Shoes - How Much?

[Taylirious]

I was looking at getting a new pair of shoes and I have some for work, well they are boots so I can wear them anytime. I just wanted a pair of athletic shoes to wear out sometimes and to do athletic stuff too I guess. LOL. I normally wouldn't pay more than $30-$50 for shoes but the ones I want are $140. I don't have a problem with that but it is high for just shoes. I wonder how much it too much?

Poll coming.

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ETA: $36-$50 I feel more comfortable with.

 

[auntiehill]

I have some seriously messed-up feet, and if I don't have good, supportive shoes, I will be in pain all day. For good walking/every day shoes, I will pay up to $70, but I also keep that pair of shoes for YEARS, and will wear them almost every day.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

$100-ish. I like certain types of Nikes (ACG/All Conditions Gear, kinda like black high-tops), but the ones I like are always discontinued.

 

[KimMH]

I'm lucky to have very normal feet and don't require anything special for them. I like to buy shoes from thrift stores - I just throw them in the washing machine. If they can't survive that they won't survive me wearing them! I've found really expensive designer shoes for $5 -$10. I don't mind being a season or two behind the trends, either.

 

[Miss Chicken]

About 5 years ago, I bought 4 pairs of shoes at an op shop (thrift store) and I am still wearing three of the pairs today. I haven't bought any shoes since that purchase and the total cost was $20.

I absolutely hate having to buy shoes.

 

[KimMH]

^ Glad to hear about another thrift superstar! Isn't that the best feeling?

 

[RoJoHen]

I think the most I've ever spent on shoes is around $45. I normally try for $30 or so.

 

[mimic]

I've spent $140 on shoes before. Specifically, my climbing shoes, which were hand-sewn in a mountain village in Italy. Or something.

On the other hand, I put off buying a decent work shoe for about 6 months because no one said anything about how I shouldn't be wearing sneakers to school.

 

[MacLeod]

How much is too much, will vary from person to person. Personally I wouldn't pay more than ~£60(US$90) for a pair of footwear be they trainers/shoes. And some That I bought for around £15(US$22) lasted many many years whilst more expensive ones fell apart after only a year or two.

If they are the ones you want and the price isn't a barrier to you buy them regardless of what other people think.

 

[Pondwater]

$40 at the most.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

On the other hand, I put off buying a decent work shoe for about 6 months because no one said anything about how I shouldn't be wearing sneakers to school.

I wore sneakers to school all the time. Except high school, which had a dress code so I could only wear them on Fridays. Oh, you mean working at a school

Even casual shoes tend to price somewhere between $40 and 60. Dress shoes are more expensive. And I buy them knowing that I should be buying even more expensive shoes that last longer.

I probably wouldn't pay $140 unless they're clearly the ones you want and you don't think you'll find something better somewhere else or if they go on sale.

 

[scotpens]

Despite having flat feet -- and I mean FLAT flat -- I've never had a problem wearing "normal" shoes. I buy mine from Payless ShoeSource. I haven't paid more than $35 for a pair of shoes in the last 20 years.

I've found really expensive designer shoes for $5 -$10. I don't mind being a season or two behind the trends, either.

There are trends in shoes?

 

[the 4th hanson bro]

The last pair of dress shoes I bought was last year and I paid $275 for them. I expect to get 10 years at least out of them. I can also send them back to the company and get them refurbished, which should add another 10 years to them.

If I take care of them, regularly clean and polish them, keep them on shoe trees when not being worn, and the like, there's nomreason they won't last me a good long time.

The cost of ownership would work out to less than $50/year over a 10 year life, including new soles and heels.

Buying cheap just means they have to be replaced more often and in the long run, actually costs more.

 

[bbjeg]

I never understood why someone would pay a large sum for something that they're generally going to walk on. Now, my hiking boots were expensive but that expense stops things from penetrating my foot in the wild, but for my everyday shoe, I'm looking for a 30 to 40 range (I picked 36-50 in the poll), and you can get great comfort with that.

 

[RandyS]

Back in October I bought a pair of shoes for $48.00 at JC Penny's. Expensive, since I usually get them at Payless Shoe Source for $18.00-$20.00. I can be assured of getting my money's worth though. Going everywhere in a wheelchair, shoes last me longer than they do most folks. I wore my previous pair for nine years before they wore out.

 

[KimMH]

Despite having flat feet -- and I mean FLAT flat -- I've never had a problem wearing "normal" shoes. I buy mine from Payless ShoeSource. I haven't paid more than $35 for a pair of shoes in the last 20 years.

I've found really expensive designer shoes for $5 -$10. I don't mind being a season or two behind the trends, either.

There are trends in shoes?

Alas, yes there are shoe trends; how else can shoe manufacturers make you spend more money on shoes when you very likely already have some? By making you feel inadequate about your fashion choices.

My sympathies to your flat feet; my husb has very flat feet and has to wear inserts made by his podiatrist. They are very expensive so he constantly has to switch them between his work shoes and his trainers. Insurance pays 80% but we still pay a 20% co-pay on them every year.

 

[auntiehill]

^My feet are so flat that my leg rolls in, and not only does it make me knock-kneed, it means my whole skeletal structure gets put out of whack. I need very supportive shoes or least ones I can put good inserts into.

I bought a cheap pair of boots this winter at Target, because my feet get pretty cold. The boots are soft and warm but have absolutely NO support--completely flat, like bedroom slippers. If I wear these boots when I have significant walking to do, I end up with sore feet, a backache and even sore knees.

 

[FPAlpha]

I just wanted a pair of athletic shoes to wear out sometimes and to do athletic stuff too I guess.

If you want to run don't skim on the quality of such shoes. If you take cheap ones or ones that don't fit you you are risking damage to your legs, hips and feet because you will run the wrong way or stress your body the wrong way. Do this long enough and sooner or later you will have to find a good orthopedic doctor.

Personally i spend something around 50 Euro (that the range of 51-75$) for everyday shoes.

For dress shoes obviously a little bit more but i can't remember paying more than 150 Euro (180$) for a single pair of shoes (and they better be able to cook a good steak for that price!).

 

[RAMA]

I voted $200, but my limit is really about $150. My brain doesn't get past that amount.

RAMA

 

[jaz'a]

Typically I spend $120 - $180 ($US98 - $US148) on shoes. I have big, wide feet so I have no choice. The cheap shops don't stock my size and they rarely goes on sale because they sell out so quickly.

Running shoes are the one area where I can go cheap - I simply buy mens shoes. I only use them for exercise so I don't care much for how they look. Paid $US20.

Voted $100 - $200.