Cheap Shoe Review: C9 Champion Limit Cushion Fit Performance Athletic Shoes

Once upon a time, shoes from department stores like Target, Walmart, and Kmart had a stigma attached to them.  They were cheap shoes that were uncomfortable, poorly made, and prone to fall apart at the worst time.  When I was growing up, there was actually a stigma attached to Kmart shoes.  They marked the wearer as a poor person.  Now, times are changing.  Are inexpensive shoes from Target really as bad as they once were?  A recent household move gave me a chance to put a pair of Champion tennis shoes or sneakers to the test.

Back in the beginning of March, we moved from one third floor walk-up apartment to another third floor apartment on a different side of our city.  A couple of nights before the move, I realized I could use a new pair of shoes because my old ones wouldn't be up to the challenge.  I selected a pair of Champion Limit tennis shoes in basic black from my local Target store.

The shoes were basic black shoes with a lightweight breathable upper and very minimal design detail.  According to the Target website, the upper is constructed of polyurethane and polyester.

The soul of each shoe was a fairly solid piece of white rubber.  The tread design had some channels for water.  However, these are not particularly grippy.

These are basic tennis shoes with a very understated design.  I'm not into flashy shoes so I was really drawn to the basic black design.  The insoles seemed fairly well cushioned, but not spongy or bouncy.  There is no gel pack or anything to crush in these shoes.  Unlike some shoes that have a metal spine in the back of the shoe to keep the shape and support the back of the heel, these Limit shoes have a soft back.  While it's not very supportive or stiff, it also makes these shoes comfortable for long drives.  If you've ever been lazy and shoved your feet into shoes for a quick shuffle around the house with "flat tires," then you'll like these shoes.

The test was a household move that involved literally dozens of trips up and down concrete stairs.  I'm a big guy weighing nearly 400 pounds and, over the course of our move, I burdened with plenty of heavy boxes, bins, sundries, and valuables that we wanted to move ourselves so that the movers could focus on heavy items like furniture.  I was up and down stairs continuously for nearly a week.  It was hell.  But, my shoes seemed to take it in stride.

Comfort.  The Champion C9 Limit Athletic Shoes were generally comfortable throughout the entire move.  At one time, I thought that the shoes were a little tight over the top of my toes.  However, this tightness loosened up over time.  My feet hurt due to the intensity of the move, but not the shoes themselves.  The shoes didn't cause any blisters or chafing.

Champion C9 Limit Shoes after the Move from Hell and Nearly 2 Months of Wear

Throughout the move and almost two months of continuous wear--often without socks--these shoes held up.  The heel and the insoles show fairly serious wear, but nothing to warrant discarding the shoes. 

Champion C9 Limit Athletic Shoes after nearly 2 months hard wear!

The shoe laces, the lace eyelets, and the seam between the shoe and the soul all held up well and show no signs of impending failure.  I'm surprised to report that the insole has not shifted and the shoe bed is still supportive.  In many respects these should still look new to a casual observer.

Well-worn Champion C9 Limit Athletic shoes after wear with "flat tire"

Overall, these Champion C9 Limit Athletic shoes are the best shoes that I have ever bought at a Target, Kmart, or Walmart.  In a couple of months, they've taken quite a bit of abuse and they are still holding up quite well.  I can heartily recommend these shoes for casual wear.  If you like them, you can probably find them on Target.com or at a Target store.  For convenience sake, check these similar Champion C9 shoes out on Amazon.

Should I buy Walmart Shoes?

Should I buy Walmart shoes or not?  It's a tough question.  As far as men's and women's athletic shoes go, Walmart footwear seems to be continuously improving.  On a recent visit, I found Walmart had good looking running shoes from Avia, Dr. Scholl's, and Starter.

The Avia shoes were trail runners and seemed to be solidly constructed.  They had comfortable heel cups, but they seemed much less supportive and almost a tad  rough right under the balls of my feet.  At just under $30, they seemed to be a good value.  Newer and thicker socks might have done the trick for this shoe.  Still, I decided to pass for now.  I might return to pick these up.

The Dr. Scholl's running shoes offered more consistent padding and support throughout the shoe.  They also offered more leather in the overall construction of the shoe.  However, I could not get my foot into the shoe without inadvertantly rolling the top rear heel support down as my heel slipped in.  Then, the bent heel would irritate the back of my Achilles tendon.  This issue might be easily corrected with a shoe horn.

Finally, the Starter running shoes appeared to be solidly constructed and cost less than $20.  But, even though they boasted memory foam insoles, they still seemed rather hard and unforgiving to me.  Of course, insoles can be replaced.

Ultimately, I chose to pass on Walmart shoes for now.  As a very large man, I just wasn't confident that they would hold up for me.  However, I can see that Walmart shoes are continuously improving.  If I was a normal 175 pound guy, I don't think they would be a bad choice.

If you are in the market for shoes,  Walmart us a good place to start.  The bigger name brands should demonstrate that they are decisively better.

Cheap Shoe Review: New Balance 450v3 Running Shoes

I recently pcked up a new pair of New Balance 450V3 men's running shoes at Kohls for only $35.  They are an attractive red and black and came in a comfortable wide width.  So far, they are comfortable.

The material seems breathable and the tread provides good traction.  These aren't trail shoes so they don't track lots of mud into the house.  But, truth be told, these shoes are too new for stomping in puddles or scrambling into the woods after our dog.

These shoes are made in Vietnam and seem well-constructed.  I haven't seen American-made New Balance shoes on the shelves lately.  I hope those are still being made.

Overall, I recommend these shoes.  They are comfortable, supportive, and not too tight.  For $35 on sale, New Balance 450v3 shoes are a steal!

Shoe Review: The Nunn Bush "Morgan" Wing Tip Dress Shoe

A Perfect Job Interview Shoe for Men 

Shoes are an integral part of looking like a perfect prospective employee. The Nunn Bush "Morgan" is a moderately priced wing tip brogue dress shoe that fits the bill.

(This is a reprint of my review of Nunn Bush wing tips.  Since wing tips are timeless, Nunn Bush continues to offer many similar shoes.)

Shoes are an integral part of looking like a perfect prospective employee. The Nunn Bush "Morgan" is a moderately priced wing tip brogue dress shoe that fits the bill.

An interview shoe is made to help you get your foot in the door. It should look business-like and steadfastly reliable. In these tight economic times, it should also be affordable. The Nunn Bush "Morgan" dress shoe retails for a suggested price of $75 and offers the same good looks as high dollar shoes.

The Nunn Bush "Morgan" offers classic brogue wing tip shoe styling. First, the Morgan has a punched pattern of shallow holes in the classic "W" or Wing Tip pattern on the toe cap and then running back along the sides of the shoe and on the back of the shoe. According to wikipedia, the "brogue "pattern of holes was originally intended to help drain the soggy shoes of Scottish Highlanders. Today, the wing tip pattern simply lets managers know that you can be trusted with money and responsibility.


On a recent shopping trip for job interview clothes, the salesmen recommended that I add some nice Wingtip shoes for nearly $200. I rejected their advice knowing that I had some nearly new Nunn Bush wingtips at home that cost me about 1/3 of the price of the recommended premium shoes. I didn't have to pay a million bucks to look like a million bucks.

The Nunn Bush "Morgan" is a good quality wing tip shoe. It has a smooth leather upper, a leather sole, and rubber sole taps to help avoid slips and falls. The "Morgan" also comes with the Nunn Bush "Dress-Flex" Comfort System which cradles your feet between a fully cushioned bottom (footbed) and a padded tongue.

 In a 12 Medium-sized shoe, I find the Nunn Bush "Morgan" offers enough width to fit snugly, but quite comfortably. The shoe also has room for any additional padded inserts that a wearer might add. Unlike many Italian-inspired shoe designs, the Nunn Bush dress shoe offers enough width for comfort in a medium. Like many Americans, I simply do not have slender "Euro" feet.



Compared to the premium shoes, the Nunn Bush "Morgan" wing tip brogue shoe has less arch support and padding. It would probably be less comfortable for all day, standing, wear than the premium shoes. However, like most office workers, I am not on my feet all day. I sit in a cube. As a job interview shoe, the Nunn Bush "Morgan" must sell the sizzle of a business-like appearance rather than the steak of extreme all-day comfort. If I were to take a job requiring me to be on my feet all day, I would definitely get a premium shoe. Instead, I find that I am much better served with several pairs of more modestly priced shoes.


At a $75 suggested retail price and good sales prices in the market place, you can easily afford Nunn Bush "Morgan" Wing Tip Shoes. Once you've landed your dream job, you can buy a closet full of them.

Cheap Shoe Review: Ozark Trail Men's Low Profile Hiking Boot

This review covers Ozark Trail Low Profile Hiking Boot for men.  A Walmart brand, these rugged looking hiking shoes sell for about $20 a pair. 

Style.  These boots look like trail runners. They have a very aggressive tread design that provides considerable traction in the woods and dirt.  However, on rainy days, these boots tend to collect mud and debris and track it into the house.

Construction.  Sturdy construction is a big selling point for Ozark Trail Low Profile Hiking Boots.  They are constructed from breathable nylon, leather, and rubber.  They seem to be more durable than shoes that I have typically bought from Walmart.

Footbed and Arch Support.  From an appearance perspective, these Ozark Trail boots look like a trail running shoe.  However, these boots do not have the contoured insoles and arch support of a typical name-brand trail runner.  To me, the boots seem to have a pretty flat footbed.  The interior of each boot is quite roomy.  This allows "aftermarket" insoles to be accommodated easily.  After a couple of hours of wear, I added a set of Dr. Scholl's insoles without removing the existing insoles.  This made the Ozark Trail Trail Low Profile Hiking Boot much more comfortable.

Overall, Ozark Trail Low Profile Hiking Boots are decently constructed and attractively styled.  At $20 plus the $10 to $15 price of inserts, they are a decent value.  If they had better arch support built in, they would be a bargain.

Okabashi "Surf" Flip-Flops: A Shoe For Patriots

It's the Fourth of July and time to celebrate the founding of our country (the United States) and all things American including SHOES!  I found a wonderful pair of flip-flops at Walmart that were actually made in a factory right here in the United States!

Okabashi Surf Flip-Flops:  Made in the USA

Of course, these are no ordinary flip-flops, these are Okabashi "Surf" Flip-Flops and they are pretty wonderful.  It's great to find Made in USA products at Walmart.  You can read my complete review here:



Cheap Shoe Review: Okabashi Men's "Surf" Flip-Flops

The Perfect Payless Athletic Shoe for Casual Office Wear

Cheap Shoe Review:  Men's American Eagle Athletic Shoe from Payless
A great shoe for casual Friday

Friday is business casual day.  If you don't want to wear your smelly dog walking shoes to work, you might check out some inexpensive athletic shoes from Payless.  You could wear $300 Bling Jordans, but if you ever want a raise a low key shoe is the way to go.  Last year, I found some American Eagle by Payless Shoes that are perfectly appropriate to wear to the office with jeans on casual day.  The Men's American Eagle athletic shoes from Payless are a basic running style shoe in a subdued color scheme.  The shoes have a mostly synthetic black upper portion with a small bit of brown leather to reinforce the heel area.

American Eagle athletic shoes are excellent for casual days at the office.  I'm not a proponent of using Payless Shoes for bona fide athletic activities.  They could use more arch support and more cushioning in crucial places.   It's easy to set a $15 to $20 pair of shoes aside in the closet and save them for use on casual Fridays.  Since they are used for no other purpose, they remain pristine and ready to go.  Your co-workers won't notice the Payless Shoes and would probably thank you for wearing them if they knew how bad your ratty dog-walking shoes smelled.  By reserving the shoes just for work, you'll also be confident that your shoes won't be leaving mysterious stains on the carpet at the office.

It should be noted that these shoes are not affiliated with American Eagle Outfitters in any way.  In fact, American Eagle Outfitters won an injunction against Payless and made them put disclaimers up about their American Eagle brand shoes.  Maybe these shoes really are sneaky sneakers!  However, any basic black shoe will do for casual Friday. . .