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.