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As you get older, the shoes you wear gain more miles. When they wear down, you either give them a proper sign-off before tossing them into the recycling bin, or you designate them as your next pair for mowing the lawn.
When you’re faced with buying a new pair of shoes, you should consider (one) their purpose and (two) their style.
Where are these going to be predominantly worn? What will I wear them with? How will I be perceived by my peers wearing this shoe?
You’re about to experience a downpour of footwear options for you to turn to the next time you retire your old kicks. You’ll find many of these shoes fall back on classic silhouettes and trusted styles—if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.
On the other hand, you’ll also find some new looks we think will extend into the shoe canon for years to come.
Behold, the 50 shoes every man should own at one point or another in their life.
Unless you live somewhere tropical, you should have a pair of Bean Boots in your closet. They’ve got nearly 100 years of trusted use behind them, never wavering from their original design. Plus, they’ve got one of the best dang warranties out there.
PThe Air Max 90 is the best selling of the Air Max series, and the color combos seem almost endless. We personally like this unique slate gray color.
The go-to boat shoe. Yes, they’ll last a long time, but when they start looking like a rotten waffle, that’s when you know it’s time to swap them out.
A pair of Doc derby’s pushes any outfit into a new category. Replace your sneakers with a pair of these every now and then and notice how people view you slightly more punk rock.
A great alternative to the Air Max 90s, the Nike Air Max current Huarache is a comfort-driven athletic shoe meant for both recreational activities and for casual wear.
Perhaps the most popular tennis shoe ever. The Stan Smith was created for grass courts (the pinnacle of tennis grounds), in an effort to stop the lawns from being chewed up.
They’ll get dirty, but that just means they’ll have more stories to tell. Clarks makes a shoe that lasts, and this is a good weekend one.
Converse Chuck Taylor All Star
Before these were tucked into super tight jeans, they were created in 1917 as the original basketball shoe. They were huge in L.A. during the gang days and now Wiz Khalifa has the Taylor Gang.
The Desert Boot defined cool in the pre-hippy ’60s. Wear them on all your worldly adventures, as well as the local bar.
Made to be worn in the field with your 12 gauge and pointer dog. You can only go with Red Wings when it comes to proper hunting boots.
The original brand behind the penny loafer, every guy needs to have a pair of Weejuns in their closet at one point in their life. The only reason they wouldn’t is they already upgraded to more expensive leathers and designs. Start with the OG’s and work your way up.
A white sneaker that looks better the more they get beat up. That’s what Club C’s are. Extremely versatile, acceptable to get dirty, and affordable.
Lightweight and made with a nylon and suede upper, you can’t go wrong with a pair of OG Saucony’s.
Remember Sean Penn rocking them in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”? That classic movie unveiled these skater mainstays. These sit on the Mount Rushmore of sneakers.
AF1’s are so popular that songs have been dedicated to the shoe. They have an enormous amount of limited/special edition versions, but nothing hits better than the all-white.
Talk about the start of something good. The capital and pure exposure Jordan gave to Nike is awe-inspiring. The Jordan platform really instigated the whole concept of being excited for sneakers to come out.
Cole Haan Gunnison Driving Loafer
Driving loafers are fun to wear because, one, they’re cozy and, two, they make you daydream about driving a Ferrari on a beautiful road in the woods.
Training wheels for the New Balance 991. The color schemes are effortless and they’re relatively cheap.
The laid-back summer skating shoe. Janoski’s even look good with a pair of light wash jeans.
Flip flops can look good too. Havaianas are cheap and come in a great array of colors. They’re also not too gaudy and chunky.
A pair of Birks will change your life, seriously. No matter how granola you think they are, you’ll quickly find out the styling opportunities and comfort are top tier.
A gold shoe for the modern golfer. Golf is stylish these days, so get a cleat that invokes that new energy. You’ve got this.
Reebok Men’s Nano X1 Cross Trainer
For CrossFit enthusiasts and weightlifters, Reebok’s Nano X1 is a dang good shoe for those looking to push the limit.
adidas Originals Adilette Slide Sandal
Adilette’s are great slides to wear around the house or to the pool. They haven’t been changed for a reason, you know.
Nike Zoom Freak 3 Basketball Shoe
Every guy needs a good pair of shoes to ball in. What better than to get the pair of the best player in the NBA, Giannis Antetekoumpo.
Salomon X Ultra 3 Gore-Tex Hiking Shoes
Low-top hiking shoes pair great with rugged outfits and offer function for when it’s warmer out and you want to hit the trail. Salomon does this type of silhouette best, hands down.
Cole Haan Original Grand Shortwing Oxford
Cole Haan’s signature outsole transformed dress shoes for the better. They made it more comfortable to dress business casual, and they eliminated the stress of scuffing the fine soles of oxford soles when walking back and forth to your favorite lunch spot in the city.
Asics makes a solid sneaker for the gym, but when they decide to make one more geared toward the sneaker crowd, it’s hit or miss. This is a huge hit. Plus they’re lightweight.
Fans of soccer understand the magnitude of the Samba’s influence. Everyone else is starting to catch on now too, finally.
If there’s one thing we’ve all learned as sneaker technology advances is adidas Ultraboost’s are the creme-de-la-creme of comfort. You can wear them to the gym or out while trekking the city. They’ve got range.
Comfortable yet practical in styling, 991’s are one of the best New Balance models out there to get. These also veer slightly away from the 992’s, and although nothing is wrong with 992’s, everybody is thirsting after them these days.
Ariat Sport Western Wide Square Toe
Texans, feel free to step up right now. There are tons of brands, and be careful which ones you choose. Some are too designer and therefore not cowboy boots at all, but Ariats, they carry true cowboy boots.
A trusted running shoe that gets better each year. What are they on, the 38th model right now? Imagine what they’ll look like for the 50th edition. They’ll probably still have their Zoom Air sole and lightweight flywire material
Soludos Men’s Dali Canvas Slip On Espadrilles
Espadrilles are the upgraded version of a flip flop. They look better in summer and resort wear, and they cover your nasty toes. Nobody wants to see your toes.
An easy lace-up sneaker with premium West Coast vibes. You can beat these up 10x over and they’ll still look good.
95’s are another classic Air Max model. With the enormous amount of different colorways out there, you’re bound to find one that feels like it’s made specifically for you.
Skate shoes have essentially moved their way into streetwear and pop culture. Lakai makes one of the most original silhouettes, so it’s no wonder why we chose their Oxford shoe.
A solid choice for weight lifting and other gym activities. The Grand Court is a sneaker that invokes 80s crop top energy.
PRO-Keds Men’s Royal Lo Classic Canvas
PRO-Keds are like your low-top Converse but they’ve got a bit more padding to their sole. They’re great all-around shoes for sports and recreation activities. Think tennis or a game of pickup basketball.
Kenneth Cole Klay Monk Strap Oxford
If you’re looking to add a bit of European touch to your loafers, monk straps are the way to go. Its added leather strap elevates a casual loafer to be worn with more formal pairings.
Belgians are the most toned-down of all loafers. In fact, they’re almost like a high-class slipper. Nonetheless, they look great when dressing up and they give off that vintage Wall Street banker look.
Remember all those Tom Brady UGG commercials? It turns out UGG’s are actually pretty great, especially when it comes to keeping your feet warm.
PUMA Classic is another timeless sneaker design that will never go away. If they fit your taste, you can buy multiple pairs and never have to think about casual sneakers again.
The ultra-affordable running shoe. Under Armour’s Charged Assert 8 does nothing more than get the job done, which is a prime reason why they’re great for athletic activity.
Cole Haan Grandpro Rally Sneaker
Leather low top sneakers are a solid choice for wearing to the office or our to happy hour. Go with Cole Haan’s, again.
adidas Originals Men’s NMD_r1 Shoe
Cousins to the Ultraboost, NMD’s have a more block shape and fall more strictly into athleisure. Nevertheless, they’re super comfortable and offer boost technology to those who take a liking to their design.
Merrell Men’s Moab 2 MID Waterproof Hiking Boot
For your traditional hiking boot, Merrell is the way to go. They’ve go great support and are breathable so your feet don’t suffocate.
Vans Classic Slip On Checkerboard
Checkerboard slip-ons add dimension to many different outfits. It’s a timeless design people recognize. Don’t be boring and get a solid color, get these.
Think we missed a specific shoe on this list? Let us know!
Make sure to stay tuned to this roundup, 50 Shoes Every Man Needs At One Point In His Life will continually be updated to reflect the latest trends and releases.
John is the Style & Gear Editor for BroBible. You can contact him on Twitter @johnthompsoniv or via email John@brobible.com
The BroBible team writes about gear that we think you want. Occasionally, we write about items that are a part of one of our affiliate partnerships and we will get a percentage of the revenue from sales.
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