Customer Reviews Allen Edmonds Porter Derby

The left shoe has a slightly different color and a different texture. I like the shoes, but I cant get over the difference between the two shoes.

Looking good is a priority, but not at the expense of comfort. I can't wear these for very long before having to take them off, so I plan to wear them only for brief outings. And, the tongue of one shoe always wants to gather near the base, making that shoe even more uncomfortable and forcing me to tug at the top constantly to get momentarily relief.

These are typical Allen Edmonds quality, but once they arrived, the look is kind of odd

Top quality craftsmanship, but not a comfortable shoe when your on your feet for long periods. Minimal cushioning. If you want a good looking we'll made shoe and don't care about comfort you'll be satisfied. If you want that and comfort look elsewhere.

A review was requested via email. Great looking shoes, since replaced with a new model. Caused a huge blister on right heel the first time I wore them, which I haven't had in 30 years. Have not worn these since.

These shoes are not comfortable on my feet. The upper-inside of the toe box is hard and does not break in. I had the same issue with a previous pair of this model.

Sneakers are comfortable and fit well but after a couple weeks, stitching around the sole started to come out. Doesn't look like they'll last as long as I'd expect them to.

Just be aware that the lower gray leather stripe is really as black as black can get. The gray of the suede depicted in the pictures of this product are nothing like the (very near) black suede of reality.

I tried the Porter when it was just released, and I posted the review "You take the good along with the bad" with my initial impressions. I have since picked up two more pairs and have been wearing them quite a bit over the summer so I'm back....with the rest of the story. I had previously compared the Porter to the Cheetah / Brisbane platform, the first sneakers developed by AE (albeit from the DR, not Portugal). I still stand by that comparison, but a lot of people may not be familiar with those sneakers. The Porter fits true to length (meaning short, compared to AE's standard welted styles like a Park or a Strand). The sneakers are NOT what I would call wide, but they're not narrow. They're just "normal" in terms of width. The toebox is very very full, very roomy, like a boot last. I guess I would say the toebox is reminiscent of the Normandy or Higgins Mill almost. Notable is that the heelcup is also kind of wide like a boot last too, but they've included enough padding and stiffener it's supposed to hold you in (I think). So bottom line is true to length, standard width, and sort of a full toe and full heel. I had said that I was impressed that they managed to make something with a lot of structural support while doing away with the thick white "hipster" cup sole found on the Brisbane / Cheetah. I think that is definitely true. The outsole on the Porter is very strong and supportive; this is no Maritime/Northland and you'll be able to walk all day with no problems. Another reviewer mentioned someone walking all over Europe and I can completely see that being possible. What I've really liked so far is that the Porter is just really good looking, you can't deny it. I have been able to pair it up with khakis as well as jeans and wear it on casual dress-down days at work, something I'd never do with the Brisbane, and I'm appreciative to be able to get the added usage here. All this good stuff, but only 3 starts. Something must be really wrong, huh? I love AE, I'm a huge fan. I have 96 pairs now, and I wear and rotate through them all. I hate to say it like this, but it's the truth. Usually out of the box, every pair (with exceptions few and far between) requires about 3 days to really break it in. Before that, they might crush and bruise my toes. Rub up my heels. Make my insteps hot and red. You get the idea. Also few and far between are pairs that take far more than the 3 full days of wear to break in. Then there are the real exceptions. The ones that really really kill me. I have a BB Macneil that...I don't know what it was, the combination of the double sole and poron insert, but they literally rubbed my heels so raw I could hardly walk to my car or around my office at work. I also have a v-tread Patriot that dug into my right foot instep so badly that my veins were glowing almost white by the end of the first day's wear. You wouldn't believe the level of pain that resulted from these two pairs. But like I said, these were the exception. Ironically I have a burgundy shell Macneil and a black and burgundy shell Patriot and all three are among my most worn pairs...go figure. Anyway, I say all this because the Porter falls into that exception for me. First day's wear, the Porter "obliterated" every drop of skin on both my heels. I don't know what it was, the fact that the heel cup is big/full, the stiffener, and that it hits at a certain spot, but...there was blood. A LOT of blood. I couldn't walk by the end of the day. I had to bandage my heels like crazy and use lots of anti-bacterial ointment to try to get them to recover. It was pretty miserable. For a week I couldn't wear any shoes other than Maritimes and my old Gobi it hurt so bad to have anything come near that area. The Porter's outsole is sturdy...but it's also stiff. Like cement. It doesn't mold to your foot quickly at all. For a casual sneaker touted as a "relaxed" fit, I sort of expected break in to be on par with the Sea Island, and it's nothing like that. On one pair of Porters, I have literally worn it like 10 different days (full days), and it still has a way to go in terms of break-in. That's nuts. And I still won't even think of putting them on without pre-bandaging my heels first (and adding masking tape too). I recall my initial wear of both the Brisbane and Cheetah bothered my ankles a little but that was it. Nothing even close to this. Also noteworthy is that the very edge of the outsole at the heelcup has started to peel away. Not bad, but a little bit. Inexcusable. That never happened with the Brisbane or Cheetah. Also when I received the shoes (first quality), there was some small damage (knicks, scratches, etc.) to the upper of one of the sneakers. Considerable and noticeable. I say this because the packaging job was pretty lousy and needs attention. Finally, these shoes don't breathe...at all. They make your feet hot and sweaty. They feel very heavy, and you're very much aware of wearing them. They're not a lightweight casual shoe. I hope this review helped more than my last one. I give AE credit. I was skeptical about the whole Portugal-made thing but I think they tried hard, and made a good effort here with some really fatal flaws. Good quality product for sure, good looking. But that level of pain, when I think back of my first day's wear I almost shudder, the pain was excruciating. I almost had to go without shoes to get to my car in the parking lot. And for casual sneakers, that was pretty inexcusable. For that reason, I can't recommend these. Please note that maybe it's because my feet are sort of skinny and low volume. If you're lucky in that you have medium/moderate volume and you can fill up the heelcup better than me, maybe you'll have better luck here.

the problem with the shoe is that sole looks like it is wearing out on the toe and heal have not had that happen with other Allen Edmonds shoe. Will they last is my question. i hav only worn them a few times.

I bought these shoes because I loved the look and I have been an Allen Edmonds wearer for the last 30 years. I still own a couple of pairs of dress shoes, though I don't have to wear them for work anymore. When I received my order, I was pleased with the appearance. However, the moment that I tried them on they felt uncomfortable on my heels. I decided to walk around inside the house in order to try to loosen them up, but to no avail. The fit was perfect, but I could anticipate that they would not be comfortable to wear for hours at a time. So, I returned them.

As a lifetime AE shoe enthusiast, I have been disappointed in the comfort of the AE three (white, tan, black) "tennis/casual" shoe lines. Haven worn them multiple times, I still get blisters and they are not a comfortable shoe as I thought a "tennis shoe product" would be. I still love AE, but disappointed in these casual product lines.

I got a lot of compliments on these, but each day I wear them I am surprised by how little they have broken in. The edges around my ankle are just very stiff, bordering on sharp and I can't really call them comfortable, even in a thicker sock. I hope over time they soften up.

These shoes look great and seem to be well made, but the lip at the top rear of the shoe severely cuts into the back of my heels. I walk a mile to the office each way and the first time I wore these I ended up cut and bloody. I had to heal before trying again with bandages on my feet for protection, and even now the callouses still don't keep these comfortable if I have to walk a long distance. Happy to pay a premium for well made shoes but wearability and comfort should be a given at this price.

I bought the shoes a few weeks ago, for my bachelor's party at the casino. Within 2 hour my heels hurt so bad I had to put tissue in the heels. I own 3 pairs of their dress shoe and love them. Not their sneakers will never buy a pair again

Developed an annoying squeak in the sole. The shoes are not wearable in public. I have a number of pairs of AE dress shoes. I bought three pairs of sneakers and the quality of the sneakers in nowhere near the dress shoes. Another pair has all the stitching coming out.

The shoes are really stiff. I thought the leather would be supple and feel like a sneaker, but it pinched and doesn't break in well like a high-quality luxury shoe should feel. Rather disappointed.

I have had many AE shoes over the years and sizing has been consistent. I ordered these in size 12 and I use my own orthotic inserts. These fit more like a 13 plus. I returned them and am afraid to try a different size. I wouldn't know what to pick. The quality appears good. I don't know if I can trust AE sizing anymore.

Right shoe 'squeaked' each step. Returned for repair, was told not subject to repair and to return left shoe to be eligible for refund.

Had high hopes. Shoe looks and feels great. Made in Portugal and not in China so that is a big plus. Unfortunately the leather finish started to actually flake off in the outside of the left foot after 2 uses. Have not heard back from Allen Edmonds yet so we'll see

Didn't have a chance to return and the not happy with this experience.

This is close to my 20th pair of allen edmonds. 12 d or medium has been perfect for me for years, no break in, pure comfort. These sneakers are probably the worst shoes I have ever put on my feet. Tried to break in but the blood and blisters is too much, too late to return, oh well . DO NOT BUY THESE SHOES! AWFUL!