****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Okay - I RARELY write reviews (yet rely on them often; so bad, I know! Lol). But listen - I own two pairs of these shoes, one black pair and one white. On occasion of having to wash the black pair for about the third time, I decided I REALLY needed to write a review to share with others what QUALITY, COMFORTABLE, DURABLE shoes these really are.5 STARS - Hands down, with no reservations.1) Size - for me, it really depends on the shoe, but I generally require a 9.5 or a 10.0 (even have had a 10.5 once - weirdly). So, I ordered these shoes in a 10.0 at first. Too big - had to return them. I was impressed with how they looked, so I reordered and went down a half-size to 9.5; they are perfect! (A little loose on the foot without laces; but more on that in the durability section below).2. Quality & Comfort - the soles in these aren’t thin like a “Toms” brand shoe; just right for what they are. That being said - you DO NOT want to step on anything sharp, pointed, or otherwise with an edge or a point - it WILL GO THROUGH THE SOLE of these SHOES!Example: I was walking along and felt a poke in my right big toe! I looked at the bottom of my shoe and the back of someone’s small earring had punctured through the bottom of the shoe! Luckily it did not break skin (GROSS, right?!)Point being: the soles are just right for everyday use, but don’t wear these in a woodland adventure (sticks and porcupines) or at a construction site (nails, shards, pointy things galore, construction workers staring at you with your clean shoes) - the material will not withstand walking on anything that may puncture it (it up to the scrutiny of a mad construction worker for being so clean). Keep this in mind when you’re planning what footwear you’re going to be wearing for a certain activity.Also - these have no ankle support whatsoever. Don’t go boulder dashing or attempt parkour in these. You’ll break more than just your neck. Hahah!3. Durability - I don’t know if you have had the same problem I have had, but you have probably owned a really nice pair of Nike, or Reebok, Puma’s - the list goes on; but these name brands are $100 or more these days. Your shoes inevitably get dirty and eventually they get dirty enough to require a trip in the washing machine right?Well - like me, you no doing have experienced the terrible disappointment when you take those $100 plus shoes out of the wash and they’re more messed up than the guy who tried to cheat a Wookie! ? The threading bits don’t hold up, the dang insole starts coming out (or came out), it gets warped, the shoe itself looks like garbage, right!?Well - listen - I’ve washed both pairs of these shoes 2-3 times each, and I am SHOCKED at how well they’ve held up! The insoles have started to come out but they stay together and are not at all warped out of shape! Neither is the shoe!! I think this has a lot to do with the fact that they really comprise three main parts - sole, outer mesh/covering, and insole. THATS IT. No laces loops to drive you mad, there aren’t a bunch of parts that are sewed or glued together and liable to come apart after ONE wash!There IS a caveat you should know: if you buy these and they fit well - wash them with COLD WATER, and wash them carefree, because they will hold up with multiple washes! Do NOT wash them in HOT water. The fabric WILL shrink! (Not prohibitively so, but it will definitely give the show a tighter feel; hence I have removed the laces from the shoe in my photo). I made the mistake of washing my white shoes in the wash with my other whites and in hot water - the fabric shrunk. They are slightly uncomfortable with thicker pairs of socks, but like today, I wore very thin no-show socks and they’re just fine! Now, if you want to ditch the laces, wash them in hot water and the shoe will fit better. :)Okay - this concludes my (maybe) fifth ever review? That should tell you how impressed I am with these. For shoes under $50, I am IMPRESSED! Like, seriously!(Final note: the white shoes are WHITE! I’ve worn them and had people say “WHOA! Your shoes are super white! They’re going to be hard to keep clean!” - little do they know, I’ve washed them three times, and they’ve held up better than the name brands!)Cheers, and happy shopping!
