Times are a-changing, as they do and will. And you know, much like the times, the styles are a-changing too. Does this make me sound…out of touch? A little like, say, a dad? A dad, that of the proverbial dad shoe fame? But like the modern dad today, dad shoes are changing, too.
For a while, it felt like "dad shoe" and "chunky shoe" were synonymous. They can be chunky, of course, (we'd die before excluding a pair of chunky, practical New Balances from this list.) but as the population of people who are dads changes, so too do the shoes.
Now, though, the dad shoe connotes practicality and comfort, not necessarily chunk. Running shoes that he ain't running in. A casual white low-top that is neither frilly nor fancy, like a Nike Killshot or Reebok Club C. Something the old man picked up at the local tractor-supply store to wear on trail hikes or while weeding out back.
Get your dad a pair of these, yourself a pair to celebrate your own fatherhood, or double up on your classic favourites. Our favourite dad shoes, here.
BEST RETRO DAD SHOE
These Reeboks have everything the quintessential modern dad shoe requires: practicality, wearability, and a very good-looking price point. Club Cs are a classic and a staple for the Modern Dad.
New Balance never went away, but it did have a comeback of sorts a few years ago. The brand became cool again, garnering the same kind of fanfare that it received in 1982, when its 990, the dad shoe to end all dad shoes, was released.
COMFIEST DAD SHOE
With its unmatched stability, comfort, and form, it's no wonder the Bondi 7 is a favourite around these parts. It's cushioned for days and excellent for lots of standing or walking.
BEST EVERYDAY DAD SHOE
Here's a suede runner that has a bit of chunk to it but not a divisive amount. The construction is high-quality, the look is cool, and the feel is comfy. It does a pretty good job at shock absorption for a lifestyle sneaker. Plus, it's comfortable, good-looking, and all that jazz.
BEST BREATHABLE DAD SHOE
Adidas Adistars are a solid bridge between a lifestyle sneaker and one that's truly athletic. These don't really have the true support you'd want to get a run in, but they do a great job keeping feet comfy on long walks. The mesh is airy and flexible.
BEST DAD SHOE UPGRADE
Every dad (okay, many dads) I know, or have seen at the airport, loves On sneakers. But they tend to like the OGs, the ones that look a little like toothy Tide Pots. But there are more options now, with all the ease and feel of the originals a dad might love. The Cloudflow 5s are sleek, made better with a smoother colour scheme and subtle branding. An upgrade, to be sure.
BEST OUTDOORSY DAD SHOE
Some dads are so driven by practicality that they think cool things are simply incompatible. Not so. These hiking Keen sneakers are uber-practical but also feel, luckily, like they did not come from Cabela's or some other godforsaken tractor shop.
BEST HIKE-Y DAD SHOE
If you're still thinking huge and chunky for a dad shoe, this isn't exactly that. To some shoe-wearing dads, shoes mean outdoor practicality. We can get on board with that. But Flower Mountain's Yamano 3 is durable. Practical. Done in dark, tough colours that don't show stains as obviously. Smart dads know.
BEST CASUAL DAD SHOE
The exact kind of shoe that my dad would wear on a begrudging run to the grocery store on behalf of my mother, who is in dire need of olive oil or whatever.
BEST NEW-DAD SHOE
There's something about a low-key, minimalist white-uppered, gum-soled shoe that screams comfort that's pretty dad-coded. But these mean it in a good way. Easy, well priced, and comfy.
BEST DAD RUNNING SNEAKERS
Part of what makes a dad shoe a dad shoe is, IMO, that it caters to dad needs, like wonky knees and a messed-up back. My actual dad lives in Asics Gel-Kayanos, and I don't blame him: cushioned but not unstable, soft on foot, and unfussy.
