Spec me some smart casual shoes/trainers

Soldato
OP
Joined
2 Nov 2013
Posts
4,095
Do people really need to ask for what shoes to buy now? :D


Is it really completely unreasonable to ask for recommendations for what people have found comfy? So unreasonable that it's worth posting about how laughable an idea it is?

Just to help us all out, can you share the exact dividing line between what products owner reviews are relevant for, and what they aren't? It'd be nice to have the info so I can avoid such an embarrassing mistake in future.
 
Soldato
Joined
17 Jun 2012
Posts
9,852
Location
South Wales
Majority of trainers, especially any 'sporty' looking ones don't come under smart casual for me. Most you could get away with is a black pair of converse and then I wouldn't wear it with trousers only jeans and maybe chinos.
 
Soldato
OP
Joined
2 Nov 2013
Posts
4,095
I dunno if I'm giving the wrong impression with the word 'trainers', but I don't know what else to call them.

Look at the Merrell's I linked to - which I would call trainers but are a suede finish smart casual piece of footwear. I'm definitely not looking for Adidas/Reebok/Nike type footwear.
 
Associate
Joined
8 Nov 2006
Posts
1,385
Soldato
Joined
7 Apr 2009
Posts
6,833
Location
Western Seaboard
Had a good long think about this, did some research for you, and found these beauties:

MYsuhG3.jpg
Very trendy right now, classy yet casual and brimming with ethnickness.

And then, the other option being the timeless and classic Kickers:

bu4Wr9B.jpg
 
Associate
Joined
10 Jan 2006
Posts
1,785
Location
Scotland
Only if you're blind and can't look for yourself :rolleyes:

Im awful at looking at stuff and then I try it on and I think, oh wait that actually looks half decent on me. Not everyone has that 'eye' as it were. I dont. Stick it on me and with a mirror I can judge what looks OK and what doesn't, on a rack I've not got a clue.

Are you great at everything you lend your hand to? Either the answer is no, and you need a helping hand. Or you answer Yes and then you're a ****.
 
Soldato
Joined
29 Jul 2013
Posts
8,565
They're basically Boondockers, which themselves were based on WW2 American issue Roughouts. I have worn the latter and can attest to their lightweight casual aspects, but you can also tart them up to be as smart as you like.
Boondockers look completely different to me.

You can get desert boots or chuka boots which are similar to the boondockers but the Clarks variants are a lot simpler
 
Man of Honour
Joined
19 Oct 2002
Posts
29,508
Location
Surrey
It depends how smart/casual you want to be and how many hours you will need to wear them. Desert boots / chukkas are a good option, as are brogue derby's.

If going for trainers then a plain colour leather trainer would be best. But that wpuld also be more on the casual side than chukkas or brogues.
 
Soldato
Joined
25 Nov 2005
Posts
12,444
Are you great at everything you lend your hand to?

Buying trainers is a simple process

Do they look nice ? Try them on
Do they feel comfy ? Check price
Is the price okay ? Buy them, if not revert back to "do they look nice" with a new pair, rinse & repeat

If you need help buying trainers then I don't know what to say
 
Back
Top Bottom