Topic I know about: I worked for ECCO corporate for about 7 years, and have a pair of Ecco shoes I made myself. I no longer work there.

A well fit pair of ECCO’s can last multiple years. They genuinely do try and make quality shoes and there’s a lot of work done to keep the materials and manufacturing processes producing high quality shoes.

That being said, any shoe made with a polyurethane sole (like ECCO and most shoes nowadays) will not last for a lifetime. Polyurethane is a great material but not a lifetime material. The only shoes which could qualify as buy it for life material are ones with leather soles, but they require occasional resoleing, so are a ship of thesus sort of affair. A pair of ECCO's lasting 5 years is a reasonable goal but not one always attained.

You say you were wearing them everyday - this will decrease the overall lifetime of a pair of shoes. Your feet sweat and the inside gets wet, the leather uppers benefits from being allowed to dry out. Conversely, any shoes you own with polyurethane soles must be worn occasionally (a few times a year minimum) or the soles will harden and then crack and fall apart when being worn. ECCO used to get a lot of angry feedback from customers that bought expensive dress shoes only to wear to a wedding once a year, and they fell apart after only having been worn 2-4 times. You are best owning 2-4 pairs of shoes that you rotate through day to day, this will extend the life of all of them longer, so you will spend less overall (but need to start by buying multiple pairs). I would get pairs from different companies so you can compare how long they last and which you find are most comfortable for your feet. Some other companies that are in the same price and quality range as ECCO would be Cole Haan, Clarks, Timberland and Rockport. One of them might fit you much better then Vans or ECCO or whatever.

Finally, a good fit is key. If the shoe is too small, or just not the right shape for your foot, then whatever part of the shoe your foot is pushing against will wear out much faster then the rest of the shoe. This is actually a problem I have with ECCO’s personally. My feet are wide just behind my toes, and my shoes always fail right there where my foot is stretching the leather more then elsewhere, earlier then they would if they fit me better. Seeing how I was getting free and/or deeply discounted shoes, I was ok with this.

Shoe manufacturers use a form called a “last” when they manufacture shoes, the last determines the shape and fit of the shoe. Different companies have different lasts based on their own research and goals for fit and the kinds of customers they’re targeting. It may be that Van’s uses a last shape that doesn’t match up with your foot shape very well. Perhaps ECCO's will fit you well, perhaps not at all.

If you’re in the US, ECCO runs sales every other month or so when the already on-sale shoes will be discounted another 30-40% (I just looked and they're having one now...). You can pick up a pair for $100-150 pretty easily. Usually around holidays at a minimum. Keep an eye out on their website, and get a pair pretty cheap during a sale. Or, check out of there is an outlet near you, the outlets have legitimately low prices, especially on the clearance wall, though usually those shoes are also ugly AF which is how they end up there.

Anyone has questions about shoe production or ECCO, I’d be happy to answer. They make pretty good shoes and run their own, non sweatshop factories, so I do recommended the shoes. Their US office is run by a few complete idiots though so I don’t recommend working there.

I‘d generally advice against sneakers. If you want shoes that last, get some quality leather shoes, ideally Goodyear welted ones. When properly taken care of, they can last many years and can then be repaired. Also they will fit very well, after being broken in.

I remember checking out some Ecco shoes at the mall years ago, didn’t pull the trigger as they were almost $300 but the way the construction as described to me it sounds like those could last 5+ years.

It's nearly always a false economy to try to reduce the upfront cost of footware (and a tremendous number of other things)

The Sam Vimes boots theory of socioeconomic inequality is a famous quote about how over time the more "affordable" option is often costs much more than the "expensive" option whilst also being a worse experience.

The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money.

Take boots, for example. He earned thirty-eight dollars a month plus allowances. A really good pair of leather boots cost fifty dollars. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about ten dollars. Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell where he was in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles.

But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford fifty dollars had a pair of boots that'd still be keeping his feet dry in ten years' time, while the poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet.

This was the Captain Samuel Vimes 'Boots' theory of socioeconomic unfairness.

– Terry Pratchett, Men at Arms

First, check out the various Buy It For Life communities here on lemmy:

!buyitforlife@slrpnk.net

!buyitforlife@midwest.social

My answer: I have a pair of Keen boots that I inherited from my late uncle. I don't know how long he has them, but they were already well-used when I got them. I've been wearing them for seven years, and while they're no longer waterproof, they're still sturdy.

Bought a 250 EUR pair of leather dress shoes, 5-6 years ago, they've undergone 2 resoles, but are still in good conditions while being my everyday shoes. You know Sam's vine theory on boots.

I tend to wear Ecco's (not crazy expensive ones, more in the 120-150€ range). I quite like them in terms of being strong and looking good enough. But I think they last me about 2-3 years.

I wore the crap out of my pair of New Balance skate shoes, forgot the model. But they're still going strong. Ive biked with cages, walked, work construction, whatever, they're just dirty but they're still holding up.

My decade old Red Wings shoes are still going with some minor maintenance. Their boots last even longer I've heard. For skateshoes I try to limit how many days a year I wear them and buy them on sale. Skate sole gum is make for grip not durability and isn't going to last long.

Red Wing. Pricey, but they'll last forever. Made in the US too.

Running shoes last 300-500 miles, and can last even longer if you're just walking in them.

Brooks' Gost 15 are my current pair and hold up more than a year.

I love my Altra road running shoes. My mother and sister (both work on-their-feet-all-day jobs) are also fans and can get at least a year out of their pairs. They’re sturdy and last about 300+ miles, and if you get a dud they’ll make it right. My sister once had a pair disintegrate after a couple months and got them replaced for free.

Altra is a bit like blue cheese, though: either you love them or hate them, and both sides think the other is wrong. People with narrow forefeet find them too squishy and unsteady; those of us with wider forefeet are comfortable for the first time ever.

Also, if your budget allows, it helps to get two pairs of shoes so you can alternate days. Especially if you live in a humid climate. By alternating two pairs of shoes so they fully dry between days, you get more than twice as much life from them. (Obviously that’s not an option for everyone, but it’s good to do if you can)

I cycle between 4 pairs of shoes in summer, two pairs of boots in winter, and one pair of all year shoes. I have had them all for over ten years. Tips:

1. Buy Goodyear welted shoes
2. Use shoe trees
3. Don't wear the same pair two days in a row

I also prefer to buy shoes made in UK, Italy, or US but that is just preference for perceived quality and definitely higher paid workers than most countries that mass produce shoes.

If you want a specific recommendation go with Allen Edmond Strandmoks. That's my all year pair. Great shoes.

As a young punk I learned jumping and the general abuse of skateboarding destroys regular shoes. I don't skate nearly enough these days, but I still mainly buy Fallen shoes as they tend to be comfortable for walking+skating and don't just fall apart. I've had some pairs I actually grew out of and gave to my younger brother as they tend to be well made.

I've had good luck with DC and Emerica as well, Vans does make some thicker ones (as opposed to the Converse style) which I got good use out of.

Find some "work" shoes. They're more comfortable, and they hold up much longer than a brand's regular wares. They're often sold as non-slip shoes.

https://reebokwork.com/
https://www.adidas.com/us/healthcare_collection
https://www.puma-safety.com/us/en
https://www.newbalance.com/men/shoes/work-shoes/
https://www.skechers.com/technologies/collections/work-safety/
https://www.shoesforcrews.com/
https://www.timberland.com/en-us/c/timberland-pro/mens-footwear/work-shoes-10173
https://www.dsw.com/en/us/category/mens/shoes/work-safety

I've personally had some daily wear Skechers "work" shoes that after 5 years of comfortable wear, I finally had to replace the insoles, but they're otherwise still holding up as well as the day I bought them. Every pair of shoes I've ever owned long term have been "work" shoes. Shoes for Crews are pretty expensive, but I had a pair of them last long enough that I finally ditched them because they just looked old fashioned, they were otherwise still wonderfully intact.

What types of shoes? High tops? Canvas? Sneakers?

What do you do that wore out a pair of Vans in a year? Every pair I've had has lasted 3+ years.

I recommend trying out shoes at REI, if there is one near you. Their return policy is better than any that I've ever encountered. Plus, as a member-owner cooperative, you get 10% of what you've spent back annually and a load of other perks.

Handmade boots. Solovair has good ones. Also check out Varusteleka! They mostly have military / outdoor stuff but those are usually high quality.

I’ve been happy with Merrells

I scored a nice pair of Johnston Murphy’s at the thrift store well over a decade ago. Have worn them daily since then. I polish them a couple of times a year but otherwise am pretty hard on them. The sheepskin insoles wore out a couple of years ago so I sent them an email and they shipped me a new set along with some laces for free. Customer for life now. (Even though I’ve never actually spent anything other than $5 at the thrift store)

The YouTube Channel "Rose Anvil" is a leather worker and their entire channel is about shoes. They routinely take big brands and cut then in half to do an in-depth breakdown of their materials amd construction.

They made a video recently about a brand someone else mentioned in this thread.

They also have videos where they show their favorite shoes from the past year and what they like to wear personally.

I lost about 300lbs over a couple of years with walking being my primary form of exercise. I started with a couch to 10k program and for most of the time I was losing weight I was walking about 8 miles a day on sidewalks and paved walking paths. I had been wearing sketchers walking shoes for a while and they are very comfortable and good for light walking but would only last about 3 months while I was morbidly obese and walking that much. I went to a walking store and asked for recommendations and left with a pair of Saucony that I wore daily for almost a year. I've stuck with Saucony and since I weigh a lot less and have switched to an exercise bike for my primary cardio exercise my current pair is about 2 years old and still going strong. They have a much stiffer sole than the sketchers, new balance, or Nike that I have had in the past. I do still use Sketchers for hiking boots.

IMO anything with that horrible foam (most shoes at this point) is going to last a year TOPS. In fact, running shoes with foam, are supposed to be limited to around 300 miles.

If you are talking about something like a half cab, that has the standard vans soles, yeah, I agree quality has gone down some (same with those new chuck 70s). They feel cheaper, and are made from far cheaper materials.

Personally, I have tons of shoes that are decades old, and still going, but I do not own any shoes with foam (mostly chuck taylors). And I'm apparently not very hard on shoes, somehow.

I think the unfortunate reality is you'll have to buy some expensive, high quality shoes, or expect to throw shoes out yearly.

There are companies like this one who claim to resole running shoes, but I don't know how far they can/do go, and have never used them before.

Just buy converse and you'll be wearing them in your coffin one day.

I've had my indestructibles since 2019 and they're only weak in the soles.

What model of Vans?

The Johnston & Murphy XC4 line has become my go-to. They are not cheap, and the selection is limited, but the construction and versatility can't be beat.

I've had my oldest pair for over 4 years, with no functional degradation at all, and minimal signs of wear (minor creasing in the leather, hardly worth mentioning). They're casual and comfortable enough for everyday wear, and stylish enough for business events. Easily the best value in a shoe I've ever gotten.

I love Dr Martens, or Corsair who are actually better quality but the same style. A pair can last me a good few years and they're incredibly comfortable.

I've had a lot of success with an old second hand pair of reeboks. They are heavy and feel well made. I got them for £20 and show no signs of wear after medium use for about 9 months. My partners new reeboks got a whole in the sole after about 1 year. Second hand walking boots/trail shoes might also be a good idea. I think new shoes on the whole are just not made well, like most modern things, it seems to be about producing cheaply as possible so you have to keep buying new ones.

For skate style shoes I'm a fan of Nike SB and Lakai. Anything over about $70 will generally last. My Nike Shane Premiums have walked all over Europe and are still in great condition.

I also recommend Vessi. They're waterproof, breathable, comfortable, and my wife and I wore them in all sorts of rough use cases and they are still going strong years later.

Nisolos hold up for me, my oldest are 5 or 6 years, have been resoled, look and feel better than ever. For dress and fancy casual they are good.

AFA running shoes Newtons are good but my feet are not wide - even converse hold up ok for me, the bottoms wear out eventually but the uppers don't tear.

For walking I wear Hoka - not lookers but comfortable.

Sketchers all the way. Went from breaking shoes every 6-7months to 5years.