So I was recently in a Clark’s outlet and at least the men’s shoes seemed obviously a victim of shrinkflation, ie they felt a lot cheaper and lesser quality. Which makes sense as they’re still doing 2 for 99 or I guess men’s just went up to 109. But they were 50 dollars each at the outlets back in 05, so they simply have to be lesser quality now. And it’s really obvious.
So what’s a men’s shoe that has the quality of older Clark’s at maybe 100 a pair now? Anything or do I have to step up to like the Redwing Irish Setter at more like 200?
I mostly want kind of half and half leather boots/shoes. Comfortable. I guess if they also have women’s options that would be interesting too for my mom and sister who had liked Clark’s back in the day.
I wear a lot of clarks shoes and I have found that it greatly depends on the model. I have two pairs (craftdean wing, I think) that are easily six years old and I wear them a lot. Just service them once a year and they still look like new. But I owned another pair (not wings, they were dressier) that lasted me only two years. Perhaps the shoes in the outlet are not the sturdiest?
I have some wallabees and desert londons too and they used to be lower quality because the crepe sole would wear out fast. Last year I bought the black EVO versions and they barely wear out at all.
So clarks is still good in my book. I have two pairs of chelsea boots of the brand vagabond too, and they are great too!
Outlets definitely have lesser quality products made just for them + a few of the real thing that are seconds, closeouts, or just leftover for whatever reason. I worked at a Cole Haan outlet in the 90s. Quality was variable then too.