# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/61 "2012-01-01T14:02:32Z")
I needed steel-toed boots for an installation and my company paid for them. They were about $235 (Red Wings) and I still wear them when I am working in the garden. They are very comfortable. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/62 "2012-01-01T14:14:14Z")
Never for normal-wear shoes, but yeah on shoes for sports. It’s not hard to get above $200 for hiking boots, and I’m pretty sure my ski boots and bicycling shoes cost more than that. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/63 "2012-01-01T15:08:59Z")
Nope, nowhere near. Back when I had horses & bought my cowboy boots (early 80’s) I paid around $100 I think. Don’t remember the brand name but they were SO comfortable. Wish I still had them, don’t even remember what happened to them. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/64 "2012-01-01T15:16:58Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Hiking boots, yes. This is what I was going to say. I guess snowshoes don’t count? ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/65 "2012-01-01T15:46:58Z")
No, the most I’ve paid is around $125. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/66 "2012-01-01T15:57:59Z")
> [@FoundWaldo](#): > > Seriously, what shoes are people getting for under $20 (not counting flip flops, etc.)? I’m wondering the same. A quick perusal of Payless’s website seems to show that even there the average price is over $20. Have you ever smelled the inside of a Payless? It smells like a tire store. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/67 "2012-01-01T16:06:28Z")
I have lots of shoes that I paid less than $20 for because I got them on clearance at TJ Maxx or whatever. They’re good, name-brand shoes that generally retail for about five times that, I’m just a bargain shopper. I think the most I’ve ever paid for shoes was about a hundred, for some good hiking boots 12 years ago. I still use them regularly. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/68 "2012-01-01T19:32:18Z")
I have once, for a lovely pair of classic leather equestrian-styled boots that I will wear for years. I wear custom orthotics, and it’s a real PITA to find shoes that work with them, particularly anything without a removable insole, which means just about anything that can be worn with a skirt. ---
**Author:** ![Implicit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Implicit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Implicit)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/69 "2012-01-01T19:37:20Z")
A good pair of hiking boots is worth the $200+ price tag. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/70 "2012-01-01T20:16:27Z")
I can understand $200 or more for work boots and multi-layered ultra-cold-weather winter boots and that kind of thing. Lots of materials, lots of labor required. I will NEVER understand spending that kind of money on sandals or sneakers. I don’t think I’ve ever spent over $25 on sandals, and the one time I spent over that on tennis shoes I was unimpressed. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/71 "2012-01-01T20:30:10Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > I don’t think my Gucci shoes left much change out of $200. Damn, you got a great deal. Their standard mens loafer is $450. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/72 "2012-01-01T20:34:10Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Shoes are purely functional items that rapidly wear out. Paying more than $50 for them is a fool’s errand. Every statement in this post is wrong. ---
**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:** [January 1, 2012, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/73 "2012-01-01T20:40:49Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Every statement in this post is wrong. The poll results suggest otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/74 "2012-01-01T20:43:12Z")
Bought this pair of [Fluevogs](http://www.fluevog.com/code/?w=family%3AOperettas&p=10&pp=1&view=detail&colourID=1783) at retail. They were absolutely worth every penny. They turned me from a woman who “couldn’t” wear heels into someone who can finally wear-grown up shoes, and keep me from being that girl who shows up to the job interview in a suit with Payless flats. I wear them probably every other day, walk hundreds of miles in them, and they still look great. One of the best things is that they are designed so that the heel is easy to resole, so it costs me $15.00 once a year to keep them in tip-top shape. They go with everything- they look professional in work clothes, cute in sundresses, funky with retro clothes, hiply casual with jeans…love them. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/75 "2012-01-01T20:43:18Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > The poll results suggest otherwise. How so? Where in the poll are any of his statements discussed? Point me to the part where the poll proves that shoes are purely functional items. Maybe I missed that part. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/76 "2012-01-01T20:48:06Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > Never for normal-wear shoes, but yeah on shoes for sports. It’s not hard to get above $200 for hiking boots, and I’m pretty sure my ski boots and bicycling shoes cost more than that. My bicycle shoes were nowhere near that. I need curling shoes now, should be able to find those under $200 as well. I have wide feet, so I usually have to do a bit of looking to get shoes that fit. Strangely, the best-fitting shoes I own are a pair of Italian bicycling shoes. And they’re holding up like iron, too. ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/77 "2012-01-01T20:48:58Z")
I’ve never spent more than $40 on a pair of shoes and then, I was proud of myself for buying an ‘expensive’ pair. And those same shoes have lasted me for decades. Nowadays, they all seem to range under about $20, if I catch them on clearance right. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/78 "2012-01-01T20:49:16Z")
FWIW, one thing I’ve slowly learned is that I simply won’t wear uncomfortable shoes. My closet is full of cute but poorly designed shoes from Payless and the like, and frankly I never wear them. Instead, I wear my two pairs of good, quality shoes 90% of the time (the Fluevogs and a pair of plain black knee-high boots). I’ve slowly learned that one pair of $100.00 shoes that I can rely on is much, much better than five pairs of $20.00 shoes that just take up space in my closet. Yeah, it would be much more efficient if I didn’t care about wearing nice shoes at all and slobbed about in sneakers and flip-flops- and that is fine for some people. But it’s important to me personally and professionally to appear polished and well put-together. Fashion is a bit of a hobby for me, and there is nothing at wrong with investing in a hobby you enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/79 "2012-01-01T20:50:53Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > The poll results suggest otherwise. The poll results demonstrate that the majority have never spent over $200 on shoes. They suggest that some people may agree with some aspect of that post, which does not suggest that the post isn’t wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979/80 "2012-01-01T21:14:18Z")
Just these [Old Gringo cowboy boots](http://www.pinkswesternwear.com/gomaddogcr.html), and they were a gift. They’re gorgeous and I love them deeply. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-paid-more-than-200-for-a-pair-of-shoes/607979.md?page=5)