A common complaint among men regarding formal footwear is the lack of comfort. I can understand this concern. While I firmly believe that knowing your proper shoe size and foot width is essential for ensuring comfort, many formal shoe options simply fall short in this area.
Enter Amberjack, a relatively new shoe brand that understands the difficulties people face in finding comfortable footwear for commuting to and from the office or for everyday wear. They reached out to us and kindly offered four different styles of shoes in exchange for our honest feedback.
SNAP-SHOT REVIEW
Initially, I had some reservations about this brand. A few shoe models on their website seemed to veer dangerously close to "frankenshoe" territory—those hybrid shoe designs that look like a mix between running shoes and traditional Oxford dress shoes.
However, I was pleasantly surprised when I received my shoes and saw what Amberjack had accomplished. The leather uppers are quite nice, soft, and supple to the touch, and the linen dust bags they came with indicated high quality and demonstrated their commitment to being eco-friendly.
Overall, I'm satisfied with the shoes, but there are a few drawbacks that I will discuss later in the review. I want to mention that I’m not a fan of some of the styling options on the website. For example, specific darker-colored shoes have bright white midsoles, which I find overly eye-catching and reminiscent of a tacky "frankenshoe."
I'm not particularly enthusiastic about the construction method used for attaching the outsole to the upper, but I’ll elaborate on that later.
PROS:
- Made with high-quality, full-grain leather for durability and style with leathers sourced from LWG-certified tanneries in Portugal or Italy.
- Equipped with heat-activated arch support for added comfort and support.
- Foam inserts are polyurethane and designed to conform to the wearer's feet over time as they react to body heat.
- Incorporates advanced high-performance athletic technology for a comfortable and flexible fit.
- Offers a range of styles, from casual shoes to business casual shoes and boots.
CONS:
- Some shoe variants have questionable styling options (i.e., white midsoles).
- All shoes feature a cemented outsole construction to the leather upper, meaning the shoes cannot be re-soled.
- Steep asking prices.
ABOUT AMBERJACK
Led by founder John Peters, a diverse team from Cole Haan, Allen Edmonds, and Adidas launched Amberjack in 2019. The brand aims to redefine the conventional dress shoe by blending style, comfort, and value.
Amberjack commercial.
SUSTAINABILITY
Amberjack's shoes are crafted from sustainable materials and incorporate advanced technology. The brand offers a variety of styles, including dress shoes, boots, and slip-ons, all made with full-grain leather.
WHAT YOU'RE PAYING FOR
UNLIKE TRADITIONAL DRESS SHOES
Amberjack blends modern technology with the classic design of traditional dress shoes, focusing on fit, comfort, and wearability. The shoes are created using a unique construction process that involves over twenty custom-developed components.
Additionally, Amberjack incorporates a dual-density outsole to provide enhanced structure and flexibility, utilizing advanced athletic footwear technology.
FULL-GRAIN LEATHER
Full-grain leather is the highest-quality option available. It is made from the complete and most natural animal hide, offering exceptional durability. Additionally, products made from full-grain leather typically preserve their rich color and texture, a characteristic of premium leather goods.
Amberjack's comfortable dress shoes and boots are made with these high-quality materials. They utilize A-grade full-grain leather from top-rated tanneries in either the U.S. or Argentina. They feature a soft buckskin lining for added comfort and are made in a fair-wage factory in Portugal.
HANDS-ON THE PRODUCT
COMFORT & FIT
In this section of my hands-on review, I am pleased to report that each of my four pairs is exceptionally comfortable.
Whether I was lacing up the boots for church or wearing the dressier shoes for wine tasting with my wife and in-laws, they felt so good that I forgot I was wearing them for the very first time. This is crucial because Amberjack prioritizes comfort above style, silhouette, and construction.
Regarding the fit, each shoe is true to size. I ordered all of them in size 12. Typically, most brands suggest sizing down a half-size for conventional dress shoes and boots (most of my boots and dress shoes are size 11.5).
However, since Amberjack emphasizes being true to size on their website, I opted for size 12 in everything, and I would say that the sizing was pretty accurate, as advertised.
Despite this concern, the loafers fit well enough, are just as comfortable as my other shoes, and didn't slip off when I walked, which is the most essential factor.
The break-in period for these shoes was minimal because they were comfortable right out of the box. However, some might prefer to wait until the leather's initial stiffness softens with regular wear. Overall, Amberjack lives up to the hype regarding comfort and fit!
THE CAP-TOE ($195)
The cap-toe shoe from Amberjack is one of the most formal options in their collection. Made from full-grain leather with a sheepskin lining, the shoe looks much better on the feet than the close-up images suggest online.
I do not like the pull tab on both heels or the lighter tan streak across the midsole, which gives it a somewhat "sandwiched" appearance. These features detract from the elegance typically associated with a more traditional brogued Oxford dress shoe, making it appear more like a hybrid shoe.
I believe Amberjack intentionally incorporated this stylistic choice for the pull tabs, as they are pretty helpful for slipping the shoes on and off, which can be convenient for many people.
As I wore the shoes more, the contrasting midsole became less bothersome. It’s worth noting that the cap-toe model in the Coffee (brown) and Onyx (black) colorways replaces the tan streak with a bright white one.
In my opinion, this change makes the shoes look tacky and unappealing, as it draws too much unnecessary attention to the feet.
While those seeking to add these two colorways to their wardrobe as "statement pieces" may find them appealing, I would not recommend them to anyone trying to build a classic and professional men's footwear collection (so buyer beware).
THE LOAFER ($179)
Also made from A-grade premium leather with a sheepskin lining, I chose these loafers in an Obsidian colorway, which is all black and has no contrasting colors, similar to the previous cap-toe variant. As I mentioned earlier in the review, these loafers are designed to fit true to size.
I recommend sizing down by at least half a size for a snugger fit. This is just my personal preference, as I've often wondered if my Amberjack loafers would feel more comfortable if they were a half-size smaller.
If you decide to follow Amberjack's true-to-size recommendation but find that you prefer a snugger fit once you receive your order, you can feel confident about their return and exchange policy.
After reviewing the various colorways for Amberjack's loafers, I believe every option looks great and complements a well-presented outfit.
THE BOOT ($209)
The boots I received are made of A-grade nubuck leather with a sheepskin lining. I chose the Steel-colored boots because I had no footwear in a similar gray shade. However, I find the color options for the Midnight and Olive boots quite odd.
The contrasting strip of leather on the heel makes the olive green boots appear too vibrant and less olive. Additionally, the Cobalt colorway includes an unattractive white midsole, which stands out on an all-navy boot.
These boots feel great right out of the box in terms of comfort. However, I'm slightly disappointed with the cemented outsole, which gives them a hybrid boot appearance.
Boots from Thursday Boot Company offer better-quality Goodyear welted options at a more competitive price. Nevertheless, if comfort is your top priority, Amberjack is hard to beat.
I began to appreciate the unique silhouette of these unconventional boots and chose them more frequently than any other pair of shoes I received from Amberjack. However, it's important to note that these boots' construction and nubuck leather do not provide the durability needed for a strong hiking boot material (so keep this in mind).
THE TUX ($199)
These tuxedo shoes are quite interesting. They are just as comfortable as the other three pairs I received, but they felt stiffer than the rest. Made from Italian patent leather with a sheepskin lining, they come in two color options: Obsidian and Onyx.
I recommend the Obsidian option, as the Onyx is entirely black with a (you guessed it) stark white midsole. Trust me, if you’re wearing a tuxedo, it's best to keep things classic and simple; go with the all-black Obsidian if you're considering these shoes.
I wore these the least of the four options, but they are a great and comfortable choice for a black-tie event, so it's nice to see them in the lineup.
PRICING & VALUE
I mentioned the steep asking price at the beginning of this review. While I believe the comfort of these shoes is superb, I think there are far better quality boots and dress shoes from a brand like Thursday Boot Company.
For me, a more classic silhouette with a Goodyear welt or Blake stitch construction— which allows for resoling— and a cork midsole that conforms to my feet is much superior to the foamed insole and cemented construction of Amberjack's shoes.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
While there are certainly better options available for the price, Amberjack is a smart choice for any professional man looking to enhance his style, whether at the office or in casual settings.
Throughout this review, I have expressed my opinions regarding some of the colorways and stylistic choices of Amberjack shoes, such as the contrasting midsole; however, these are just my personal views.
If comfort is your top priority, I highly recommend Amberjack footwear for any man seeking professional and versatile options. This recommendation is particularly relevant for older men who dress professionally for the office and often visit a podiatrist.
The memory foam and removable insole provide a comfortable fit and support for long periods of wear, making them an ideal choice. Amberjack offers a solid selection of dress shoes and boots crafted from some of the best tanneries in the world, successfully combining classic style with a modern sensibility.
Furthermore, their commitment to remaining carbon neutral is a significant advantage.
