Men's Shoes -- How Many Pairs do you need?

In My Humble Opinion
1

Inspired by Askia’s post in the “How are you Superficial/Judgmental” thread (where it was claimed that more than 5 pairs is too many).

How many do you really need? Let’s leave aside the specialty shoes like ski boots, hiking boots, running shoes (that are really only used for running), football cleats, track spikes, etc.

In grade school, 2 pairs – one pair of tennis shoes (I call them that, but they can be any type of basketball/tennis/running/cross training type of shoe) that was worn all day, every day, for school, play, everything, and one pair of penny loafers.

High school – 3 pairs. Two pair of tennis shoes (now that the feet grow slower, you have one “new” pair, and one “old” pair), and penny loafers.

College – 4 pairs. Same as above, plus one pair of “casual” dress shoes (i.e., not tennis shoes).

Today - Work years – 18 (!) pairs. 5 pair of casual dress work shoes – 3 brown, 2 black (to be worn with “business casual” attire). 3 pair of nice dress work shoes, 2 black, 1 brown (to be worn with suits). One pair of tuxedo shoes (worn once or twice a year, with the tux). One pair of casual wear hiking/running shoe/boots, worn weekends. Two pair of extra casual leather shoes, also worn weekends, and fridays with jeans at work. One pair of indoor soccer shoes, never used to play indoor soccer. One pair of “tennis” shoes, one pair of “running” shoes (neither used to actually play tennis or run in – although if I was going to play tennis for some bizarre reason, I’d use the tennis shoes, and I have special running shoes that I actually use for running that don’t count). One pair of leather slip on sandals (to be worn to the bar-b-que at the bosses house). Two pairs of flip-flops.

Wow, 18 pairs of shoes. I feel like Imelda Marcos!

OK, fess up guys. How many have you got?

2

5 pairs, all worn at least once in the past two weeks:
1 black dress
1 brown dress
1 beat-up casual
1 beat-up hiking
1 running

3
  1. 1 pair brown dress/work shoes. 1 pair cross training sneakers & 1 pair running shoes
4

That’s a complicated question because shoes never get thrown out. I’m sure I still have shoes and boots that I bought in 1980 (remember the Frye boot craze?). But if you include the ones that have actually been worn in, say, the last six years…

1 pair black dress shoes. I might wear these twice a year.

2 pair brown casual shoes (Ecco/Timberland).

2 pair “cross trainers”, one newish, one old. (There’s probably at least one really ratty pair for painting.)

2 pair hiking/walking shoes.

1 pair Tevas.

5

–Black penny loafers
–Brown tassle loafers
–Brown cap-toe (orthopedic)
–Black cap-toe
–Steel-toe work boots
–Black parachute jump boots
–Brown topsiders
–Brown Western boots
–Grey New Balance all-purpose sneakers
–Ecco brown “comfort” shoes
–Brown sandals (Birkenstock knockoffs)

6

I currently have:

1 pair of tennis shoes that are for emergencies only - white
1 pair of tennis shoes that I use whenever I am not at work. -black
2 pair of practical dress shoes for work - 1 black and 1 brown
1 pair of fancy dress shoes to go with a suit if needed - black

That’s it. I wish I had a pair of tennis shoes to wear just to the gym, because my all-purpose tennies get dirty, but I haven’t yet bothered to get one. Shoes don’t interest me like they did in my youth.

When I was in high school, I had 13 pairs of Converse high tops, all different colors, and I used to wear mismatched pairs, so I could go about 3 months without ever repeating a combo.

7

I only own one but need a pair of dress shoes.

So my answer is two.

8

Motorcycle boots.
Sneakers.
Moccasins (slippers).
Casual ‘travel’ loafers.
Cordovan dress loafers.
Black dress loafers.

6 pairs of shoes in active use.

Deep in the back of the closet there are:
Old sneakers. Backup pair, I guess.
Army boots. Don’t ask.
Lace up wingtips. I like to slip my shoes off too much to wear these.
Bowling shoes. The last time I went bowling was 3 years ago.

4 pairs of backup/specialty shoes, rarely used.

9

1 - running shoes - gray
1 - running shoes - brown
1 - dress black
1 - dress brown
2 - black semi-dress shoes for work

That’s aboit it for non-specialty shoes. Add boots to the list, and it doubles.

10

You could probably count the dancing shoes as “specialty,” but I use them quite regularly.

1 pair running shoes
1 pair older running shoes used for casual sneakers
1 pair really junky old running shoes used for painting/gardening
2 pair dressy shoes (brown, black)
2 pair “casual” dressy shoes (black, tan)
1 pair flip flops
4 pair dance shoes (latin heels, standard patents, standard leather, and lindy tennis shoes)

12 in regular use, plus hiking boots and snowboard boots.

11

I thought I had a lot of shoes, but the OP beats me hands down. BTW, I would love to see a female version of this thread, but I doubt I could work up the patience to read it from beginning to end. Was that sexist?

[ul]
[li]1 pair burgundy penny-loafers[/li][li]2 pair black dress (one tassled loafer, one cap-toe lace-up)[/li][li]1 pair brown casual (for “business casual”) -Born[/li][li]1 pair black dress casual (see above) -Born[/li][li]1 pair tennis shoes for tennis[/li][li]1 pair crappy running shoes (mow grass, seal driveway)[/li][li]1 pair running shoes that are in good enough shape to where my wife allows me outside if wearing.[/li][li]1 pair indoor soccer shoes[/li][li]1 pair boots (for shovelling snow)[/li][li]1 pair slippers[/li][/ul]

12

2 identical pairs running shoes. I never run; these are my everyday shoes. When I get a pair sweaty, I switch pairs the next day. I use shoe trees in the off pair.

1 pair black dress shoes, worn about once a year.

1 pair boat shoes. I do use them on the sailboat, but mostly they are slipped on for trips to the mailbox.

1 pair “green” shoes. These are old running shoes, used for lawn mowing and muddy work.

I plan to buy a pair of lightly built shoes to fit easily into the pedal straps on the bicycles at the gym. With my big feet, my running shoes are a tight fit.

Boots, not often used: Very insulated, for snow shoveling. Waterproof camo hunting boots. Steel toed Wellies for really gloppy or toxic work. Chest waders, for fishing, rarely.

Nobody makes humorous slippers in 13EE, but if they did, I probably would have a pair.

13

I wear hiking boots
3 pair new(ish) hiking boots worn in rotation daily
1 pair old hiking boots (gardening & working on the cars)

I buy a new pair when the old boots can’t be worn any longer, the oldest of the newish boots become the “old” boots.

I used to have a pair of loafers but I haven’t had the need to dress up in a few years!
:smiley:

14

Dress shoes.
Vans.

My wife once made the mistake of buying me a third pair when I didn’t need them. I refused to wear them and eventually she took them back.

15

I usually wear either sneakers or boots - it depends on the weather. So practically speaking, I have two pairs of shoes.

But, I’ve got quite a few in storage:

2 pairs of running/cross training shoes…
2 pairs of dress shoes…
2 pairs of not quite shoes - they’re so worn out that they’re not quite shoes anymore. I use them for dirty jobs…
x pairs cheapo flip-flops - should these even count?!

16

Last summer, I wore regularly:

  • Brown casual dress lace-up shoes
  • Burgundy penny loafers
  • Black casual lace-up oxfords
  • Black slip-on dress shoes (with suits & nice black slacks)
  • Brown “Earth Shoes” (kinda beat-up)
  • White tennis shoes (worn, but not too bad)

Since then, my burgundy loafers, black oxfords, and Earth shoes have been ruined. I’ve not yet replaced any of them, but will soon.

I like to have around 5-7 pairs at any one time.

17

I stopped counting. I’m Imelda Marcos with a penis.

18

Now, there’s a jarring image.

19

I think I’m a bit of a shoe slag, lets see
2 pair black work shoes
1 pair brown work
1 pair black formal boot
1 pair brown formal boot
1 pair pointy toed goth shoes
2 pair ass-kicking rocker boots
2 pair trainers
2 pair cowboy boots (brown and black)
1 pair waterproof walkers
1 pair slippers
1 pair sandals
1 pair tabi

20

I have/wear regularly:

  • A pair of black dress shoes
  • A pair of steel-toed boots for work
  • A pair of black sneakers for when I’m not at work
  • A pair of brown and black sandals for warm weather
  • A pair of ratty old sneakers for painting/yardwork