Quality Alternaties to Allen Edmonds

[bpsmith]

I know that this is opening Pandora's Box and that it's been asked before, but those threads seems to sprout suggestions that go upwards in terms of quality (Alden, then C&J and eventually John Lobb). I'm looking for sideways movement.
Crockett & Jones Malvern
I'm on the hunt for a nice, classy single monk. C&J tastes with an Aldo budget

. If need be (and probably it is), I could stretch to an AE budget, but I don't have much love for the look of their single monks and the reviews on the site say they run towards the shite end of comfort.

Halp,
Bertrand

 

[MisterFu]

There aren't many lateral competitors to AE anymore, they seem to have carved out a nice niche in the mid-range 350-450 market.

As a general rule, you get what you pay for; you aren't getting C&J anything (styling, quality, etc.) for Aldo money. For the money you want to spend, you'll have to settle for something like this:

http://www.johnstonmurphy.com/tynda...2_color=Black Italian Calfskin#q=Monk&start=4

 

[TomOwen]

Meermin?

 

[Tsujigiri]

Loake is supposed to be a similar alternative to Allen Edmonds, but I have no personal experience with them. Between the variety, customer service, and regular sales, Allen Edmonds seems like the most attractive option in that price range to me.

 

[bpsmith]

Did a reconnoiter downtown to see what is actually available locally. Doesn't look good. One store stocks AE shoe polish, but the shoes they have are primarily Cole Haan...
Another one has a whole two types of AE, which is more than I thought was in town, and they do have Johnston Murphy, site cites having that Tyndall, but I saw no evidence on the shelves.
I did feel meh about suede in general, but now I'm starting to warm up to it, which opens up quite a few possibilities, including Meermin and Loake.

 

[comrade]

You might check out Sanders and Sanders which was recently mentioned in SF in the context of
wide sizes. Their prices are well below C &J . My guess is that the quality is lower, but their dress shoes
look decent in the WebSite. I would recommend Ludwig Reiter- only available in Europe, but they cost
more than C & J these days.

http://www.sanders-uk.com/

Herring and Pediwear are other options

http://www.herringshoes.co.uk/searc...d=4&colourid=&search_source=normal_search_box


http://www.pediwear.co.uk/search/resultsa.php

 

[Patek14]



There aren't many lateral competitors to AE anymore, they seem to have carved out a nice niche in the mid-range 350-450 market.

As a general rule, you get what you pay for; you aren't getting C&J anything (styling, quality, etc.) for Aldo money. For the money you want to spend, you'll have to settle for something like this:

http://www.johnstonmurphy.com/tynda...2_color=Black Italian Calfskin#q=Monk&start=4

I agree with what this poster is saying. I haven't seen much that is AE comparable. Price? Sure, but you'll take a hit on quality. I think AE represents the price floor of well-made shoes. I also like the suggestion to look at johnston and murphy for a man on a budget.

 

[bpsmith]

Cool. Coolcoolcool. Another store in town has J&M Tyndall in stock. Nothing my size, but they have another location up island that does have them in my size. Arrangements have been made to get a pair down here.

 

[jaywhyy]

Septieme Largeur, Meermin, and Loake

 

[bpsmith]

Got the shoes a bit ago, and just got around to posting a photo for you guys

 

[diadem]

I'd say Shipton & Heneage is a good alternative. They sell C&J shoes made to their specifications, so the quality is a little worse than C&J Benchgrade, but that is reflected in the price.

Here is their monk:

http://www.shiptonandheneage.co.uk/mens-shoes/mens-monk-shoes/bruton-black-calf.html

 

[comrade]

Ludwig Reiter. Not exactly lateral.
I have two pairs that are over ten years old
and show minimum wear.

https://www.ludwig-reiter.com/en/18w-hsch

 

[dunivan]

I know that this is opening Pandora's Box and that it's been asked before, but those threads seems to sprout suggestions that go upwards in terms of quality (Alden, then C&J and eventually John Lobb). I'm looking for sideways movement.
Crockett & Jones Malvern
I'm on the hunt for a nice, classy single monk. C&J tastes with an Aldo budget

. If need be (and probably it is), I could stretch to an AE budget, but I don't have much love for the look of their single monks and the reviews on the site say they run towards the shite end of comfort.

Halp,
Bertrand

I tend to hit eBay for lightly used AE. I spend roughly 100-125/pair.

That said, I have a pair of Johnston and Murphy that feels slightly cheaper but are really comfortable. No qualms here