****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I've been a long-time Sperry Topsider wearer. When I purchased my first pair 1977, they were made in New England and the quality was fantastic. Now they are made in China; it seems to me that the quality has gone down, while the price has gone up.I decided to give Sebagos a try, so I ordered a pair of Sebago Spinnakers last spring. They were stiff at first, but quickly became comfortable, and the "W" width was wide enough for my feet. They have become my favorite casual shoe this summer.My old brown Sperry Topsiders needed replacing, so I ordered these Sebago Docksides instead, and in the same size/width as the Spinnakers. I was disappointed at first, because they seemed slightly tighter and less comfortable than the Spinnakers. I was almost ready to send them back, but decided to wear them a few hours a day inside the house. Within a few days, they began to "loosen up" and become more comfortable and are now a "keeper." I deducted one star because I still think that they are slightly narrow, in spite of being labeled as "Wide." Why do so many shoe manufacturers insist on making narrow Wide shoes? Probably to save on leather and costs.The quality and workmanship is superior to Sperry, in my opinion. The leather is much thicker and has a uniform smooth finish - no weird wavy spots or ripples in the leather like on my last pair of Sperrys. The stitching is also straight and even. The sole is slightly thicker, and a little firmer than Sperrys. They're not made in USA, but at least in the Western Hemisphere - the Dominican Republic - not China.