Samuel Hubbard Shoe Co.

For buyers who prize all-day comfort in a shoe that still looks dressed, most find them worth it. Samuel Hubbard uses European-sourced leathers and Vibram outsoles on most models, and the construction is meant to last. They sit above mainstream comfort brands on price, so the value case rests on wearing them often and keeping them for years rather than chasing a bargain.

The Unsneaker is the brand's signature shoe and the thing it's best known for: a casual-and-dress hybrid that resembles a dress shoe on the outside but feels like a sneaker on the inside. If you want one pair that bridges the office and the weekend, start here.

There's a direct family line. Bruce R. Katz co-founded Rockport before launching Samuel Hubbard in 2013, and Samuel Hubbard reads as a more premium take on the same comfort-shoe idea he helped pioneer at Rockport. Choose Rockport for everyday affordability; choose Samuel Hubbard for upgraded European leathers, Vibram soles, and a more refined finish.

In Portugal. Manufacturing there grew out of Bruce Katz's industry connections and the know-how he built during his Rockport days. The uppers and insoles use European-sourced leathers, and most models are finished with Vibram outsoles.

Bruce R. Katz, a co-founder of the Rockport Shoe Company, founded Samuel Hubbard in 2013 in Mill Valley, California to make premium footwear. He returned to the trade after his father Saul Katz passed in 2012, partly so his young daughter would know the family's shoemaking history.

It's a family tribute. Samuel honors Bruce Katz's grandfather, Samuel J. Katz, and Hubbard recalls his grandfather's business, the Hubbard Shoe Company, founded in Rochester, NH back in the 1930s. The name deliberately ties the new label to three generations of shoemaking.

Beyond the Unsneaker, the company makes several dozen styles spanning casual shoes, dress shoes, and slip-ons. In 2018 it added golf shoes and boat shoes, so the range now covers most everyday and warm-weather occasions while keeping the comfort-first approach.

Comfort is the whole premise of the brand, which positions itself around an everyday-comfortable shoe. The European leathers soften with wear and the Vibram outsoles add cushioned grip. As with most well-built leather shoes, give a new pair a little break-in time before judging the fit.

They're sold through the company's own website, major retailers like Nordstrom and Dillard's, and more than 500 independent shoe stores across the United States. If you're between sizes, buying from a local independent shop lets you try the fit before committing.

A fairly broad cast. Danny Glover wore them in the film The Old Man & the Gun, ultramarathoner Dean Karnazes has worn them, and so have singer Peter Gabriel, celebrity chef Brian Malarkey, and former president Bill Clinton. It's a telling lineup for a shoe pitched on comfort over flash.