Reviews for Dockers Men’s Vargas Leather Handsewn Boat Shoe
People say Dockers is really similar to Sperry.
5.0
Perfect boat shoe for business casual or beach-wear!
This is my third pair of the Vargas from Dockers in the past 10 years (I generally get 2-4 years out of them). I like them better than Sperry because they are real leather, wear very well, stitching is excellent, they have good soles (although they do slip on wet surfaces), and they fit like they should. The color is great and goes with everything from jeans and khakis to shorts. The leather foot-bed disintegrated in my last pair after about 2 years of wear, but I think it is because I wore them a LOT, and do not wear them with socks... if you wear them business-casual with socks they last for many years. I had a new leather foot-bed cut for them and glued them into place, and they will still work well as a back-up and knock-about pair. I still have the pair I bought 10 years ago, and they are great for cutting grass or wearing when I don't care what happens to them (they've been in salt water, sand, mud, rain, and logged many, many miles)... they're like your favorite sweatshirt... after they are broken in, you don't want to take them off!
5.0
Extremely comfortable!
I've been wearing this type of shoe for many years. Started out with the Sperry Top Sider and moved to Dockers a few years ago. When my current Dockers wore out there was no question I'd get them again. However, I had been wearing the Dockers Castaway but noticed this (Vargas) shoe was a little less expensive. I'm used to it taking a few weeks for the leather to loosen up, especially at my Achilles tendon where I'd get a "break in blister", but these feel different (better). I also like the laces on this shoe better than the typical leather laces you get with boat shoes - which ALWAYS break/rip long before the shoes themselves wear out! Not sure how to describe these laces but they're more flexible and have coated tips.
5.0
Well made and durable
My husband is a repeat customer of these shoes because they're well-made, long-lasting, and true to size. They've outperformed by a mile the Sperry shoes he once owned. The price is also reasonable for shoes with such a wide range of non-standard sizes.
5.0
Great topsiders!
Just as nice looking as the more expensive brands, but comfortable! My husband wears a 10.5D and that's what we got. Fit is prefect, nice cushioned sole, and not too narrow, which we find Sperry's to be.
4.0
Very good boat shoe for the money...
I got these hopin they could replace a pair of Timberlands that I recently had to get rid of. The Timberlands were my favorite boat shoe I've ever had and they apparently don't make them any longer. So, I've tried just about every brand made (not kidding - at least 10 pairs). I saw these and thought the look seemed close, so I decided to give it a try. These aren't nearly as well built, but these are also a lot cheaper. They look good, but the leather is surprisingly stiff and not supple like most boat shoe leather is. The soles are not as soft rubber as Sperry's, but these should last a little longer though. I've worn them to work all week and they have barely broken in. Not sure I'd wear these barefoot either, since it's not really leather lined (most aren't any longer-that's a shame too, as leather lined boat shoes are clearly better in almost all regards). Now, all that said, these shoes have a lot of potential. Once I can get them broken in more, I think they will work fine. At $40, I'm totally fine with them.
4.0
Runs skinny and smaller
Retiring my 20+ years old 7.5M Sperry Top Sider and looking for my new indoor casual boat shoes, searching something a bit more budget friendly. Found these Dockers so I initially bought 7.5M. They are smaller and skinnier than my Sperry's, and so return/ exchange for something bigger and wider. Ok now I have 8.5W (wide) which now happens to be equal in length to old Sperry but is still skinnier. So if your getting new boat shoes to replace shoes 10+ years, you may need a half size or full size larger and maybe use w(wide) if you got big/ wide feet or like to wear your boat shoes loose and comfortable with or without socks. And remember these do still run skinny. On initial wear these leather shoes have slight chemical residue/ leather preservative that will leave brownish smudges ( I bought 'rust' color = dark brown) inside. Suggest you wear some non dress socks to rub off these residue for the first week. Summary: these do run a little skinny and smaller; but is more budget friendly than Sperry or Timberlands of the similar style leather boat shoes. Update: few months after initial wear with bare feet the insole piece came off the shoes - they did not use enough glue to keep the insole intact (there is another 'recent' user review who also mentioned this same problem) My solution: use simple permanent glue stick (like the kid's school glue stick - looks like lip balm tube).
4.0
Comfy Non-slip Boat Shoe
The soles on my five year old Sperrys, which I took very good care of, hardened and became slipperier than snot. I’m sworn off of Sperry and decided to try these Dockers. I’ve gotten comfortable products from them before: shorts, khakis and dress shoes. They fit as expected, they’re very comfortable and they grip bare floors like gorilla glue.
4.0
Great value
I was getting frustrated with sperrys only last a couple months. These dockers are handsome and have held together very well, wearing them about 4 times a week and in NYC fall and winter. They are NOT fully waterproof so be prepared to get a little wet if it starts pouring rain. I've also only worn them with socks so far. In the spring, I'll put GEKKS in them and then see how they fair sockless. If you're not sure and you're brand loyal to sperry, take a chance on these.
4.0
Nice alternative
Good less expensive option to the Sperrys. However, until they get worn in some, the leather i soles tend to bend or slide partially out when you kick them off. I wish the laces were leather like the sperrys, but they arent.
5.0
Still my Favorite after all these years.
after my last pair of Sperry's not lasting over 6 months im super happy to rediscover Dockers as my new favorite boat shoe.
5.0
The shoes fit amd look great.
These shoes are very comfortable and look awesome. These are better than the Sperry brand. I am a size eleven and they fit exact. Wish they had more of a variety to choose from.