Knowing the right brand to invest your hard-earned money in is crucial. It is one of the best ways to make the investment worth the bucks while ensuring a feeling of satisfaction.
It’s generally said that shoes are one of the first things strangers notice when they first meet you, meaning shoes are an essential accessory for everyone.
An ideal pair of shoes should be both comfortable and well-designed. With regards to men’s footwear, two brands often draw attention: Cole Haan and Allen Edmonds. Both brands are incredibly popular with noticeable differences between them.
That said, answering the question, of which one is better, then we’d suggest that you read this blog and for a bold verdict. Before looking at the differences and conclusion, let’s have a little brief about each brand.
Table of Contents
Cole Haan Vs Allen Edmonds: Overview
Cole Haan
Cole Haan was started early back in 1928 by Trafton Cole and Eddie Haan with the main goal being to produce good quality products. Cole Haan used to be a men’s footwear label, but currently, it’s offering plenty of amazing goods, including men’s and women’s casual footwear, belts, handbags, outwear, scarves, hosiery, sunglasses, gloves, and even dresses.
Cole and Haan and their timeless vision were successful enough over the decades to live their mission. They have transformed the brand into one of the most popular footwear brands.
Allen Edmonds
Allen Edmonds, meanwhile, has been making some of the most recognizable men’s shoes in America ever since 1922. The company was founded as a shoe manufacturing and retail center in Port Washington, before its establishment in Belgium, Wisconsin in 1922.
The brand started gaining popularity when Edmonds was commissioned to deliver shoes to the US Navy and US Army during World War II. The majority of the recipients of these shoes got loyal to the brand for the rest of their lives.
Currently, Allen Edmonds is operating over 70 stores, and more to their manufacturing site in the United States, they also make shoes in the Dominican Republic and Italy. Allen Edmonds has maintained a vast signature collection of its leather shoes for men.
Now with the general idea about both brands, how about we check out the differences and conclude which one is better.
Cole Haan vs. Allen Edmonds: Comparison
Material and Technologies
Cole Haan is not largely renowned for using leather in their shoe manufacturing, which basically reduces their price. They mostly utilize other forms of leather such as faux leather to make their shoes.
However, some models like the Cole Haan Men’s Lenox Hill Cap Oxford, are made using full-grain leather that is of agreeable quality.
The leather is suppler and uniform throughout the surface of the shoe. Full-grain leather is naturally associated with the strongest top layer that produces the finest form of material, making the shoes stronger and more durable.
Moreover, full-grain leather is more breathable in comparison to other layer hides such as top grain, slit grain, and corrected.
Allen Edmonds, on the other hand, is known for using high-quality leather in the making of their shoes. Leather products have become the brand signature among men. The Allen Edmonds Men’s Park Avenue Cap-Toe Oxford, for instance, features premium calfskin leather, derived from the popular Horween Leather Company based in Chicago.
With a mere touch, you will realize that the shoe is made of premium quality leather. The material is noticeably smoother compared to most dress shoes in the market. This leather is meant to form into the shape of your feet over time.
Cole Haan Vs Allen Edmonds: Traction and Support
Looking at the Cole Haan Men’s Lenox Hill Cap Oxford, the heels and soles are noticeably thick and strong, featuring a sleek, full rubber outsole. All these serve great especially for those who do a lot of walking on outdoor surfaces, including asphalt and concrete.
As you probably know, rubber soles are ideal for all seasons, whether that means walking on wet pavements or snow-covered streets. The sole will deliver better traction, thus minimizing the chances of slipping.
One catch, however, similar to most dress shoes, the arch support isn’t the best since it isn’t wide enough to accommodate arc support in them. If you’re someone who likes owning numerous pairs of shoes, then you might want to invest in this brand. Just note that the shoes are not hand-crafted.
Meanwhile Allen Edmonds Men’s Park Avenue Cap-Toe Oxford features a single oak leather sole. Therefore, you can expect it to be a little more slippery a first, especially if you’ve never worn leather-soled shoes before.
You will, however, notice natural traction being created on the bottom of the shoes, just after few days of walking around in them. Perhaps the reason why most people prefer investing in Allen Edmonds is that the shoes are hand-stitched. Excellent craftsmanship is employed in the leather to make it durable while ensuring a premium construction.
Cole Haan Vs Allen Edmonds: Fit and Comfort
While Cole Haan Men’s Lenox Hill Cap Oxford appears to be narrow, it’s actually the opposite: You’ll have enough room for your toes to breathe. However, the shoes lack some padding, which might make them uncomfortable in some situations. Besides, the old-fashioned lacing can slip easily. Overall, Cole Haan shoes are flexible, useful, and stylish shoes that take minimal time to break in.
Allen Edmonds, on the other hand, has a great fit-out of the box, which tends to become even more comfortable after just a few weeks of wear.
Allen Edmonds offers shoes in widths from AAA to EE, meaning you can easily spot your perfect fit. Contrary to Cole Haan, you will not be constrained to choosing only between medium and wide.
Cole Haan Vs Allen Edmonds: Pricing
The pricing on the Allen Edmonds is on a steeper side, considering that they are made of high-quality leather. Cole Haan, on the other hand, are in the budget range along with some of the premium collections that they have released.
In comparison to Allen Edmonds, shoes from this brand are typically less sustainable.
Cole Haan Vs Allen Edmonds: Which is the Better Option?
If you want to make a choice based on a good budget, then we’d suggest you go with Allen Edmonds. These shoes are sustainable and worth the extra bucks.
Moreover, it is a reputable name and you can order a classic leather shoe from Allen Edmonds for occasional use- not to forget that the brands also have other ranges of shoes including loafers, boots, sneakers, and much more under the men’s footwear category.
The Bottom Line
When it comes to brand comparison, we admit that both these brands have quite different pricing. Speaking of quality, Allen Edmonds wins in that category, though a $400 pair of shoes isn’t so comparable to $120 pair of Cole Haan shoes. All things considered, Allen Edmonds is a better investment, given its premium quality. Otherwise, the ultimate choice is subject to your budget and purpose.