Jackson Jambalaya

Since Nike bought Cole-Haan, I have not bought a pair. My kids' Nike football and soccer cleats tore up way too easily, so I avoid them like the plague now.

I agree with 12:01pm. I used to be a loyal Cole-Haan customer. Since Nike bought them, the quality is very poor. They used to make a shoe that lasts for years but the last pair i bought lasted 2 years and then they were ready for the trash. I inquired about having them resoled but the cobbler was told no go. And he told me that it has been that way since the Nike buyout.

I have four pair of Alden shell cordovan shoes I bought when I was making "Lamar Adams money" and I thought it'd last forever. Well, the shoes did but the money didn't. One pair is at Alden's now for a $175 refurbishment. The others are still stunning.

If you're going to lecture about quality, maybe shoot your video with something a notch above your old Game Boy Color.

Video was made by a cobbler. Take it up with him.

1:40 - That was funny. Not everything is a serious as child labor sweat shops.

Nike shoes, for the most part, are pure junk. I don't know why they are so popular. They are poorly made and expensive.

I think that shareholders today look for a great name brand with a reputation for quality. Then they suck all the profits out, run it into the ground, close up shop and move on to another great brand. Sad.

Alden shoes are fine quality. You cannot go wrong with them. I have a couple of Allen Edmonds shoes and they are nice, but I've heard that some people have seen a recent drop in quality. That is NOT my experience at all, but I think they were recently bought out by someone.

I hear fantastic things about Meermin. You used to have to pay intl. shipping and customs as the shoes are from Spain, but they have expanded their US business and you can avoid that. My next pair of dress shoes may come from them.

Many of the complaints are coming from people who are buying online, sight unseen. Imagine that. Got a pair of boots this year during a sale and the quality was pretty good. Comfortable too.

Nike is all about marketing. Always have been. Most people who take their athletics seriously - especially runners - do not use Nike shoes. They're really more of a designer label than a serious athletic brand.

When Tiger Woods was coming up, Nike saw how popular he was and created an entire line of golf equipment and apparel just to leverage him as a spokesman. They don't sell shoes first and foremost, they sell their brand and their logo. They are probably the world's best marketing organization.

Nike from Dick's Sporting Goods is crap. But if you go to Fleet feet, you can drop $150.00 on a pair that are unbelievable shoes. I found this out after wasting my money at Dicks. Shoes are like everything else now, you have cheap, poor quality at the big box and then you have way too expensive but quality at the specialty dealers. Oh well.

Here's an article from September comparing different makes of derby shoes. It explains what a derby is vs. an oxford, and talks about shell cordovan toward the end. It's good reading for someone looking to stop throwing money away on shoes like the ones in the video.

johndoeshoes.com you are welcome

Check with Terry Ablest before buying junk shoes.

The best, longest lasting and most comfortable dress shoes I have ever owned have been Bass. One pair I have is over 12 years old and they have had to be reworked on once.

I bought 2 pair of Ky Boot shoes from Terry Ables at T Ables about3 years ago. They are the most comfortable shoes that I have ever worn in my 7 decades of wearing shoes. Terry has Ky Boot walking/running shoes and wingtip dress shoes. All of my family has these shoes. They have a very good 2 or 3 year warranty.

These shoes are like walking on air. Oh, by-the-way they have a good supply of ladies shoes. I'll never buy another brand shoe.

Nike sold CH several years ago.

8:52 PM, I’ve just finished packing for an annual South Dakota pheasant hunt. I’ll mix up the boot selection and wear a pair of Bass hiking boots that I wore in Alaska in 2016 and 2001. Shoe Healer cleaned ‘em up to look like an almost new pair. Maybe I just got lucky with these but they’re almost indestructible.

How about a recommendation for comfortable, walking around shoes, not dress shoes or boots or tennis shoes...for feet that are 60+ years old? Too cold now for sandals.

PS: Not interested in shoes 'that last years'. Would rather have a comfortable pair that lasts two years than fancy shoes that last eight.

"Founded in 1922, Allen Edmonds Shoe Corporation is a U.S. based manufacturer of premium men’s footwear and accessories. Our shoes use only premium leathers and are handcrafted via a 212-step process."

3 pairs and belts, will never go back, comfortable, durable, recraftable, good sales, factory seconds are great deals too. Worth it.

Bought 5 pair Allen Edmonds from the Progressive in 1980-1982. All still great today.One to two full resouling each.Proud feets!

Allen Edmonds have the best quality to price ratio out there. My go-to shoemaker.

John Doe was kid of shoddy for a while, but I heard they tightened up their QC and their materials. Here's a piece from a few years ago discussing how they have upped their offerings.

Jack Erwin is a neat online shoe company, but they're all Blake stitched.

If you are a brave soul, you can thrift shoes on eBay. Be aware that quality shoes tend to mold to the wearer's feet, and I would take any second-hand shoes to Mr. Sam and have him give them a full cleaning before I wore them. For example, here is a pair of C&J Cap Toe Oxfords with new soles for $200. Caveat emptor on the used footwear.

East Dane has Loakes on sale. Very nice shoes, indeed!

Article about sale (click here)

At least men shoes are comfortable. Almost all women shoes are uncomfortable.

How did the peasant hunt go?