Quality white leather sneakers?

[jnw]

I've spent between $25 to $45 for white leather sneakers (women's) like the following.  They don't last all that long.  The soles often become unglued from the sides of the shoe.



Keds are in the image above, but just using the photo to show the style of shoe I like.

Should I be spending $100+ on a pair of "higher quality" shoes. I definitely don't care about brand names, but only how well they are built and how long they will last.

I can spend $100 on white doc marten shoes but I don't know how well they are built these days.  They are a different style but kind of look cool.  At least the soles are sewn to the sides of the shoe.



I just want something that lasts and is worth the extra money.   More grippy of a sole would be nice as well as I am over 50 and can't afford to slip and fall.

Any ideas?

[Daley]

Actual sneakers that'll probably hold up better than what you've been buying:
Converse Chuck Taylor Leather All-Star low-tops

If you really want to go Doc Martens but don't trust the quality anymore, Solovair is the factory that used to make Doc Martens in England. Their version of the shoe you posted:
The Gibson
Edit: They also have white calf sneakers at the same price. The construction looks solid from the photos, but I can't vouch for how long they'd last as I didn't even know they made them, but sneakers aren't fundamentally designed to be resoled, thus they aren't designed to last longer than the soles:
White Calf Sneaker

If you're serious and committed to the whole white sneaker aesthetic, look for a medical scrubs store in your area and look into nursing shoes, too.

[jnw]

Actual sneakers that'll probably hold up better than what you've been buying:
Converse Chuck Taylor Leather All-Star low-tops

Oh these look really nice, good price too.  I'll check with rebate apps to see if I can get them for even less.  I'll try out a pair. Thanks.

EDIT: just bought a pair, can't wait to try em out :)

[Daley]

If you've never bought a pair of Chucks before, go to an actual shoe store that sells the things to try on and fit. Sizing will be slightly off from what you're used to, and getting them too big will cause them to wear and fail sooner. I average Men's US 11/11.5 in most brands. In Chucks, I'm a 10.5. Be forewarned if you have wide feet or need arch support, they won't be super comfortable. Chucks are divisive, they'll ether be the most comfortable shoes you've ever worn or you'll hate 'em.

Sometimes the edge of the sole will blow out around the outer front/side of the shoe before the soles are completely worn. It's a defect I've found that hits about 15% of the shoes, but is also hastened if you don't size the shoe to fit tight like a glove and your foot slides around inside. Otherwise, a pair of high top leather Chucks last me on average around 24-30 months. I've gone through six pair (I think?) over the past eleven years since I started wearing them, and they started lasting longer after I sized down for a good fit.

[jnw]

If you've never bought a pair of Chucks before, go to an actual shoe store that sells the things to try on and fit. Sizing will be slightly off from what you're used to, and getting them too big will cause them to wear and fail sooner. I average Men's US 11/11.5 in most brands. In Chucks, I'm a 10.5. Be forewarned if you have wide feet or need arch support, they won't be super comfortable. Chucks are divisive, they'll ether be the most comfortable shoes you've ever worn or you'll hate 'em.

Sometimes the edge of the sole will blow out around the outer front/side of the shoe before the soles are completely worn. It's a defect I've found that hits about 15% of the shoes, but is also hastened if you don't size the shoe to fit tight like a glove and your foot slides around inside. Otherwise, a pair of high top leather Chucks last me on average around 24-30 months. I've gone through six pair (I think?) over the past eleven years since I started wearing them, and they started lasting longer after I sized down for a good fit.

Well I bought them already online just now. I chatted with a rep there at the converse web site and she said if I have any problems at all with them I could return them free of charge.  Yeah I read they run a little larger so I picked the size appropriately I think.  We'll see :)  Hope they fit perfectly and last :)

I might try those white leather doc martens as well just to see if they are any good.   The gibson's look more masculine I think, not unisex or women's like I need.  Also $199 is pretty hefty price to me.. I'm so frugal lol.

[Daley]

I might try those white leather doc martens as well just to see if they are any good.   The gibson's look more masculine I think, not unisex or women's like I need.  Also $199 is pretty hefty price to me.. I'm so frugal lol.

Modern Docs look like they can be resoled, but they can't. The Solovairs, however, can be. Honestly, if I could afford better than leather Chucks that could give the same sort of support, flexibility, and allowed resoling, I'd never buy another pair of Chucks. This whole topic is a literal prime example of the Sam Vimes Boots theory... and the fact that you jumped on the first cheap pair someone posted and didn't even wait twenty minutes before buying them says otherwise to the frugal label, Jen.

[jnw]

I liked the way they looked and you said they were decent quality so I went with it.  If they turn out not to be good then fine, I'll then try another pair of something else.  At least I am working towards buying a better pair of shoes than I've been buying :)

I am pretty frugal though -- low income and last month I saved 64% of my net income.  I spend time doing math to calculate savings over the year on several things and adjust accordingly. I try not to sacrifice quality or comfort.  e.g. I recently bought four Emeco Navy 1006 chairs for my dining room for $50 a piece; they cost $720 each new and will last me forever as they are indestructible -- the chairs I got were from an Arby's restaurant originally and used 20 years there in commercial setting, and they still look practically brand new. (They have 150 year warranty with manufacturer.)  [What's really cool about the purchase is that they were not an expense, since fair market value for them is higher than I paid and they can't depreciate any further -- so it was a simple transfer of assets; I could actually sell them later for $100 a piece easily I am sure.  I actually accounted for them as a transfer of assets from my cash account to Fixed Assets account.]

But yeah I do need help here and there not being cheap. I've always used to buy the cheapest I could find -- but I now want to buy the smartest thing. I'd love shoes that lasted 150 years for $50 :)

[MaybeBabyMustache]

Converse typically don't provide enough support for me. I prefer Adidas, and can find these on sale (and, or with discount codes online, etc) for around $55 or so. https://www.adidas.com/us/grand-court-2.0-shoes/GW9195.html. If you don't like the colored side stripes, they make some options that have the stripes in white.

In case your Converse don't work out.

[jnw]

I watched a video review of white sneakers on  youtube and this pair looks pretty nice.  Supposedly very well made.  $305 though.  Crown North Hampton made in England.

I've never owned a pair of shoes this expensive lol.  Would be interesting to try them out.  Test this theory that buying quality is better.

https://crownnorthampton.com/en-us/products/overstone-derby-all-white-calf-leather?variant=31095501324355



EDIT: I guess these can be resoled later for $95 or so.

[firemane]

ASICS Japan S

[jrhampt]

Converse typically don't provide enough support for me. I prefer Adidas, and can find these on sale (and, or with discount codes online, etc) for around $55 or so. https://www.adidas.com/us/grand-court-2.0-shoes/GW9195.html. If you don't like the colored side stripes, they make some options that have the stripes in white.

In case your Converse don't work out.

Another vote for Adidas court shoes or stan smiths.  Converse has been making some shoes with more support lately (run star hike/motion/legacy for example), though I don't know if they come in leather:

https://www.converse.com/shop/p/run-star-legacy-cx-platform-butterfly-wings-womens-high-top-shoe/A05978C_090.html?cp=PLA_PRF_CNV_NA_US_EN_20190226_CPCS_CPCS-Shopping-%20Shoes%20-%20Womens_X_X_X_X_Google_X_X__Desktop/Tablet-%20Shoes%20-%20Womens_X_X&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyobr4ev3_gIVS_7jBx15AQGdEAQYASABEgI87_D_BwE