Men’s footwear is on a bit of a tear right now. After a lifetime of limited choices when it comes to dressing one’s feet, current fashion and lifestyle trends – from athleisure to vintage/retro, urban to small batch specialty – are giving guys new options for expressing personality and meeting practical footwear needs.
Our favorite trend is the expanding popularity of hybrid casual dress shoes that combine functional performance and everyday style. While bench made dress footwear isn’t going anywhere and running shoes are still needed for running, everything in between is up for grabs as taste makers and everyday guys continue to play with hi/hi and blend formal and informal elements of daily dress.
Into this mix comes Samuel Hubbard Shoemakers. The brand’s tagline is “ridiculously comfortable shoes,” and we found that they pretty much do live up to the pitch. We have been testing out a pair of shoes from their Un-Sneaker collection and are very impressed – and comfortable. Our navy blue Hubbard Free nubuck shoes have a light grey sole with yell contrast details. The look is neutral on the one hand, yet distinctive on the other.
Un-Sneaker is a good descriptor. The style is what we refer to as urban casual; comfortable and refined but not at all formal, with a touch of functionality. Comfort is achieved by the soft upper leathers, glove-leather linings, and a light and springy Vibram sole. Inside is an exceptional memory-foam cushioned insoles. The one-piece vamp means no seams come into contact with your feet. The shoe’s ankle is designed with what the company calls a hidden padded collar which creates a soft point of contact for the ankle without the bulky, padded look of a running shoe.
While being inspired by athletic shoes, the Hubbard Free has the look and aesthetic elements of a modern yet classic, urban lifestyle shoe.
