Thursday, April 12, 2012

Boat Shoe Roundup

Sperry's original patent for Boat Shoes

If you are looking for "the original" boat shoe this spring/summer then look no further than Sperry. But like most things in life, it's always good to have options so here's a round up of the best boat shoes on the market.










12 comments:

  1. I've always worn just plain old Sperry's but this year I'm really eyeing something like a pair of Quoddy's or Oak St. What's your favorite, Skip?

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  2. Good question. I love them both. I'm very curious Quoddy's soles. Does anyone have any experience with them?

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  3. Actually, I really wish that you had posted pictures of the soles. The primary reason why Sperry is my go to versus other boat shoes is that I prefer the way the soles are cut, and I very much dislike the other options. The grip isn't the same.

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  4. The cutting on the soles of the Sperry is called Siping. It is also done on tires to provide traction in wet/slippery surfaces. It's inventory, John Sipe, worked in a slaughter house and wanted to develop a way for him to stop slipping on the wet/bloody floor. There is actually a siping knife that is used to create the pattern on the soles and tires.

    I own a pair of the Quoddy, its a double leather sole, so really holds up, BUT not that water friendly.

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  5. I am the proud owner of a pair of these Quoddys as well. True, they do have a double leather sole, but also have the white Vibram rubber outer sole for traction/water resistance. In contrast to my Sperrys,the Quoddys have more support and are overall more comfortable due to a softer, molded footbed.

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  6. Sperry has "jumped the shark."

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  7. Russell Moc also offers a boat shoe. Anyone have any experience with those?

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  8. Always been a Sebago guy. Never tried any others other than Sperry. Frankly I kind of like how stiff the Sebagos tend to be.

    BMO'C

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  9. When I bought my first pair of sperrys I was greatly disappointed at the build quality. They tore after 4 uses and the stitching in their internals was not done properly (you could feel the roughness of the thread).

    I believe that they are greatly over-hyped and are popular as a product of preppy/fashion blogs mentioning that they are casual wardrobe staples. As such, the torn pair would be the last sperry I use, another brand on this list would be my next choice.

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  10. IMHO the best are those properly made in Maine by real experienced people. I have a pair of Oak street Bootmakers and a pair of Rancourt's, both far away in quality from the rest (also in price) but worth every penny...

    Regards

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  11. @Noble County Gold, yes, I know both the proper terminology and the history behind the siping on Sperry's, but good information for anyone who didn't.

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  12. Those soles on the Quoddys are a new offering. I'm not sure how well they hold up, but they certainly look interesting. I've got a pair of their lined boat shoes with a camp moc sole, and they've held up wonderfully over the past 3 years.

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