Customer Reviews Rockport World Tour Elite Encounter

I have a high instep and a very wide foot. I have tender feet, especially the bottom of the metatarsal arch and the toenails of both big toes. This shoe is comfortable right out of the box despite my personal issues. It is wide enough and there is plenty of volume in the toe of the shoe to avoid placing any pressure on the nail. The sole can be a bit slick on smooth, wet surfaces.

This is my fourth or fifth pair of this shoe style from Rockport. (The first pair might not have been called "World Tour", but were very similar in style.) My office is "business casual" and I wear these nearly every day. The best feature is they are comfortable out of the box. (It does seem the leather is now stiffer.) They have proven to be reasonably durable, though because I sit at a desk most of the day I don't often put them to hard use. A few years back I purchased a pair of Mephistos of a very similar style for about three times the price. They were comfortable, and perhaps a little more stylish, but within a year they fell apart at the seams. I went back to the Rockports. I get about 3 years out of the Rockports, before they wear down at the heel to the point they need to be replaced. At that point the rest of the shoe is still in pretty good shape. They might not have the most durable sole for extended use on concrete or other abrasive surface, but a more durable sole probably would not be as comfortable.

Unfortunately the Rockport shoes I really wanted were no longer available--they were a slightly dressier version of the World Tour Elite-Encounter. But these are as comfortable as my earlier Rockports from day one. I travel to Europe a lot and they are particularly good for walking on cobble-stoned streets/uneven surfaces, etc. Just wish they weren't quite so casual looking.

This is my second pair of World Tours. I wear them 5 days a week and the previous pair was wearing on the inside although the outside was still ok. I have a narrow foot and buy the narrow width. They are not as narrow as I would like, probably closer to a C than a B. I usually end up using padded inserts after they are done stretching. Length is fine. I wear these for business casual and they are great for traveling as they suffice for business during the day and pleasure on nights & weekends.