The 10 Types of Shoes Every Man Should Own (2024)

Put away the flip flops and Crocs, boys.

You’re a man, and you shouldn’t settle for anything but the best.

We put together a list of the essential shoes that every man should own.

From high quality sneakers to a killer pair of boots, come see how many of these shoes you can check off the list.

Must-Own Men’s Shoe Styles

1. The Chelsea Boot

The Chelsea boot is the perfect representation of casual meets corporate. Falling somewhere between boots and dress shoes, they’re an awesome way to modernize your style.

Choose leather Chelsea boots for smart occasions, pointed for Friday Night drinks, and suede for casual (most popular and highly versatile).

The editorial team here at TAM waxes poetic on Chelseas so we really struggled to limit ourselves to just two picks. Forgive our enthusiasm.

2. The Dress Sneaker

Everyone needs a pair of kicks with a casual vibe that still uphold a clean sense of style.

A simple pair of sneakers goes well with just about any outfit. Pick up one of our top picks and have fun wearing them with jeans, shorts, chinos, or even parachute pants. OK, maybe not parachute pants. But everything else is game.

3. The Trainer

Sometimes you need a shoe that’s easy to slip on and jet out the door. This is the kind of shoe you use to power through the tough days.

Of course, you don’t need to keep these sneaks relegated to the world of errands—paired with some joggers, trainers can be the base of an amazing laid-back casual Saturday outfit, too.

While the category “trainers” can also technically refer to any running or exercise shoes, we’re going to stick to the fashion side of things. Specialized footwear for sports is a whole different game, and not something we’re going to cover here.

4. The Chukka Boot

Chukka boots are simply designed and can range anywhere from supremely casual to dressy and formal.

When deciding which chukka you’re going to get, take a quick assessment of what your wardrobe needs.

If you work in a business-casual setting, then a more formal, sleek chukka is your best bet.

But if you want comfort over all else, and formality and structure isn’t as important, a desert-campaign-style WWII-era boot like the Clarks Desert Boot or the Crown Northampton Desert Boot is more in order.

5. The Loafer

Loafers are the signature slip-on shoes of adulthood.

They’re a solid mix of high-end style, with that low-key desire to have a fun time.

Once the kingpin shoe of the 1950’s, and now, the newest addition to your walk-in.

And if the penny loafer is a little too simple for you, you can always add a touch of flair with the classic horse bit loafer.

Based on Aldo Gucci’s famous design, horse bit loafers add a touch of sophistication and Italian gusto to an otherwise simple design.

Or, if you’re just looking for an easy slip-on for that morning drive to your local coffee shop, the driving shoe makes an excellent choice. I like OC’s range of Drivers, they’re well priced for the quality on offer and they have a stunning range of colors.

6. The Service Boot

Want to look like a tough guy? Of course you do. Service boots are a little old-fashioned looking because they’re based on military boots used by service members (hence the name, service boots).

But just because they’re old-fashioned looking doesn’t mean they’re out of style. Far from it: these types of boots are all the rage right now, and here are the best of the best.

7. The Oxford

Oxfords are characterized by their low heel and closed lacing system. And it’s the latter this that gives them that oh-so-peculiar yet classy look.

They come in multiple variations and they’re perfect for office wear, black tie (the less detailed versions), and smart-casual events. The Oxford should be your go-to whenever you need to look respectable.

And their versatility makes them a no-brainer inclusion on this list.

8. The Dress Boot

Dress boots are a little less common, but when you’ve got a pair in your closet, they can easily help you look like the best-dressed guy in the room at the next wedding you go to. Not that you want to outshine the groom, but you definitely will.

Dress boots add a little more height, keep you in comfort by wrapping your ankles, and often provide more insulation than standard dress shoes.

Further Reading: How to Lace Boots Like a Pro: 6 Expert Ways

What Did We Learn?

Wearing proper kicks to an occasion slip you into an ironclad sense of confidence. It paints you as a prophet of sensible male style.

If your walk-in doesn’t have at least half-a-dozen pairs of shoes on the rack, it’s probably time to slowly invest in building it out.

Your overall style and ability to be versatile with your wardrobe will dramatically increase with each style of shoes you introduce to your collection.

But the right shoes are just the start.

You’ll find current attractive hairstyles, fashion guides, and dress code rules of thumb to live by, all right here. We set high standards for all fashion and grooming products that we suggest, because your trust in the quality of our content is the most important thing to us.

Do you think we blanked out on a whole category of shoes? Let us know in the comments. And be sure to follow us on Pinterest to keep track of all of our ideas.