Dad shoes: you should know the meme by now. If you don’t, think back to the 90s and picture the whitest and chunkiest New Balance sneakers that you’ve even seen. Yep, those are dad shoes. Still don’t get it? Watch this.

But as a new(er) dad, I wanted to look past the stereotype and find some shoes to try and re-invent the idea of dad shoes. After all, I want to look good and still be a young dad in my 30s.

For my criteria, I wanted to focus on comfort, style and practicality.

Let’s jump right in to the list I developed of cool shoes for dads (ones I’m wearing) and some shoes I’m looking at for my next pairs.

A big thank you goes to Nike, for providing me with the Nike products mentioned in this article. All photos, thoughts and opinions are my own and not sponsored, regarding these shoes.

Sneakers

Sneakers are perfectly casual. They’re perfect for every occasion (in my life, as a dad in my 30s). I wear sneakers as much as I can, all throughout the year, both as a “guy in his 30s” and the cool dad that I think I am.

Nike Dunks

I think the Nike “Dunks” are pretty sweet, which is why I got them! They have that vintage and retro style, so you can wear them with virtually anything.

For the fit, they’re a tad on the narrow side, so if you have wider feet, these aren’t for you. They’re also a little heavy, so if you’re walking long distances, they might not be for you.

In general, they’re comfortable for casual wear. I definitely wouldn’t go on a hike with them, but they’re great for weekend strolls (or, going to a kids birthday party, of course). If you prefer actual running shoes that look good with shorts or jeans, check out the ones I recommend in my Nike fall running gear guide.

Nike Air Force 1s

I’ve always liked AF1s, even when I was in high school. I picked these up because they’re versatile and you can wear them with a lot of different outfits. They’re not white on white, so they won’t show dirt. They are lighter colored, so they work with lots of different pants colors.

They are pretty heavy shoes, which also shows you how good all of the materials are. They feel solid when you wear them. The weight doesn’t bother me, but if heavier shoes do bother you, you might want to skip these.

I really enjoy wearing my Air Force 1s! They’re just as iconic as all the songs that mention them (I immediately think of Nelly).

Nike Killshot 2 Leather

When I’ve gone to a kids’ birthday party where parents need to take off their shoes, you usually see 3 or 4 pairs of Nike Killshots. They’re retro by design and they look like the Nike shoes that you’ve seen in vintage classic movies.

I have these, and I think they’re stylish. They’re quite the opposite of “dad shoes” because they don’t have a ton of cushion in them. The uppers are easy to clean if you get them dirty. I like to wear them with jeans, or joggers. I also recommend them as a great gift for minimalist guys.

Traditional “dad shoes”

If you’ve come here looking for actual dad shoes, I got you.

New Balance is still on top

For the stereotypical “dad shoes”, New Balance is still on top. They have a lot of different styles that fit the look. Again, they’re “dad shoes” because they’re super comfortable. They make it feel like you’re walking on a pillow. That’s what dads like.

Check out the 574, 530 or the 990s! They’re everything you think of when you think of, well, your dad.

More brands

The Nike Air Monarch might be what you consider “dad shoes” because of their simple style, and excessive cushion.

Or to go full dad (because these have no style at all), look at the Kirkland Signature shoes (in white) from Costco. It’s hard to believe, but I am not a Costco member yet. The first trip I take to Costco, I’ll get these if they have them!

HOKA is the brand that I use for running and the modern dad shoes are HOKAs. You can check out the HOKA Bondi, because they’re optimized for comfort and walking.

Casual shoes

Switching back to the modern style, the casual shoes are something that you might want for everyday wearing. If you’re doing daycare or school drop-off or pickup for your kids, running to the grocery store or some other errands, you might want these by your front door to slip on before you head out.

Allbirds Wool Runner-up Mizzles

As soon as I got these cool high-tops from Allbirds, I started wearing them as my “elevated sneakers.” I can wear them with a suit (in a casual setting), I typically wear them to the office if I go in and I’ll wear them every now and then to a social gathering.

I pair them with colored jeans or chinos, and I wear them with traditional shorts in the summer. While they are not for walking long distances, they are for standing around at a party, or looking nice in a photo.

Rothy’s The RS01 Sneaker

It’s a classic, made of merino wool. This one is an effortless dad shoe, great for sliding on when you need to go out with the kids. They’re machine-washable, so you can play outside in the dirt, and get them clean again.

Birkenstock sneakers

Yes! Birkenstock makes sneakers and I was excited to learn that. They’re kind of nondescript and classic. I’m not sure they’re for me, as I like something slightly more athletic-looking or retro-style for daily shoes, but they may be for your tastes.

Dress shoes

I rarely dress up, and sometimes when I do, I can pull off wearing my Allbirds. I’ll also note that I am not an expert when it comes to dress shoe brands. I may only wear them 2 or 3 times per year.

When I need to wear a suit or be a little more presentable, here are my picks.

Clarks Whiddon

I have something similar to these Clarks Whiddons, and I wear them almost any time I need to wear dress pants or even a suit. They’re versatile enough for me, but I’m not super picky when it comes to dress shoes, either.

These are pretty affordable and above all, timeless. I’ll pair them with one of my Quince dress shirts for men, which are equally affordable and some of my go-to’s.

Allen Edmonds

Allen Edmonds are top quality. There are a lot of different styles and price ranges. I’d encourage you to check out their website and pick up what you like!

Sandals (and recovery shoes)

Sandals are perfect to slip on if you have to run outside. They’re also nice to pack as a lightweight second pair of shoes when you’re traveling. They really work in most situations—that is, if you get the right pair.

Recovery sandals

Sometimes your feet need a break. For times when you’ve been on your feet all day or have general issues, finding something comfy that you can slip on and off and make it feel like your walking on a cloud are a nice addition to your shoe collection.

There are so many different types of sandals and slides for this category. Here’s a quick list of my favorites.

Birkenstocks

If I had to pick one pair of sandals, it would be Birkenstocks. They can last a really long time if you take good care of them. Even mine, they’ve gotten wet, super sandy, packed away in luggage, trekked all around the world — and they still have held up.

I have the Arizona (Oiled Leather) variant and I love them.

Boots & hiking shoes

Here are my picks for more boot-style shoes that you could technically take on a day of hiking, if that’s a part of your lifestyle. I like a good hike, although I usually just wear my Timbs in the rain.

Everything else

If some shoes for cool dads didn’t fit into the category types above, I added them here!

Zero drop shoes

Zero drop shoes have all of the buzzwords, like minimal, flat or barefoot. They basically have no drop between the heel and the front of the shoe, so you feel more grounded when wearing them.

As an aging person (that hurts me to say) finding different types of shoes is important. I’ve heard a lot of great things about the Nexus Knit and HFS. (You may experience a “wait time” at the website, like I did).

Rain shoes (Vessi)

For ages, both Becca and I have been into Vessi shoes for when we duck out into the rain. As it happens, Vessi makes styles that are great for parents, and the shoes can tackle any weather you get into with your kids. I wear the Vessi Weekend Sneakers and they always look solid with jeans.

How did I make this list?

The reality is, shoes are expensive. You can’t have all of the shoes that I put on this list. I mean, you can, but it would break the bank.

There are SO many shoes on the market. Unless your hobby is shoes, you’ll never be able to try them all and know the nuance of the different types, nor how to style all the different varieties.

For me, I simplify the types of shoes much more than most people (or I like to think so) do.

Stick with sneakers

I have a variety of sneakers, because most of the time, I am wearing jeans or shorts. I’ll wear a pair of sneakers (specifically not running sneakers) almost every day. I’ll only wear sneakers or running shoes if I know I’m doing a lot of walking, or if I’m working in the lawn and have an older pair of running shoes I dedicated to being “lawn shoes.”

Find a good casual shoe

Sometimes sneakers aren’t as acceptable if you want to act like a grown-up. If you’re meeting coworkers, going into an office or if you generally need a step up, you can find a neutral shoe that isn’t necessarily a dress shoe, but also isn’t a sneaker.

Something like my Allbirds Runner-Up Mizzles are what I use for this type of occasion. They’re a hybrid (or, they’re just cool).

They’re comfortable to be in all day, and even for walking a few miles (but not too many). You can dress them up, or dress them down. I’ve worn them with suits—easy. They’re all-around decent, and as a bonus, they are weather-resistant, so they’re great for wet weather.

Invest in Birkenstocks

A true pair of Birkenstocks will last you a long time. I had mine for 7 years(!!) before considering replacing them. I must have walked over 1000 miles in them, too. I took them traveling when I was easily walking more than 5 miles a day.

I mention them in my list, and I will insist that buying a good pair of sandals will prevent you from replacing cheaper alternatives every year.

Invest in the shoe category that you wear the most

For me, I wear sneakers 7 out of 7 days a week. It’s pretty rare that I need dress shoes or anything else, really. I don’t go into an office and my day-to-day activities are neighborhood walks, grocery store trips or not even leaving the house on some days (yikes).

I don’t need more than 1 or 2 pairs of dress shoes, either. Plus, I like the styles and look of dress shoes because it follows what I normally like to style with shoes in general.

If you like dressing up, or if you like different styles of loafers or boat shoes, go all-in with those!

Despite the article title, there’s no age appropriate shoe for cool dads

I wrote this article for how to break the stigma of “dad shoes” and how to dress like a cool dad. But the reality is, the age you feel and how you like to express yourself should determine the types and styles of shoes that you get.

Good luck!