I went with the KOIO Capri last year and could not be happier! I really like how they've held up with multiple wears. Just a really great quality leather sneaker.
That’s exactly how I’m wearing mine right now. Got the fresh pair when I need to be more out together but the best up pair look right at home on some washed jeans or joggers
I have my original four pairs of common projects from 19 years ago: white, black, suede blue, and gray. They are still alive and kicking. I believe they were $135 at the time. SOHO NYC.
I'll bet I'm not the only person who finds it incongruous to pay a maximalist price for a minimalist sneaker (or status symbol). Especially when there's an excellent/better alternative for a fraction of the price. Yup, I just got some Thursday's for $129. And they are awesome.
@@asim Whatever works for you. At today's prices , the CPs are almost triple the cost of Thursdays, and from everything I've heard the CPs offer no difference in quality. So a person could ask themselves, how much would my $300 cash savings today be worth in 5 years, if properly invested?
The original Great's made in Mexico were awesome. The footbed molded to your feet and had a wide toe box for all day comfort. Once they moved production to Italy, the all day comfort was gone.
Crown Northampton are the best minimalist sneaker money can buy. They are expensive at $900 but they’re hand stitched and made with the same type of materials a high end dress shoe is made from like Cordovan Horween leather and oak bark cork stiffener.
Appreciate your analysis and transparency. I personally will always stand by Common Projects. My pair from 7 years ago is still intact and able to be worn. The silhouette is unmatched in my opinion. Thanks!
My very first leather sneakers were Common Projects. I didn’t want to spend the money experimenting when I knew that either Common Projects or Crown Northampton’s were going to be the creme de la crème of minimalist leather sneakers
I remember about 15 years ago I bought two pairs of common projects sneakers for about a hundred each. One navy suede and the other smooth grey leather. Didn't know they are still a thing today
CP owner here and been wearing them for almost 10 yrs. I have around 10 pairs. Just buy them 2nd hand or on sale I personally never paid retail for mine. I recently bought a pair of off white ones for £50 98% new
Its funny nobody speaks about Santoni footwear. They are 100 x more comfortable and the build quality is insane + they have a big history in making footwear.
I bought both Oliver Cabell and Koio and I must say, the Oliver Cabell has a better silhouette than the Koio. Koio's 1.5in mid-sole looks too thick. I also have a pair of common projects. Overall, my view is Oliver Cabell has best value for money and better styling.
The standard non-hand stitched Crowns are a relative bargain. I have a pair of the hand stitched and many pairs of high quality dress shoes and boots. Crowns are absolutely on par with any of them. And Incredibly comfortable. I bought a grey pair but they had a somewhat magenta tone not represented in their photos. (Grey is very difficult to make). I’ve stripped them and enjoy the more raw look. The colors on their site are obviously not 100% accurate. Also not uncommon when colors are so rich. And wait times are 4+ months. (Spring for the custom shoe trees, they’re beautiful too). Managing expectations is important because depending on the tanning process shoes like this can spot stain if splashed. They’re not an all-weather shoe in some cases. Important to know when spending $300+ on a pair of shoes. But. Well-maintained and re-soled, they could last 30 years which makes them sort of a bargain.
Wow, great video. I've been wearing KOIO's for years but really enjoying these CROWNS!! Being in the USA, it will cost a small fortune for a sizing exchange, anybody have input on sizing compared to the KOIOS?
Great video. Im not sure when I really became a minimalist sneaker person. I believe it was 2020. I have purchased three pairs of Thursday boots. One pair of Beckett Siminon. Beckett fits tight around the front portion of my feet. My plans are to purchase two more pairs of Thursday boots. I'll most definitely look at Kois. What makes Beckett and Thursday boots so easy to purchase is that both companies have buy now pay later (After pay). Great video again.
When my Common Projects were no longer good to wear a couple of years ago, I decided to try Artisan Lab sneakers. While they might not be as top notch as CPs, they were significantly cheaper and, what was especially important for me, a bit wider in the toe box. I find wearing them much more than I used to wear my old CPs because they are more comfortable for me. For anyone in the UK or Europe I'd recommend giving them a try.
Why decent running shoes are better? They are lighter, breathable, made for comfortable wear rather than for fashion. And they are often looking quite nice too.
I like your your review, very complete. Over a year ago I bought a pair of Oliver Cabell after checking out all the reviews. I liked the look, quality and the price point. Wearing them was a different story. Upfront I got a blister proximal to my right big toe. I chalked it up to breaking them in. While it was uncomfortable to wear I soldiered on and continued to wear them hoping the comfort would improve. No more blisters but they still are stiff and uncomfortable. I contacted Oliver Cabells but no response. I just had my Chuck Talylor's refurbished and they are my go to's. They are a leather no lace slip ons, no longer available but I can were them like slippers. I would still like a minimalist white leather shoe. I am liking the Crown Hamptons but I'll have to consider the price point because I already bought the OC's.
I’m an old timer now and have been a sneaker nut for a long time…I have most of the shoes you have here but all things considered, I’m taking Thursdays… I bought a pair of white Legacy’s and they are the most comfortable of all my sneakers…!!! Better than Becket Simonon, Oliver Cabels, Greats, Koio…! And Common Projects are a joke…! The amazing thing is the Thursdays are cheaper than all of them and as far as I’m concerned better… The Legacy’s are awesome and the price at $129 is also awesome… Go up a half size and your good..!👍
How did you miss the Ecco Soft 8? The sole beats everything I have come across. The outer leather is durable and inner soft leather, amazing. I'm finding it difficult to get such sneakers. Ecco kinda releases products in small quantities. Once they run out of stock, they don't restock! The price for the ones I have is $160. I don't know why you chose shoes with the same type of sole. They look more of leather vans than sneakers =(
Read your post on Reddit and also saw your video on polos way back. Love your content. Don’t stop making videos man! Btw, have you ever tried Kent wang’s long sleeve polo? I’m in the market for long sleeve polos. Maybe a potential future video on long sleeve polo comparisons 👀?
Appreciate it man! Hoping the channel keeps gaining traction so I can start making weekly videos. I haven’t reviews their long sleeve polos but if they’re anything like the short sleeves ones I’m a fan!
Thursdays - I sold mine. They are good for the money but the soles/bottom just feel too thin. Crown - very substantial and once broken in these are very comfy, plus you can resole these, so they are worth every penny. But they are just too heavy duty for summer. CP: these are great for summer when my Crown sneakers are just too hot. I admit I bought these on discount and will only buy them again if I can get some substantial discount.
Ive got two pairs of oliver cabell. It was very uncomfortable and didnt look as good as I wanted on my feet since its wider. Ended up throwing them away or not using them on shelves. Just invested in a koio and Ive never been happier. Hope to try common projects one day but so far i love koio's sustainability goals more and the off white color way they provide works better for my skin tone
be careful about the common projects. I bought a pair a few years ago and i tried over and over to go on walks with them in hopes they would become comfortable. i never managed to walk them in and i still have scars on my heels after them. Beside the pain the look absolutely great on me
Rose Anvil does a great video series on these called: 13 sneaker showdown, where he cuts them all in half and get into the nitty gritty of each, if thats your thing.
Subscribe for a similar video on cashmere sweaters that’s shaping up to a be a great one! Should drop in a few weeks so definitely hit the bell to be notified.
Great video! Definitely looking at picking up the Thursday sneakers in coffee thanks for the input that they look different than in the pictures. Also got a question, what joggers are you wearing at 2:40?
Great video. I’m new here and was only familiar with Thursday’s. The issue you mentioned with the tongue and creasing is true, as I have the same issue with my pair. Will definitely do some research on these other options but doubt I’ll be dropping over $400 for a sneaker.
Great video and thanks for the insight on each brand. I have experience with Thursday’s Premier and Common Projects’ Achilles Low. I had a problem with both being too narrow in the toe box for my toes to splay out. It feels like the toes are squished and it makes sense because of the design of these minimalist shoes. In your experience, did you find the toe box fit of the Crown Northampton to be wider than or equal to Oliver Cabell’s?
May be counterintuitive but Koio’s taper happens closer to the edge than CP’s which allows a bit more space for the widest portion of your foot. The Crown North Hampton definitely are more straight from back to front before curving in compared to the Oliver Cabells. Those may be your best bet but the higher quality leather is stiffer which may lead to a longer break in.
@@asim might need to look into Koio and see their offerings. The Crown Northampton looks more straight and bulbous from the top angle when compared to the rest but I prioritize fit and comfort over aesthetic. All of these shoes look great in their own way but I agree with your conclusion that CP’s look better on the foot. Keep up the great work and look forward on more vids. You earned my sub!
I have very wide feet. All my dress shoes and boots are in G width and I find getting the right sized minimalist sneaker tricky. I've tried plenty but only Crown Northampton managed to fit me proper. I have the Overstone Derby in wide fit. It's not the sleekest looking pair when you buy it in wide but comfort over looks is key
The Common Projects still look the best. The clean aethetics and silhouette are hard to beat. Unfortunately the quality of the leather and soles are really not that good. Great branding. Heavily overrpriced.
@@asim what’s your take on Kent wang’s long sleeve polos? They have cuffs added to the end of the sleeves, not sure if it looks classy or out of date 🤔 Please do 🙏
Was that Downtown Houston? I am from Houston...and I swear...that footage of the city...looked like Houston to me. Anyway...great review. Enjoyed your video.
Love seeing people overpay for garbage. Watch the CP cut apart to see they hardly cost more than $100. Truly a hivemind mentality of being attracted to garbage because people tell you to be.
I bought a pair of the Koi Capri's a couple ofnyears ago, and they have been my favorite shoe ever. I've probably worn them at least 4 days a week and they still look as good as new. Worth every penny. I wouldn't even consider spending the extra $ on CP. If you watch the tear down that Rose Anvil did, they are the exact same quality
I bought a pair of sneakers from Officine Creative from the mrporter sale throughout the summer sale and they’re great. I think most of the sneakers that are made in Italy are made in the same factory, as mine look very similar to the full grain black and white common projects lows.
Haven’t heard of this brand but I’m impressed. I think after the $200 mark for the most part - the quality is roughly on the same level and you start paying primarily for the design and brand. Exception being brands like Crown Northampton
I have two pairs of Crowns and they're fantastic shoes. I have a pair of the Horween Navy Blue hi-tops that I expect to have for decades, and a pair of the all-white Abington Toe cap - which since they're white are almost exactly the same as the all-white Derby shoe. You could definitely have used these as the example from Crown, as they still hold up to the Common Projects at the $300 USD price point, but I'm glad you did the hand stitch to show how much higher quality you can get for a similar price point to the CP's. One thing I will say is that the next pair of white sneaks I buy will probably not be Crowns, despite how much I love them. The fact is that while we all love developing a patina on colored or black leather shoes over years of wear, most of us want our white sneaks to be shiny and immaculate. And the fact is that paying $300 for shoes with that long of a break-in period (it was realistically 2-3 months of occasional wear for me), you're still only gonna have one or two good years, unless you really baby them. I think my next pair of whites will be the Oliver Cabells. By the way I just ordered a pair of the hand-stitch in green buffalo from Crown. If you're interested, I'll let you know how they look when they arrive! Keep up the good work!
Thanks for sharing! Some great info in this comment. I agree with your thoughts there, I think the Crowns look best in color and your new green pair should be epic!
ISO some solid advice before pulling the trigger. Based on other sources as well as this great video, I am between Uniform Standard and Thursdays. Please give me some guidance... TIA.
I have some Greats Royales pre 2019 when they were purchased by Steve Madden Co. - They're still in great shape, I think I've got another 5 years in them. Just curious, did the quality go down after they sold to the Madden Group? Why were they not on your list? Thanks for the response and great review.
There’s a beauty in seeing these worn and creased but to avoid them I’d recommend shoe trees after every wear and just being cautious when you wear them
I actually went with the Crown Northampton handstich line buffalo ink leather sneakers at first but I ended up selling them after a couple of months. when they first arrived they were beautiful with the star of the show being the ink blue horween buffalo leather. But I got tired of them pretty quick as I felt that I was walking directly on concrete. I just bought the Adidas Stan Smith lux shoes and I got them on sale for $60 plus shipping and so far they are nice shoes and more comfortable than the Crown Northampton's
Own pair of black crowns. Would not buy them again for daily use. Leather gets damaged and rubs easily, sole very comfortable but parts of it basically fell off around seem on the hill from driving car and now because of how the shoe is designed piece of leather cut through and made hole around toe. It took long time for them to wear in during which time they were very uncomfortable, once done though they are very comfy. Maybe would buy again for only occasional wear but not for daily wear definitely.
LETS GO! Long time sub and love this type of vids.. slight correction ( as a 4 pairs of koios owner), that the new version of koios are not margom sole but they say that they are as good or even abit better than margom ( that I cannot comment since I only have the old version) From where I live, with taxes, the price I paid for my koios is the same as common project.. but I chose koio becuase they are edge painted ( more durable) and imo the pannels look and the tounge of the shoe fits more to my liking (I have the triple white for 3 years and there have probably a few more years to go). Also I own 1 pair of crown northampton and they feel like a different tier.. its like comperring between mercedes and bugatti.. both great cars, but one is one tier above the other. Aslo to note, if one of you guys get a nice shoe, get shoe trees, and contidion them about every 6 months to a year (they will last you way more if you do). shoes like this are investment and should be treated as such :D
Great insight here! Was not aware of the margom sole change on the KOIO so definitely worth noting. I agree with the different tier for the CNH compared to the rest. I linked some shoe trees and polish in the description bc I swear by them to keep these lasting as long as they did
@@asim Also suggestion for more videos.. 1) chinos (must check asket) 2) denim jackets ( can be super interesting) (must check a.p.c) 3) joggers 4) socks
Common Projects have been good to me, still great shoes. I wish they would get rid of the gold numbering. Still very comfortable. Having bought greats, cp are still better leather.
Dude they still have a narrow toe box which will pretty much squish your toes together defeating the purpose of minimalist footwear. There are birkenstocks bend low its also calf skin leather but this one has a wide toebox .
Crown Northhamptons are a pretender brand... Chris's great grandfather owned a small shoe and shoe repair shop. Chris has manufactured a 100 year heritage from this even though he only started Crown Northampton a few years ago. If you want legitimate bench made english quality you need to look at brands like Trickers, Loake, Church. Barker etc... I'd presume they are buying shoes from a Northampton OEM same as a house brand like Herring Shoes and slapping a BS heritage on it and charging $500 for a shoe you can buy from Herring or Loake for less than half the price.
I went with the KOIO Capri last year and could not be happier! I really like how they've held up with multiple wears. Just a really great quality leather sneaker.
Yeah, I’ve really been enjoying mine!
The pink pair are the only one that do anything for me
I went with Crown Northampton and have no regrets. Worth every penny and can be worn all day long.
Glad you like em!
Wow! Those Crown Northhampton shoes look STUNNING! They are now on my wishlist for sure.
Wearing mine right now! The soles are game changers honestly
Yup insane how rappers buy plastic shoes when you can buy plastic free classic cordovan leather
@@asim If you had to compare sizing to KOIO vs CROWN?
@@obamalastname34 just rappers, huh? Interesting.
@@Aaronricc Koio is like your typical A or C class Mercedes while Crown is pretty much a Rolls Royce
Dang, I didn't consider the idea of Common Projects shoes aging so well. I actually like the 5 years deep look - for more casual situations!
That’s exactly how I’m wearing mine right now. Got the fresh pair when I need to be more out together but the best up pair look right at home on some washed jeans or joggers
They do look good. Cost per wear is what matters. He got moneys worth.
I have my original four pairs of common projects from 19 years ago: white, black, suede blue, and gray. They are still alive and kicking. I believe they were $135 at the time. SOHO NYC.
I'll bet I'm not the only person who finds it incongruous to pay a maximalist price for a minimalist sneaker (or status symbol). Especially when there's an excellent/better alternative for a fraction of the price. Yup, I just got some Thursday's for $129. And they are awesome.
Cost per wear, the CPs cost me $250 up front but ended up costing me a few pennies each time I wore them over the past five years.
@@asim Whatever works for you. At today's prices , the CPs are almost triple the cost of Thursdays, and from everything I've heard the CPs offer no difference in quality. So a person could ask themselves, how much would my $300 cash savings today be worth in 5 years, if properly invested?
In the video I mentioned I’ve never bought a pair higher than 300. I think my cost was around 250 on my pairs so at around $100 more it made sense.
+1 for Thursdays, especially the Horween versions which, Crowns aside, are the nicest leather used amongst these sneakers.
@@the-truth-hurts let me guess, you’re a crypto or nft investor? Hahah
The original Great's made in Mexico were awesome. The footbed molded to your feet and had a wide toe box for all day comfort. Once they moved production to Italy, the all day comfort was gone.
Crown Northampton are the best minimalist sneaker money can buy. They are expensive at $900 but they’re hand stitched and made with the same type of materials a high end dress shoe is made from like Cordovan Horween leather and oak bark cork stiffener.
Appreciate your analysis and transparency. I personally will always stand by Common Projects. My pair from 7 years ago is still intact and able to be worn. The silhouette is unmatched in my opinion. Thanks!
Killin it as usual! Love the videos and the detail you put into explaining the differences between the brands!
Appreciate it!
I second that! More videos, please!
My very first leather sneakers were Common Projects. I didn’t want to spend the money experimenting when I knew that either Common Projects or Crown Northampton’s were going to be the creme de la crème of minimalist leather sneakers
Not a bad strategy!
You should've gone with the Crown Northampton's and got what you paid for.
rose anvil and other style tuber also have videos on these, thank you for the recommendation on the wide feet and will cop your jeans FOR SURE!
Appreciate that man!
goral tops them all. theyre also blake stitched so theyre easier to resole and would theoretically last the rest of your life
These were in the running in shoes to choose, looked like they fit the bill
Another vote to review Gorals please! Their quality would be above this tier but I would love your opinion and review as well.
I remember about 15 years ago I bought two pairs of common projects sneakers for about a hundred each. One navy suede and the other smooth grey leather. Didn't know they are still a thing today
Minimal sneakers never go out of fashion I guess
Honorable mentions to Ace Marks and Greats.
I actually have 3 pairs of The Great sneakers white, black and court style. I like the way they fit and they have held up nice thus far.
Great to hear!
CP owner here and been wearing them for almost 10 yrs. I have around 10 pairs. Just buy them 2nd hand or on sale I personally never paid retail for mine. I recently bought a pair of off white ones for £50 98% new
Agreed!
Its funny nobody speaks about Santoni footwear. They are 100 x more comfortable and the build quality is insane + they have a big history in making footwear.
They are $700 also...
One word bro. Ecco. Ecco for everyday. Mangianni for classy. Eccos run like $150 to $200 and Mangiannis run like $300 to $500.
Love these videos, keep it up!
Possibly do one over the best boots? 👀
Hopefully soon! Lmk if you have suggestions
@@asim We all know that Grant Stone is going to be the winner in the price/quality category
@@asimyou could do a whole video on Thursday boots honestly *cough* @thursdaybootssponermyboy *cough*
I bought both Oliver Cabell and Koio and I must say, the Oliver Cabell has a better silhouette than the Koio. Koio's 1.5in mid-sole looks too thick. I also have a pair of common projects. Overall, my view is Oliver Cabell has best value for money and better styling.
The finishing seems to be hit or miss for most people
Great review of these sneakers. Just purchased my first pair of Minimalist sneakers.
Great reviews!!!! Thanks for in-depth explanation!
The standard non-hand stitched Crowns are a relative bargain. I have a pair of the hand stitched and many pairs of high quality dress shoes and boots. Crowns are absolutely on par with any of them. And Incredibly comfortable. I bought a grey pair but they had a somewhat magenta tone not represented in their photos. (Grey is very difficult to make). I’ve stripped them and enjoy the more raw look. The colors on their site are obviously not 100% accurate. Also not uncommon when colors are so rich. And wait times are 4+ months. (Spring for the custom shoe trees, they’re beautiful too).
Managing expectations is important because depending on the tanning process shoes like this can spot stain if splashed. They’re not an all-weather shoe in some cases. Important to know when spending $300+ on a pair of shoes. But. Well-maintained and re-soled, they could last 30 years which makes them sort of a bargain.
Very insightful comment! Thanks for sharing. Crowns are super nice!
Wow, great video. I've been wearing KOIO's for years but really enjoying these CROWNS!! Being in the USA, it will cost a small fortune for a sizing exchange, anybody have input on sizing compared to the KOIOS?
Got a pair of CPs for $259 US at End. Couldn't pass that up.
Which pair was the most comfortable for you?
Umm probably the KOIOs or Thursdays
Great video. Im not sure when I really became a minimalist sneaker person. I believe it was 2020. I have purchased three pairs of Thursday boots. One pair of Beckett Siminon. Beckett fits tight around the front portion of my feet. My plans are to purchase two more pairs of Thursday boots. I'll most definitely look at Kois. What makes Beckett and Thursday boots so easy to purchase is that both companies have buy now pay later (After pay). Great video again.
I love your videos, man. Thank you!
Appreciate you watching them!
When my Common Projects were no longer good to wear a couple of years ago, I decided to try Artisan Lab sneakers. While they might not be as top notch as CPs, they were significantly cheaper and, what was especially important for me, a bit wider in the toe box. I find wearing them much more than I used to wear my old CPs because they are more comfortable for me. For anyone in the UK or Europe I'd recommend giving them a try.
Gonna be in Eu soon. Any retailers you recommend to buy these at?
Why decent running shoes are better? They are lighter, breathable, made for comfortable wear rather than for fashion. And they are often looking quite nice too.
I don’t think they’re as fashionable
To tidy up your look is to change from your bunny ears knot to a reef knot. It's symmetrical and lays flat.
Yeah, need to get into the habit of that
Wow, this was very educational! I better start saving my pennies for the Crown Northhamptons. Thank you.
Appreciate the kind words!
i decided to order a koio triple white because of your video. i hope you do more videos!
Lmk how you like them! More vids coming soon!
Had to sub bro! Great content! I’m binging at work and this is 🔥🔥🔥
Appreciate that bro! Hope it made work go by quicker
Great video, I been buying Greats and New Republic Sneakers both very confortable and minimum styling.
I like your your review, very complete. Over a year ago I bought a pair of Oliver Cabell after checking out all the reviews. I liked the look, quality and the price point. Wearing them was a different story. Upfront I got a blister proximal to my right big toe. I chalked it up to breaking them in. While it was uncomfortable to wear I soldiered on and continued to wear them hoping the comfort would improve. No more blisters but they still are stiff and uncomfortable. I contacted Oliver Cabells but no response. I just had my Chuck Talylor's refurbished and they are my go to's. They are a leather no lace slip ons, no longer available but I can were them like slippers. I would still like a minimalist white leather shoe. I am liking the Crown Hamptons but I'll have to consider the price point because I already bought the OC's.
Yeah Oliver Cabell customer service is practically non existent. Not the biggest fan of them.
I’m an old timer now and have been a sneaker nut for a long time…I have most of the shoes you have here but all things considered, I’m taking Thursdays… I bought a pair of white Legacy’s and they are the most comfortable of all my sneakers…!!! Better than Becket Simonon, Oliver Cabels, Greats, Koio…! And Common Projects are a joke…! The amazing thing is the Thursdays are cheaper than all of them and as far as I’m concerned better… The Legacy’s are awesome and the price at $129 is also awesome… Go up a half size and your good..!👍
How did you miss the Ecco Soft 8? The sole beats everything I have come across. The outer leather is durable and inner soft leather, amazing. I'm finding it difficult to get such sneakers. Ecco kinda releases products in small quantities. Once they run out of stock, they don't restock! The price for the ones I have is $160. I don't know why you chose shoes with the same type of sole. They look more of leather vans than sneakers =(
Great video ,thanks ❤️🏴👍
Read your post on Reddit and also saw your video on polos way back. Love your content. Don’t stop making videos man! Btw, have you ever tried Kent wang’s long sleeve polo? I’m in the market for long sleeve polos. Maybe a potential future video on long sleeve polo comparisons 👀?
Appreciate it man! Hoping the channel keeps gaining traction so I can start making weekly videos.
I haven’t reviews their long sleeve polos but if they’re anything like the short sleeves ones I’m a fan!
We see you man, keep the quality videos going!
Appreciate that!
Thursdays - I sold mine. They are good for the money but the soles/bottom just feel too thin.
Crown - very substantial and once broken in these are very comfy, plus you can resole these, so they are worth every penny. But they are just too heavy duty for summer.
CP: these are great for summer when my Crown sneakers are just too hot. I admit I bought these on discount and will only buy them again if I can get some substantial discount.
Crowne Northampton for the win! Have 2 pairs and incredible
🙌🏽🙌🏽
Ive got two pairs of oliver cabell. It was very uncomfortable and didnt look as good as I wanted on my feet since its wider. Ended up throwing them away or not using them on shelves. Just invested in a koio and Ive never been happier. Hope to try common projects one day but so far i love koio's sustainability goals more and the off white color way they provide works better for my skin tone
Glad the koios worked! The Oliver Cabells seem hit or miss it seems like.
be careful about the common projects. I bought a pair a few years ago and i tried over and over to go on walks with them in hopes they would become comfortable. i never managed to walk them in and i still have scars on my heels after them. Beside the pain the look absolutely great on me
Thanks for this video as I've always wanted a quality pair of minimalist shoes. The black Crown Northhampton is calling me. Perfect 👌
Lmk your thoughts if you buy them!
great video as always!
Appreciate you watching!
Rose Anvil does a great video series on these called: 13 sneaker showdown, where he cuts them all in half and get into the nitty gritty of each, if thats your thing.
Great video!
Great review! I'll stick to my $59 8yoox white sneaks for now but I'm aiming for that koio ⚡
Subscribe for a similar video on cashmere sweaters that’s shaping up to a be a great one!
Should drop in a few weeks so definitely hit the bell to be notified.
That’d be awesome. Check out Luca Faloni. Love my sweaters from them.
I highly recommend Giorgio Armani cashmere polo.
Great video! Definitely looking at picking up the Thursday sneakers in coffee thanks for the input that they look different than in the pictures. Also got a question, what joggers are you wearing at 2:40?
Lululemon ABC!
Don't, their quality control is horrible. I retuned them twice and went with Magnanni. Way better than most.
You could have bought Axel Arigato Clean 90 and be happy
Wanted to include them but had to cut it off somewhere
THEY NEW YORK THIS IS MY FAVOURITE SNEAKER BRAND.
The best leather sneakers are un costa lace made by clarks, now discontinued.
Never heard of em but I’ll check them out!
I have the Commons and Crowns, but I find myself wearing my Chucks the most.
Good review. Taking off 🛫 where The Kavalier stopped.
Appreciate that 🙌🏽
Great video. I’m new here and was only familiar with Thursday’s. The issue you mentioned with the tongue and creasing is true, as I have the same issue with my pair. Will definitely do some research on these other options but doubt I’ll be dropping over $400 for a sneaker.
Wait till they’re on sale for 200ish
@asim Great review! Can you consider reviewing the Aurélian Voyager Sneaker?
Great video and thanks for the insight on each brand. I have experience with Thursday’s Premier and Common Projects’ Achilles Low. I had a problem with both being too narrow in the toe box for my toes to splay out. It feels like the toes are squished and it makes sense because of the design of these minimalist shoes. In your experience, did you find the toe box fit of the Crown Northampton to be wider than or equal to Oliver Cabell’s?
May be counterintuitive but Koio’s taper happens closer to the edge than CP’s which allows a bit more space for the widest portion of your foot. The Crown North Hampton definitely are more straight from back to front before curving in compared to the Oliver Cabells. Those may be your best bet but the higher quality leather is stiffer which may lead to a longer break in.
@@asim might need to look into Koio and see their offerings. The Crown Northampton looks more straight and bulbous from the top angle when compared to the rest but I prioritize fit and comfort over aesthetic. All of these shoes look great in their own way but I agree with your conclusion that CP’s look better on the foot. Keep up the great work and look forward on more vids. You earned my sub!
I have very wide feet. All my dress shoes and boots are in G width and I find getting the right sized minimalist sneaker tricky. I've tried plenty but only Crown Northampton managed to fit me proper. I have the Overstone Derby in wide fit.
It's not the sleekest looking pair when you buy it in wide but comfort over looks is key
The Common Projects still look the best. The clean aethetics and silhouette are hard to beat.
Unfortunately the quality of the leather and soles are really not that good. Great branding. Heavily overrpriced.
Common projects look like the cheaply made shoes and the cheapest ones (Thursday) look the most expensive 😂
Stay away from Thrusday Boots sneakers the inner heel will collapse.
Hey Asim, just purchased a pair of the denim jeans. Can’t wait to get them but will have to wait a few weeks as I am in the UK
Appreciate your support! We’ll have them out as soon as we can
Can you make a video of the best cashmere sweater brands to wear? 🙏🏻
That’s actually next! Any recs prior to me starting to film?
250$ if they last 5 years comes out to 50$ per year. Or i could just get a new pair of tommy hilfigure every year for 35$ which is less
Can you do a video on the best long sleeve polos to buy?
Potentially! I did a video on normal polos a bit ago and I know a lot of those brands also make long sleeves polos so it may be repetitive
@@asim what’s your take on Kent wang’s long sleeve polos? They have cuffs added to the end of the sleeves, not sure if it looks classy or out of date 🤔 Please do 🙏
I’m surprised that’s how your CPs look after 5 years. I’m on a 12 month cycle and they are destroyed at that point.
Shoe trees and a cleaning/conditioning here and there are all you really need
Was that Downtown Houston? I am from Houston...and I swear...that footage of the city...looked like Houston to me. Anyway...great review. Enjoyed your video.
Good eye haha, shoot in downtown houston all the time
Love seeing people overpay for garbage. Watch the CP cut apart to see they hardly cost more than $100. Truly a hivemind mentality of being attracted to garbage because people tell you to be.
There’s a rebuttal to the viral video on Reddit that’s a good read if you’re interested.
Are the high common projects or any high leather sneaker not in style? Don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone wear them like that.
I don’t think they’re out of style but the low tops are def more popular!
I bought a pair of the Koi Capri's a couple ofnyears ago, and they have been my favorite shoe ever. I've probably worn them at least 4 days a week and they still look as good as new. Worth every penny. I wouldn't even consider spending the extra $ on CP. If you watch the tear down that Rose Anvil did, they are the exact same quality
Yeah the Koio's are a great pair at a great price!
KOIO Capri. I picked up the white w/gum sole. Absolutely love those sneakers
A great pair!
Great video, do penny loafers next.
Appreciate it!
I bought a pair of sneakers from Officine Creative from the mrporter sale throughout the summer sale and they’re great. I think most of the sneakers that are made in Italy are made in the same factory, as mine look very similar to the full grain black and white common projects lows.
Haven’t heard of this brand but I’m impressed. I think after the $200 mark for the most part - the quality is roughly on the same level and you start paying primarily for the design and brand. Exception being brands like Crown Northampton
I have two pairs of Crowns and they're fantastic shoes. I have a pair of the Horween Navy Blue hi-tops that I expect to have for decades, and a pair of the all-white Abington Toe cap - which since they're white are almost exactly the same as the all-white Derby shoe. You could definitely have used these as the example from Crown, as they still hold up to the Common Projects at the $300 USD price point, but I'm glad you did the hand stitch to show how much higher quality you can get for a similar price point to the CP's.
One thing I will say is that the next pair of white sneaks I buy will probably not be Crowns, despite how much I love them. The fact is that while we all love developing a patina on colored or black leather shoes over years of wear, most of us want our white sneaks to be shiny and immaculate. And the fact is that paying $300 for shoes with that long of a break-in period (it was realistically 2-3 months of occasional wear for me), you're still only gonna have one or two good years, unless you really baby them. I think my next pair of whites will be the Oliver Cabells.
By the way I just ordered a pair of the hand-stitch in green buffalo from Crown. If you're interested, I'll let you know how they look when they arrive!
Keep up the good work!
Thanks for sharing! Some great info in this comment. I agree with your thoughts there, I think the Crowns look best in color and your new green pair should be epic!
Thanks
Anytime, thanks for watching
Not a single mention of Artisan Lab . It’s quite popular in Europe especially Britain , France , Ireland and Italy.
Maybe in a second part
ISO some solid advice before pulling the trigger. Based on other sources as well as this great video, I am between Uniform Standard and Thursdays. Please give me some guidance... TIA.
I think aesthetics play a huge factor into this as they looks completely different. I think Uniform are built better
I am waiting on my first Crown Northamptons now. I am excited about them.
let me know how you like them once they are in!
I have some Greats Royales pre 2019 when they were purchased by Steve Madden Co. - They're still in great shape, I think I've got another 5 years in them. Just curious, did the quality go down after they sold to the Madden Group? Why were they not on your list? Thanks for the response and great review.
Heard mixed things on Reddit so figured I wouldn’t include it as there were better options available at the time
Can you compare the GAT options? MM Replicas, Beckett Simonon, etc.
Not my style but maybe in the future!
Common projects shape and silhouette still the best on feet.
Are there any suggestions for how to avoid creasing?
There’s a beauty in seeing these worn and creased but to avoid them I’d recommend shoe trees after every wear and just being cautious when you wear them
I actually went with the Crown Northampton handstich line buffalo ink leather sneakers at first but I ended up selling them after a couple of months. when they first arrived they were beautiful with the star of the show being the ink blue horween buffalo leather. But I got tired of them pretty quick as I felt that I was walking directly on concrete. I just bought the Adidas Stan Smith lux shoes and I got them on sale for $60 plus shipping and so far they are nice shoes and more comfortable than the Crown Northampton's
rocking Stan Smith lux shoes as well and love them!
Congrats on the merch launch! How would the jeans fit for someone with more athletic (thicker) thighs?
I have thicker thighs myself so they’ll fit like you saw in the vid!
Should hug the thighs but not constrict
Own pair of black crowns. Would not buy them again for daily use. Leather gets damaged and rubs easily, sole very comfortable but parts of it basically fell off around seem on the hill from driving car and now because of how the shoe is designed piece of leather cut through and made hole around toe.
It took long time for them to wear in during which time they were very uncomfortable, once done though they are very comfy.
Maybe would buy again for only occasional wear but not for daily wear definitely.
Thanks for the feedback, will keep on eye out as to how mine age
I would recommend you take a look at Allen Edmonds Alpha or Courtside. They're amazing.
I remember buying a pair from them a few years back and they were super heavy. I’m not sure if it was another model or these though
Axel Arigato white Clean 90s
I might be buying the unique looking African Ranger from Jim Green as leather sneaker, with more ruggedness. 😊
CPs all day. Silhouette can't be beat and they age spectacularly just like MM GATs.
I’m with you there!
Hi first time here!
What do you think about Massimo Dutti minimal leather sneakers?
I’m not familiar with the brand but I’ll look into it
Crown Northampton are the best luxurious sneakers today.
Build quality is insane
LETS GO!
Long time sub and love this type of vids..
slight correction ( as a 4 pairs of koios owner), that the new version of koios are not margom sole but they say that they are as good or even abit better than margom ( that I cannot comment since I only have the old version)
From where I live, with taxes, the price I paid for my koios is the same as common project.. but I chose koio becuase they are edge painted ( more durable) and imo the pannels look and the tounge of the shoe fits more to my liking (I have the triple white for 3 years and there have probably a few more years to go).
Also I own 1 pair of crown northampton and they feel like a different tier.. its like comperring between mercedes and bugatti.. both great cars, but one is one tier above the other.
Aslo to note, if one of you guys get a nice shoe, get shoe trees, and contidion them about every 6 months to a year (they will last you way more if you do).
shoes like this are investment and should be treated as such :D
Great insight here! Was not aware of the margom sole change on the KOIO so definitely worth noting.
I agree with the different tier for the CNH compared to the rest. I linked some shoe trees and polish in the description bc I swear by them to keep these lasting as long as they did
@@asim Also suggestion for more videos.. 1) chinos (must check asket) 2) denim jackets ( can be super interesting) (must check a.p.c) 3) joggers 4) socks
Common Projects have been good to me, still great shoes. I wish they would get rid of the gold numbering. Still very comfortable. Having bought greats, cp are still better leather.
Pretty easy to rub off with some product. Acetone might do the trick
You should have tried Blackstone shoes from The Netherlands. I only buy their shoes.
I love my koios. So comfortable!
Great shoes!
Crown one is amazing.
Yeah, leather quality second to none!
Dude they still have a narrow toe box which will pretty much squish your toes together defeating the purpose of minimalist footwear.
There are birkenstocks bend low its also calf skin leather but this one has a wide toebox .
Form > function is sadly the truth for most of these
The best White minimalist sneakers I’ve ever owned are my current John Lobb Leyvas.
Never experienced John lobb before but I hear they’re top of the top in terms of quality
@CrownNorthampton will make you G (wide) and G+ (wide +) fittings
Crown Northhamptons are a pretender brand... Chris's great grandfather owned a small shoe and shoe repair shop. Chris has manufactured a 100 year heritage from this even though he only started Crown Northampton a few years ago. If you want legitimate bench made english quality you need to look at brands like Trickers, Loake, Church. Barker etc... I'd presume they are buying shoes from a Northampton OEM same as a house brand like Herring Shoes and slapping a BS heritage on it and charging $500 for a shoe you can buy from Herring or Loake for less than half the price.