What deck shoes (also Sebago quality, oh dear...)

ari

ari

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I virtually live in deck shoes. Luckily for me my job involves a reasonably informal dress code so even wear them at work.

For the last 10 years I've been buying and wearing Sebago Docksiders as, whilst they are expensive, they are in my opinion the very best, excellent quality, extremely comfortable, very smart. PRobably bought a dozen plus pairs in that time easily.

But recently I've tried to buy a pair, and the quality seems to have dropped considerably. Plus the ones I've tried don't feel at all well shaped or comfortable (always a given before, right from new).

On closer inspection I noticed that of the several pairs (and couple of suppliers) I've tried, they seem to be no longer "made in the USA", but instead made in the Dominican Republic, or Sri Lanka I think was another I noticed.

Seems to me that Sebago are outsourcing ther manufacture, and then sticking their labels on, and of course their prices. The (standard normal) pair I looked at last week were a few pence short of £100, the "flashier" ones were as much as £140.

I've no quibble with the price if the quality is there, but very sadly this seems to me to no longer be the case.

Which leads me to the question, what is everyone else wearing and what do people recommend? As I say, no problem with the cost (within reason) provided the comfort and quality matches it.

Also wonder if anyone else has noticed their Docksiders aren't what they once were?

Ari.

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Bit chunkier and heavier though aren't they?

Good shoes though I believe, perhaps I'll have to take a look at them.

Ari.

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I've got some called CHATHAM. I thought them expencive at 60 quid, but concider them a cheap buy now. I've had them on my feet solidly since last Christmas. Never liked deck shoes before, so only ever wore them on the boat. Even took them off to go to the pub.

<hr width=100% size=1> No one can force me to come here. I'm a volunteer!!.

Haydn
 
I have a pair of Timberland deck shoes, and the one problem I have with them is that they have a cushioned insole. Very nice for comfort, but very bad in terms of smell. It means you can't EVER wear them without socks (which for me removes half the point of deck shoes), because if you do, they acquire an unholy pong that you can never truly get rid of.

Not exactly these, but quite close:

pTBL-1379537dt.jpg


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I have seen those, but don't own a pair. Was just pointing out that Timberland do make proper deck shoes - i.e. with a sole that would keep you stuck to the deck, rather than just pick up large quantities of gravel and gouge holes. However, as I say, my pair do have a downside - the smell. Far worse than I've experienced with Sebagos.
 
have u tried getting the old ones re-soled it costs around 30 quid takes 2>3 weeks
they come back as good as new.
dubarry also do this

Excellent idea, but sadly the tops of the shoes are too worn to be worth doing this with.

Interesting that you mention Dubarry, had a look at a pair this afternoon. Nice shoe, but they didn't have my size sadly. Cheaper than Sebago too, £70 rather than £100

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pTBL-1379537dt.jpg


Wow, didn't realise Timberland did proper deck shoes like this, definitely worth a look, thanks!


Always assumed Timberlands were more like this...

pTBL-1394873dt.jpg


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agree the quality of sebago has gone - to all the sebago people out there this is your wakeup call

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Dubarry are the best in my experience, I still have pair that I've worn regularly since 1995! they have been soaked in just about everything and worn regularly summe & winter. I've just bought a new pair from mailspeed.com best price.

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Tried Sebagos and prob wont divert from them for the meantime. Cheaperover here than £100 at £78 a pair.

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>
MMS - Discount Chandlery
 
Like you I live in a pair of deck shoes. Most you look at have a very hard sole. I used to be a dubarry fan but now have a pair of the Henri Lloyd navigator shoes. They are around 70 squid and the softest shoe i have worn for a long time. Will be buying the boots to match as well

146_image2_y94020m.jpg


I have a brown pair with brown lowers not white as in picture.

<hr width=100% size=1>/forums/images/icons/wink.gif <font color=blue> Regards Andy </font color=blue>
 
There was an smelly old man who lived in a shoe.
He had so many crew, he didn't know what to do.
He gave them some broth,
Without any bread,
Whipped them all soundly, and sent them to bed.


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