I Got Dress Shoes From Amberjack. Here’s My Honest Review
Comfortable dress shoes? Sounded too good to be true…
By: Bryan Jones
Last Modified:
When I was invited to another wedding, I knew I was going to wear the uncomfortable brown shoes I’d been wearing to every event for the past half a decade. I don’t even like them, but shoe shopping is such a pain in the ass, and they’re good enough.
Then, when I was about two weeks out, I remembered I’d thrown out my shoes at the last wedding. They’d given me so many blisters and had been coming apart for so long, and the bottom finally came unglued, so I left them in a trash can in a hotel room in Cape Cod.
Amberjack
Comfort and Style
Delivered in one package
The most comfortable dress shoe on the market is stylish and priced better than other full-grain leather shoe competitors.
Dreading shoe shopping, I asked a friend who was a groomsman if he had any recommendations—he told me they all got their shoes from Amberjack. I’d never heard of it, but apparently it was a new men’s dress shoe retailer designed to be comfortable af.
Comfortable dress shoes sounded like an impossible dream. Since it looks like it’s mainly online, I didn’t know if they’d fit or be low-quality, but the thought of just buying them and being done was so tempting, I thought I’d check them out.
My First Impression
As I pulled up the Amberjack site, I thought they looked nice enough. Simple. For full-grain leather and Italian suede with sheepskin lining handcrafted in Portugal, the prices were really reasonable. The same shoe style of a similar quality can cost between $400 and $600, so considering they were half that price at $200, Amberjack definitely had my attention.
I still was not a fan of buying shoes online from a brand I’d never heard of, but Forbes had called it the best men’s dress shoe of the year, and they do have over 10,000 reviews with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5.
I almost went with the Original in Chestnut, but at the last second, I switched to the Cap-Toe in the same color because they were just a little bit more interesting. They said to size down if you’re between sizes, so I did that after reading that they offer free returns in 30 days and free exchanges within 60 days. I had nothing to lose, as long as I remembered to actually mail them back.
They arrived in sleek packaging. The leather looked shiny and seemed like the type that would wear well over time, unlike those cheap plastic dress shoes I used to wear. But I still expected a night of pain ahead of me.
Amberjack
Looks Like a Dress Shoe
Feels like a sneaker
Powered by athletic technology, your feet will thank you.
The Fit Test
I slipped the shoes on and took a few steps around my apartment, waiting for the pinch, but…it never came. These shoes not only fit like a glove, but they are also kind of comfortable?!
With the super cushiony insole, it felt like I was wearing a sneaker. The outsole, or bottom of the shoe, actually kind of looks like a sneaker, which provides some extra cushioning and gives really strong traction so you don’t slip.
The insoles in Amberjack shoes have heat-activated arch support that’s like memory foam but more durable. Your body heat helps the foam mold better to your foot, resulting in a more comfortable shoe over time.
I’m really not a big fan of taking my shoes off and dancing in socks, so if these would last all night, I’d be a fan.
3. It’s not all about genetics
Shockingly, when I finally wore them, I didn’t think about them the entire day. They were so comfortable, even for long periods of standing and dancing, I really just…forgot about them, which is ideal.
I’ve been loving my Amberjack’s so much, I recently bought another pair. For a more business casual look, I got the Whole-Cut Hybrid style in Onyx black to wear to the office. It was time to level up, and these are a good balance between not feeling sloppy at work and not being too formal at the bar.
If you want a simple, stylish shoe that’s super comfortable and gets the job done, Amberjack is absolutely the way to go.
Amberjack
Named Best Shoe of the Year by Forbes
Free shipping. 30-Day free returns
With their in-depth size chart, you’ll feel confident getting the right pair. Exchanges are stress-free.
