# Have you ever paid more than $200 for a pair of shoes? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 31, 2011, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979 "2011-12-31T21:01:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/1 "2011-12-31T21:01:24Z")
Spinoff of this thread: [I pit people who riot over a pair of sneakers. - The BBQ Pit - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=636076) Have you ever paid over $200 for a pair of shoes? And if so, what kind of shoes were they and do you feel they were worth the price? Actual poll coming in a minute. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/2 "2011-12-31T21:04:47Z")
Yes. $210 for my last pair of good non-dress shoes. I have big feet, and am really rough on shoes, so I had to pay that much to get a pair that’d last and fit. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/3 "2011-12-31T21:07:19Z")
Yes. [Alden 401](http://www.aldenshoes.com/Store/DrawProducts.aspx?CategoryID=109)s, brown, $300 (at the time, from the linked store). They are the most comfortable boots I’ve owned. My only complaint is that they don’t have the cushioning that ‘modern’ boots have; but they feel great on my feet. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/4 "2011-12-31T21:08:19Z")
I have a number of shoes and boots a that I paid $200 or more for, and probably 50% of the footwear I own has a MSRP of $200 or more. I’ve had a few disappointments, but I walk everywhere, and on the whole good shoes are very much worth the money. ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/5 "2011-12-31T21:11:33Z")
Hmmmm, I don’t think so, and I do love nice shoes. Most of mine are from Aerosoles: heels, flats and boots both comfortable and chic. Every so often, pumps or boots from Lord & Taylor. Usually $75 - $120 or thereabouts. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/6 "2011-12-31T21:16:38Z")
I paid £130 for a pair of cowboy boots, which Google tells me is $201.64. So, yes, and they are definitely worth it. As well as looking great, they’re comfortable, and have lasted a while. I just spent £70 on some workboot-style boots, and would have spent more if I could afford it right now, as these new boots are comfortable, but I don’t think they’ll last as long as a more expensive pair. Should still be good for a couple of years though. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/7 "2011-12-31T21:18:56Z")
> [@Steophan](#): > > I paid £130 for a pair of cowboy boots, Hm. I bought some cowboy boots in the '80s. I know one pair was Tony Lama, but I don’t recall what the others were. They may have been in the $200 range. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/8 "2011-12-31T21:23:22Z")
I walk everywhere and work on my feet, and I’ve never even paid $100 for a pair of shoes. ---
**Author:** ![Jaledin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/9 "2011-12-31T21:24:06Z")
Nope. And I fucking love shoes (trail runners) – but they all wear out pretty quickly, so it matters that I can replace them with another 100 dollar pair (or less) when they get too painful even for little under-30 miles around town. I’d consider spending around two hundred or more if I wanted hiking boots, and have them resoled if necessary, but I don’t go winter backpacking or spend a lot of time on scree or places where some monster traction might be helpful. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/10 "2011-12-31T21:25:46Z")
I have never done so, but when I was a pre-school-age kid and wore corrective shoes, they apparently cost a total of about $125 per pair (shoes plus custom orthotics built in.) That would have been 40 years ago, and $125 was a good week’s pay at the time! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/11 "2011-12-31T21:27:21Z")
Only for my Renfaire boots, which were a bit over $200. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/12 "2011-12-31T21:27:28Z")
Hiking boots, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Alpine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpine/32/17813_2.png) [@Alpine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpine)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/13 "2011-12-31T21:45:13Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Hiking boots, yes. +1 ---
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/14 "2011-12-31T21:54:09Z")
I paid $300 for a pair of [White’s Smoke Jumpers](http://www.whitesboots.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=30314). When I was a wildland firefighter. Worth every penny. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/15 "2011-12-31T22:00:07Z")
I think the most I ever spent on shoes was around $100 for a pair of SAS loafers. I’m wearing them right now. They give me happy feet! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/16 "2011-12-31T22:02:15Z")
Now that I think of it, I think I paid around $450 for my 1936-pattern RAF flying boots – also the most comfortable boots I’ve worn. I may have gotten free shipping from England, since a friend and I combined our orders; but I don’t recall. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/17 "2011-12-31T22:22:36Z")
Hiking boots and cowboy boots, yes. Regular footwear, no. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/18 "2011-12-31T22:59:20Z")
No. The most expensive shoes I have ever bought were $100+ Danskos. I loved those shoes and wore them for 4 years before one of my dogs started chewing on them. I kept wearing them after that because they were still perfectly comfy shoes. Then my new dog found them. I can’t wear them any more. It makes me sad. I loved those shoes. They were the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever owned and they were in just as good condition in 2011 as they were when I bought them in 2005. I will be getting another pair as soon as I have the money to spare. When I’m not wearing them, I’ll keep them safe on a high shelf. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/19 "2011-12-31T23:05:17Z")
> [@woodstockbirdybird](#): > > I walk everywhere and work on my feet, and I’ve never even paid $100 for a pair of shoes. Me, too. I walk from the train to work (over a mile each way), I’m also a nurse in one of my jobs. I don’t routinely shop at places like Payless or Target for my shoes. I have foot problems, so need well-made shoes. I won’t go over $90, but I’ve never needed to. 😕 Maybe it’s regional? I shop in and near Chicago. ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2011, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/20 "2011-12-31T23:14:17Z")
Yes, they’re basically a knock-off pair of Louboutins from Ann Taylor and they were just over $200. I bought them for my interviewing outfit. I routinely get stopped by girls in school asking about where I got them-they replaced a previous pair of beautiful Ann Taylor shoes (have really had good luck there in the last few years). I didn’t know until about 2008 that Ann Taylor even made shoes over $150, they are still a mall store after all. I consider them worth it because I was originally going to buy a pair of Louboutins, which would have been about $800 if not more. I consider between $200-400 acceptable for nice women’s shoes, especially if we’re talking brand name knee-high/boots or shoes I’m wearing to beg for a job. $375+ is the point at which I start balking to pay. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979.md?page=2)