John Lobb

The Reddit community consistently places John Lobb among the very highest tier of dress shoe and boot makers, frequently cited alongside Edward Green, Gaziano & Girling, and George Cleverley as a pinnacle of British footwear craftsmanship. Their bespoke offering is treated as a benchmark for quality — sometimes humorously so, invoked as the ultimate answer when no budget is specified. The main caveat is cost: bespoke prices of $5,000–$10,000+ put them out of reach for most, and some commenters feel comparable quality can be had for less from brands like Carmina.

John Lobb makes genuinely exceptional, lifelong footwear with top-tier craftsmanship and resole-friendly construction, but the extreme cost of bespoke and the availability of near-equivalent quality at lower prices from competitors means they are only unconditionally recommended for those with the budget and commitment to the very top of the market.

John Lobb is universally praised for exceptional craftsmanship, Goodyear welt construction, and BIFL durability. They are repeatedly cited as one of the best shoemakers in the world, with shoes that last decades when properly maintained.

• Goodyear welted construction allows for indefinite resoling
• Bespoke shoes made to exact foot measurements for superior fit
• Timeless, classic designs that transcend fashion trends
• Leather and construction quality described as lasting decades
• Cited alongside Edward Green as the apex of British dress footwear
• Ready-to-wear line considered comparable in quality to Carmina at a higher price

The primary criticism is price — bespoke pairs run $5,000–$10,000+, making them inaccessible to most. A few commenters also note that some ready-to-wear fashion lines are a turn-off, and that comparable quality can be found elsewhere for less.

• Bespoke pricing of $5,000–$10,000+ excludes most buyers
• Some fashion-forward ready-to-wear lines considered a turn-off by purists
• Carmina Shoemaker cited as near-equal quality at a fraction of the cost
• Prada ownership of the brand raises concerns about dilution of heritage quality

One commenter noted that Prince Charles has worn the same pair of John Lobb shoes for decades, with the leather now covered in patches — a testament to their longevity, even if taken a bit far.

A user who owns both Carmina and John Lobb reported that the Carminas are roughly equal in quality to the John Lobbs, which cost nearly four times as much — making Carmina the better value proposition.

John Lobb bespoke is frequently invoked as the default answer when no budget is stated, with commenters noting prices can exceed the cost of a car.

One commenter with experience across many shoemakers described John Lobb and Edward Green as genuinely BIFL — a pleasure to wear every time, with made-to-order options allowing full customization.