While it might seem natural to buy only shoes that catch our fancy, there is a case to be made for practical shoes. Different work and social situations demand different footwear and clothing needs from us, and it's only right we have a shoe or two for each of these situations. In this post, we’ll be exploring five different footwear types every man should have.
Different Footwear Types
Walking shoes
Walking shoes are for exactly what you think they're for: walking. Walking is an underrated form of exercise; one every man should take seriously. Walking shoes are built with high-quality materials, are comfortable, and easy to clean. They can handle jogging, walking, and lightweight lifting. Every man should have at least one pair.
Hiking shoes/boots
Hiking boots are essential for every man who camps, or hikes regularly. They offer great traction, increased stability, are lightweight, waterproof, and comfortable. You won't have a hard time navigating hard or tumultuous terrains with a pair of hiking boots.
Training shoes
Training shoes are an umbrella term for shoes you use for weight lifting, sprinting, or any other type of aerobic, or resistant training you engage in. Think of them as your ‘Gym shoes.’ If you are interested in more than one type of resistance training, then you’ll likely need multiple specialized shoes or really good generic trainer shoes. Trainer shoes are designed to be comfortable, flexible, breathable, easy to clean, and durable.
Dress shoes
Dress shoes are arguably one of the most important footwear types every man should have. They are for social events and formal environments where you are required to turn up in formal attire. They are designed to be aesthetic above all else. They come predominantly in black and brown, and every man who works an office job should invest in a few pairs.
Dress shoes can also be comfortable, lightweight, and flexible. A few examples of dress shoes are loafers, Oxford, Brogues, Chelsea Boots, Chukka boots, etc.
Work boots
Work boots are rugged, stylish boots that protect your feet from injury when you’re working with tools. They typically reach above ankle length, are made with tough, and durable leather, and in rare cases, steel. They are comfortable, waterproof, and other safety features.
They are great for construction workers, steelworkers, and people with jobs with high injury risks. Every man should have at least one safety boot in case they need to maintenance work around their home. Construction accidents are far more dangerous when you have no protection.
How Many Shoes Should You Have?
That entirely depends on your current lifestyle and career. If you work at a fitness center or you're active, you'll be needing more than 2 training shoes, and could get away with owning a single pair of each remaining type of shoe we’ve mentioned. Likewise, if you are on a different career path, you should look into buying two shoes for your job, and one in every other category.
However, we recommend you have two pairs of every other shoe type except the work boots. Because they are so durable, you'll be fine owning just one for casual use. Ultimately, it boils down to personal preference and your budget.
Prioritize Quality
You should always prioritize high-quality shoes. They are worth as much as at least three to five cheaper shoes and could last you years. All your shoes don't have to be over-the-top expensive, but the most important ones to you should be where you spend the bulk of your budget.
Conclusion
You should purchase all 5 different types of footwear mentioned above even though you don’t currently need them. They offer you great flexibility, and you'll be ready to take advantage of opportunities when they come your way.
