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Ok you lot of fashionistas, casual shoe/Trainer advice sought. Under £50, size 9......what you all wearing
Do you not know the rules? Your taste in trainers is suspended in aspic when you hit 18. Whatever you are wearing then you must wear for the rest of your life
This is why most 'gentlemen of a certain age' all what Adidas Gazelles and Samba's
In my case I own a large amount of different coloured New Balance 574's (I've a blue and grey pair on at the moment). I have recently slightly diversified though with the addition of some equally old school Diadora Camaro's for a change.
You can never have too many trainers...
Adidads or Dadidas - I'm never sure which.
Whatever New Balance is in the sale at Schuh. I work in an office but commute on foot so need something comfortable that doesn't like a prop from a sci-fi movie like most trainers do now.
Whatever New Balance is in the sale at Schuh.
It's worth getting on the New Balance mailing list. They have regular stock clearouts on the website where you can pick up some real bargains
@ Binners LOL. I met the daughter recently for lunch wearing (what I thought) were my cool trainers.
She said " You look like your dad in those!!" He's 82.
I'll have a look at the NB stuff.
Under £50?
Trawl the sales?
Anyway yeah I would go New Balance or Asics - both do a decent range of 'normal'ish looking trainers. They also do some ludicrous ones too, but so do all the others. I've got 2 pairs of Asics GT-II and they're very comfy and fairly low-key.
I do like a nice low Adidas too - like the Hamburg or Samba, but they're not very cushioned, and not that always that comfy if you're going to be doing a lot of walking.
New Balance, Saucony or Karhu for me.
I should add that I had to abandon my self imposed £50 limit a few years ago. Everything is just too expensive for that these days. Stuff only gets heavy reductions in a sale when there's only size 6 and 14 left in stock.
Only trainers worth getting is adidas gazelle....maybe its my age...but worn 5hese since my kidulthood
oxford canvas trainers
New Balance here. They even so some suitable for vegans now, which is nice.
I've moved from Samba/gazelle to Stan Smiths...
Vivo, altra and Lems currently
You’re not getting any Vivo footwear for £50. Skate shoes from DC, Zoo York, Reef, Etnes or Vans? Whatever you can find in TK Maxx that looks good, then realise they’re in every size apart from yours!
New Balance or Saucony, mostly.
Scarpa Crux, not £50 but lasted 3x longer than my last pair of actual trainers (Merrell)
Reiss outlet - black tumbled leather; £145 down to £55.
Nike Air Max 90’s or Dunks. Not under £50 but there we go.
What you really want are NikeCraft GPS’s, but they’re almost impossible to find.
TK Maxx has some ones at the moment.
We've got a vans outlet nearby. I don't usually pay more than about £30 for a pair.
For winter/mucky days, GO have Merrell's for about £50 now & again.
Not quite within budget but I'd get a pair of these. They're subtle and could be used on the bike also
https://www.scotbycycles.co.uk/products/five-ten-sleuth-dlx-cycling-shoes
Ok you lot of fashionistas
You do realise you are on the Singletrack forum?
STW forum posters footwear advice
Puma suede. Timeless classic like the Gazelle, but fit my feet better
Seems like New Balance is de rigueur for the STW ists
I just tend to go on sportshoes.com now as I get permanant 10% discount from athletic club membership so save £££'s over the year, get a 'sports' trainer that looks casual so at least it's better made than a flimsy high st job
I just realised I'm advocating for 'practical' footwear, I'll be buying shoes out of the daily mail magazine supplement next
I'd advise against those Five Ten Sleuths. I got the black suede ones which look nice but the soles wore out so fast just from walking around in them. I should have saved them just for riding. After a couple of months the soles are so thin they're good for nothing.
Are the people wearing Gazelles pairing them with Fred Perry shirts and Stone Island coats?
For years just bought the usual Adidas Hamburgs /Forest Hills or Spezials. Im 51 and realised they are really not that comfy in all honesty. Now buy Diadora runners or ZX600's as they are atleast comfy on longer days. Also bought a pair of Adidas terrex Sky chasers as they are well cushioned and totally waterproof for hill climbing and also not bad on the bike.
Always wait for the massive discounts near the end of the sales. If you subscribe to mansavings you can normally pick up some bargains.
No idea on price range but I'm staggered at the market share Skechers seem to have obtained in the UK. Some of the big name players must be feeling the the impact of that.
New Balance 327s. You’ll need to shop around for sub-£50 but perfectly possible. My last pairs were £55 new and £38 very lightly used on eBay. Mega comfy and apparently fairly trendy/cool
cheap Etnies Jameson here. comfy. good for pub biking.
You can’t beat an ex wannabe B Boy pair of Adidas Superstars for cool dad appeal… in my head anyway.
Vans old skool lows in leather /suede. Usually from TKMaxx online so I don't have to mingle with the great unwashed.
If you're OK with not wearing adidas/puma/NB/another trainer brand then these Decathlons are great, I've been wearing mine all summer for pretty much everything, they're good quality, comfortable and look decent in an outdoorsy way rather than a height of fashion way. I'm normally a 9, i went 9.5 in these and they're spot on. I had their predecessors too which while looking a bit tired now are proving to be borderline indestructible!
No idea on price range but I’m staggered at the market share Skechers seem to have obtained in the UK. Some of the big name players must be feeling the the impact of that
Different demographic though. A few years ago I was designing advertising for a certain large online retailer who really pushed the Sketchers and sold literally thousands and thousands and thousands of them. They also sell garden furniture and sponsor daytime TV programmes.
I’m presently designing stuff for a certain large sportswear retailer (no, not that one) and I know for sure that at no point will I be seeing a pair of Sketchers, but i will be seeing a lot of Air Jordan’s, Vans, Adidas Forums and New Balance 327’s
I’d say the crossover between those two target markets is absolutely zero - at least until those presently wearing Jordan’s have retired 😂
Scrap that budget and go with Scarpa's as scruffy above. 5 years of of the last pair and only got new ones when I realised the sole was worn so thin I was getting in to the cushioning. Worn almost daily.
New Balance 373 or Adidas Spezials / Munchen here.
@sharkattack - I don’t wear Stone Island, but those that do rarely wear Gazelles or Fred Perry.
@sharkattack – I don’t wear Stone Island, but those that do rarely wear Gazelles or Fred Perry.
Have you been to a match recently? Gazelles and Stone Island are pretty ubiquitous, Fred Perry a slightly older demographic but gazelles (and spezials) are worn by most of the Stoney crew along with Burberry scarfs & caps.
Have a look at the Rieker Antistress Shoe - It’s a shame you’re not a size 10 because I’ve got a pair for sale they’re too wide for me and I bought them brand-new in haste
Superstar.
If they're good enough for Jam Master Jay, they're good enough for you.
Nike are for Americans, prisoners and young people.
Puma are for losers.
Reebok are worn by burglars and MDMA casualties.
New Balance are a middle class affectation, but look nice when using a Pizza Oven.
So, Adidas.....
Superstar are about the pick of the bunch although Stan Smith are acceptable in an emergency.
Samba/Gazelle/Diadora Borg Elite only if you've ever jibbed a Football Special.
Ah, the 80's French exchange sudent look. 🙂
I quite like those.
How wide are they?
Nike are for Americans, prisoners and young people.
Puma are for losers.
Reebok are worn by burglars and MDMA casualties.
New Balance are a middle class affectation, but look nice when using a Pizza Oven.So, Adidas…..
Superstar are about the pick of the bunch although Stan Smith are acceptable in an emergency.
Samba/Gazelle/Diadora Borg Elite only if you’ve ever jibbed a Football Special.
That's a lot of strong opinions for a man who wears shell toe clown shoes.
What do you do when you're not dishing out fashion advice? Sneak around spraying your tag on the subway?
£50?
So a pair of Gazelles would be two deer then.
grown men dressing like teenage football hooligans and wannabee mancshester britpop band members............ FFS get a grip.
That’s a lot of strong opinions for a man who wears shell toe clown shoes.
What do you do when you’re not dishing out fashion advice? Sneak around spraying your tag on the subway?
Merrell wearer?
grown men dressing like teenage football hooligans and wannabee mancshester britpop band members………… FFS get a grip.
Shan't 😀
I’m a DC Shoes wearer - under your budget and as garish or muted as you wish…
https://rollersnakes.co.uk/collections/mens-low-tops/brand_dc?sort_by=best-selling
…as a kid I lived in Puma Californias and Pods. They’ve not aged well!! 🤣🤣
Beacause I'm cooler than you lot, I wear Lacoste. Got a pair of these on at the moment.
Adidas do also feature heavily though....
I quite like those.
How wide are they?
They’re in classifieds ;). offers invited. Wide-fit (G1/2) which is perfect for me but the length a little too big - I usually take a 9.5 but these are more like a ‘roomy’ 10. I may actually take them back to the shop and hope they exchange for the size down if complain about the initial fitting service.
Stan Smiths and Lacoste -->> Rock that care home 😉 😀
No one rocking Converse? Got a pair of All Stars on right now
Adidas ZX700. Sign up for their mailing list get 20% off first order. Boom! etc.
No one rocking Converse? Got a pair of All Stars on right now
Was going to say the same...apart from........**** me they make my feet tired after a few hours on them.
I feel I am demographically in New Balances hitting zone and completely agree with binner's first post about being stuck in your 18 year old habit. Not sure I was doing at 18, but NB completely passed me by back then, which means I've never felt comfortable wearing them.
As an owner of "Clown Feet" I tend to put off buying shoes/trainers/etc until previous known good pairs are almost falling off my feet. Sadly, that day has come for both my old Nanos (worn to death in the office) and my Innov8s (worn to death in the gym, the tunnel and skydiving), so i am now looking for a pair to replace them that better than the Pumas I got for the office before pandemic.
After a poor decision with some BMX trainers that were too small and some disappointment that Vans don't make anything like the classic "Floyd" any more, I've just bough my first pair of Etnies (Marana). Apparently they have a grippy but hardwearing Michelin rubber sole, so should be awesome for both inside and outside use.
Now I just have to wait for them to turn up and see if I chose wisely with the size.
Converse All-stars. Look good at any age, with any other clothing. Been wearing them since I was a teenager, and will hopefully get buried in a pair.
Come in and out of fashion, but always in style. Get a leather pair for winter...
Too many pairs…
La Sportiva and Five Ten shoes for bouldering, approach and MTB.
Footwear for sporting activities. Nike.
Leisure shoes (Retro) - Adidas, Puma, Nike, Vans* and Converse. New Balance and Nike SB.
Oldest pair of trainers are 28 year old Vans.
Recently had a clear out as well…
Converse All-stars. Look good at any age, with any other clothing.
Sadly I discovered, with the death of my Chuck Taylor IIs, that Converse stopped making the Chuck IIs pretty quickly. Shame as I liked them, the added insole was a big difference. But I found some all-star all-terrain (and which size I needed them in) for the winter
Vans not too much ridiculous cushioning and can commute in them when it's dry and theyre comfortable for my flippers wide-ish feet.
Converse All-stars. Look good at any age, with any other clothing
Lol! Plimsolls. 🤣 Soz.
I just go for what fits my feet, not what is 'fashionable'. This means brands like Brooks, Vivobarefoot, some Merrells, and for more 'sporty' needs, On. Which are ridiculously expensive. But also which our friends 20-something daughter, who has a little side hustle in buying and selling 'collectible' trainers, visibly shuddered at when she saw them. So they're not cool. As for what is 'cool'; if they're favoured by middle aged white men, then they're most definitely not cool. Use that as a basic guide, and you can't go far wrong.
Yeezy's seem to be popular amongst the young people. 😱
All black converse all star for office and grey Adidas Hamburg for home (Adidas from outlet for £39 and converse from Schuh sale for £45) having to have separate clothes/shoes for office as a bike commuter is traumatic but I guess I've saved thousands in car/train over last 7 years.
So a pair of Gazelles would be two deer then.
Very good 🙂
New Balance - or Dad trainers as my teenage daughters call them.
What's the idea of extended the heel back that a lot of modern trainers do? Are a lot of the youth unable to stand upright without falling backwards? Noticed some of the new 510s do it now.
Omg
What’s the idea of extended the heel back that a lot of modern trainers do? Are a lot of the youth unable to stand upright without falling backwards?
I don’t think the ‘youth’ would be seen dead in those ones pictured above. Round this way (my kids included) the uniform seems to be Nike AF1s / Jordan’s / blazers / Dunks / Max / TFs (which are mostly historically 90s designs).