About New Allen Edmonds Manhattan question

I do not want to start a new thread and I also don't want to post this in the ask a question thread since I never really got any replies. So I revised an old thread of mine to ask this question. After a lot of researching on the forum, I decided to get a pair of AE Manhattan shoes based on all the good reviews here. I like the look of the toes section, , but I found them to be very wide at the mid-section. This becomes very obvious when I put on some slim pants as shown in the second picture. The shoes make my feet look very big and wide. So what do you guys think?

No do not get those. First off, I think both the Kennett and Tribeca are ugly. Plus, you can get most AE's for <200 through different discounts/shoe bank.

Thanks for the comments. I could get either one for <$150, just only have the budget for one pair at this point of time.

Originally Posted by nohomo

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No do not get those. First off, I think both the Kennett and Tribeca are ugly. Plus, you can get most AE's for <200 through different discounts/shoe bank.

Originally Posted by nohomo

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No do not get those. First off, I think both the Kennett and Tribeca are ugly. Plus, you can get most AE's for <200 through different discounts/shoe bank.

And you base this from what? Have you owned them? Tried them on? I am all for a biased opinion when there is something behind that opinion.

I've seen them in the stores. Not as good as the classic collection. No leather soles (at least not on the ones I've seen). Leather felt decent. Avoid them if you can find the standard collection for the same price. Nevertheless, they are still better than most of the other junk out there.

Originally Posted by sccoopy

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Thanks for the comments. I could get either one for <$150, just only have the budget for one pair at this point of time.

You'll save $50 now, but you'll lose out in the long run when these shoes have to be tossed out and you have to buy a whole new pair.

Originally Posted by jsherman02

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And you base this from what? Have you owned them? Tried them on? I am all for a biased opinion when there is something behind that opinion.

I don't think you need to see how these fit to tell that they're ugly.

Originally Posted by mafoofan

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You'll save $50 now, but you'll lose out in the long run when these shoes have to be tossed out and you have to buy a whole new pair.



I don't think you need to see how these fit to tell that they're ugly.


That was not the OP's question.....

"My question is do they have the same quality as other AE shoes?"

Originally Posted by jsherman02

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And you base this from what? Have you owned them? Tried them on? I am all for a biased opinion when there is something behind that opinion.

Why do I need to own them to say they're ugly?

Plus, the AE collection was designed to be a lower end, intro product into Allen Edmonds. Why pay the same price for a shoe that's of lesser quality (i.e. rubber soles, non-recraftable)?

However, if it's for $150, rather than the regular price of $199, then it's not too bad, but I still wouldn't get those based on the discounts regular AE's are usually on for.

Originally Posted by jsherman02

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That was not the OP's question.....

"My question is do they have the same quality as other AE shoes?"

I wasn't only responding to the OP. You objected to another poster's aesthetic judgment on the basis that he hasn't worn the shoes in question. I was simply refuting that objection.

The OP answered his own question with respect to quality: unlike AE's main line shoes, these cannot be re-crafted. Apparently, the soles are not Goodyear-welted. So, no, the quality is not the same. In fact, I pointed out to the OP why it might not make sense to buy these only to save $50 for that reason.

Originally Posted by mafoofan

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I wasn't only responding to the OP. You objected to another poster's aesthetic judgment on the basis that he hasn't worn the shoes in question. I was simply refuting that objection.

The OP answered his own question with respect to quality: unlike AE's main line shoes, these cannot be re-crafted. Apparently, the soles are not Goodyear-welted. So, no, the quality is not the same. In fact, I pointed out to the OP why it might not make sense to buy these only to save $50 for that reason.

I forgot you hate Allen Edmonds.....

thanks guys, the discussion is very informative.

I don't care about recrafting, I don't think I will spend $85 on recrafting since I can always buy the factory seconds. Rubber sole does not bother me either. Based on my limited experience, rubber sole is more comfortable than leather sole as casual wear. These two shoes both have rubber soles.

So my follow up question is if a shoe is unrecraftable, then the quality/durability automatically sucks? Do recraftable shoes last longer?

That rubber soles are more comfortable than leather soles is a common misconception. Take the time to properly break in and wear a good pair of leather soled shoes, and you'll find that they are actually more comfortable as your foot creates an imprint and the insole molds to the shape of your foot.

However, because the sole is rubber, and thus harder wearing, the shoes will have a longer sole life, but once the sole is worn down, they cannot be recrafted.

The leather soled goodyear welted shoes can be recrafted, that is once the leather sole has worn down you can have them resoled and repaired. It's a better investment to get leather soled shoes since it's cheaper to have them repaired every couple of years rather than to continue spending hundreds of dollars on shoes. Not only that, but over years and years of polishing and conditioning, the shoes will build up a very nice patina that will only get better looking as the shoes get older.

You're better off with AE Classic Collection than the Crosstown Collection. Save up more money until you can get some better shoes, you'll be happier in the long run.

Originally Posted by sccoopy

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thanks guys, the discussion is very informative. I don't care about recrafting, I don't think I will spend $85 on recrafting since I can always buy the factory seconds. Rubber sole does not bother me either. Based on my limited experience, rubber sole is more comfortable than leather sole as casual wear. These two shoes both have rubber soles. So my follow up question is if a shoe is unrecraftable, then the quality/durability automatically sucks? Do recraftable shoes last longer?
I don't understand this statement. You'd rather pay $150+ to keep getting new shoes rather than $85 to recraft into near new quality? You'd be basically paying more over time for an inferior product. This is the same type of disposal mentality that people have who buy numerous pieces at stores like ON, Gap, or H&M and feel good about spending $30 bucks for a shirt, rather than a $150 shirt, even though the total amount they end up spending on clothes is no different overall, and they look a lot worse. Don't take it as an insult, b/c I'm sure most of the people here, including myself, have been in that state of mind before, but almost everyone here will say that in hindsight, they wish that they had bought less quantity and better quality. If you do prefer rubber soles, maybe look into the Executive Collection. They're more expensive, but they are recraftable, better styling, and to me, same quality as the other, leather soled AEs. For example, instead of the Kennett, a split toed blucher, and then look at the Montgomery, which has a more appealing vamp imo, and a sleaker profile. Kennett: Montgomery:

You may be right. Since I owned my first pair of AE shoes not long ago, I have yet to appreciate how comfortable a leather sole can be.

Originally Posted by oroy38

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That rubber soles are more comfortable than leather soles is a common misconception. Take the time to properly break in and wear a good pair of leather soled shoes, and you'll find that they are actually more comfortable as your foot creates an imprint and the insole molds to the shape of your foot. However, because the sole is rubber, and thus harder wearing, the shoes will have a longer sole life, but once the sole is worn down, they cannot be recrafted. The leather soled goodyear welted shoes can be recrafted, that is once the leather sole has worn down you can have them resoled and repaired. It's a better investment to get leather soled shoes since it's cheaper to have them repaired every couple of years rather than to continue spending hundreds of dollars on shoes. Not only that, but over years and years of polishing and conditioning, the shoes will build up a very nice patina that will only get better looking as the shoes get older. You're better off with AE Classic Collection than the Crosstown Collection. Save up more money until you can get some better shoes, you'll be happier in the long run.

When I said &lt;150, I did not mean $150. The AE closeout shoes at their shoebank or ebay sometimes cost $99, $109 and $129 and I was able to get some first quality shoes, and I was able to get some really nice models like Mora and Wilbert.

Also, I understand your reasoning of recrafting a better shoe than buying a worse shoe, but your analogy using gap H&amp;M is not right. Here I am comparing recrafting a closeout AE vs. buying a new closeout AE.

BTW, the Montgomery you suggested sure looks gorgeous, trumps Kennett and Tribeca easily. Thank you for taking time to help me.

nohomo;2586268 said:

I don't understand this statement. You'd rather pay $150+ to keep getting new shoes rather than $85 to recraft into near new quality? You'd be basically paying more over time for an inferior product.
This is the same type of disposal mentality that people have who buy numerous pieces at stores like ON, Gap, or H&amp;M and feel good about spending $30 bucks for a shirt, rather than a $150 shirt, even though the total amount they end up spending on clothes is no different overall, and they look a lot worse. Don't take it as an insult, b/c I'm sure most of the people here, including myself, have been in that state of mind before, but almost everyone here will say that in hindsight, they wish that they had bought less quantity and better quality.

If you do prefer rubber soles, maybe look into the Executive Collection. They're more expensive, but they are recraftable, better styling, and to me, same quality as the other, leather soled AEs. For example, instead of the Kennett, a split toed blucher, and then look at the Montgomery, which has a more appealing vamp imo, and a sleaker profile.

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