Best Business Casual Approach Shoe?

I'm lazy. I want a shoe that can do it all, including fool the ground-walkers. A shoe that can vibe with a button down and Brion pants during the 5th meeting of the day, and then hours later perform okay (not looking for amazing) when it needs to grip some questionable sandstone on the "trail".

The two contenders: 

Black Diamond Session Suede

• It's almost there. Maybe a bit soft of a shoe, perhaps a hair too technical-looking, but solid enough that the CEO might not bat an eye when he walks by. I think the Walnut flavor has the best chance at fooling the lady from HR into thinking you are definitely a professional worth talking to, and not an endless rock-hugger.  

SoiLL Hemp Wino

• It's basically a normal human shoe that happens to have rubber that is stickier than it should be. The all-black color scheme is convincing enough; there's a chance no one may ever know of your heroic gravity-fighting exploits. You can even tell your co-worker that you look just like Jason Mimosa.

If anyone else has some contenders to add to the ring, please share! The pool is relatively small in this specific category, and I'd love to find more options.

I already thought TX4s were business casual

I use the session suede, but I also am an engineer at the NV gigglefactory and I also think people who are fussed by which intact footwear you wear have too much time on their hands

I’m struggling to imagine an office environment where the vans-style shoes you linked would be acceptable but just anything with muted colors wouldn’t, but if you want something dressier, go with Rockports, optionally with the forefoot redone with sticky dot rubber. 

Aaron K wrote:

I already thought TX4s were business casual

Go with the tx4s and don’t give AF about what your office compatriots think. 

THESE are borderline black-tie formal but it’s always better to dress for the job you want not the job you have.

Adam bloc wrote:

THESE are borderline black-tie formal but it’s always better to dress for the job you want not the job you have.

I think you've found the answer here

I have used the BD approach shoes in an office setting, so that’s my reccomendation.

Having worn them a bit, I don’t think the SoiLL Hemp Wino will do approach duty well at all.

Eli W wrote:

I’m struggling to imagine an office environment where the vans-style shoes you linked would be acceptable but just anything with muted colors wouldn’t…

You work in a law office or something?

Scarpa has several offerings: us.scarpa.com/mountain-life…;product_list_limit=all

Climbing Weasel wrote:

Go with the tx4s and don’t give AF about what your office compatriots think. 

My office compatriots can be wearing everything from cowboy boots to chacos, so I think approach shoes are fine.

I picked up these guys & teach in them daily:

https://www.evolvsports.com/en-us/zender-mens-shoe-66-0000003125

You can still find them on clearance.  They're comfy during the day, and climb OK.  I still prefer my boulder X's, though.

https://www.adidas.com/us/five-ten-sleuth-mountain-bike-shoes/IG0368.html

https://www.evolvsports.com/en-us/rebel-leather-66-0000003675?number=66-0000003675_0000000012&c=1517946

Arc made the holy grail of this kind of shoe a few years back. They were like Clarks that you could send 10- in. You can still find them floating around across the web, the newer models look a bit more mountain-y.

These worked for me...

My top pick.

TX2 Evo leather:

https://www.lasportiva.com/en/tx2-evo-leather-man-grey-27x915723

Any shoes that you plan on actually needing sticky rubber on will get too trashed to wear in the office after a couple of uses. If you manage to not trash them you wear down the sticky rubber prematurely walking around in them.

Just get a nice work shoe and save your good approach shoes. 

never mind business casual, how about a shoe that screams BRUH when i go in to buy weed at the local dispensary?

Atticus Lee wrote:

Crocs made the holy grail of this kind of shoe a few years back. They were like Clark’s that you could send 10- in.

I’m also looking for a sun hoodie for formal events. Think black tie.

any thoughts?