I want plain shoes, maybe lace ups, to see me through the cold weather.

[MeAgainAndAgain]

I was thinking Dr Martens but all I hear about is the quality is poor. I have Solovair boots which I love, but their lace up shoes look a bit narrow on the toe box for me.

They don’t have to be lace up, but I want sturdy, plain, hard wearing, that sort of thing. Either black, chocolate brown, maroon etc.

And I have wide-ish feet so that narrows down the options if you’ll forgive the pun.

Low heeled.

Can anyone recommend anything they’ve seen anywhere?

I've been eyeing up some Lanx Boots for the winter. They're quite expensive... Compared to the £40 I usually spend.. but they look gorgeous.

I’ve seen Lanx on Instagram, they do look good. I like the women’s Calder, but at £175 they’re a bit beyond me at the moment. Plus I don’t live anywhere near them and I prefer to try on in a shop.

I came on to say Lanx. I have 3 pairs. Dh has them as well. I absolutely love mine. I've had them a few years and they are like new!
They do mail order. (You can always use Klarna!)

Lanx

Grenson (if you want waterproof choose those marked ‘Waterproof’.) NB every single time you leave the house strangers will accost you to compliment your footwear. It is an extraordinary phenomenon.)

Tricker’s (though prices have gone mad. Some on sale though.)

Ah - missed your budget!

But frankly, restricting yourself only to physical shops within spitting distance of your front door will make things rather difficult. Your ideal shopping situation no longer exists. If it did you wouldn’t need to ask the Internet for suggestions.

I like the Tricker ones, but there’s absolutely no way I’m paying that!

I’ve never ventured into Vinted but I suppose one can buy ‘brand new with tags’ shoes as well as clothes?

Obviously you’d need to know your exact size in whatever brand first. Perhaps worth travelling to one or two of those you like best - just to try on, then searching for pre-owned online? I don’t know - but in the realm of good plain shoes you will to an extent get what you pay for.

(I often hear of factory shops in … is it Northampton? No idea …)

www.jonesbootmaker.com/products/davi-leather-lace-up-boots-davi-324-255?variant=40779248369727

I saw someone wearing a pair of Kickers the other day and thought how great they looked

www.kickers.co.uk/adult-unisex-kick-hi-leather-dark-red/13163974.html

I wear a lot of loafers Clarks outlet tends to be good value.

May not work if you are small of foot, but I'm size 7 so can get men's leather brogues, which last years and look great. My current (dark burgundy) pair actually came from M&S and cost £65, but always get compliments. I wear them throughout the winter, mostly with dresses or skirts. I also have a pair of men's M&S chelsea boots in brown, which are about to do their eighth winter.

Actually, men’s’ brogues are a good idea. I’ve tried them before but found them too wide. However, if you have wide feet anyway that may not be a disadvantage.

Have a look (before anywhere else) at the men’s shoes in a decent branch of T K Maxx.

Not sure what your price range is, but I swear by Timberlands. Usually run you around £100-150, last pair I bought still going strong 7 years on...

I bought some Lanx. They were so narrow they had to go back.

Op, if you're smaller than an 8, Start Rite have some good plain lace ups and brochures in their teen girls school shoes collection, "Angry Angels".

Northampton/shire used o be the shoe capital, shoe factory shops a plenty

Not now.
Doc Shop in Woolaston but no cheaper than anywhere else

Yes - aware of the history (though couldn’t remember where!) but I’ve never met a single person in real life who has shod themselves from these now mythical outlets.

Pavers have a sale on at the moment

www.pavers.co.uk/

Clarkes have plenty.

I have these in green and really like them

https://www.moshulu.co.uk/ladies-biker-ankle-boots-p262#attribute%5B1%5D=22

Russell and Bromley Chester loafer. I have been buying various colours for about 25 years, and they are hard wearing and comfortable.

Could try Hotter - they are designed for wider feet. Love Josef Siebel. Moshulu have a wide range of colours and designs.

Dm's are still a great choice at their price. Personally I think they suffer because of their history. If it's a different shoe from the past, appraised for how it functions today, then I still set it above the other brands always mentiond on these threads. I've tried them all and chosen DM shoes and boots for the comfort and price.

Forgot to add, I have the gauchos and the black Virginia shoes.

Neither me or DC can get on with DMs @dudsville . They just shred our feet, heels in particular but other places too. We’ve tried everything the DM shop advises, bought their double layered socks, tried two pairs etc. We have got four pairs sat here that are unwearable.

I like the look of the Angry Angels patent brogues, might buy myself some of those 👍.

Just a thought, but if you want a good quality pair of shoes or boots. You're (generally);going to get a matching price point. Buy cheap, get cheap, but my points was to perhaps consider something like Klarna/Clearpay/PayPal pay on 3, where you can spread the cost over a few months and get a better quality pair that will last you years, rather than a cheap pair and this time next year. Or maybe even before winter Is out looking for another pair.

That being said, and to totally contradict myself, and don't dismiss this. Is shoe zone, my son who should probably be a product tester as he destroys everything-went through hight school in shoes from shoe zone, and each pair lasted him THE ENTIRE school year. They cost £12...He'd go through a pair of Clarkes at £45 each pair, a term for reference. (My idea was even if these They only last a term. 3 pairs is still less than the clarks) so imagine surprise when they were still going in July!...The brand was hobo and he said they were the most comfortable shoes he's ever owned.