Shoes, dress/business style.

M

Matt Vivlamore

Senior
Jan 11, 2011
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Southern MD, USA
www.meerkatsound.com
I know we do this about once a year… but its more geared towards “athletic” type shoes. But since I work with a wedding/corpy band and I have to dress up, athletic shoes don’t seem to fit in the dress code department. I am looking for a shoe that I can wear for load-in and load-out as well as the show/event. Everything of mine is packed in a cargo van and taken to gigs, so no loading semi-trucks or working with steel & staging.

I have tried wearing some New Balance 608’s, but I seem to break them down within 3-4 months of weekend work.

I'm at the point where I'm willing to spend a little more money for a show to last me longer.
 
Re: Shoes, dress/business style.

I have happily moved into Ecco track 6 as my main hard shoe based on the advice of a previous thread. I also have a slightly more casual suede Ecco shoe as well. In the past I also had a nice pair of Bostonian's that were padded on the inside from Mens Warehouse.

I also rotate in a new balance cross trainer that is available in black and in the past has also had the New Balance walkers and New Balance postal shoes.
 
Re: Shoes, dress/business style.

I normally change into my business costume after the load in and back before load out. Very few exceptions to that rule (basically when the load in/out consists of moving a few radio transmitters).

I use business safety shoes, forgot the name, they look quite similar to Budapesters (but with a high sole due to the S2 safety requirements) and do the job well.
 
Re: Shoes, dress/business style.

New Balance 927 in black. Probably the go-to shoe for hotel event staff who do 8 hours on their feet.
 
Re: Shoes, dress/business style.

Jay Barracato said:
I have happily moved into Ecco track 6 as my main hard shoe based on the advice of a previous thread. I also have a slightly more casual suede Ecco shoe as well. In the past I also had a nice pair of Bostonian's that were padded on the inside from Mens Warehouse.

I also rotate in a new balance cross trainer that is available in black and in the past has also had the New Balance walkers and New Balance postal shoes.
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Ecco Track 5 or 6, suggested by Mac Kerr. All day comfort and I can wear them on consecutive days if I have to.

For safety footwear I think Redwing is still the top in long term value. Visit the store, get a personal fitting, have happy feet. Many models can be re-soled, and lifetime free lace replacement.
 
Re: Shoes, dress/business style.

FWIW... New Balance 928 superceded the 926 and 927.
From http://www.onlineshoes.com/mens-new...nce+MW928&offer=&device=c&network=&matchtype=

"Developed for all day comfort, the industry-leading New Balance 928 motion control walking shoe is a perfect choice for those seeking maximum stability. An update to the popular NB 926 and 927 styles, this men's athletic shoe has a premium leather upper with sporty, synthetic overlays and a generously padded collar. The Rollbar® posting system offers superior motion control, while ABZORB® SBS cushioning in the heel and forefoot provide comfort and stability. The C-CAP midsole lends cushioning without sacrificing flexibility, while N-ergy absorbs shock for a comfortable stride. The New Balance WMW928 athletic shoe sits atop an Ndurance® rubber outsole that offers dependable traction to every workout."
 
Re: Shoes, dress/business style.

I took the plunge on the Ecco Track 6 and I'm glad I did. I was looking for exactly what you are looking for, a durable loading shoe that could also be worn at the corpy/wedding gigs. These shoes are durable. I carry a kiwi touch-up shine sponge in my workbox, and the shoes still look great after about a year and half. They are reasonably comfortable, if mildly heavy. After 18 hours, freeing my feet of them is a relief, but there isn't a shoe on the planet that I want to wear for that long. They are beefy enough to wrangle and kick heavy boxes around, and have a sticky enough tread to push a double stacked dual 18" sub up the truck ramp in the rain...
 
Re: Shoes, dress/business style.

frank kayser said:
FWIW... New Balance 928 superceded the 926 and 927.
From http://www.onlineshoes.com/mens-new...nce+MW928&offer=&device=c&network=&matchtype=

"Developed for all day comfort, the industry-leading New Balance 928 motion control walking shoe is a perfect choice for those seeking maximum stability. An update to the popular NB 926 and 927 styles, this men's athletic shoe has a premium leather upper with sporty, synthetic overlays and a generously padded collar. The Rollbar® posting system offers superior motion control, while ABZORB® SBS cushioning in the heel and forefoot provide comfort and stability. The C-CAP midsole lends cushioning without sacrificing flexibility, while N-ergy absorbs shock for a comfortable stride. The New Balance WMW928 athletic shoe sits atop an Ndurance® rubber outsole that offers dependable traction to every workout."
Click to expand...

Of course, about half of the reviewers are unhappy with the newest model in comparison to the 26 and 27.
 
Re: Shoes, dress/business style.

Matt Vivlamore said:
I ended up picking up a pair of ECCO Track 6 the other weekend. So far within the week of walking around at work, I can report that I have 2 happy feet.
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Good to hear, Matt.

I work in corpy world full-time, and I've chosen to go with Redwing work boots. They take a shine nicely, are able to be resoled, and the molding insert makes them fit like a glove.

I've mentioned it in other similar threads, but do not overlook quality socks. I prefer SmartWool light- or medium-weight crew socks that offer fantastic wicking, don't stink, and don't give me blisters. They're not for everyone, they're not cheap (~$18 a pair), but they're all I own and use every day of my life.

Happy feet make a huge difference in how good or bad a long day/night feels to the rest of your body.
 
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