PBO article on Deckshoes

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CalicoJack

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Ok, I'm the first to admit it, I am known for my short arms and long pockets, so put me right. I read the article in PBO with a growing sense of ingradulaty; I even checked the calendar just in case it was the 1st April. My latest pair of deck shoes cost me about £9 from Aldi and they work just fine. They don't slip, they don't mark the deck and they are comfortable to wear. I could not believe that there was a market for shoes which cost over £200. I read "the blurb" that went with the pretty pictures, but it seemed to be made up of marketing hype with words that I had never come across before, and I suspect will never come across again.

So the question is what does a £200 pair of shoes do that my £9 pair doesn't.?
 
Depreciate????? I don't know as I wouldn't pay that either. But I thought the same about the article. Where was the coparison with the lower end of the market?
Come on it's supposed to be practical boat owner.
 
PBO would not consider the Aldi shoes as they are not dedicated marine shoes from a company that will pay for glossy advertisements in the magazine. Saying that they did compare non-slip deck paints with garage floor and masonry paints recently. So there may be hope that they might test some more budget shoes, be very interesting against the hyped expensive brands.

My own deck shoes are leather and cost £40, sorry I cannot remember the minor brand, but they came from Marine Supermarket. I am pleased with them and hope they last a good number of years. Currently whilst working on my boat I am using some Lidl steel toe capped shoes that cost only £15. Not suitable for sailing, but great for saving my toes from knocks. The soles have not left any marks either.
 
Spyro said:
Depreciate????? I don't know as I wouldn't pay that either. But I thought the same about the article. Where was the coparison with the lower end of the market?
Come on it's supposed to be practical boat owner.
Click to expand...

I bought two pairs of the Aldi shoes

I believe they were £16 for each pair. £8 a shoe.

I started wearing the first pair in March last year and wore them every day until they fell apart in August. The sole came off.

I am currently wearing the second pair - and have worn them most of time since September.

I now get sent free shoes anonymously through the post by mad blokes who leave mystery in their wake

I can only guess what was going on in the bloke's head

however, I will wear them with pride

http://www.keepturningleft.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/SANY00285.jpg
 
There will always be someone willing to pay silly money for something. There was even a thread here from someone who wanted to CLEAN deck shoes recently. Real men do not pay more than the minimum for functional items and they never clean deck shoes either.
 
I confess. I own a pair of Dubarry deck shoes, which I bought new. In my defence, they are fantastically comfortable, and I got them half-price in a sale.
 
My maintenance deck shoes are Clarks, bought in the 80's and are beginning to look tired now but still grip well. My sailing shoes for best were a purchase from Herring that some kind soul gave a heads up to on this forum the season before last. They were £29.99 in the sale. One of the lace eyes came loose as of second tying so I phoned up for a replacement. There were none available so I was given a full refund and invited to keep the shoes. So effectively free.

Smashing :)
 
CalicoJack said:
Ok, I'm the first to admit it, I am known for my short arms and long pockets, so put me right. I read the article in PBO with a growing sense of ingradulaty; I even checked the calendar just in case it was the 1st April. My latest pair of deck shoes cost me about £9 from Aldi and they work just fine. They don't slip, they don't mark the deck and they are comfortable to wear. I could not believe that there was a market for shoes which cost over £200. I read "the blurb" that went with the pretty pictures, but it seemed to be made up of marketing hype with words that I had never come across before, and I suspect will never come across again.

So the question is what does a £200 pair of shoes do that my £9 pair doesn't.?
Click to expand...

Congratulations on your immunity to brand checking disease - you obviously haven't got a teenage daughter and I'll guess you don't frequent Superdry stores.

On the strength of that PBO article I actually ordered a pair of Khik ZKGs - the key reason was they are pull on like hiking boots (that's dinghy hiking BTW) the laces being purely decorative; the most likely reason for me to do a MOB is not slipping but tripping over my laces which come undone about every 5 minutes or less. They are about the same amount as I have to cough up for her Zhik dinghy shoes.

In the interests of full disclosure I also own an as yet unworn pair of Musto leather boots, although they were free (Xmas present).
 
I wasn't trying to make people embarrassed by what they have bought, I just don't know what the top end of the market provides thats above and beyond what the cheap shoe gives you.
 
dylanwinter said:
It will be a sad day in hell when a man has to apologise to his fellow sailors for the way he spends his sailing budget.

D
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My best non slip ones are Sperry trainers ( by NU Balance) type bought in the USA online from West several years back and before we moved there. But I also have a pair of leather topped lace up sailing shoe 'Crocs' ( I'll wash my mouth out shortly ) that are comfy and very non slip as are the normal crocs I sometimes put on for ease of rapid use rather than their sartorial elegance.

Whatever happened to yellow wellies anyway? I swapped mine for white shorties bought in France for very few Euros. but they only come out for rain and beach landings (in shallow water), otherwise the standard crocs are best for beach work .
 
Best ones I have are Regatta Aquaticus, bought in the outlet store for about £20. They are lightweight fabric trainer style, with good non slip and an elastic "lace" with a plastic clip to hold it. The lace is continuous so has no loose ends, just a short loop when pulled to tighten.
 
I've got about six pairs in various states of degradation from the best (Herring as above) to some very old Plastimo ones that must be 25years old. Apart from the Herring ones, which haven't yet seen the boat, I've never paid more than about £20. Just got my first pair of Crocs, having resisted for many years, because they were cheap in TK Maxx. Surprisingly comfortable, grippy and practical.
 
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