I’m surprised by the omission of Goral, who must be Crown Northampton’s closest competitor. I’d not heard of Idrese before but checking their website I see they say their sneakers include a leather insole, which must be a big plus.
Thanks for this. Just ordered my first pair of minimalist sneakers from Thursday. The Premier low top cacao. Probably the best value sneakers out there. Love the look, and amazing construction for the price.
Thanks Nick! Love my Ecco Soft 7's which use more manmade materials so probably don't belong on this list, but they are leather on the outside and profoundly comfortable.
This might seem silly, but the most comfortable leather sneaker I've ever owned is a pair of onitsuka tigers Mexico 66. Got them used, and have worn them quite a lot over the last couple years and they're still very good looking with the leather holding up great. While they have some very over the top styles, the all white Mexico 66 pretty minimalist. Not cheap, but about 140 pounds new.
As an Aussie, the discourse about Common Projects pricing is so weird to me. For an Australian buyer, Common Projects and Koio Capri cost the exact same: White Achilles Low shipped from Mr. Porter for 230 GBP minus 10% discount for new customers (Which you can just sign up again for...) plus 22 GBP shipping, total of 229 GBP or $461.01 AUD today, including 3% currency conversion fee. Koio sell direct, they list prices in AUD so it's $460 AUD with free international shipping. They don't have any kind of new customer discount that I saw. Same price lol. Different in other countries I guess... Common Projects are still the GOAT for me. Get the best looking and the OG for the same price. Oliver Cabell have a lot of QC and customer support issues reported, and other brands like Thursday just don't get the silhouette right. Crown Northamptons are in a totally different league and category, but personally I'm not looking for that. They look too dressy.
I have the Koio Capri, Crown Northampton toe cap, Oliver Cabbell, Ace Marks, New Republic, and Thursday boots - all leather sneakers. My fav is Oliver Cabbell and New Republic on a close second. Love the softness of the Oliver and New Republic- considering they are among the cheapest - except for the Thursday boots but New Republic is the cheapest of them all. I have to say that the Crown Northampton is the most polished and beautiful - bar none. The patina on those are just simply gorgeous!
Theyre really nice, recraftable, and in my opinion are definitely a better quality to price value proposition than some of the entries on this list, like Thursday.
I really like the GREATS brand but I think that they have become so popular that they either can't keep up with demand or, greed is seeping in and out weighing quality and pride in craftsmanship. Now there are still a hand full of models being made in Italy which seem to be as good as they have always been but I'm seeing quite a few made in Asia now. Maybe there always have been as I was late in discovering them but seems unlikely considering their rep. I have a pair of St. James High and also a pair of Royal 2.0 High and there is a big difference. The St. James are made in Italy and noticeably of better quality while the Royal 2.0's are made in Portugal and not a bad shoe, but they are more on pair with lesser, mainstream brands like Reebok and Puma, not GREATS typical quality. Also, imo if a shoes company isn't falling over themselves to tell you all about how they make and construct their shoes, boots, etc. then they are hiding something. Sure ok, maybe there could be some marketing genius and one company could use the mystery to build hype but they would come clean after they made it big. Just logic.
yeah i just couldn't find a reason to say they're better than Thursdays which are cheaper, except for the sustainability angle. which is really legit, actually.
Timely for me. My Thursday sneaker has worn through the heel. I was told they are not re-solable, so I was looking for a re-solable look-alike. The Koios might work. I saw the Adelente's are re-solable, but they are.....hideous. Have some Goral SMUGS on order, but they are high-tops and I need some low-cuts to wear, too. Crowns are nice - and they have lower-priced offerings not made of Shell. Decisions.... Anyway, great video, as always.
White minimalist sneakers you guys should check out as well are Southern Gentleman shoes, Loake Sprint, Suit Supply, Aurelian, Reiss, Scarosso, and Hugo Boss from their Outlet store
I picked up a pair of those white Thursdays about six months ago, and so far I'm not a huge fan. First off, they're absurdly shiny - even after wearing them on probably two dozen hikes to get to rock climbing areas (so not well taken care of), they still look weird to me from a shine perspective and I still get comments like "Wow, your shoes are WHITE!" if I even so much as wipe the dirt off them with a damp paper towel. This could be a pro or a con depending on what you're looking for, but just keep in mind they will always look "fancier" than your average white sneaker. Another thing, which may be the case for all of these, is the weight. These shoes weigh an absolute ton, and they are kind of a bear to walk long miles in! They are also excessively narrow as of the January 2024 iteration - I am usually on the wider end of a D width with shoes, and I ordered the EEE width in my size (they do run true to size), and it fits like a slightly wider D width would usually. This is fine for me, but if you actually have wide feet, you may end up using their great free return policy haha. The foam insole feels great when you first try them on, but is so squishy that after standing for an hour or two you basically feel like you're standing on rocks. I very often wear barefoot shoes, and these somehow are less comfortable for just standing around, even on concrete haha. They are also very very slippery inside due to the leather lining. Most people will never walk on a trail with these, but man no matter how tight you lace them your feet will slide all over the place in these, even if the fit is perfect. Honestly taking the leather lining out or reversing it so the suede side is showing would probably go a long ways in fixing that, although would reduce the "premium" feel of them. The tongue is also weirdly stiff, and digs into my ankle when I walk, even after a few hundred miles of wear. In fact, for the first few weeks, I could only wear them for one day per week because they bruised my ankle so severely, and I'm used to serious bruises since my primary hobby is rock climbing so it's not a matter of just being a wimp haha. On top of all of that, the sole is wearing out surprisingly quickly compared to similar shoes I've owned, but that could just be that my gait is different in these for whatever reason (normally I never drag my heels, but in this particular pair of shoes I've been wearing down the heel - maybe the extra weight? Doesn't happen with heavy boots however.) And finally, although this will likely only apply to me, the last just didn't fit my foot properly. It has excessive pressure on the outer side of where the big toe knuckle is, and the lateral side of my mid foot (opposite the arch), even when sized perfectly. No other shoes I've owned have done this, so I figured I'd mention it. Overall, even though the build quality seems to be absolutely top notch, the shoes just never worked for me. However, they have free returns and great customer service, so there's no risk when it comes to just trying them on! Just figured I'd share in case anyone is shopping these!
Before purchasing any of these shoes - look at the reviews on independent sites. Some have very poor reviews and are unable to fulfill orders timely. A complete review should also include repeated, reported customer issues.
@@wills-te3zy And people who make that kind of reply are usually incredibly sensitive and massively butthurt about a complete stranger's opinion of bland overpriced sneakers. 🤣
Dang Nick when you gonna mention the Thursday Encore’s 😂 Yeah I know it’s been said but since I have a pair I keep hoping to see more light shed on them, they’re awesome!
Don't tell anyone but I filmed this before I saw they existed! I feel like the Premier has more character though, and more leathers, and more recognizable. Maybe if this was a common projects alternatives video though
As someone who is 214 years old i love the look of all these ‘minimalist’ sneakers. But holy crap they are not meant for walking around and needing cushioning. The crown one have the LH soles at least but the rest have nothing in the way of padding. I hate that theres no midpoint between these and some ugly dad shoes comfort.
Have a look at Ecco sneakers. They do a lot of models but have some that could be described as minimalist. They are not only well cushioned but they also are good anatomically with the best arch support I've found and a toe box that is shaped like your foot (which to be fair some people may not like as it is not slim enough). They also have their own tanneries which are gold rated and I've found their leather uppers are good. BTW, I'm retired and have found like you that other minimalist sneakers are only good for two or three miles of walking before my feet start to hurt whereas the several pairs of Ecco sneakers I own allow me to be on my feet longer.
@@GoufinAround_ i think there has to be a balance. It needs the squish to absorb shock, but there has to be firmness/structure to that cushion to keep your feet from fatiguing. (Mentally thats how i think about it, no idea if thats true). Mostly my biased opinion with the minimalist sneaker approach is they seem more like a leather converse all star than anything.
@@GoufinAround_ You're right that having something too squishy can often be a problem but that is usually because your feet are not held properly and move around too much when you walk. The way the body absorbs shock when you walk is that your feet roll forward from the outside of the heel through to the big toe. If you're like most people in the West who haven't grown up walking around barefoot and haven't strengthened our feet sufficiently well and then often throw in age and excess weight as factors, we need to have our feet supported and guided while we complete this movement (ignoring other factors such as over pronation) You're literally struggling for your feet to maintain grip as it moves through its shock absorbing phase. Some people use orthotics, either custom made or off the shelf ones like Superfeet which support the heel and arch as your feet roll forward. This is often a good way but does rely on there being sufficient room in the footwear (including height) so often works better with boots. I have used custom ones in the past with boots and now use off the shelf ones. As mentioned previously, the best footwear I've found that consistently has good arch support and supports the feet well while having a lot of toe room, is Ecco. Across half a dozen models I've tried. I have tried and still own numerous other trainers and boots and sometimes an individual shoe hits the sweet spot but other models from the manufacturer don't (Loake Bannister is a good example of this ) but the one brand I've tried that seems to have this designed into all their footwear is the Danish brand Ecco. I'm from Europe so don't know how widely available they are in the States but over here they have quite a lot of shops in the bigger cities where you can try on their shoes.
Adelante: stay away from them, poor customer service and it doesn't take a month to get your shoes, it takes 4 or 5 (yes, I'm speaking from personal experience). I ordered a pair in late December last year, realized I forgot to use the 10% new-customer discount code I had and emailed them asking if they'd apply it retroactively (very easy to do, takes 30 seconds: you just do a partial refund to the customer's credit card, I've had this done in stores on multiple occasions when I was overcharged for something). They took a week to get back to me and when they did it was just a curt "no, sorry, we're not doing that". Did they *have* to do that? No. Was it my fault I forgot to use the code? Yes. *Should* they have done it anyway and does the slow reply and their refusal to apply the discount constitute "poor customer service"? Yes. Also, I didn't get the shoes until late April or early May, I forget exactly. I'll never buy from Adelante again.
Oliver Cabell has a really cool style, which in some ways I find their last even more attractive than Common Projects, but they don't come even close to Koio in terms of quality. In my experience, the squeaking doesn't go away over time on Oliver Cabell and the QA on them is to be desired. When you get a good one, they are great, but my last pair, the sole flares out because the upper wasn't stitched as well as my previous pairs. Honestly, I think the quality actually went down when they moved production from Spain to Italy and then down again when they abandoned Margom soles. The ones made from Spain felt more comfortable out of the box, if I'm being completely honest. I've owned Oliver Cabell made in Spain (1st gen), made in Italy with Margom soles (2nd gen) and made in Italy without Margom soles (3rd gen). I reply regret exchanging one of my 1st gens for a 2nd gen. Koio on the other hand, can't say enough about them. Their attention to detail was even greater than Common Projects. I've owned CPs with some different width overlayed leathers around the between left and right foot, which also led to a longer break-in period on the left foot. Another where the tongue wasn't stitched straight causing an uncomfortable crease over one of my foot. The break in on Common Projects have always taken a few days of wear, particularly in the back heel. Only for the Original Achilles, though, the Retro Classics have much more comfortable heel construction right out of the box. With Koio, I can wear them sock-less on day one without any hotspots of blisters. Love my Common Projects and I think they look slightly better than Koio, but in terms of day one comfort and quality, I like Koio even better than Common Projects.
Thanks for all these details. I’m however hesitating between the CP retro classics and Koio. Are the retro comfortable? I prefer them over the Achilles for the heel height and koio i find them bulkier than CP. any advice?
@@T3720 I think the retro classics are more comfortable out of the box than than the Achilles low. After breaking them in, the difference is negligible. One thing to keep in mind is that the silhouette of the retro classics look to me slightly different. A bit more bulk relative to the low original.
@@T3720 That's a tough one. On the heel definitely the Koio, which I think is due to the extra padding. The metal eyelets on the retro might give some the optical illusion of being bulkier up front and more like a standard Stan Smith. I think overall the Koio might look bulkier because the cup sole is a tad higher. However, the silhouette on the Koio is still very handsome and it baffles me that they don't include a picture that highlights the contour on the outside of the foot, hinting at what you'd see in an Oxford. In comparison the CP tend to have a more straight. Anyways, I think if your goal is to go more minimal, the CP retro is less bulky overall. Another thing to note is that although the heel on CP are less padded giving it a more sleek look, when you walk, perhaps because of the minimal padding, the sides around the ankle flair out noticeably more than other shoes. All shoes do it to some degree, just that CP tend to do it even more. A bit less with the retro relative to the original low, but still more than Koio or other shoes in this category.
Just to add that one of the things I noticed on the retro is that the toe box is slightly rounder relative to the original lows. That's why I said they look to me bulkier than the originals, but I do think they are slightly better shoes than the originals.
Watching this wearing my Thursday Sneakers in Vachetta leather. Love them 👍. The fit is great for my feet. I ordered my normal size in Sneakers, which is 10.5 D. It took 14 days for them to arrive here in Denmark 🇩🇰. But that is ok.
What do you think of the koio Capri Regenerative?. It's 1.8mm leather and in terms or creasing of the leather, is it better than the nuno? Big fan..!! Thanks in advance.
I feel like this tier of leather sneakers is a bit of a hardsell for anyone who isn't a fashion enthusiast - and sometimes I wonder if this channel attracts more of a fashion community or a craftsman/gear community. Personally, I have two pairs of Beckett Simonons which I like and one pair of Oliver Cabell's which I think are just OK. However, for most occasions, I wear Adidas superstars or Sambas and find them generally more comfortable and versatile. Only recently did I find a place in my wardrobe for this tier of "nice sneakers" and that is when I began needing to wear more "tailored" or more "business casual" outfits where Adidas, Reeboks, and Nikes feel out of place.
I love Thursday Boots shoes and boots and also have two pairs of sneakers. I’m a heel striker and I pronate and the heels on my sneakers have worn down on the outside side of the heels which is disappointing but I have had them for at least two years (I only wear them in the summer).
How’s the first of crown Northampton’s compared to Koio? They appear a bit more clown shoe-ish just off photos and I really like my the sleek streamlined look but love the craftsmanship being offered
Nick, great video as usual. Any thoughts on when a margon sole is too worn out to wear? I feel like the leather upper on one of my sneakers is in such good shape.... but the sole looks rougher. I feel weird throwing them out if the leather is in such a good shape!
Hey guys you know who has a near perfect if not perfect shoe width, height, shape, weight and overall aesthetic is Hugo Boss. The shoes do feel cheap I am not gonna try to lie but the shoe is perfect it's an all white Minimalist maybe a tad bit too much stitching on the side panel but overall the shoe is in Boss's rotation and staple for a reason. It is overly priced for sure but the aesthetic and profile is very nice.
As an average guy, I appreciate you making videos for average guys. I'm taking a trip to NYC soon, maybe next week, and I'm going to swing by Koio to try them on. I'm afraid to order them because I've heard conflicting reports as to whether to size up or size down.
@RespectfullyCurious Appreciate the reply! I've been debating whether to just order them online, but I think we're going to NY this weekend. I'll probably just wait to try them on in store.
I prioritize underfoot cushion. These minimalist sneakers lack that. I've found leather sneakers with soft midsole foam. Best of both worlds. Not easy to find, but they're there.
![DDG & G Herbo - Nosey [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/I9Ra0Zc2NlQ/mqdefault.jpg)
![[Limbus Company - Teaser] Season5 - Oblivion](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8anKuEeZLeI/mqdefault.jpg)
I have some handstitched crowns and can agree this is by far the best purchase i've made for sneakers I intend to use for a long long time
Still no GORAL😢
Nice wrap-up! Shout out to Goral in England as well who do some great work!
Goral are legit too I've got their boots! Crown is my favorite fancy sneaker but maybe one day I'll do an all 'crazy fancy sneaker' roundup
I’m surprised by the omission of Goral, who must be Crown Northampton’s closest competitor. I’d not heard of Idrese before but checking their website I see they say their sneakers include a leather insole, which must be a big plus.
Thanks for this. Just ordered my first pair of minimalist sneakers from Thursday. The Premier low top cacao. Probably the best value sneakers out there. Love the look, and amazing construction for the price.
Thanks Nick! Love my Ecco Soft 7's which use more manmade materials so probably don't belong on this list, but they are leather on the outside and profoundly comfortable.
I appreciate some of these brands responding to requests for wider options as well as you discussing it. Great list. Thanks!
wide widths are such a small minority that i understand brands not making them, but wide footed guys are very vocal when they don't have options!
Awesome wrap up again Nick. Thanks.
What about Goral…?
This might seem silly, but the most comfortable leather sneaker I've ever owned is a pair of onitsuka tigers Mexico 66. Got them used, and have worn them quite a lot over the last couple years and they're still very good looking with the leather holding up great. While they have some very over the top styles, the all white Mexico 66 pretty minimalist. Not cheap, but about 140 pounds new.
Sebastian Castellanos approves of your background music.
As an Aussie, the discourse about Common Projects pricing is so weird to me. For an Australian buyer, Common Projects and Koio Capri cost the exact same:
White Achilles Low shipped from Mr. Porter for 230 GBP minus 10% discount for new customers (Which you can just sign up again for...) plus 22 GBP shipping, total of 229 GBP or $461.01 AUD today, including 3% currency conversion fee.
Koio sell direct, they list prices in AUD so it's $460 AUD with free international shipping. They don't have any kind of new customer discount that I saw. Same price lol. Different in other countries I guess...
Common Projects are still the GOAT for me. Get the best looking and the OG for the same price. Oliver Cabell have a lot of QC and customer support issues reported, and other brands like Thursday just don't get the silhouette right. Crown Northamptons are in a totally different league and category, but personally I'm not looking for that. They look too dressy.
I have the Koio Capri, Crown Northampton toe cap, Oliver Cabbell, Ace Marks, New Republic, and Thursday boots - all leather sneakers. My fav is Oliver Cabbell and New Republic on a close second. Love the softness of the Oliver and New Republic- considering they are among the cheapest - except for the Thursday boots but New Republic is the cheapest of them all.
I have to say that the Crown Northampton is the most polished and beautiful - bar none. The patina on those are just simply gorgeous!
Have you ever tried the Allen Edmonds courtside? I'm looking at them because they have EEE widths and look really nice.
Theyre really nice, recraftable, and in my opinion are definitely a better quality to price value proposition than some of the entries on this list, like Thursday.
Common Projects 🐐.
I really like the GREATS brand but I think that they have become so popular that they either can't keep up with demand or, greed is seeping in and out weighing quality and pride in craftsmanship. Now there are still a hand full of models being made in Italy which seem to be as good as they have always been but I'm seeing quite a few made in Asia now. Maybe there always have been as I was late in discovering them but seems unlikely considering their rep. I have a pair of St. James High and also a pair of Royal 2.0 High and there is a big difference. The St. James are made in Italy and noticeably of better quality while the Royal 2.0's are made in Portugal and not a bad shoe, but they are more on pair with lesser, mainstream brands like Reebok and Puma, not GREATS typical quality.
Also, imo if a shoes company isn't falling over themselves to tell you all about how they make and construct their shoes, boots, etc. then they are hiding something. Sure ok, maybe there could be some marketing genius and one company could use the mystery to build hype but they would come clean after they made it big. Just logic.
Curious as to your thoughts on Magnanni?
I really think Beckett Simonon Reid sneaker is underrated and really is bang for your buck, just long wait
yeah i just couldn't find a reason to say they're better than Thursdays which are cheaper, except for the sustainability angle. which is really legit, actually.
Thank for the review! What are the jeans you are wearing with these shoes?
Zeha Berlin comes to my mind when we talk leather sneakers
Timely for me. My Thursday sneaker has worn through the heel. I was told they are not re-solable, so I was looking for a re-solable look-alike. The Koios might work. I saw the Adelente's are re-solable, but they are.....hideous. Have some Goral SMUGS on order, but they are high-tops and I need some low-cuts to wear, too. Crowns are nice - and they have lower-priced offerings not made of Shell. Decisions.... Anyway, great video, as always.
Goral mellor 2's are resolable
Another fantastic video.
appreciate it man!
Grant stone coast sneakers?
Would love a review on Grant Stone’s Coast Sneaker.
you know I never see people talking about those, i wonder if they're selling
@@StridewiseI have a pair and they are the best sneakers!! Far and away better than Koio at a similar price point…but they don’t do white calfskin
The pair of Oliver Cabells I got were super tight and didn't feel very high quality. My Koios definitely blew them out of the water.
hey nick!! thanks for the video wich one you recommend me for every day wear ?
Koio is my favorite.
thanks nick and between the crownnorthampton and the idrese wich one is more comfy?
White minimalist sneakers you guys should check out as well are Southern Gentleman shoes, Loake Sprint, Suit Supply, Aurelian, Reiss, Scarosso, and Hugo Boss from their Outlet store
I picked up a pair of those white Thursdays about six months ago, and so far I'm not a huge fan. First off, they're absurdly shiny - even after wearing them on probably two dozen hikes to get to rock climbing areas (so not well taken care of), they still look weird to me from a shine perspective and I still get comments like "Wow, your shoes are WHITE!" if I even so much as wipe the dirt off them with a damp paper towel. This could be a pro or a con depending on what you're looking for, but just keep in mind they will always look "fancier" than your average white sneaker.
Another thing, which may be the case for all of these, is the weight. These shoes weigh an absolute ton, and they are kind of a bear to walk long miles in!
They are also excessively narrow as of the January 2024 iteration - I am usually on the wider end of a D width with shoes, and I ordered the EEE width in my size (they do run true to size), and it fits like a slightly wider D width would usually. This is fine for me, but if you actually have wide feet, you may end up using their great free return policy haha.
The foam insole feels great when you first try them on, but is so squishy that after standing for an hour or two you basically feel like you're standing on rocks. I very often wear barefoot shoes, and these somehow are less comfortable for just standing around, even on concrete haha.
They are also very very slippery inside due to the leather lining. Most people will never walk on a trail with these, but man no matter how tight you lace them your feet will slide all over the place in these, even if the fit is perfect. Honestly taking the leather lining out or reversing it so the suede side is showing would probably go a long ways in fixing that, although would reduce the "premium" feel of them.
The tongue is also weirdly stiff, and digs into my ankle when I walk, even after a few hundred miles of wear. In fact, for the first few weeks, I could only wear them for one day per week because they bruised my ankle so severely, and I'm used to serious bruises since my primary hobby is rock climbing so it's not a matter of just being a wimp haha.
On top of all of that, the sole is wearing out surprisingly quickly compared to similar shoes I've owned, but that could just be that my gait is different in these for whatever reason (normally I never drag my heels, but in this particular pair of shoes I've been wearing down the heel - maybe the extra weight? Doesn't happen with heavy boots however.)
And finally, although this will likely only apply to me, the last just didn't fit my foot properly. It has excessive pressure on the outer side of where the big toe knuckle is, and the lateral side of my mid foot (opposite the arch), even when sized perfectly. No other shoes I've owned have done this, so I figured I'd mention it.
Overall, even though the build quality seems to be absolutely top notch, the shoes just never worked for me. However, they have free returns and great customer service, so there's no risk when it comes to just trying them on! Just figured I'd share in case anyone is shopping these!
Goral
Before purchasing any of these shoes - look at the reviews on independent sites. Some have very poor reviews and are unable to fulfill orders timely. A complete review should also include repeated, reported customer issues.
You dont talk too much but too fast imo aha, great video nonetheless
Speak s-l-o-w-l-y
Money can't buy taste.
people who say this aren’t usually the ones with the best taste, but sure are the loudest about it
@@wills-te3zy And people who make that kind of reply are usually incredibly sensitive and massively butthurt about a complete stranger's opinion of bland overpriced sneakers. 🤣
@@ariescustom hm I think I did a good job of explaining when price is and isn't justifiable here
@@Stridewise Paying that much for sneakers is only justifiable by low self-esteem and gullibility, really. Hey, whatever floateth your boat.
Dang Nick when you gonna mention the Thursday Encore’s 😂
Yeah I know it’s been said but since I have a pair I keep hoping to see more light shed on them, they’re awesome!
Don't tell anyone but I filmed this before I saw they existed! I feel like the Premier has more character though, and more leathers, and more recognizable. Maybe if this was a common projects alternatives video though
As someone who is 214 years old i love the look of all these ‘minimalist’ sneakers. But holy crap they are not meant for walking around and needing cushioning. The crown one have the LH soles at least but the rest have nothing in the way of padding. I hate that theres no midpoint between these and some ugly dad shoes comfort.
There’s defentily midpoints
Have a look at Ecco sneakers. They do a lot of models but have some that could be described as minimalist. They are not only well cushioned but they also are good anatomically with the best arch support I've found and a toe box that is shaped like your foot (which to be fair some people may not like as it is not slim enough).
They also have their own tanneries which are gold rated and I've found their leather uppers are good.
BTW, I'm retired and have found like you that other minimalist sneakers are only good for two or three miles of walking before my feet start to hurt whereas the several pairs of Ecco sneakers I own allow me to be on my feet longer.
That's interesting because the more cushion, the worse my feet feel. Especially with modern running or modern running style shoes
@@GoufinAround_ i think there has to be a balance. It needs the squish to absorb shock, but there has to be firmness/structure to that cushion to keep your feet from fatiguing. (Mentally thats how i think about it, no idea if thats true). Mostly my biased opinion with the minimalist sneaker approach is they seem more like a leather converse all star than anything.
@@GoufinAround_ You're right that having something too squishy can often be a problem but that is usually because your feet are not held properly and move around too much when you walk. The way the body absorbs shock when you walk is that your feet roll forward from the outside of the heel through to the big toe. If you're like most people in the West who haven't grown up walking around barefoot and haven't strengthened our feet sufficiently well and then often throw in age and excess weight as factors, we need to have our feet supported and guided while we complete this movement (ignoring other factors such as over pronation) You're literally struggling for your feet to maintain grip as it moves through its shock absorbing phase. Some people use orthotics, either custom made or off the shelf ones like Superfeet which support the heel and arch as your feet roll forward. This is often a good way but does rely on there being sufficient room in the footwear (including height) so often works better with boots. I have used custom ones in the past with boots and now use off the shelf ones.
As mentioned previously, the best footwear I've found that consistently has good arch support and supports the feet well while having a lot of toe room, is Ecco. Across half a dozen models I've tried.
I have tried and still own numerous other trainers and boots and sometimes an individual shoe hits the sweet spot but other models from the manufacturer don't (Loake Bannister is a good example of this ) but the one brand I've tried that seems to have this designed into all their footwear is the Danish brand Ecco. I'm from Europe so don't know how widely available they are in the States but over here they have quite a lot of shops in the bigger cities where you can try on their shoes.
How many feet do you have? You seem to put multiple footwear through their paces.
He does a *lot* of walking.
yeah I live in New York so I walk several miles a day, it's the main good thing about this city haha
Weres the Allen Edmonds?
Adelante: stay away from them, poor customer service and it doesn't take a month to get your shoes, it takes 4 or 5 (yes, I'm speaking from personal experience). I ordered a pair in late December last year, realized I forgot to use the 10% new-customer discount code I had and emailed them asking if they'd apply it retroactively (very easy to do, takes 30 seconds: you just do a partial refund to the customer's credit card, I've had this done in stores on multiple occasions when I was overcharged for something). They took a week to get back to me and when they did it was just a curt "no, sorry, we're not doing that". Did they *have* to do that? No. Was it my fault I forgot to use the code? Yes. *Should* they have done it anyway and does the slow reply and their refusal to apply the discount constitute "poor customer service"? Yes. Also, I didn't get the shoes until late April or early May, I forget exactly. I'll never buy from Adelante again.
All of that sounds like your fault not theirs so they have no obligation to do that because it’s not their fault.
Oliver Cabell has a really cool style, which in some ways I find their last even more attractive than Common Projects, but they don't come even close to Koio in terms of quality. In my experience, the squeaking doesn't go away over time on Oliver Cabell and the QA on them is to be desired. When you get a good one, they are great, but my last pair, the sole flares out because the upper wasn't stitched as well as my previous pairs. Honestly, I think the quality actually went down when they moved production from Spain to Italy and then down again when they abandoned Margom soles. The ones made from Spain felt more comfortable out of the box, if I'm being completely honest. I've owned Oliver Cabell made in Spain (1st gen), made in Italy with Margom soles (2nd gen) and made in Italy without Margom soles (3rd gen). I reply regret exchanging one of my 1st gens for a 2nd gen.
Koio on the other hand, can't say enough about them. Their attention to detail was even greater than Common Projects. I've owned CPs with some different width overlayed leathers around the between left and right foot, which also led to a longer break-in period on the left foot. Another where the tongue wasn't stitched straight causing an uncomfortable crease over one of my foot. The break in on Common Projects have always taken a few days of wear, particularly in the back heel. Only for the Original Achilles, though, the Retro Classics have much more comfortable heel construction right out of the box. With Koio, I can wear them sock-less on day one without any hotspots of blisters. Love my Common Projects and I think they look slightly better than Koio, but in terms of day one comfort and quality, I like Koio even better than Common Projects.
Thanks for all these details. I’m however hesitating between the CP retro classics and Koio. Are the retro comfortable? I prefer them over the Achilles for the heel height and koio i find them bulkier than CP. any advice?
@@T3720 I think the retro classics are more comfortable out of the box than than the Achilles low. After breaking them in, the difference is negligible. One thing to keep in mind is that the silhouette of the retro classics look to me slightly different. A bit more bulk relative to the low original.
@@Paulo-ze1tl what about Koio compared to the retros. Which one is bulkier?
@@T3720 That's a tough one. On the heel definitely the Koio, which I think is due to the extra padding. The metal eyelets on the retro might give some the optical illusion of being bulkier up front and more like a standard Stan Smith. I think overall the Koio might look bulkier because the cup sole is a tad higher. However, the silhouette on the Koio is still very handsome and it baffles me that they don't include a picture that highlights the contour on the outside of the foot, hinting at what you'd see in an Oxford. In comparison the CP tend to have a more straight. Anyways, I think if your goal is to go more minimal, the CP retro is less bulky overall.
Another thing to note is that although the heel on CP are less padded giving it a more sleek look, when you walk, perhaps because of the minimal padding, the sides around the ankle flair out noticeably more than other shoes. All shoes do it to some degree, just that CP tend to do it even more. A bit less with the retro relative to the original low, but still more than Koio or other shoes in this category.
Just to add that one of the things I noticed on the retro is that the toe box is slightly rounder relative to the original lows. That's why I said they look to me bulkier than the originals, but I do think they are slightly better shoes than the originals.
common project ‘s are the best!🔥
Am I drunk or is the audio being sped up? Why does it sound like you're speaking unnaturally fast at the beginning of the video?
maybe because i have an accent and an annoying voice? i also cut it up a bit, i was rambling a lot so maybe it's unnaturally jolty
@@Stridewise same accent as me mate, think I was actually just drunk 😂😂
Nice video! I have so much Stridewise to catch up on!
haha i've been so low output with videos lately that this is encouraging to hear, so happy you like the channel my man! cool username too
Watching this wearing my Thursday Sneakers in Vachetta leather. Love them 👍. The fit is great for my feet. I ordered my normal size in Sneakers, which is 10.5 D. It took 14 days for them to arrive here in Denmark 🇩🇰. But that is ok.
What do you think of the koio Capri Regenerative?. It's 1.8mm leather and in terms or creasing of the leather, is it better than the nuno? Big fan..!! Thanks in advance.
I feel like this tier of leather sneakers is a bit of a hardsell for anyone who isn't a fashion enthusiast - and sometimes I wonder if this channel attracts more of a fashion community or a craftsman/gear community. Personally, I have two pairs of Beckett Simonons which I like and one pair of Oliver Cabell's which I think are just OK. However, for most occasions, I wear Adidas superstars or Sambas and find them generally more comfortable and versatile. Only recently did I find a place in my wardrobe for this tier of "nice sneakers" and that is when I began needing to wear more "tailored" or more "business casual" outfits where Adidas, Reeboks, and Nikes feel out of place.
I love Thursday Boots shoes and boots and also have two pairs of sneakers. I’m a heel striker and I pronate and the heels on my sneakers have worn down on the outside side of the heels which is disappointing but I have had them for at least two years (I only wear them in the summer).
How’s the first of crown Northampton’s compared to Koio? They appear a bit more clown shoe-ish just off photos and I really like my the sleek streamlined look but love the craftsmanship being offered
Nick, great video as usual. Any thoughts on when a margon sole is too worn out to wear? I feel like the leather upper on one of my sneakers is in such good shape.... but the sole looks rougher. I feel weird throwing them out if the leather is in such a good shape!
I recently got some GAT sneakers from beckett and I think they changed the last and the gum sole but maybe I'm crazy
Hey guys you know who has a near perfect if not perfect shoe width, height, shape, weight and overall aesthetic is Hugo Boss. The shoes do feel cheap I am not gonna try to lie but the shoe is perfect it's an all white Minimalist maybe a tad bit too much stitching on the side panel but overall the shoe is in Boss's rotation and staple for a reason. It is overly priced for sure but the aesthetic and profile is very nice.
Ultralights by Archibald London puts these all to bed.
Crown's cheaper models are not built the same way than their higher end sneakers
You should review the Grant Stone coast sneakers!
Another video sleeping on Florsheim.
Mephisto Match
Video editing is getting better and better
and my video POSTING gets spottier and spottier as a result! gotta up the volume haha
read the menswear guy
oh i read him. he's made my rises much higher
As an average guy, I appreciate you making videos for average guys. I'm taking a trip to NYC soon, maybe next week, and I'm going to swing by Koio to try them on. I'm afraid to order them because I've heard conflicting reports as to whether to size up or size down.
size up from my experience. the capri are fairly true to size, but their other shoes were a bit tight so I'd go a half size up.
@RespectfullyCurious Appreciate the reply! I've been debating whether to just order them online, but I think we're going to NY this weekend. I'll probably just wait to try them on in store.
Love the look of my Thursdays. Hate the feel. Wish they were as comfortable as my Cadet boots from them.
I prioritize underfoot cushion. These minimalist sneakers lack that. I've found leather sneakers with soft midsole foam. Best of both worlds. Not easy to find, but they're there.
girly boy shoes