Boat shoe of choice?

dennis in se pa · dennis in se pa's Garage

I have had bad luck with my last two pair of Sperry TopSiders. As soon as they got wet the inner sole started to come loose and wrinkle up. In as much as boat shoes will get wet this seems like they no longer have any standards of quality control. Of course they are MADE IN CHINA so I guess I can expect as much. Does anyone know of a GOOD boat shoe that is made somewhere other than China?

Paul K · Paul K's Garage

Helly Hansen makes a good boat shoe.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Keen sandals work for me. I like the models with the covered toes...

Eric Coffey · 12-11-2011, 11:02 AM

No boat, but I would check out the following:

Clarks "Un.Atlantic"
(wearing them right now)

Sebago "Clovehitch II"

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

I like my Sanuks....

Zeke · 12-11-2011, 11:08 AM

LL Bean makes a nice boat shoe. Some of their stuff is made in the US. At least the deck shoes don't say "imported."

VINMAN · 12-11-2011, 01:00 PM

Dennis, do you mean the " boat shoe" style , Or good footware for out on a boat?

Palum6o · Palum6o's Garage

Dennis, next time you're near Wayne, stop by Angelo D'amicantonio & Son, 157 West Lancaster Avenue, Wayne, PA 19087 (610) 688-7530. Not sure exactly sure if I ever understood what an actual 'boat' shoe is, but if you want comfort, anything Mephisto should make your feet happy. Check out the Mephisto Hurrikan boat shoe. I have two pairs of Mephisto shoes that are truly amazing. (they are the Allen Edmonds of casual shoes in my opinion, I have several pairs of them as well and are also fantastic, but wouldn't wear them on a boat)

Seahawk · 12-11-2011, 02:41 PM

Could not agree more. Expensive yet worth the price.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palum6o

Dennis, next time you're near Wayne, stop by Angelo D'amicantonio & Son, 157 West Lancaster Avenue, Wayne, PA 19087 (610) 688-7530. Not sure exactly sure if I ever understood what an actual 'boat' shoe is, but if you want comfort, anything Mephisto should make your feet happy. Check out the Mephisto Hurrikan boat shoe. I have two pairs of Mephisto shoes that are truly amazing. (they are the Allen Edmonds of casual shoes in my opinion, I have several pairs of them as well and are also fantastic, but wouldn't wear them on a boat)

nota · 12-11-2011, 03:18 PM

harken made some nice sneakers for dingy racers

for a look a like boat shoe better then top-siders I like timberlands

dennis in se pa · dennis in se pa's Garage

"Expensive yet worth the price."
Now that part also p*sses me off.

Looking for American made boat type shoes. I am not one of those crazy people who pay $150 for sneakers that are worth $50 to pretend they are still an athelete, if they ever were.

I found handmade in Maine shoes for $250. NFW Mon. I have an outlet center near me that sells TopSiders for $50, and I got a pair of Timberlands off the special rack in the dead of winter for $25. I don't mind paying 50% more for American made shoes. But it's not like they are a piece of jewelry to me.
If people make an effort to buy American in time the feedback will get back to the buyers of the stores. Sending all of our money to China is just NUTS!

Seahawk · 12-11-2011, 03:35 PM

Pisses you off!?!

You asked. They are great shoes and are expensive. If that pisses you off you are living in a clue free zone.

Quote:

"Expensive yet worth the price."

Now that part also p*sses me off.

Looking for American made boat type shoes. I am not one of those crazy people who pay $150 for sneakers that are worth $50 to pretend they are still an athelete, if they ever were.

I found handmade in Maine shoes for $250. NFW Mon. I have an outlet center near me that sells TopSiders for $50, and I got a pair of Timberlands off the special rack in the dead of winter for $25. I don't mind paying 50% more for American made shoes. But it's not like they are a piece of jewelry to me.

If people make an effort to buy American in time the feedback will get back to the buyers of the stores. Sending all of our money to China is just NUTS!

VINMAN · 12-11-2011, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nota

harken made some nice sneakers for dingy racers

for a look a like boat shoe better then top-siders I like timberlands

Yep! Thats what I was going to suggest. Thats what Ive always worn on my boat. Easy to clean and get fish guts off of too.

drcoastline · 07:07 PM

Sebago Docksides. My current pair is approaching 5 years old. I believe I paid $85.00. Full leather upper, razor cut rubber sole. At the end of the summer they went from boat shoe to work around the house mow the lawn shoe as the tread had finally worn away in spots loosing the non-slip characteristics of the shoe.

Dottore · 12-11-2011, 07:53 PM

I'm a Nautica man myself. These don't mark the deck, have incredible grip, and fit like a condom. And they're only about 80 bucks.

I always keep a pair in the boot. Never know when Larry Ellison will ask you out for a sail.

dennis in se pa · dennis in se pa's Garage

Seahawk - you mentioning the shoes does not bother me. I appreciate your input. It's the fact that if shoes are made in America, or many things for that matter, the tendency is to often take advantage of the buyer price-wise. I would not mind paying $150 for a pair made in America instead of $80-%100 for a pair made in China. If there is such a discrepancy in labor cost as to make thing cost twice as much because they are not made in China the problem is much bigger than can be believed.
Besides that the workers don't get paid decent wages the country is wallowing in garbage and filth. And we are the enablers.

sammyg2 · 12-12-2011, 08:38 AM

Vans boat shoes, most under $60.

Vans, Boat Shoes, Men at Zappos.com

pwd72s · 12-12-2011, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dennis in se pa

"Expensive yet worth the price."
Now that part also p*sses me off.

Looking for American made boat type shoes. I am not one of those crazy people who pay $150 for sneakers that are worth $50 to pretend they are still an athelete, if they ever were.

I found handmade in Maine shoes for $250. NFW Mon. I have an outlet center near me that sells TopSiders for $50, and I got a pair of Timberlands off the special rack in the dead of winter for $25. I don't mind paying 50% more for American made shoes. But it's not like they are a piece of jewelry to me.
If people make an effort to buy American in time the feedback will get back to the buyers of the stores. Sending all of our money to China is just NUTS!

Marketing idea...a store that sells only "made in the usa"...

Jim Richards · 12-12-2011, 08:49 AM

I prefer to go cheap on these...West Marine branded boat shoes. Definitely made in the third world.

Zeke · 12-12-2011, 08:52 AM

Stop on the buying import crap. No one yells about imports from Canada, our biggest trading partner. The amount of our GDP that lands in Chinese hands is staggeringly low percentage wise. 50% of all the money spent on Pacific Rim merchandise never leaves our shores. Profit, distribution and transportation will see to that.

I think that number is actually higher.

The number of trading partners we have is also staggering. People don't think about how much comes from India or all the fruit from Chile (millions of tons). People don't seem to be able to stop the flow of cash to Mexico and other SA nations. The Swiss pharmaceutical industry ought to be considered.

Bashing Chinese shoes is silly at this point in time.