****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
I am wearing my brand spanking new navy/plaid Spinnakers today for the first time. I've never purchased this style before. I've had a pair of Docksides for 6 months or so and wondered how the two styles were different, since they look pretty much the same in pictures and even in person. Truth is, they feel very different on. The Docksides feel a bit stiffer and more substantial. I can slip them on either barefoot or with socks and off I go (no blisters without socks in spite of the stiffness). The Spinnakers take a bit of work. I haven't tried them without socks (it's November here in the Midwest so socks aren't optional), but, with socks, I find that I have to unlace them and then tighten everything up really well once they are on my feet. They do actually have "tightenable" side laces, something I'm not sure all my Sperry and Frye boat shoes do. Even tightened, these shoes have a fair amount of give, but I have the feeling they are supposed to? This may be the truest boat shoe of the ones I have. That is, they would probably function the best on the deck of a boat. By "give", I mean they are really flexible, grippy and my foot can move in them. My heel comes out a bit as I walk, which is taking some getting used to, but I don't think they are too big as my big toe can feel the curve going up to the toe. They may be a tiny bit wide?Stylewise, they are fabulous. The navy/plaid is just the right combination of classic and edgy for me. I've bought Sperry's that I thought I loved but ended up never wearing because they felt too over-the-top when actually out in public with them on. I wanted something navy blue to wear with a new pair of navy cords but didn't want shoes with a white sole in the colder weather. Since these were priced well and I liked my sand suede Docksides, I thought I'd take a chance. Good call. I got the last pair! I'm looking at the nickel/plaid now:-)I wrote a really in detail review TWICE and Amazon lost it while trying to attach the photo?!@$#! Third time was the charm. Fix that Amazon please.I purchased these through Shoe Summit with Amazon fulfillment - all good with excellent early morning delivery from Amazon.This is a great quality, very attractive boat shoe.I am a true size 8 (longest foot is 9.5 inches long and 3.75 inches wide). I bought size 8 and they fit perfectly.The leather is nice quality, smells great, and the stitching is tight.The heel is 1/2 inch and the sole 1/4 inch. There is a glued in insole which runs from the heel to the front of the foot arch. The ball of the foot does not have an insole.The shoes were initially tight - I had to unlace them to slide my foot in - and have now fitted beautifully to my foot and can slide on and off without unlacing.Sebago is manufactured by the same parent company that owns Sperry. Sebago, from what I have read, is considered the higher quality brand with better materials and workmanship. Certainly compared to the Sperrys I tried earlier this year (that I liked but the stitching rubbed my foot) these are far superior quality with thicker leather.I bought the black and beige because of the pricing - at $30 before tax - it seemed a reasonable price to test an unknown brand. Looking at them with my wardrobe I realize these will go with pretty much everything I own from shorts to dresses so it was a fortunate decision.They are very comfortable.Absolutely recommend these shoes.Having worn Sebago's for 20+ years (& I still have a wonderfully comfortable pair that looks like this pair, but are black and brown), I was stunned at how uncomfortable this pair of shoes are. Guess my expectations were too high, but there is no arch support and the soles are very flat with imperceptible padding inside. To me, they are very attractive shoes (although I wish the sole was dark like my other pair instead of white), so too bad these are not comfortable. I bought the same size I always buy but these fit a bit smaller so not sure if a larger size would feel better, but at least you could probably add sole inserts to a larger size. I have to say, my Sperry Topsiders are more comfortable (and less costly). I have not contacted the seller so have no issue with them as the item arrived fairly timely and looks like the advertisement.I love Sebago boat shoes and this color combo goes with so many summer outfits. They runs true to size. I would definitely buy again.I GOT THESE FOR MY SON IN LAW. THESE BOAT SHOES ARE ACTUALLY FOR A GUY WHO GOES TO THE BEACH, THE BOAT, AND THE BEACH ALL THE TIME. ACTUALLY, ODD AS IT MAY SOUND, MY DAUGHTER AND MY SON IN LAW HAVE FEET APPROXIMATELY THE SAME SIZE, SO I LOOKED FOR A PAIR THAT COULD BE OK FOR A GUY OR A GAL. BOTH REPORT THAT THE SHOE FITS PERFECTLY AND AMBLES IN THE SAND OK. (SOME SHOES SLIP AND SLIDE IN THE SAND, BUT THESE DO NOT.) BOTH ARE WELL PLEASED AS THESE WILL DRESS UP OR DOWN.....AND BESIDES, MOM PAID FOR THEM.IT IS MY PLEASURE TO DO SO WHEN I CAN GET GREAT STUFF INEXPENSIVELY FROM AMAZON! I HIGHLYN RECOMMEND THESE.I actually went to a store and tried on this shoe, figured out my size and even had it held at the cashier, but realized it was a SIGNIFICANTLY lower cost off Amazon. The product came and it was as expected. I've worn these shoes for maybe four or five months and they're great quality. I like that they're boat shoes but a little unique because of their sheen and texture. I have problems with the shoelaces coming untied (to be expected), and they can sometimes give me blisters/cramp my foot if I wear a different pair of shoes for a while and then switch back to the Sebagos. Overall, however, I recommend this brand and this shoe in particular.After being so frustrated at going through a pair of Sperry's per season, I took the advice of my dad to try Sebago. I walk a lot and so far I've had these shoes about a month and my feet are happy. I can walk for hours with no problems and they still fit really well.Some of the inner piece is starting to curl up. On my Sperry's the entire inner piece would come out within a few weeks, so I'm not surprised by this.
