The best value welted shoes on the market are Meermin Mallorca. Now this will spark a lot of debate as this is just an opinion but for $195 for a solid entry-level welted shoe, Meermin is hard to beat overall. Let us take a look.
Personally speaking, I judge a shoe’s value a lot more than simply comparing its price versus its construction. A poorly made low-priced shoe is nothing more than a pooly made shoe. An ugly hand-welted shoe is nothing more than an ugly shoe. You see where I am going? There might be $300 handwelted shoes out there where people “feel” the value is better than Meermin’s $195 welted shoe but when stacking up design/pattern, last shape, fit, etc, for me, Meermin stands champ on a lot of those comparisons.
I have owned two pairs of Meermin shoes in my life. And both were great. My first pair was from the Linea Meastro line and at the time cost $275 for a handwelted shoe, made in China and ‘finished’ in Spain. They were comfortable, used top-grade leather, and looked good. I wore them several times and never had a problem.
My second pair was from their main line. They were a pair of suede double monks, priced at $195 with goodyear welted construction. They fit great, looked great, and felt great. I only wore one time to give that wear test and I had no complaints. For $195, that was a heck of a pair of shoes you got in return. The suede was also a very high grade which surprised me the most from that price point. I was impressed by that pair.
Maybe I was just lucky as I have always been baffled by the amount of horror stories I have read on the internet about Meermin’s shoes. While I understand quality control might be lacking (we will get to this later), what I never understood was the number of people who said their shoes were so uncomfortable and took ‘months’ to break in. Both my pairs took one wear to do so.
I believe Meermin’s online popularity during their growth years allowed them to convert many unknowledgeable shoe consumers into the welted side of things. Sadly, as I have witnessed time and time again, when someone goes from Nike-soled Cole Haans into a welted shoe, they feel as if they just went from Tempurpedic to sleeping on the floor. Their expectations are mostly unrealistic as their idea of comfort has been distorted by marketing campaigns. They then feel that welted shoes are super hard and uncomfortable. That is not to say that they are all speaking untruths. Certainly, I am sure that there has probably been an uncomfortable last-to-fit ratio, compounded by a tough break-in.
Having not raised their mainline shoe prices in over 10 years is not only impressive it leaves one wondering how it is even possible. Because of that fact and the fact that they have nicely shaped lasts, good patterns and, for me, comfortable shoes, I rate them as the best bang for your buck in the welted shoe industry!
Learn more here: https://meermin.com/
—Justin FitzPatrick, The Shoe Snob
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kerry brown
Greetings Justin, I thoroughly agree with your assessment of The Meermin Brand. I was introduced to the company by Hugo Jacomet’s mammath 2015-16 review of shoe companies around the world. The shoes in some styles are a little tough to wear at first. For me there is a problem of shoes rubbing against my ankle bone which is easily fixed by using mole skin or a sparing amount of Neats foot oil to soften the leather along the rim area that touches bone. When the day the shoes come into agreement with your foot occurs, it is orgasmic. I have accumulated a lot of Meermins and they are worth every dollar (imoha). The dress shoes, oxford and derbies alike, are nowhere comparable to sneakers, some sites when asking for your shoe size are using Puma’s etc. as comparisons. Meermins is not the kind of shoe to do that with, It is a man up shoe (he said facetiously).
Justin FitzPatrick
Thank you as always for sharing Kerry. Some good info in this comment!
AK
I like their lasts a lot. They are one of the only ones to have lasts which are low instep/narrow, and good arch support. I have bony, narrow feet and a low arch. Too bad I shied away from them for a long while, I would have saved hundreds of euros. My bunion stopped buggin after switching to Meermins.
You get what you pay for in terms of finishing, but the leathers seem good. My only fit issues have been with the the heel rubbing my ankle.
Justin FitzPatrick
Thank you for sharing. Seems like the ankle bone issue is more commonplace than I knew. Good to know!
Janil
Thanks for the article Justin. Fascinating that shoes can be made of such high quality at such an affordable price. Must be a concern for the Italian and UK shoemakers, with their higher labour costs.
What do think about Berwick ? I have a pair of derbies and their quality is excellent for the price ( $150- $200 ) . Their lasts don’t look as refined as Meermin’s though.
Justin FitzPatrick
My pleasure Janil and thank you for saying so. I have only ever owned/held one pair of Berwick’s and for the price, they were amazing.
Ronald Atwood
Thank you for your beautiful app. Great variety!
Justin FitzPatrick
my pleasure and thank you!
Ronald Atwood
I really love the cordovan long wing. I think there is no equal to the weight and heft to make a man walk a splendid journey. And there is no substitute for a mirror shine and to keep up! That’s my ideal! Ronald