A reader question:
Dear Editor,
We love your website thank you! Now that Sperry has been sold, what boat shoes do you recommend?
Many thanks
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Muffy Aldrich's SALT WATER NEW ENGLAND
Muffy Aldrich
Muffy Aldrich, Editor of Salt Water New England: The Thing Before Preppy, since 2010. And a 12th Generation New Englander.
- Original Photographs.
- Timeless, Preppy/Sloane Clothing.
Most Items Sent By Vendors
Quoddy has become my favorite. They conform to your feet and the quality is excellent.
ReplyDeleteI’ve been wearing Sebago Docksides for almost a decade, after parting ways with Timberland as they were hard to resole and lacked the small finishing details of the Docksides. I’ve worn them through hot Southern European summers and cold Scandinavian winters, sailing in the Finnish archipelago in 20m/s winds and impromptu hikes on Mt. Vesuvio and Alps, as well as 20+ miles days of sightseeings in Iceland, Balkans, Norway and so forth. And of course a fairly pristine pair for office summer days—as here in Finland, even in banking, the dress code is fairly relaxed. Highly recommending them.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you have it going with the Sebagos. Congrats!. Any trouble… Just nail à retread to your feet and pray for better weather.
ReplyDeleteSperry has been sold numerous times since their first iteration; I still dig Sperry!
ReplyDeleteRancourt or Quoddy
ReplyDeleteRockport but only the Perth model.
ReplyDeleteQuoddy - particularly the brown pebbled leather canoe shoe. I have the smooth leather version, and it's pretty much terrific; thinking about purchasing the pebbled leather version for this summer.
ReplyDeleteBanacek.
I have a pair of Quoddys on my feet right now, which I've come to really like. They start out really narrow, but stretch nicely to fit.
ReplyDeleteI have been very happy with Quoddy - the shoes' fit, quality, and on-deck performance as well as the company's service, including resoling - for the past ten years or so.
ReplyDeleteI have a few pair of Sperry boat shoes that I think were made when Wolverine owned the brand. I'm not sure new brand ownership will affect the quality of the shoes; mine have been good. Both, for whatever it's worth, don't have traditional white boat shoe soles; they have have a brown-ish natural latex sole that I find more comfortable and that I think have better traction. Also, the leather, at least for the Gold Cup line, is both soft and durable - or it was, when I purchased my shoes.
ReplyDeleteI would, like at least one other person who commented, look at Quoddy or Rancourt if I were looking at alternatives.
Rancourt for traditional, Dubarry Commodore XLT for very comfortable and durable boat shoes in a less traditional construction. I have not found my Quoddy boat shoes to be of the same level as those two.
ReplyDeleteQuoddy!
ReplyDeleteBack in the 70's and 80's Topsiders were the choice of every 'Boat Nanny'; the more salt crusty, the better..., then quality declined and I personally gravitated towards Quoddy with their custom made sizes and quality. Then I discovered Sebago; I now have several pairs in their Portland line, which also can be made to order in size and looks. The other day I happened on a great sale from Topsider and ordered two pairs, and they seem to be what the doctor ordered...Time will tell... The traditional 'Topsider' look will hopefully always be in style; the iconic brown leather and white sole. However for a 'sailing shoe' i really like my Mustos...
ReplyDeleteDuBarry. Nothing is close.
ReplyDeleteI've also got a pair of DuBarry deck shoes, in whiskey. Very nice, comfortable and practical. Bit expensive, but so are Quoddy. Different styles. I enjoy both.
DeleteBanacek
Don’t overlook Gokey. They are scrupulously made in the USA. I have two pair that fit better than a glove. Take care of them and pass them down to your next generation.
ReplyDeleteParaboot Barth
ReplyDeleteGokey is good from the word go. Maybe they are ignored here because of their Midwest pedigree?
ReplyDeleteSperry Topsiders are easily re-soled by a good cobbler. The leather is best after at least a decade of use.
ReplyDeleteI've been wearing Sperry for almost 50 years. I can hardly tell the difference over the years as to claimed diminishing quality.
ReplyDeleteI agree that any change in quality is more imagined or assumed than real, but the demise of Sperry Kudus is a huge loss. It was the undisputed best of the bunch. Even around town, those thick soles were so comfortable.
DeleteI got a pair of Rancourts in 2019 to replace a fifteen year old pair of Bean Casco Bays. I won't go anywhere else now, especially with their refurbishing and resoling options.
ReplyDelete