Bass Buckingham

In the last couple of years, Bass (as well as other brands Johnston and Murphy, Brooks Brothers, J.Crew, LL Bean, Florsheim...) have started using what seems like EVA foam for the soles of their shoes. This is not meant to be an outsole material. Like all plastic foams, It is easily abraded and stained and it begins to pancake over time with repeated uses. Some brands are using injection molded foam rather than cut foam (injection molded has a smoother bottom) in order to help mitigate the problem a little bit (Johnston and Murphy). Others like Walk Over seem to be doing a proper Goodyear welt but over a worthless EVA outsole. Why? On the upside, the shoe is light, comfortable, and flexible right out of the box. No break-in required. The suede has almost no nap -- unusually and uncharacteristically smooth. The trim details are cheap and borderline shiny. But what can you expect from a buck at this price? I it would be nice if Bass and others would offer a proper buck for $150 with proper suede, a proper welt, and a proper outsole. That way I'd feel like cleaning and repairing them instead of just disposing of them. Bottom line: these look good for a couple months but are poorly made and don't last.