solid points 👍

yes, it’s very difficult to hit the right keys with your head. I’ll give you that!
Still, well done under the circumstances!

Hi Brock,

thank you for replying. Yes, I must admit I am a little biased when it comes to the first brand. But I wouldn’t have quit my engineering job to work with a brand I don’t believe in. It is not an unknown brand if you are a shoe enthusiast.

Also, please don’t get me wrong, I am an avid reader of your site and actually love the content on your fulltimeblog website.

I think our main difference (as in generally we, not particularly you and me) is a potential language barrier (english is not my native tongue) and the different styles in Europe and the USA. I frequent the Goodyear Welted Subreddit often and there is a very very strong interest in bulkier, chunkier and rounder aesthetics there. Please correct me if I am wrong.

For me the word Best should describe Best. I have handled Allen Edmonds (don’t you agree that their quality and QC has gone down the drain since 2013?) Ace Marks, Magnanni, Redwing etc. and I do have actual training in leatherworking and upcoming bespoke shoemaking classes in 2021-2022. I cannot consider a shoe that costs 150$ the best. Maybe the best in it’s price range, sure.

I will however try to defend some of my points. What I really want to say is that there is a very heavy focus of blogs and lists (especially Business Insider and co.) on more US type of brands. Where are the Europeans in this list?

1) Nisolo is a Mexican ethical brand (afaik). For 100$ during sales or $155 or so in retail they are not terrible. I am not familiar with them but some users called them “wearing a cardboard box on my foot”
2) Allen Edmonds are the ones that look the nicest for me on your list and if I lived in the USA I would consider them. However in Europe it is not worth it (import taxes, shipping etc).
3) Rancourt: another USA Brand (which admittedly I don’t know much about) with good reputation on reddit and other forums, especially for their moccasins/boat shoes. Certainly not my style aesthetically but I do appreciate that they are a small business and they have handsewn aprons.
4) Paul Evans and Ace Marks are not worth the full retail price. If you like the aesthetics and the black construction, sure no problem. But I know where Paul Evans makes their shoes and what is their wholesale price so I understand their business model and no they are not 600$ shoes for 300$. You can buy TLB Mallorca for that price and a much much better shoe. That being said, while I am a fan of hand-welted and Goodyear welted shoes there’s nothing wrong with a good blake stitched shoe.
5) For J. Crew, I cannot comment because I am not sure who makes their shoes in Italy and what grade leathers they use.

Forget for a moment that I might be biased about Carlos Santos. I will be glad actually to send you a pair to check out. If you are staying in the more budget category for the everyday man, why not include for example a brand like Meermin which is around the 200-240$ mark?

These are just random thoughts based on a trend I see on Google all the time. For me best should include great leather, fine construction, good materials. I cannot endorse a shoe that is corrected grain leather or is full grain but taken from the belly with loose grain and will develop nasty cracks just to save a buck.

I saw someone else as the author of this article, so I am not sure how much influence you had in the final picks. But would you really take the J. Crew boot over this for a small difference in price (https://meermin.com/collections/mens-boots/products/101468-brown-suede-e) aesthetically and construction wise?

As I said, I am not here to pick a fight, but a healthy discussion and my constructive criticism as a high end shoe enthusiast (+500$). I apologize if I came in strong but as you might notice my English is well, adequate. I will keep watching your videos and reading your content because I am 5.8″ and it is very relevant and helpful to me.

Have a good weekend!

Best,
Kostas

PS. Sorry for any mistakes, I wrote this off the top of my head on mobile!

Hmm let’s see: Nisolo, Alen Edmonds, Thursday, Rancourt, CDB, Redwing – all welted (Goodyear, hand or stitchdown). Ace Marks is Blake Stitch (can be resoled).

J. Crew Macalister is one of my personal favorite desert boots. They hold up remarkably well for the price and are super comfy.

I’ve never heard of your #1 pick, but I see that you sell them on your site.

Who’s biased again?

I am curious, how do you end up on recommending these brands? It just goes around to show that you are not really a shoe enthusiast. I can list you 20 brands worth it more than those that are better built, have better design, materials and construction. Here are 10.

1) Carlos Santos
2) Carmina
3) Meermin (even them yes)
4) TLB Mallorca
5) Yanko/Skolyx
6) Vass Budapest
7) Enzo Bonafe
8) Alden (since you like “American Made”)
9) Grant Stone
10) Antonio Meccariello

You seem to be focusing a lot on these “budget” affiliate brands. Of course because it brings revenue. However there is no excuse for a man to not buy a welted shoe in 2020. If your budget is as strict then buy Meermin for 200$ as you can at least resole them.

Sorry if this sounds harsh but every menswear blog I stumble upon rehashes the same thing. Let’s promote Clarks, Ace Marks (🤢) and Thursday (which are ok at least).

Best,
Kostas