Bates Lites® Black Leather Oxford

My son purchased these just before starting school, a few weeks later he tells me he needs new shoes as his are falling apart. The heels are split and cracking on shoes he's had less than 2 months! We've worn Bates shoes for years in this family, so for this pair to crumble so soon is very shocking. I do hope we are not going to have to buy shoes every 6 weeks for the rest of the school year!!

Being active duty, I have had multiple pairs of these shoes over the years. Some pairs look great, but then others just crease and bend so much that the shoe looks sloppy and prematurely aged. This describes my current pair: the left shoe is fine, but after THREE DAYS of wear the right has very large creases and very strange stress marks where the leather meets the sole. I am very careful with my shoes... proper polishing, cleaning, and religious storage with shoe trees. Regardless, I still get mixed results, so much so that I am looking for a non-Bates alternative that still complies with the Navy uniform regs. Very disappointed.

Another great shoe in a long line of great shoes! This is my third or fourth pair of black oxfords. I also have brown. They have all been as good as I have come to expect from Bates.

Bates is the best brand in the uniform shoe market hands down. You can't go wrong with them.

Best shoes ever made by mankind.