Rockport

Big Bucks Margin

Men's

I have purchased eight pairs of these shoes over the past couple of years, and I hope to live long enough to have purchased at least two or three dozen of these wonderful shoes by the time (in the future when I get to discover if there is Zappos in heaven, or in some less accommodating place) it's my time to go. Over the years, as my more senior pairs of Rockport Margins began to show their age, I bought fresh, shiny new ones, some black and some brown (chocolate). The newer ones get along just fine with the older ones, unlike spouses where getting replaced with a younger model does not go over quite so well. The older ones are content to live a less structured life and be relegated to yard work and dog-walking, while their newer stablemates get the honor of protecting my feet from the harsh concrete and carpet which covers this fair place we call Earth (or at least to the office, where shoes are pretty much mandatory). These are my shoes, period. These are absolutely as comfortable as running shoes, as durable as a football, and require no break-in to be comfortable. Even after wearing them daily for several years (at work) and a fair amount of walking, there have been no issues with any seams coming apart or sole bonding issues. The soles wear well and grip well on all normal horizontal surfaces where people might attempt to walk. The insole holds up. Heck, even the laces are good quality and they come in a very sturdy yet attractive black recyclable cardboard box. I am a picky person, and quite frankly I cannot think of any fault or weakness with these shoes. If you were somehow born with shoes permanently attached to your feet, these would be a good option. Not to sound like a Rockport fan-boy, but I also bought a pair of the Rockport 'Dressport Truwalk Captoe' which is an almost identical shoe, except it has a 'captoe' and is considered a dress shoe. The Dressport has a slightly different sole. I have not tried the Nubuck variant of the Margin, so cannot comment on how their suede holds up. Buy these shoes and your life will be complete, not complete as in finished or over, but complete as in whole, harmonious, and serene. I am not a shoe fetishist, but if I were, these shoes would be my object of my deepest affection and desire.

I had these for under 24 hours before returning them, and just wore them around the house. They are indeed very comfortable and the leather seemed like it would hold up well. What was not acceptable is that the soles are made of what I call rubber foam that cheap/lightweight material you see in the lowest-priced shoes at department stores. While it's very lightweight and aids in comfort It wears out ridiculously fast unless you're only walking on carpet in airports. I imagine the soles on these will be gone or lopsided inside of a few months considering the amount of walking I do on pavement.

I've owned 7 or 8 RP oxford models. Recently tried to figure out the difference between the Margins, the Editorial Office - PlainToe and Stylewise Wenmatt. Zappos customer service went out of their way to email some advice, the description pages offer other details, and the included video clips give different details. Bought the BB Margins, and have worn them for a couple of months before writing this. They are more solid, more 'clunky' if you like, than most of my other RPs, but I like that. I'm tired of cheaper shoes wearing out quickly, and these seem to be a more longlasting design. They have a steel shank and a light leather lining, and a polyurethane sole, all of which make it solid and add a few ounces. Some of the lighter more athletic shoe oxfords, like the dressport allenders feel more like a tennis shoe, which is wonderful but may not last as well. The sole is one thing key to that - the EVA soles are softer, but as a very slight pronator myself, they end up wearing quickly and unevenly (such as on my pair of RP Northfield waterproofs that I otherwise like a lot). The poly soles are more abrasion resistant. If you take the time to scrutinize the pictures, you'll pick up on more subtle differences, like whether the tongue, back of the collar or the full collar are padded; # of eyelets, etc. Don't waste your brainpower on the tech hype like "air circulating" (dinky grooves and holes under the insole) or adiprene shock absorber (sm patch of gel under the insole). I've tried cheaper and more expensive brands, and I think the RPs are a good med price range, well-designed mass market brand. They seem to tinker with models all the time, so if you find one that is perfect for you, consider buying several if possible, because the maker is just going to change it soon. Zappos has been great.

Hands down, one of the most comfortable dress shoes I've ever owned. I work in the wedding photography business, so comfort and support is a must. My feet were constantly achy after an 11 hour work day with my previously bought department shoes (the front narrowed and squeezed the inside and outside parts of my toe area), but with these that wasn't a problem anymore. It also comfortably fits a custom fit orthotic (Arch molds, the blue color/Maximum size 9-9 1/2 fits in 8 1/2 Rockport shoes). I originally debated between the other nicer looking Rockport shoes and this. The sheer number of reviews sold me on it. Maybe for my next going out to town shoes I'll splurge on their other, more fashionably forward looking shoes. I'm a size 8 but went with an 8.5 for room, as suggested by my internet research, since your feet expand throughout the day.

I bought these shoes for my 94 year old grandfather whose feet have been bothering him for years. I needed a shoe that was stable, sort of dressy, and with plenty of room for his gnarly old toes. We returned the first pair because he thought it was too small. Zappos return system was great. We replaced them with the same shoes one size bigger and one width wider, but I don't think the shoes run small or narrow. I just think he's been wearing shoes that were too small for him for years. Since getting the new shoes he has not complained about his feet at all. He walks better (more stable and no pain) and they look great. I have a pair of Rockports myself, so I knew they'd be light and comfortable, but I wanted to write this review for anyone who is thinking of buying these for someone who is elderly. They were perfect. Also, I could have gotten these shoes cheaper elsewhere on the Internet, but I was glad I chose Zappos when I needed to return the first pair. Great service.