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Tl;dr
The Coastflex derby shoe by Italian shoemaker Astorflex is comfortable, eco-friendly, and looks superb. Highly recommend.
Astorflex CoastFlex Derby Shoe Review
Everyone needs a good derby to round out their shoe game and add a casual but refined touch (sadly, one can’t wear Allbirds to every occasion, though we can hope for the day when that’s acceptable). I’m pleased to recommend the Astorflex CoastFlex derby shoes and add them to the pantheon of stuff I like.
Why I Like Them
What’s so great about them? First, they have a classic, timeless style, and look great with dark jeans, one of my wardrobe staples. Second, they feel great – your feet are wrapped in soft leather, with a nice smooth leather footbed – and the natural rubber provides firm support. Third, they are simply a great value – handmade Italian leather for this price? They’re a steal.
Bombas no show socks are crucial here.
Downsides
Only a few little things to mention here. First, I can’t wear them on rainy days / they aren’t exactly stain resistant, so there’s a hit to their versatility there. Second, shoes with laces. How lazy am I? When it comes to this kind of thing, very. I prefer shoes I can slip on and off, laces or no – but these won’t allow that. I think the laces look great, by the way, so it’s worth the extra 60 seconds it takes to put on and remove these shoes. Lastly, they do get a bit dirty on the rubber sole after a while. Nothing to be done about it, just a slight aesthetic knock worth mentioning for the sake of full transparency. None of them dealbreakers!
