Meermin and Crockett & Jones

[DrewMill]

I don't know what 3 times better means. Three times more durable? Certainly not. Three times more comfortable? That will depend on the wearer. Three times more beautiful? That will depend on your eyes.

If you just want durability for price, get a pair of New Balances. You get proper shoes for aesthetics, but you also want them to be durable and comfortable. A lot depends on your budget, but what is most important is that you get shoes you like. You seem to be looking at brown suede penny loafers and those are some of the most versatile shoes, at least aesthetically. I think Alden's unlined suede penny loafers are nice. I have a pair and find them comfortable, versatile, and stylish. If you are in America, Aldens are also easier to try on in-person. There are also a wide range of widths, which is more important with loafers.
View attachment 1538972
This article from Die, Workwear! is helpful. Here are 3 instagram accounts with a lot of Alden loafer goodness: 1, 2, 3. I think it is also telling that people outside the trad world wear these shoes. Simon at Permanent Style owns a pair, and the guys and the Armoury wear them a lot, or at least they used to. They used to be a big part of the Drake's aesthetic.

I am sure other brands are good too--most menswear brands you hear about on this site make a good product--but these are the ones I like best.
View attachment 1538976
View attachment 1538978
View attachment 1538980
View attachment 1538981

Thank you for this very well thought out response. I have a couple stores around me which sell Aldens (including Juniors, which you linked). I will have to try them on. Thanks again!

 

[Noblekostas]

Even though I retail Crockett I was very skeptical of them initially. The more I handled them the more I grew to like them. Their grain leather is phenomenal, the suede is average and certain calf models amazing.

I would never pay for Meermin ever again as I consider them (personally) vastly inferior with shocking customer service. You get what you pay for, but if you asked me to choose between these two, in my eyes they are more than 3 times better. The sweat spot for someone who just want good shoes and is not an enthusiast is between 300-500$. The balmoral boots I handled from Meermin had shocking leather and various QC issues that while present in more expensive brands sometimes remind me that I will rather pay more.

that’s of course my personal opinion. For me Meermin is only worth the investment if you are completely new to welted footwear or on a very tight budget and a way for you to understand them better before making a natural step up to higher quality items.

 

[DrewMill]

Even though I retail Crockett I was very skeptical of them initially. The more I handled them the more I grew to like them. Their grain leather is phenomenal, the suede is average and certain calf models amazing.

I would never pay for Meermin ever again as I consider them (personally) vastly inferior with shocking customer service. You get what you pay for, but if you asked me to choose between these two, in my eyes they are more than 3 times better. The sweat spot for someone who just want good shoes and is not an enthusiast is between 300-500$. The balmoral boots I handled from Meermin had shocking leather and various QC issues that while present in more expensive brands sometimes remind me that I will rather pay more.

that’s of course my personal opinion. For me Meermin is only worth the investment if you are completely new to welted footwear or on a very tight budget and a way for you to understand them better before making a natural step up to higher quality items.

I think that's a perfect way to describe Meermin, probably the best entry level GYW shoe. I appreciate the candor and frankness about C&J and the "sweet spot".

 

[TheShetlandSweater]

Thank you for this very well thought out response. I have a couple stores around me which sell Aldens (including Juniors, which you linked). I will have to try them on. Thanks again!

Sure. I don't know where you are, but you seem to be somewhere along the East Coast. In addition to Junior's, you can get Aldens at the Alden store in DC and Alden Madison in NYC and they may have a wider range of widths if the standard width doesn't work for you. You can try on the C&J loafers at the C&J store in NYC or (to a lesser extent) Sky Valet in DC. To be clear, I think the C&J loafers look nice too, I just personally prefer the Aldens. When you are just getting into shoes and you don't live near a shoe store, I think it can be helpful to go to a shoe store and just try on a bunch of shoes in different lasts and write down what size you take in each of those lasts, and then you have the reference information for future orders.

 

[DrewMill]

Sure. I don't know where you are, but you seem to be somewhere along the East Coast. In addition to Junior's, you can get Aldens at the Alden store in DC and Alden Madison in NYC and they may have a wider range of widths if the standard width doesn't work for you. You can try on the C&J loafers at the C&J store in NYC or (to a lesser extent) Sky Valet in DC. To be clear, I think the C&J loafers look nice too, I just personally prefer the Aldens. When you are just getting into shoes and you don't live near a shoe store, I think it can be helpful to go to a shoe store and just try on a bunch of shoes in different lasts and write down what size you take in each of those lasts, and then you have the reference information for future orders.

I'm outside Philadelphia. Unfortunately traveling is difficult at the moment. ha
Thanks for the advice.

 

[Phileas Fogg]

Leffot in NYC is also a good source for Alden.

 

[DrewMill]

And, Tricker’s loafers went on sale today...
Just to make it a little harder.
Thoughts on these?

Search results for: 'JS7923' | Tricker's

The original and still the best. Equally at home in Chelsea and at Cheltenham, Tricker’s hand-made country shoes have been leading the way since before Queen Victoria’s day.

www.trickers.com