The 5 Pairs of Shoes Every Man Needs in his Closet
Men (for the most part) are simple creatures. It doesn’t take much to keep them happy. They don’t need much “stuff”, (unless it’s some obscure hobby they’ve dived into. In which case, they’ll have ALL the stuff) and “High Fashion” is generally a choice between blue or black.
Keep their bellies full, some clothes on their back and some shoes on their feet and they’ll be right as rain.
But what shoes are they? If you’ve found this blog looking for ideas for a man in your life we’ll start with our best advice, “Men might be simple, but they’re all different.” Use your intuition, after all, it’s you who knows them. As a safe bet, stick to our staples here and you’ll knock it out of the park.
... And you can avoid a face like this 👇
Athletic shoes
Even if a man isn’t “athletic”, it never hurts to be prepared. The impending apocalypse will surely require men to make a few speedy escapes. If he doesn’t have a decent pair of athletic shoes, his brain is already zombie fodder.
In all seriousness, you never know when a man will get hit with a health kick. Maybe the guy he sits next to at work has just gone on Ozempic and lost 30 kilos in 2 weeks, maybe his new hobbies of smoking meats and homebrewing has gotten out of hand and he’s been doing nothing be drinking beer and eating ribs for a smidge too long (even though this is kind of life goals), maybe a normal reason too… When the time comes, and it will, it pays to be prepared!
The good news is these days athletic shoes are trendy, meaning you can look normal wearing them while not at a full sprint.
There are a million options out there for a million different purposes. If you want to avoid the research and go for an all rounder that not only looks great but is great for your feet too, it’s hard to go past the Vitasole Walker.
Dress Shoes
It’s called being “dressed to the nines”, not being “dressed to the eight and a halfs”. Every man needs to have a pair of wow shoes in his arsenal, because you never know when he’ll need to be the belle of the ball.
One of the best things about being a man is that dressing up is very simple. Unless he’s trying to be a bit of a style icon your run of the mill either black or brown leather shoes will always do the job.
What is important is how those shoes feel. Think about where a man will wear these shoes to; weddings, networking events, job interviews. All places where it really pays for a man to be at his very best! There’s not much in this world that’ll put a man off his game faster than sore feet.
Our top tip: A pair of insoles. These over the counter wonders turn any shoes into comfort shoes! Providing much needed arch support and cushioning when and where a man (or woman, insoles don’t discriminate) will need it.
Our favourites are the Comfort Full Length Orthotic Insoles from Vitasole. These are customisable and come with a Support Booster which can increase the level of arch support for the more discerning gentleman.
Casual Sneakers
Unless a man has to wear dress shoes to work, these are the most important pair on this list. A man’s casual sneakers are an extension of him, he wears them EVERYWHERE. If you were to ask any man in a pair of shoes what they’d rather be wearing they’re going to zone out and start daydreaming about the casual sneakers they love so much.
Done right, a man will wear his favourite shoes to death, so you’d better make sure they’re comfortable & supportive!
Ticking all the boxes are one of our favourites; The Hudson from Revere. Apart from having that timeless casual style, these future much-loved sneakers have maximum forefoot comfort, removable arch support footbeds, and ultra-light weight midsole with dual cushioning under foot. Translation: They look great, they feel better.
Sandals
When cocktails, sunshine and good times call, you’d better answer that call. It’s always beach season (and 5pm 😉) somewhere, and a real man is always prepared.
Depending where you live, the humble sandal may well be higher up the list. But even if you’re reading this from Alaska it pays to have a nice, supportive pair in your back pocket should the need arise.
You’d be amazed just how much some people in paradise charge for a poorly made, flat, bad-for-you pair of flip-flops, just because they know you’re up against the wall and will pay for it. In addition to that, if you’re on your holidays chances are you’ll be getting your steps up. You’ll want to see the sights, experience the culture and take the opportunity to get lost somewhere lovely.
There’s not much that ruins that holiday vibe quite as quickly as a pair of sandals that has your feet on fire before you’ve barely had enough time to sip your cocktail.
If you’re looking to invest in a top quality sandal that will last and last then our favourite is the Revere Durban. This timelessly styled slide has everything you can want in a sandal. It’s got premium hand crafted leather linings and upper (so it feels incredible on your foot), a cushioned heel for shock absorption and comfort (perfect for those long holiday beach walks), and a lightweight construction. What really makes this sandal stand out however is the fact that it’s orthotic friendly.
If you’re a person that needs a custom orthotic you may have thought your sandal days are behind you. But with Durban, you’re back baby! The insole on these is removable, giving you a level of customisation we haven’t seen before for sandals.
Of course if you are the person we mentioned before reading this blog from Alaska, a cheaper option may well be on the cards. In that case we recommend Rome from Vitasole. This budget friendly option is your classic flip-flop style sandal, except they’ve added Arch Support, and a stability boosting heel cup.
Subtle differences we guarantee you’ll be glad you had when you reach the latter stages of your holiday.
Slippers
Alexander wept as there were no worlds left to conquer… but then he put his slippers on and popped his feet up and almost immediately stopped weeping.
It doesn’t matter what kind of man you are, every man deserves a break every now and then. And a nice fluffy, super comfortable (yet somehow also supportive) slippers in our opinion is the best possible way to do that.
Slippers don’t just come into their own at the end of a long day. To some, they’re almost as important right at the start. Not only can they protect you from a freezing winter floor to start your day. If you have Plantar Fasciitis (about 10% of people will develop it at some point in their life) this is crucial.
The connection in your Plantar Fascia is the weakest first thing in the morning. Putting your foot down with no arch support will often re-tear the Plantar Fascia and push back all the work your body did repairing it overnight. So those handy dandy slippers aren't just keeping your feet warm, they’re getting your muscles warm too.
For a nice, supportive pair of slippers, we can’t look past the Scholl Gary. Once again, a true timeless style, but has that arch support and cushiony softness you’re crying out for. Not only that, they come with a rugged outsole meaning that if you need to pop to the shops in them, the only issue might be a few sideways looks from (probably jealous) onlookers.
Conclusion
Men are simple, we don’t need much. But if you’re not going to have lots, make what you do have the best of the best. For the best range of supportive, gorgeous shoes to give you confidence in whatever situation you might find yourself in, the best place to start is The Comfort Co.