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Style Battle: Two REALLY cheap Wingtip Boots

November 3, 2011 By Joe | Heads up: Buying via our links may result in us getting a commission. Also, we take your privacy rights seriously. Head here to learn more.

Hawkings McGill Suede Wingtip – $49.99* ($78) | Dr. Scholl’s Oren – $76.49** ($90)

Like a great Summer Suit, there’s something about a pair of sturdy and versatile wingtip boots in the fall.  Most have character to burn, and they can be dressed up with many of the rough textures we’ll see once the weather turns cooler. Our search for the best affordable wingtip boots is on, and feel free to send in suggestions via styleip.

*
Free shipping kicks in at $50, so you might want to pick up an extra set of laces to make that happen.

**Use code 150ff to take 15% off and get free shipping.  Credit to reader Wes for the style tip.

If you’re a firm believer that paying less than $150 for shoes is a waste of money, you can stop reading right now.  Investing in a pair of $200, $300, or even $400 boots is a fantastic idea… but only if you have that money to spend.

Cue detractor #1: “But the cheap shoes will fall apart in a year or two!”
Maybe.  Or maybe not with a little luck and some reasonable care.

Cue detractor #2: “But if you keep having to replace your shoes, you’ll just end up paying more!”
Same goes for having a mortgage.  It’s a great idea if you can pay for a house in cash.  But not all of us can do that.

The Hawkings McGill suede wingtip is like a well worn but decently taken care of house in an awesome location.  It might not have all the bells & whistles, but it looks good and the price is more than right.  The Dr. Scholl’s Oren is like a cookie cutter house in a subdivision with no trees.  It’ll work for some, but lacks immediate character.

Left:  The Hawkings McGill burnished toe.  Right:  The Dr. scholls bulbous toe

The Hawkings McGill from Urban Outfitters has that close to perfect shape just like its non-suede twin,   The toe slims down without being blunt or pointy.  They aren’t nearly as rich in color as on the web, and there’s some unusual burnishing at the toe & heel that has oddly smoothed out the suede.  It’s a little less noticeable in person than in the pictures here, but still.  This shoe is like a two bedroom house without a garage.  A little odd, but something you’d probably get used to.

The Dr. Scholls are built bigger and fatter.  The leather quality is surprisingly nice.  The traction on the sole is barely there compared to the Florsheim Gaffney.  It’s plenty comfortable, but it sprawls a little unnecessarily and has a bit of a blah look.  Kind of like a new subdivision house that was built bigger than it needed to be.

Even if you ignore the price, the Hawkings McGill are the much better buy.  The $25 price difference means that for now, the only Doctor Scholl’s coming off the shelf will be a pair of future insoles for the boots from Urban Outfitters.

Best Wingtip Boot under $100 – Hawkings McGill – $50 – $88.00  Available in black, tan, & a brown suede
Best Dressed Up Wingtip Boot – Italian Made Ciro Lendini Wingtip Boot – $149.00

Probably not the best idea to wear one of each at the same time.

Filed Under: Shoes Tagged With: Boots, Dr. Scholl's, Fall Wingtip Boot Search, Hawkings McGill, shoes under $100, style battle, Suede, wingtip boot

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Comments

  1. Eddie H says

    November 3, 2011 at 2:17 AM

    Are your Hawkings Mcgill’s the ones from the website? I went to the store to buy the distressed ones as shown, and they said that they were different from the $50 ones online, so I just ordered them online, expecting to get the same ones you have (which are the same as the ones I saw in store)

  2. Kevin Brown says

    November 3, 2011 at 2:23 AM

    While quality is frequently an issue with cheaper shoes, the much bigger problem is fit and comfort. 

    If you happen to fit into the cheaper brands limited sizes (i.e. you wear an 8-13 D), you’ll probably be fine. If you need a wide or narrow though? Too bad. Way too many people do that and wind up with foot pain because they think they should be wearing a size 10 when really they need an 8EE.

    If you’ve only got $60 or so for a pair of shoes, it’s worth checking ebay first. You can find a surprisingly great selection in good condition for that price. 

  3. Joe says

    November 3, 2011 at 5:07 AM

    The suede ones here are from online (didn’t see them in-store so went to the web, plus, the shipping was free at the time).  Interesting that they have two models floating around out there, but that’d explain the discrepancy between the image from the website, and what they look like in real life.

  4. Jason says

    November 3, 2011 at 5:23 AM

    I don’t know about the boots, but I bought a pair of Dr. Scholl’s woven sandals 4 or 5 years ago that are still going and are the most comfortable I’ve ever worn. 

  5. Jim Gooch says

    November 3, 2011 at 6:31 AM

    Florsheim also offers a “Hawley” with a slimmer danite sole.  Fewer finish selections, but handsome.  Fitting is a bit tricky — I’m typically an 11 or 11.5; their 11 felt about an inch too big but the 10.5 was too tight.  Now trying a different pair of 11’s.  Zappo’s free return shipping FTW.

  6. BenR says

    November 3, 2011 at 7:03 AM

    Those Dr. Scholl’s are surprisingly nice-looking. I didn’t even realize they made shoes. Is the interior of the shoe excessively “shaped” and “padded”? I like shoes that are as flat and “unsupportive” as possible on the interior so if these shoes are designed like orthotics I will probably steer clear.

  7. trash says

    November 3, 2011 at 7:10 AM

    How’s the fit on the Hawkings McGill? UO doesn’t have my usual 8.5 so I’m not sure if I should round down or up. Not that I need another pair of shoes or anything…

  8. David says

    November 3, 2011 at 7:19 AM

    I recently got the hawkings mcgill boot and they’ll be going back to the store today. It’s allllllllmost perfect for me except that I would really have preferred the less burnished version shown on the website. Any recommendations for an affordable wing tip suede boot without the weathering?

  9. Bryant Turnage says

    November 3, 2011 at 7:23 AM

    Maybe it’s just me, but judging from the pictures, I really prefer the Dr. Scholl’s. Maybe I’ve just not made the mental leap yet to a suede wingtip boot.

  10. Scott says

    November 3, 2011 at 7:27 AM

    I ordered the Gaffney in 11 and it is enormous. The slim width screws it. Most likely a 10.5 would be right, but likely tight.

  11. Scott says

    November 3, 2011 at 7:29 AM

    I think I like the distressed look of yours (McGill) versus the pic on the UO site.

  12. BenR says

    November 3, 2011 at 7:35 AM

    Same. Suede just doesn’t do it for me the way leather does. Suede looks nice, it probably feels nice, but I could never walk through a puddle or a snowbank with confidence the way I can after I’ve waterproofed my leather shoes.

  13. Ryan N. says

    November 3, 2011 at 7:58 AM

    I got two pairs of nearly-mint Allen Edmonds in my correct 9C size for $60 total. Unbelievable stuff on eBay.

  14. Anonymous says

    November 3, 2011 at 8:22 AM

    Do the Hawkings McGills run true-to-size?

  15. Tat says

    November 3, 2011 at 8:26 AM

    I think I have that same Ottoman shown in you’re heading banner.
    I’d prefer the Dr. Sholl’s boot, because I have wider feet, and the shoe does not look as long and narrow as the UO boot.  Plus as BenR has mentioned, I usually prefer a leather outer mostly because of weather conditions and more uses. I already own 3 different pairs of suede boots.

  16. vinman says

    November 3, 2011 at 10:37 AM

    I much prefer the Dr. Scholl’s. They appear to be Goodyear welted although the description doesn’t say. Could be a mock welt. I’m just not a big fan of suede. 

  17. BenR says

    November 3, 2011 at 11:15 AM

    The downside to spending $60 on eBay is that you generally don’t get any return policy and that leaves you SOL if your shoes don’t quite fit or there’s something you just don’t like about them. Generally, the sellers that do have return policies only take things back if they have misrepresented the product in some way.

    I’ve had hit-and-miss experiences with secondhand shoes on eBay. I got one pair of Allen Edmonds that fits me perfectly and is in near-mint condition. The second pair is in much rougher shape and is so thoroughly molded to its previous owner’s foot that it isn’t comfortable for me to wear at all. I had to suck it up as a loss because the seller didn’t really misrepresent the shoe in any way – it’s just impossible to know how it will fit without seeing them in person.

    Thrifting is a better bet than eBay for secondhand shoes, IMO. Less price inflation and you actually get to try stuff on/inspect before purchasing.

  18. Peter says

    November 3, 2011 at 11:28 AM

    I like the aesthetics of the suede boots. But as others have pointed out, can they withstand a Northeastern winter, i.e. snow, slush, etc? Generally suede and water is a no-no, so I thought I’d ask

  19. Joe says

    November 3, 2011 at 12:20 PM

    They feel true to me.  But whenever someone asks about shoe size, it’s really a shot in the dark.  I think they fit like a 10.5 on my 10.5 D feet, but someone else might think different.

  20. Joe says

    November 3, 2011 at 12:21 PM

    They do for me.

  21. Joe says

    November 3, 2011 at 12:24 PM

    Growing up in Lake-Effect-Snow country, where school was often cancelled not because of snow, but because of bitter cold (-20 air / -50 windchill) I got used to wearing almost anything outside if it was doable.  Would I wear these in a blizzard?  No.  Would I wear my Allen Edmonds bare in the snow?  No to that as well. 

    I’d wear boots that were appropriate for snow in snow.  If it had snowed and I had shoveled the walk to get to my car and it wasn’t a blizzard and the walks were shoveled wherever I was going?  Well then, yeah, probably would be just fine.  But, just my two cents.  Everyone treats their shoes differently.

  22. Eddie H says

    November 3, 2011 at 3:46 PM

    Joe, I actually don’t think they have two models. Just that the one online is pictured wrong! Because the ones in store are the ones you have.

  23. Paul U. says

    November 6, 2011 at 2:55 PM

    I just ordered the Dr.Scholl’s boots for $71.99 total as I found a 20% off coupon here:
    http://www.wow-coupons.com/view-merchant.php?Id=272

    I’ll post up my quick review of the boots when I receive them.

  24. Adam says

    November 7, 2011 at 8:05 PM

    I ordered the Dr. Scholl’s last night.  Can’t wait to have a pair of boots to wear other than my steel toe work boots!

  25. @UJustAffiliated says

    November 8, 2011 at 8:12 AM

    The Hawking boots look really different here than on Urban Outfitters’ website. The ones pictured here look a lot more distressed compared to the picture of the boots on UO’s site. Does anyone know if they actually come distressed?
    Link to site:http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=22222467&navAction=jump&navCount=

  26. Paul U. says

    November 16, 2011 at 10:13 AM

    Just got the boots and they fit true to size. I wear a size 9 in Johnston & Murphy, 8.5 in Clarks, 9.5 in Adidas and Size 10 in New Balance.
    These boots however smell really bad in terms of products/chemicals used to treat the leather.
    I’ve been letting them air out for the past 2 days and will continue to do once the smell has dissipated.
    Anyone have any tips on getting rid of the smell?

  27. Evan T. says

    January 17, 2012 at 1:07 PM

    Anyone figure out how to get rid of the smell as Paul U. commented? I just got these on Amazon and one of the other reviewers on Amazon posted about the terrible smell as well. Maybe there’s a wax polish product that could mask the smell? Or a special spray?

  28. John S says

    February 6, 2012 at 9:43 PM

    Hi Evan and Paul, any luck with getting rid of the smell. I really wanted to order these, but the reviews all say they smell terrible. . .

  29. Paul U. says

    March 5, 2012 at 2:33 PM

    Dr.Scholl’s FAIL!

    I’ve tried drying out the sole with a heat gun.
    Used leather lotion on the soles & leather.
    Stuffed the shoes with newspapers in a paper bagg stuffed with newspaper and let sit over a week.
    Used some freshly sanded cedar shoe trees, which I let sit for a few days.
    NO LUCK at all.
    These shoes still stink of chemicals.

    I have tried contacting Dr.Scholl’s customer service and they misunderstood thinking that I had smelly foot problems and to let the boots air out after use. FAIL.

    I am VERY upset over purchasing these shoes and wish that this really obnoxious problem was mentioned in the review.
    Now I have spent $80 on a pair of boots that will rarely if ever get worn.

    Time to eat the loss and save up for a pair of Florsheim Hawleys till they are back in stock in my size.

  30. Joe says

    March 5, 2012 at 5:08 PM

    It wasn’t mentioned in the review because the pair I got didn’t smell.  If they would have smelled, I would have mentioned it.  Sorry you’re disappointed, but even without the smell (which again, wasn’t there on this end) it said that the UO option was a much better buy.

  31. Paul U. says

    March 8, 2012 at 10:14 AM

    Oh well.. fail on my part.
    I’ll just get the Florsheim Hawley when they’re back in stock.

  32. Raytmore says

    April 6, 2012 at 12:45 PM

    The soles on the Hawkings seem really cheap. The road surface around Santa Cruz isn’t the best, but it’s not horrible, and the soles are being literally chewed up after only a handful of outings in them.

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