You hook a finger into the heel loop, push once, and you are out of the door.

These are the pair that sits by the door on a weekday and gets worn to everything that is not work and not sport. Flat tonal laces, already tied at the tension you like, a webbing loop stitched to the back of the collar so the heel counter never gets crushed, and a low collar that clears the ankle bone.

The upper is microfibre, which is the maker's own word for it, and the panels are cut with a soft wave along the side rather than a straight line. A small cluster of pin sized holes sits on the toe. Underneath, a pale midsole runs right round the shoe with a line of stitching along its top edge, sitting on a gum toned outsole that wraps up at the toe. On the black colourway the same sole unit is moulded in grey and black instead.

Key Benefits

• Heel loop that earns its place A flat webbing loop is stitched to the back of the collar, so the shoe goes on with one finger and the counter keeps its shape over a year of being kicked off.
• Sole with a stitched edge The pale midsole wraps the whole shoe and carries a visible line of stitching along its top, with a gum toned outsole underneath that turns up at the toe.
• Microfibre upper A smooth coated synthetic that wipes clean with a damp cloth. The maker names microfibre and no hide, so nothing here is sold as leather.
• Four colours, two models Green, black, brown and white, each offered on a standard upper and on a second model the maker labels hollow.
• Low collar, flat laces The collar sits below the ankle bone and the laces are flat and tonal, which is what keeps the shoe reading casual rather than sporty.

Best for: the school run, a weekend market, driving, a pub garden, and anyone who wants something a step smarter than a running shoe without going near a dress shoe.

Why It Works

The interesting decision here is the sole. A stitched midsole edge and a gum toned outsole are cues borrowed from a hand welted shoe rather than from a trainer, and they are what let a lace up sneaker sit next to chinos without looking like gym kit. The wave cut side panels do the same job on the upper: they break the shape without adding a logo panel or a mesh window. What you get is a shoe that reads plain from three metres and detailed from one.

Quick Product Facts: upper microfibre, no hide named; outsole rubber; insole EVA; low top lace up with flat tonal laces; webbing pull tab and contrast patch at the heel; small stamped badge at the collar; pale stitched midsole on a gum toned outsole; heel listed by the maker at 1 to 3 cm; opening depth listed as shallow, below 7 cm; gross weight given by the maker as 0.7 kg; colours green, black, brown, white; two maker models, standard and hollow; European sizes 38 to 44; one pair per order.

How It Fits Your Routine

First week, wear them with the socks you normally wear. The collar is shallow, listed by the maker at under 7 cm, so a thick sport sock changes how the shoe sits on the ankle more than it would on a higher shoe.

After that they become the default. Chinos, jeans, shorts in summer, and a coat over the top in October. The gum toned outsole marks light floors less than a black rubber sole does, which is why the pair ends up going indoors more often.

To clean, wipe the microfibre with a damp cloth and a little soap, then let the pair dry away from a radiator. Do not feed it with leather cream, because there is no hide in it to absorb anything.

FAQ

Is the upper leather? No. The maker sheet lists microfibre, and one line calls it a soft leather material in the same breath, which cannot both be true. Microfibre is a coated synthetic, so it is treated here as such, and no hide, grade or tannery is claimed.

What is the difference between the two models? The colour list holds two maker codes. Four values begin with the code for the standard upper and four begin with the code for the model the maker calls hollow, in the same four colours. The amount of open work on the upper follows the option name, not the colour, so read the whole option name before choosing.

Are these breathable? The standard model carries a small cluster of pin sized holes at the toe and nothing else, so it is a closed shoe. The maker names its second model hollow and describes it as breathable, and that is the maker's own wording rather than a tested figure, so no airflow claim is made here for either model.

Are they good for walking all day or for sport? They are a casual shoe. The maker gives a gross weight of 0.7 kg and no cushioning, drop, stability or grip figures of any kind, so nothing is claimed here about long distances, trails or sport.