How comfortable should dress shoes feel?
As someone who’s really into sneakers, I’m struggling to figure out how comfortable dress shoes are supposed to feel.
I recently got a pair of chunky derbies, but the thick soles make them feel nothing like sneakers—they're heavy, almost like carrying an extra kilo on each foot. It feels like I’m standing on something stiff the entire time.
I also have a pair of loafers, which are a bit more comfortable since they’re lighter. However, they only feel good when I’m walking on smooth, nice floors. If I wear them to grab coffee or walk on pavements, I can feel every little stone underfoot, and that gets uncomfortable pretty quickly. But overall, they’re manageable.
Is this just how dress shoes are—something you endure for the sake of style? Or are they meant more for occasions where you’re not doing much walking, like arriving by taxi and just wearing them inside? I’d love to hear your thoughts—what’s your take on the comfort vs. purpose of dress shoes?
9 Replies
In my experience they shouldn't ever hurt, but there is a difference in just not having that big piece of foam, i start getting a bit more uncomforatavel after longer times walking in my leather shoes
i have walked miles in my docs in a day before, and while they werent as comfy as my new balance sneakers they certainly werent uncomfortable
i will say leather shoes are much less forgiving than sneakers in terms of fit, so sometimes (not always) a slightly wrong fit can make them pretty uncomfy
all that being said i have definitely endured blisters and bruises for fashion tho haha
last thing i'd add is a lot of leather shoes have uncomfy breakin periods and will get better over time
thick platform soles = heavier shoe
it can and probably fuck up/hurt/stress your ankle if you arent being careful
but no if youre talking about adieu shoes theyre narrow, have a heavy, thick, inflexible sole and are kind of a pain to wear
my eytys odessa sneakers are also heavy but are roomier and comfier, my george cox shoes are heavier and harder on my ankle, both pairs of adieus i have had a really brutal break in period
this is more a consequence of sizing/width, platforms sole weight/flexibility and leather pliability
Yeah, that’s what I’m experiencing. I had to stretch them a bit to help with the break-in, and I was able to walk about two miles in them recently, but now my arches hurt.
Maybe I’m stomping or walking too fast, but alas.
The heaviness is kind of okay—you get used to it—but the thick sole feels like it has a harsher effect.
Honestly there's a range with boots/derbies ("non-sneaker"). Can depend on the insole or (out)sole. I find leather insoles to be the most comfy overall. Though some brands occasionally do nicer removable plastic rubber insoles.
Plus sometimes it can be your own feet / legs. When I stopped hiking and running cause of an injury and a lifestyle change my muscles got weaker (atrophied) and I found my Grenson derbies much more heavy to walk in
as some who wore exclusively dress shoes, not at all. i eventually moved over to boots exclusively and those have a break in period but then after that you don't feel them.
i guess, if you purchased leather dress shoes you may have a brief break in period. my recommendation would be to wear like ski socks or any very thick sock to help A add padding but B stretch the leather.
basically all the shoes ive owned before buying stupid fashun platforms have been comfortable also
Hey, Kyn. I'm thinking of getting Odessa's too, are they TTS?
Yeah ime