This spring Sebago will unveil a new premium collection called Crest. Here’s what the company has to say in a press release:
This collection for men reinvents Sebago’s iconic styles with new polished details and rich materials. The handmade collection features beautiful leather hide selections and supple sheepskin underfoot for incredible comfort. Crest represents the finest Sebago has to offer. Styles include the Crest Cayman, an Italian calf penny loafer featuring genuine welt construction, and the Crest Docksides. Handsewn styles include gorgeous Nubuck and luxurious Horween leathers including Bison, which is stronger than traditional cowhide and unparalleled in its softness.
Other key features as described in a Crest brochure include sheepskin lining, memory foam, rust-resistant brass eyelets, leather logo flag, and, on select styles, a leather welt that “deliverys a distinctive design aesthetic.”
Handmade in the Dominican Republic, the shoes will be available next month and priced from $150-$165. — CC
I’ll be interested to see how these turn out. It’s difficult to find a decent boat shoe these days on the lower end of the market. I’ve tried the Sperry Gold Cup collection, and the shoes were okay, but not for $150. I’ve actually found the best value for price with the LL Bean Casco Bay Boat Mocs. They cost a mere $69, but offer far greater comfort and support than the pairs of Sperry, Sebago, and Eastland boat shoes that I’ve had over the past few years. The Rancourt and Quoddy shoes are great, but for a price point under $200, the market is sparse for shoes that are comfortable, functional, and not laden with labels and logos.
Not a fan. What’s wrong with a basic $80 pair of brown Sperry’s?
I’ll also be interested to see what the penny loafers look like. Generally, I wear an old pair of Horween shell cordovan tassel loafers from Brooks when I want something between casual and dressy, but I like penny loafers with khakis and sweaters or other weekend wear, and BB cordovans are no longer in my price range. The last example shown above could be okay in the right color, although perhaps not for a true purist. A well-made and comfortable PL for $165 would be welcome. It has been hard (make that impossible) for me to find a leather sole and a cushioned lining in anything like a classic style for a price like that. I have recently tried Allen Edmonds and Cole Hahn and neither is perfect. The former is proving difficult to break in, unlike other A-E shoes I have, and was fairly pricey even on sale. The latter seem to be of lesser quality and have squeaked form day one. I will be on the lookout for the new Sebago loafer.
They look okay but I would never buy them because of the tag and the logo-embossed sole. Ditto Sperry or any other others with logos, subtle or not. Wearing LLB Bluchers right now and they are great and, for better or worse, will simply not wear out. Also have LLB camp mocs which I like a lot. Would like to try the Rancourt camp mocs but $250 is a lot of dough.
@Rick — I couldn’t agree more. The penny loafers shown above seem to be logo-free, unlike the boat shoes. If not, it would be a deal killer. And like you, I also like the LL Bean camp mocs.for much the same reasons I like LLB polo shirts. They are well made and cheaper than BB, Lacoste or Polo, and no logo!
Wouldn’t be caught dead wearing those blue Sebago shoes, especially anywhere near the waterfront.
Would be great if Sperry would bring back the Kudu oiled leather model which were available in the 1970’s-80’s. Those were great boat shoes and they could be resoled.
I’m with Rick on the logos: I will not pay for the dubious privilege of advertising someone’s brand. While logos are inescapable on some items (tennis shoes and sunglasses, for example), I will always avoid them otherwise.
How could anyone do better than LL Bean Camp Mocs?
As far as I know, Sebago and Sperry Top Sider are sister companies, both owned by Wolverine. The Sperry brand and logo are worth a lot more than Sebago, although there is not likely much diff in the actual boat shoe.
I was recently considering,because of price, a pair of LLB boat shoes after decades with Sperry; they look identical and I thought they could be made by the same company. Sperry just then went on sale and I was back with them, as always.
I have a pair of Sebago Made-in-Maine blucher mocs. If these are MiUSA I would consider them.
Just to rise to bait, bought some Sperry Gold Cups two years ago after they were featured here (I am an obedient Pavlovian dog!) and have found them . . . superb. EXTREMELY comfortable, resilient, ageless and handsome. Best boaters I ever owned, worth the extra over the standards.
Many good days spent on Sebago Lake and shopping L.L.Bean corporate store.
@BC I too would love to get a pair of the originals from the early 70s. I think my first pair was sometime in 1971, sophomore or junior year in college. I recall that they were unlined and would bleed when wet and turn one’s feet brown. I could have cared less. I have been wearing deck shoes of one brand or another ever since. Timberland had my business for a while, but their style and quality went away. I will probably stick with LLB for now. That said, Rancourts or Quoddys are tempting but, oh that price. I just can’t pull the trigger.
Also, I did some sailing in the late 70s and 80s on LI sound and in the DC area. In addition to my Topsiders, I usually had a pair of the Sperry canvas deck shoes, which I liked a lot.
Apart from the thickness of the soles, I’m unable to detect any important difference whatsoever between budget-priced and exorbitantly-priced boat/deck shoes.
I’ve worn Sebago, Sperry and Timberland deck shoes over the years, and though it pains me to say, Timberland were best.
Sewn-on tags on shoes are deal breakers for me. That’s just one toke over the line, IMO. Otherwise, these look OK, though I’d have to see someone do a saltwater launch with Horween boaties to actually believe it. The gin-and-tonic crowd will probably like these, though. Don’t get me wrong, Sebago is OK…have a couple pair, but sans tags all.
I’m with Seve…basic Topsiders!
Top-Sider to be correct…
I’m with M Arthur and Seve…. “basic” original Topsider.
Also, BC mentioning the Kudu models, specifically the oiled Sperry. In the midwest we referred to it as the “saltwater” Topsider, great for rainy days. The model came in other leathers including white buck and had a “walking sole”.
Keep it simple… 😉
I would like to side a side by side comparison with the Gold Cup shoe.
@ Seve [sic] –
The laces are really shoddy on the brown Sperry shoes. Mine keep snapping …
The only problem with Sperry Topsiders is that the soles are to thin/soft. When walking on surface with small gravel it seems I feel everyone.