I've been a loyal Cole Haan guy since starting my career - love the styles and affordability, and have owned about 5 or 6 pairs. However, have recently noticed that my Cole Haans wear out really fast relative to other brands (even lower-quality brands).
The problems are primarily with the sole - it starts splitting apart, becomes detached from the actual shoe, and I start getting holes in the upper-middle of the sole (near the ball of the foot). The onset begins as quickly as 6 months (sometimes they last past the 1 year mark).
Has anyone else experienced these problems, and what do you do about it? Just buy a new pair every 6-12 months? Get it restored by Cole Haan ($80)? Get it resoled by a cheaper shop? Any preventative measures you have found success with?
I love Cole Haan shoes but am going to have to switch brands if I can't resolve the problem, since replacing them/restoring them every 6-12 months would get really expensive.
Thanks
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I've had a pair of driving mocs wear out after ~3 mos of daily use and a pair of penny loafers just had the sole breakaway after 2 mos.
BUT, on the plus side, they're pretty good about returns/exchanges. Bring it to a store and talk to the manager.
I have a pair of Cole Haan shoes and I have run into the same problem. Its time for an upgrade. Most people on WSO will recommend a pair of Allen Edmonds, but I prefer Aldens.
couple tips to make your shoes last longer. I have 3 pairs of CH dress shoes and 1 casual pair. not my everydays, just left over from UG and my earlier years
don't wear any shoe everyday (save maybe slippers). leather is a natural material, it needs time to dry and reform.
cedar shoe trees. don't put them in right away, maybe after an hour or two, leave them in until you wear those shoes again (which means it's important to have 2-3 pairs)
don't be afraid to get soles repaired. 1 out of my 3 CH shoes has a sole that's coming apart, but the hole in yours is just from the way you walk. get a cobbler to replace that. in my part of the country it's less than $40 for a half sole (not a full replacement, will be more if you need the heel done too)
buy shoes that fit. this goes without saying but are you buying the same size you always have or have you actually been fitted for shoes?
you get what you pay for with shoes. there is a level of skill when it comes to shoes plus there are differences in the quality of materials used, all of that will have an impact on the durability and feel.
and yes, AE is great.
Countdown until Allen Edmond fanboys start talking up the Park Avenues.........
Guys, the Park Avenue is a reasonably well made, reasonably priced shoe, but is bulky, plain looking, and boring. It deserves nowhere near the level of adoration that it gets on WSO. Wearing a pair of Park Aves tells the world you are a soulless corporate drone.
Agree on the Park Aves. You can get an equally well-made AE shoe with more personality, like a Strand or Clifton, for the same great value.
With respect to Cole Haan, I've never thought their dress shoes were of very good quality. However, I do have a pair of their more casual leather laceups (with the neon-colored rubber soles), and those have stood up great in all types of weather and after hundreds of miles of walking.
Finally, no matter what brand you buy the first thing you should do is have rubber soles put on. Walking with leather soles on pavement is a surefire way to ruin your soles within months.
I don't appreciate that dick. I take pride in my boring appearance. it's what PWM is all about.
Owned a pair of CH winter boots, had to get them repaired because there was a slight tear in material attaching the sole to the heel. We'll see how durable they are this winter but it definitely made me skeptical of their build quality.
My grandfather gave me a pair he purchased about 60 years ago and they look good still.
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