Minimal casual/dress/business shoes.

Barefoot Gentile

Barefoot Gentile

Barefooters
Apr 5, 2010
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Fairfield, CT
#1
Most likely the only time I will talk about shoes is for casual/business wear. I find these more interesting than minimal footwear for running, and they are more of a challenge to find.

My first minimal shoe was the Vivobarefoot Dharma, great shoe, still wear it, but it's a total hot box in the summer. I just order these, they look hot as all heck, but let's see when they come.

http://www.patagonia.com/us/product/patagonia-footwear-mens-advocate-lightweight-slip-on?p=79417-0-782
 
#2
I'm curious to hear your

I'm curious to hear your review. Since ditching my shoes, I've felt tortured in my work shoes, which are as foot-coffin as they get. I need something leathery and business-casual, too. Looking forward to hearing your experience.
 
#3
I agree that this category is

I agree that this category is important. I don't need athetic shoes for any time other than the cold-wet winter months. I'm not set for either situation though, and no manufacturer makes a shoe that allows the big toe to be straight. Terra Plana original sole (Dharma, Ra, Oak, etc) is close but still not there yet.
 
#6
BF Gentile, I want give

BF Gentile, I want give Patagonia another plug in saying that you can't go wrong by buying anything of theirs. No other company out there in any other industry has given as much back to protect the environment. No other company has put as much energy into developing long lasting products too IMHO.

I tried those shoes on recently because they used one of my photos in their spring catalog and I anticipated a credit to use up. It seemed to me that they would have made perfectly good minimalist trail shoes. They ended up sending me a check so I never did go buy them but they are on my list for sure. Let us know how they turn out!
 
#10
I considered the Patagonia

I considered the Patagonia Advocate but, after soliciting impressions, I got a lot of people citing someone's past impression that the shoe was narrow. Since the toe section was not wider than ball-of-foot section, I decided that the shoe wasn't worth going out of my way to try on. I certainly will if I happen to see it in a store.

One shoe I did try myself in a store was the Acorn Tech Travel Moc. Not only was my big toe all crunched up in it, the overall width of the Tech Travel Moc forefoot was greatly lacking.
 
#11
So i recieved this shoes

So i recieved this shoes yesterday from UPS in the morning at work. I was wearing my Dharma's, and slipped the Advocate's on, my first initial thought, maybe to big, and my toes feel more free. After a few hours of walking in them, i started to really like them, more than the Dharma's. I got used to the fit, I am a size 11, sometimes 10 1/2, but the Advocate's don't have half sizes. The 10's would be to tight.

They are definitely not as hot as the Dharma's, and the toe box is much bigger. I don't find them to be narrow at all. My wife saw them last night, and of course always bust my stones about this wacked out shoes i buy. She said they look like old people shoes, and she is right! Basically they are slippers that you can get away with wearing at work, if you can dress casually. I got the burlap color for summer.



I compare them to the Dharma's because that is the only minimal shoe i have to compare too. The dharma's are great for fall and winter. Overall I am very pleased with the Advocates, $55 you can't go wrong with that price as well. I just saw them at Zappo's for $40.
 
#12
Does anyone else have any

Does anyone else have any suggestions for minimalist business type shoes? I have VIBRAMS and several pairs of sandals, but I need something that looks a bit more formal than the Patagonia Advocates. Any other suggestions from Patagonia? Or other brands I should be looking for?

FYI, I don't need leather, just something that looks less like a slipper and more like a shoe. Because my "normal" shoes are killing me! (so uncomfortable now that I am starting the transition!)

cheers! s/s.
 
#14
The Patagonia "Larry" looks

The Patagonia "Larry" looks to have a lot of potential, if you can deal with a shoe that doesn't end below the anklebone.
 
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