Payless has been my favorite shop for years.

I buy shoes that look like leather loafers but as basically as floppy as slippers. This is exactly what I want and need. They are respectable enough to wear in work situations but I can also use them for martial arts or any other physical activity. Basically, they're nearly as good as barefoot, which isn't practical for various reasons.

I find it ironic that a lot of folks buy $120 "toe shoes" when they learn of the value of nearly barefoot ... when they could just buy the proper cheap shoes instead.

(Edit, I've studied bodywork, balance system and such. The arch supports and such of "good shoes" are arguably actually back for most people, interfering with the natural rhythm of walking, etc).

Can you give any links or pic of those shoes?

You may google this:

https://www.google.com/search?&q=%22toe+shoes%22+&ie=utf-8&o...

No, I meant the shoes you buy.

Payless did sell some perfectly sensible utilitarian mens black leather-looking walking shoes, which got me through grad school.

I upgraded to DSW when I could afford (or cost-justify) it, and mainly for dating appearance reasons.

Currently, I have to order running shoes, to get the right size&color of a model I know works for me (local running shop sadly doesn't carry it), but the durability has gotten so poor that I contacted the well-regarded brand corporate.

Every time I bought PayLess shoes, they were destroyed in weeks. I haven't been in 10 years, but fuck that place.

My were usually gone by 6 months to a year, which isn't great. But then they cost $20. I'd usually buy 2 pairs.

I think they were worth their cost.

6 months to a year is what I generally get out of "high quality" name brands like asics and nike, the only difference seems to be which part of the shoe goes first, with budget brands it's the sole, more expensive ones it tends to get holes around the top of the toe area.

A lot of it comes down to which kinds of shoes you buy from which maker. I buy many leather Jordans and SB Dunks from Nike and have never had a pair fall apart before I donate them. Currently wearing Jordans I bought in 2017 and have worn ~500 times since then. Other than minor scuffs and outsole wear, they're in fantastic condition.

I have the opposite problem. When I was a kid(very active, used 8+ hours a day) all I had were shoes from Payless and they lasted two years. Recently I have purchased different "high quality" brands in the $50+ range and each has worn through the soles in less than six months. I barely wear my shoes an hour each day.

Well, when I was a kid you could say at least we aren’t buying K-Mart or Pamida shoes. Foot Locker or its equivalent had the name brands.

They were very heavy shoes, made of low quality materials, glued together with cheap glue that often peeled before the soles wore out.