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As quickly as it came—a beautiful wave of summer deals and discounts—the Nordstrom Anniversary sale is coming to a close. Now, travelers have until this Sunday, August 6, to take advantage of the markdown event.
Before the department store's luxury goods jump to their full September price tags, shoppers would be smart to make their annual wardrobe investments—and there's perhaps no investment more important for a man on the go than a quality walking shoe. Which is why we’ve rounded up Nordstrom's best deals on men’s shoes that are still in stock. Included below are stylish sneakers—for a jog through that unknown city’s streets or a lift in the hotel gym—sandals for the beach or pool, sturdy boots for hiking, and loafers and dress shoes for weddings and fancier occasions. Read on to see if any suit your fancy and scoop them up while you still can.
Athletic shoes
On almost any type of trip, if you’re only bringing one pair of shoes, you’d be wise to make them a pair of lightweight, versatile trainers. These are the shoes that ensure comfort on big walking days, can afford to get scuffed up in dustier activities, and enable you to jog or hit that hotel gym in your downtime. There are a couple good running shoes on offer in this sale—I have a few friends training for marathons this year that swear by New Balance’s offerings. We at Traveler gave the Allbirds Tree Runners a resounding endorsement earlier this year, and while those have already sold out, the brand’s Tree Dasher 2s remain in stock in several sizes. The Adidas Treziod running shoe also caught my eye as the athletic shoe that best doubles for a casual sneaker—nobody would think twice to see them worn with a pair of jeans.
Sneakers
The great casual sneaker is a terrific walking shoe, and a stylish one at that. In a story I penned earlier this year on the Dad Shoe trend, I went on the record praising New Balance, but I'm currently eyeing other brands and models, as well. These include the Adidas Retropy E5 sneakers, for their pops of orange-red against creamy beige. Nike is doing some fun things with color, too. I also bought a fresh pair of Converse, linked below, after watching Asteroid City and admiring Matt Dillon’s high-tops. Finally, anyone seeking an alternative to the usual brands need look no further than Magnanni’s Ibiza low top sneaker, which stand out for their unique burnished leather material.
Sandals
The pickings are slim in the sandal sale this year, but what’s there is good. I like the Mephisto Nikos sandal for its well-worn stylistic fusion of the fisherman and Birkenstock mule sandals, and can imagine they’re the most supportive option of the bunch. Otherwise, this is a good opportunity to replace those leather flip-flops you’ve had for a decade. Both options below are well-reviewed and have leather straps—real men don’t wear plastic flip flops.
Boots
Boots are a choice when traveling—while studying abroad in Edinburgh, I decided to break in a pair of platform Dr. Marten’s Chelsea boots on a winter trip to Copenhagen and Amsterdam. They were bulky and a beast to tame, but I couldn’t have made a better call. In cold months, especially when the weather is inclement, a boot offers the security most of us desire. While the culture is souring on Chelsea boots, I do think they remain a fabulous option so long as you don’t pair them with skinny or slim pant—I especially appreciate the clunky stompers of the Vince Reggio Lug, while the Hunter Commando Waterproof Chelsea gets bonus points for trying something new.
Dress shoes
If you have a reservation at a Michelin-starred restaurant, are attending a destination wedding, or desire something dressier on your next trip, there’s no shortage of loafers and dress shoes for your perusing pleasure. While you really can’t go wrong with any of the below numbers, I’m partial to the Allen Edmonds Plain Toe Derby for its presence and heft.
