19 Best Casual Shoes for Men to Look Sharp When Dressed Down

Casual shoes don’t always have to be casual. Depending on your work setting and lifestyle, you may be able to ditch your wingtips in favor of neutral, sophisticated-looking buck shoes or desert boots. In any environment, your aim should always be versatility, and a certain ineffably natty appearance.

“Everything is more casual these days, but you still want to look put-together,” says Krista Roser, a stylist who works with rapper Jelly Roll.

We looked through the endless lists of casual shoes these days to find the very best, with the help of experts. There’s something here for every type of man, and every type of occasion, on this list: elevated sneakers, breezy slip-ons, hike-friendly running shoes, boat shoes, sandals, clogs, and mules.

Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services. We update when possible, but deals expire and prices can change. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Our overall pick for the best casual shoes are the SeaVees Sixty Six Sneakers, which can transition from a low-key night out to a summer wedding—they’re much more than your average kicks. But whether you’re boarding a sailboat, skating at the beach, or working in a business casual office that embraces styles beyond the stuffy and staid, you’ll find.your next favorite pair of casual shoes somewhere here.

Related: The Best White Sneakers of 2024 Will Clean Up Any Outfit

Best Casual Shoes for Men at a Glance

• Best Overall Casual Shoes for Men: SeaVees Sixty Six Sneaker
• Best Upgrade Casual Shoes: SeaVees Sun Tans Buck
• Best Business-Casual Sneakers: Common Projects Original Achilles Leather Sneakers
• Best Beachy Casual Shoes: Vans Skate Authentic Shoe
• Best Slip-On Casual Shoes: Vans Classic Slip-On Shoe
• Best Causal Slides: Adidas Adilette Slide
• Best Causal Designer Sneakers: P448 Soho 
• Best Causal Basketball Sneakers: Air Jordan 1 Mid
• Best Athletic Casual Shoes: Asics GEL-NYC
• Best Causal Desert Boots: SeaVees Maslon Desert Boot
• Best Causal Moccasins: Clarks Wallabee Maple Suede Moccasins
• Best Causal Work Boots: Thursday Diplomat Work Boots
• Best Causal Western Boots: Tecovas The Dean
• Best Causal Boat Shoes: Sperry Authentic Original Boat Shoe
• Best Causal Designer Boat Shoes: Todd Snyder X Sperry Top-Sider Suede Boat Shoes
• Best Suede Causal Shoes: Fletcher Perforated Suede Sneakers
• Best On-Trend Casual Sneakers: Adidas Samba
• Best Causal Converse Sneakers: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star
• Best Comfort Causal Shoes: Birkenstock Boston 

Best Men's Casual Shoes of 2024

Best Overall Casual Shoes for Men: SeaVees Sixty Six Sneaker in Rye

It’s hard to go wrong with a neutral shoe when you’re searching for your next pair of kicks—which means you don’t have to worry about the potential color clashing of a bolder choice. And canvas is both classic and mercifully breathable in warmer months.

Nic Screws, a stylist who has dressed Rami Malek and Russell Westbrook, among others, loves the SeaVees Sixty Six Sneaker in Rye, a taupe-colored low-top with a gum sole. “These would look good with anything from your favorite Alex Mill jeans and a pocket tee to a green seersucker suit for wedding season,” she says. That’s the kind of versatility any man can appreciate.

Best Upgrade Casual Shoes: SeaVees Sun Tans Buck

If you’re looking for a spiffy pick, try SeaVees Sun Tans Buck. We like the sandstone color, which comes in luxurious suede. Dress them up in cocktail attire-appropriate chinos, or dress them down on a weekend excursion in faded jeans—just don’t wear them in the rain.

Best Business Casual Sneakers: Common Projects Original Achilles Leather Sneakers

You may have noticed that Silicon Valley has upped the competitive theatrics of sneaker buying. I once had a tech-world boss who wore these Common Projects Original Achilles Leather Sneakers every day, and every day they looked great—refined but not show-offy. 

The shoes far from cheap, but the gorgeous, durable leather lasts and lasts, only getting more comfortable over time. I liked them so much in navy (works just as well with black or brown pants) that even after that job, I had to buy a pair. Whenever I’m looking for a coolly casual flex at a fancy-ish event, they’re my go-to.

Best Beachy Casual Shoes: Vans Skate Authentic Shoe

Vans Skate Authentic Shoe sends a message, especially if you happen to be at the beach or the skate park: You're embracing not just a trusted brand, but a shoe deeply tied to both ocean and skate communities. 

Stylist Britt Theodora, who works with Pete Davidson, is “an avid fan.” Her favorites are classic white and navy. “I have styled these for clients’ beachside weddings to press appearances.” It helps that they’re comfortable, affordable, and suit most settings.

Best Slip-On Casual Shoes: Vans Classic Slip-On Shoe

As a general rule, the style writer Max Berlinger is “very anti-sandal.” His solution? A Vans slip-on as a “year-round, daily option,” which he wrote about in his newsletter Add 2 Cart. He owns six pairs of the Vans Classic Slip-Ons, including the classic checkerboard, which are so perennial that they “exist outside of the vagaries of fashion.” 

“Its easy toe-curve is infallible, and [the shoe] goes well with pants that are tapered, baggy, slim, skinny, cropped, or long,” Berlinger says. “It looks good with jeans, Carhartts, chinos, or even a suit, as my iconic king Frank Ocean demonstrated at a White House State Dinner back in 2016.”

Best Casual Slides: Adidas Adilette Slides

“When I feel very, very hot, I will allow myself to wear some Adidas Adilettes,” Berlinger says. The not-quite-a-sandal Adidas Adilettes have become mainstays for everything from bringing in the mail to grilling on the deck. 

They’re also ridiculously affordable in many styles. But a pro tip: Do not wear these when trying to go out for a vigorous walk since, being slides, they’re prone to, well, sliding.

Best Casual Designer Sneakers: P448 Soho

P448 Soho, recommended by Roser, is somewhere between cool kid and buttoned-up, featuring lovely pale green leather complemented by a white leather tongue. For all your adult-playground jaunts.

Best Casual Basketball Sneaker: Air Jordan 1

Air Jordan newbies, take note. The Michael Jordan-endorsed Air Jordan 1 is the shoe that started it all back in 1985. And when it comes to basketball shoes, their cool is timeless. This newer Air Jordan 1 mid-top release, inspired by the original, is made in crisp leather and comes in many handsome colorways. We’re fond of the white-gray-navy pair for versatility.

Best Athletic Casual Shoes: Asics GEL-NYC

Any serious or amateur runner can attest to the reliability of Asics. If you’re going from the treadmill to a work happy hour, the unisex Asics GEL-NYC provides the right amount of flair. They’ll hit pavement comfortably yet they “look great for off-duty looks,” Theodora says.

Best Casual Desert Boots: SeaVees Maslon Desert Boot

Longtime California brand SeaVees, founded in 1964, gets another nod from Roser for its Maslon Desert Boot, a casual, cozy shoe across the year with just the right amount of oomph. You can wear it on a light desert hike, yes, but we recommend it more for dinners out with a date who will appreciate your attention to the fine details.

Best Casual Moccasins: Clarks Wallabee Maple Suede Moccasins

These days, leather loafers can travel anywhere, even to more formal events. But their dressed-down cousin, the moccasin, emphasizes ease and comfort. Luckily, these Clarks Wallabee Moccasins are also striking, made with suede and in classy colors like maple.

Best Casual Boots: Thursday Diplomat Work Boots

You don’t have to chop wood for a living to appreciate the rugged reliability and aesthetic pleasures of a pair of leather work boots. These lace-up Thursday Diplomat Work Boots will require breaking in, but the good news is they’ll also last you the rest of your life.

Best Casual Western Boots: Tecovas The Dean

Giddy up! Western style is most definitely having a moment. But whether you’re attending a rodeo or running errands in the city, these Tecoas The Dean Boots embrace the cowboy aesthetic without going too far. The zip makes these easy to throw on, and the goat leather is beautiful.

Best Casual Boat Shoes: Sperry Authentic Original Boat Shoe

Never doubt a shoe as legendary as Sperry Authentic Original Boat Shoe. You don’t have to be a sailor to appreciate the comfort and traction on wet or dry surfaces. These are definitive summertime footwear. You can't go wrong with the brown leather, which is always in stock.

Best Casual Designer Boat Shoes: Todd Snyder X Sperry Top-Sider Suede Boat Shoes

A luxe spin on the boat shoe, the Todd Snyder X Sperry Top-Sider Suede Boat Shoe collaboration can be worn on a boat deck, but they’ll also stand out at a lively park picnic of designer-keen friends. The gray is Screws’ favorite.

Best Suede Casual Shoes: Vince Fletcher Perforated Suede Sneakers

Slip-ons are a blessing when you’re scrambling to get out the door, but not all slip-ons are created equal. Vince Fletcher Perforated Suede Sneaker is made of tough stuff and striking in a minimalist way, with the perforation adding a nice bit of texture. In the neutral flint color, they’re the perfect fallback sneakers.

Best Casual Trendy Sneakers: Adidas Samba

Though hardly new, you may have noticed that the signature striped Adidas Sambas are suddenly everywhere (even politicians can’t help but join the pack!). The black Samba is the traditionalist choice, but there are plenty of other choices to pick from.

Best Casual Classic Sneakers: Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Canvas

The legacy of Chucks is still going strong more than 100 years after their debut. While you will need to clean them over time (try an old toothbrush and dish soap!), many of us keep returning to the pure Americana of the Optical White Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Canvas low-tops. Still, it’s also hard to resist these in bright red or black monochrome.

Most Comfortable Casual Shoes: Birkenstock Boston

Berlinger calls the Birkenstock Boston clog “the shoe right now,” as likely to be worn by fashionable streetwear boys as the average Chad next door. But with good reason: “It’s easy to slip on and off and has a nice versatile shape. It looks good with jeans or shorts, offers support, is durable, and is at a good price.” In other words, pure comfort with a side of nowness.

What to Look for When Choosing the Best Casual Shoes

In many cases, as the cliché goes, the first thing people notice about you really is the pair of shoes you’re rocking, whether you’re walking into a job interview or a first date. Even if you’re going more casual, dirty, beat-up shoes are not the look. 

To make the right impression in any scenario, look for casual shoes that have classic shapes and quality materials, from canvas to fancier suede and leather. Neutral colors are always the most versatile, but with the right outfit selection, don’t be afraid to go for something a bit bolder.

But, ultimately, the best casual shoes are the ones you feel good wearing.

Why You Should Trust Us

I’ve been writing and editing coverage of men’s style and grooming for over a decade, whether rhapsodizing about how I learned to love my bushy eyebrows (and why you should, too) or chasing down the best collectible Air Jordan sneakers. Over the years, I’ve worn all kinds of casual shoes, from Vans slip-ons to Scotch & Soda suede boots, sometimes until they’ve fallen apart, looking for pairs that find the right combination of comfort and sophistication.

To assemble this list of the best casual shoes for men, I consulted experts from the worlds of men’s style, including stylists whose job involves dressing famous men in their most flattering looks. In particular, I talked to the fashion journalist Max Berlinger and stylists Nic Screws, Krista Roser, and Britt Theodora to get their thoughts on casual shoes. I also researched the huge variety of not-so-formal men’s shoes out there, from sneakers to boat shoes and clogs.

Related: The Best Moc Toe Boots for Form and Function