ankles from the briars and nettles.
I think Quoddy released a waterproof hiker, recently, but I lost interest when I saw they don’t offer either a 13, nor a narrow, in that model.
I do tend to keep around something replaceable that is more weather resistant. Right now that’s some junky waterproof romeos from Huckberry, and some hiking shoes from La Sportiva.
Oh… you might look into Crispi. They’re known for hunting boots, and I know the heavier duty stuff is repairable (though not welted). I have a pair of insulated Briksdals for the winter, to hike with my dog through the snow. I know they have some lower and lighter stuff, though the soles tend to be very rigid. I don’t know if you compromise repairability for the lighter duty stuff, but their customer service is very helpful.
Sorry, I’ve searched a lot, and have probably come across some stuff that would suit you. But I have really weird long, narrow feet with a forward arch and wider toes. So I tend to discard things that won’t fit, and forget about it.
Oh, and Danner, definitely check out Danner. Not everything they make is welted, but there’s a lot of variety, and a lot of it waterproof or resistant.
Look for something that’s Goodyear Welted. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodyear_welt
They probably won’t be sneaker-style, but are much more repairable.
