Customer Reviews Cole Haan Santa Barbara

I LOVE these shoes. Super comfortable right away, no break in time needed. Unfortunately, they fall apart at the seems after 5 months of light use. I have had several pairs of the Santa Barbara and they all have fallen apart...either the leather stitching comes apart on the tops or the sole splits. Either way, they fall apart way too soon. I rotate my shoes often so the 5 months I have had them does not represent wear time, just ownership time. I may have worn these shoes 30x total. Zappos has been great with returns and exchanges. After 4 pairs of Santa Barbaras, this is it for me...no more. I used to be able to purchase Cole Haan and have 100% confidence in what I was buying was quality. Now when I buy Cole Haan products, its a roll of the dice.

I have worn Cole Haan for over 25 years. I bought a pair of Santa Barbaras about eight years ago, the sole fell apart. As a true lover of Cole Haan at heart, I bought not one more pair but two! With the same sole. Both pairs ripped apart within one year! I sit at a desk all day. My first pair were the driving moccasins. I am not sure, but it seems Cole Haan has left this old, air window sole behind. Even so, my new brand is Frye!

I have worn CH for over 25 yrs. I bought a pair of Santa Barbara about 8 yrs ago, the sole fell apart. A true lover of CH at heart, I bought not one more pair but two! With the same sole. BOTH PAIR RIPPED APART WITHIN ONE YEAR! I set at a desk, I'm not overweight, nor am I rough on my shoes. My first pair from the late 80's were great for over 14 yrs! I wore them everywhere! I'm not sure what is or was going on, but I think Frye is my new brand.

Shoes completely threw my back out, which occasionally happens. But more than anything, these shoes have been completely impossible to break in. It's been at least two months and the shoes still feel like the first time I've put them on (and that's not a good thing). The soles are already wearing down considerably, but the shoes are completely impossible to find any comfort. Cole Haan is a great shoe. But, for me, this one is not working.

I really wanted to like these shoes, but it just wasn't to be. After about 6 months of wear (never more than 2-3 days a week) they were just wrecked. By wrecked I mean the stitching around the forefoot area had torn a bit, the soles were cracked across the middle. All around just really bad crafstmanship. I loved the initial look and feel of the shoes but they just did not last at all. For the cost I would have expected at least 12 months of wear.

This shoe's sole cracked/split within 3 months. Very very comfortable but the sole splitting is a huge issue. 2 stars due to this issue.

I didn't fully read all of the reviews to understand the issue with the soles cracking. The first time it happened (less than 3 months of wear), I contacted Zappos and they very happily took the pair back and sent me a new one. About 3-4 months into wearing the new pair, the cracking happened again. These are very deep cracks that run the width of the shoe. I sit at a desk for 95% of my day. Please pay heed to the reviews alerting to cracking/splitting making the shoe uncomfortable to wear.

Much too rigid construction. The upper leather is very hard/rigid and the shoe could not be flexed. It felt like it was made of eighth inch sheet metal. Very uncomfortable.

Beautiful shoe, but the stitching seemed to rub or pinch me. Had to return.

The problem I have with these shoes is they break so quickly. I've had 3 pairs, first two the soles split after a couple months (this was a couple years ago). I stopped buying them, but got a pair as a gift recently. Different problem, but the sole came undone from bottom so it squeaks when you walk. It's weird, I've had lots of other great cole haan loafers but this line is not worth buying.

Stylish and comfortable...but the soles crack within months of wear. I have purchased two pair. I was hoping the cracked soles on the first pair were a fluke but it turns out it is a manufacturing flaw. Beware if you are looking for a value purchase.

The reviewers who said that these split across the soles are correct. I've had three pairs do the same thing. I bought them in brown and really liked the style. Within a few months (and I don't wear them more than a couple times a week), they split across the sole at the ball of the foot and were unusable. I figured that was a fluke, and bought them again in brown and black, like an idiot. The brown ones did the same thing again. On the black ones, which I saved for special occasions and almost never wore, the right heel fell off, and I can see the same split happening on the soles of both shoes. I've never had anything like this happen with any other shoes before. I called Cole Haan, and they said I'm welcome to send them in for refurbishing. I don't want that, or see that working. No more Cole Haan for me. There are much better shoes out there.

The soles will crack under the ball of your foot way too early (within a year) for a shoe at this price. Another guy at my office had the same problem. These shoes look good, and the Nike sole is an alluring gimmick, but the quality is a major disappointment. Haven't had the same issue with other dress shoes from CH. I'm convinced it's the sneaker-like sole of this model. Avoid.

My soles cracked also. I spoke with Cole Haan who shoes outside of 30 days are not covered. I was referred me to Cole Haan Restoration. (https://www.colehaan.com/restoration-services.html). I was advised to repair the shoes it would be a lot.

I purchased these shoes from Zappos and within 2 weeks the sole cracked at mid length. These are nice shoes and very comfortable, but are constructed with very cheap fragile soles. Do not purchase these shoes as they will not last.

For background, I have a wide foot with a high arch. The size 10W shoe's fit was snug, but I thought they would break in nicely since they had a high quality leather upper. After wearing them one day, I developed a nickel sized blister on my right heel. I had to replace the shoes with another brand after one day. Maybe it was just a bad pair, but the fit did not work for me. It's too bad because they were a nice looking shoe.

Great looking, comfortable shoe. Soles cracked under normal use. Very disappointing for a shoe of this price range.

Agree with Andrew below. Full width cracks on both feet laterally under the ball. Zappos is making it right though with an exchange so kudos to them.

Beware of this shoe. Love the style and comfort. Works great with business casual at work and jeans on the weekend. Unfortunately, like several other reviewers, I also experienced splitting/cracking in the sole after only 5 or 6 months. It's very disappointing because 1) I love the shoe otherwise, and 2) a shoe at this price should last much longer.

Sole split across the ball of the foot within 2 months of purchase. This is the second pair of shoes I have owned with this sole and both have split within months of purchase. I would highly recommend finding a shoe with a different sole.

These shoes felt great...right out of the box. However, this is the second pair of them that I have had that lasted under 3 months before major cracking on the sole. I would not buy this one again.

I've been wearing this shoe for about five months now, and just noticed that the sole on both shoes is cracking in half. They have been very comfortable and I like the style, but my last pair of Rockports lasted well over a year. I am not happy that I spent so much on shoes that don't last a year, and I doubt I will buy Cole Haans again. I sit in front of a computer all day and do very little walking. If you are on your feet at all during the day, I would stay away from these shoes.