The quest for affordable balmorals

[DerMann]

After a year or so of wear, my Stacy Adams Madisons have fallen apart (my fault, wore them after the sole had holes in them).

As a matter of personal taste, I'd rather not get the Madisons again. Even though they're great shoes, I really would much rather prefer something with a balmoral closing, rather than the common blucher.

My search through several shoe websites has left me with one option, the Florsheim Lexington.

There has to be more captoe balmorals available than that. The only thing is that I'd rather keep the price below $140 or so.

As a college student living in Indiana, I don't want to put too much money into shoes that may be destroyed by myself (I get into some shenanigans sometimes) or the elements (I usually wear my ammo boots on really snowy days).

Florsheim, Bostonian, and the other brands that produce footwear for this price range (roughly $70-$140) can't all just be making bluchers :/

*EDIT* forgot to mention, I'd prefer a darkish brown or even a cordovan.

 

[Tomasso]

The £ is down, try the Brits.

99.00 GBP = 143.025 USD

Or British shoes via Malaysia.

500.00 MYR = 137.522 USD

 

[DerMann]

I'd much rather prefer something more domestic

Even if the pound is down, £99 plus the applicable shipping charges would negate the exchange.

 

[Tomasso]

.....

 

[Tomasso]

the applicable shipping charges would negate the exchange.

You'll be paying shipping charges on a domestic purchase, no? [huh]

 

[DerMann]

What I meant to say is that at £99 for a pair of shoes, one would have to factor in international shipping, about £20, at least, equates to about $170. Whereas, if I buy a $90 pair of shoes, shipping will be $10-$15 for a grand total of less than $140.

However, I rediscovered Samuel Windsor and their magnificent offer of two pair for £99. GAH, WHY DON'T THEY DELIVER INTERNATIONALLY?!

 

[H.Johnson]

Samuel Windsor boots are OK but not top quality. They were recently taken to court under the Trade Descriptions Act for describing their shoes as 'handmade'. The fact that they are made in Skelmersdale will put off 'shoe snobs' (the real use of the term, of course).

I think this is unwarranted. I have several pairs of SWs (including the boots) as they represent excellent value for money when they have a 2-for-1 offer. I recently bought two pairs for 49GBP!

In my opinion, their ankle boots are a little light weight for normal boot wear in Britain, but would probably be ideal in a warmer, drier climate.

 

[Creeping Past]

HJ, would you say that the Samuel Windsors width is more F or G, more town than country?

My feet seem to keep growing, despite losing weight, and I'm now a wide fitting. [huh]