The smart-casual fashion style is now the way that most people style themselves up these days.
For the right smart-casual outfit, the correct shoes have to be picked for the occasions as this decision is often very crucial.
The best boat shoes in the world today are definitely the Sperry boat shoes and Sebago boat shoes.
They are functional, efficient, comfortable, durable, sturdy, fashionable, and long-lasting enough to fit the fashion tastes of anyone who desires to get a pair of wonderful shoes.
Of both of them, however, the Sperry shoes get the credit of being the first boat shoes to be made and introduced to the fashion industry and market.
In 1935, Paul A. Sperry, who lived in New Haven, got the idea of making the perfect shoes for boating when he found out that his dog could run over the ice without slipping and falling down.
He then made the Sperry Top-Sider using the logic from what he saw his dog doing and it became an instant sensation amongst people who loved comfortable and stylish shoes.
The Sebago Docksides came on the scene 10 years after the Sperry Top-Siders had already laid their claim as the original template and design for comfortable, stylish, and functional boat shoes.
The Sebago Docksides are still a force to be reckoned with; they also have very nice boat shoes.
There are really not many obvious differences between these two great boat shoes; however, if you are looking to narrow down your options and make a choice between the Sebago Docksides and the Sperry Top-Siders, you should definitely know a bit about what makes these shoes so unique and attractive to the fashion populace.
Similarities between the Sebago and Sperry Shoes
Table of Contents
Some of the common factors between these two brands of shoes/footwear are:
- Affordable Pricing
- Quality over Quantity
- They are both owned by The Wolverine Family
- Comfort
- Long-Lasting Durability
Affordable pricing
Not only are these types of smart-casual shoes going to actually handle your needs in any way you want them to, but they are also quite affordable and easy to get once you get the right budget going on.
For less than $100, you can get either a pair of Sperry shoes or a pair of Sebago shoes that would last you for a very long time.
The Sebago Docksides and the Sperry Top-Siders are both very affordable shoes that you can get for a bargain if you truly need a pair of shoes that is not too pricey.
Quality over quantity
It is quite obvious, right from the bat, that shoes like the Sperry shoes and the Sebago shoes are meant for more than just sailing boats even though that purpose was the original intention for their creation.
The uniqueness, design, durability, elegance, comfort, and appeal of these shoes makes it so easy for any pair to fit in suitably to any situation.
Only the best materials (leather, rubber, etc.) are used in making these smart-casual shoes and this can evidently be seen in the way the quality of the shoes is still maintained after a considerable amount of time.
Both the Sperry Top-Siders and the Sebago Docksides are shoes made from high-quality materials.
They are both owned by the Wolverine family
As earlier mentioned, the Sperry shoes, as well as the Sebago shoes, are designed and managed by the same company which is The Wolverine Family.
Although the actual manufacturing of these shoes takes place in offshore workstations, the bulk of the other jobs needed to be handled are taken care of at the company’s headquarters in The United States of America.
Comfort
In the era that we are in at this stage of life, there has been a shift in the fashion trends of the world and that has led to the adoption of more comfortable and functional fashion pieces by many people.
The Sperry Top-Siders and the Sebago Docksides are an example of such adequate fashion pieces.
They are very comfortable and long-lasting shoes that one can wear without even necessarily feeling the pressure that one may feel from wearing shoes.
These shoes are so comfy and slip right on and off the feet with ease that keeps the wearer feeling relaxed and calm.
Long-lasting durability
These boat shoes are among the sturdiest and hardiest of the smart-casual shoes available in the world today.
When either the Sperry shoes or the Sebago shoes are worn for an extended period of time, they often hold on to their strength, durability, and allure.
These are not the type of shoes to weaken easily over time. The same quality can be expected over time from these brands of smart-casual shoes after the initial purchase.
Differences between the Sebago shoes and the Sperry shoes
Now that we have seen such obvious similarities between these two shoes, let’s look at what differences there are between the Sebago Docksides and the Sperry Top-Siders.
Some of the differences between these two brands are:
- Break-In Period
- Type of Leather
- Design
- Lacing System
- The Make of The Vamp
- Quality Control
| S/no | Features | Sebago boat shoes |
Sperry boat shoes |
| 1 | Break-In Period | They feel more flexible and grounded right after the break-in period.
They feel more light-weight after the break-in. |
They feel stiffer and more cushioned right after the break-in period.
They are also characteristically very lightweight after the break-in, but Sebago Docksides are known to be a bit more lightweight than Sperry Topsiders after the period of the break-in. |
| 2 | Type of Leather | They are made with the best unlined, full-grain pull-up leather uppers that can either be nubuck or waxy leather. | They are made with full-grain leather uppers of medium quality. |
| 3 | Design | The Sebago Docksides are well-acclaimed for their distinctive handcrafted moc construction and brass eyelets that are not corrosive.
The Sebago Docksides have anti-slip rubber soles that are not marked. |
The Sperry Top-Siders have a unique 3-eyed style that makes it stand out from the line-up of other shoes
The rubber soles of the Sperry Top-Siders have slitted grooves.
The Sperry Top-Siders have shock-absorbing EVA heel cups and OrthoLite cushioning material that makes them very comfortable and relaxing. |
| Â 4 | Lacing System | The Sebago Docksides have a unique leather sock lining that makes a perfect fit for the wearers. | The Sperry Top-Siders have a 360-degree lacing system. |
| 5 | The Make of The Vamp | The vamps of the Sebago Docksides are made from 100% premium leather. | The vamps of the Sperry Top-Siders are made from either leather or converse. |
| 6 | Quality Control | The Sebago Docksides are known to be more concerned and efficient with Quality Control. | Less efficient than The Sebago Docksides in quality control. |
Many people have their own reasons for picking either the Sebago Docksides or the Sperry Top-Siders and it is quite obvious to see that it all balls down to individual tastes and preferences.
These shoes tend to be quite comfy and fitting to wear after they have been broken into by the buyer.
As far as boat shoes are concerned, all over the world, the Wolverine Family really does manage the best ones that can be trusted as some of the best as they have always been applauded to be.
Both the Sebago Docksides and the Sperry Top-Siders truly do serve the purpose for which they are gotten, and this can be seen from the glowing reviews that customers give of the shoes.
There are still however some of these differences to be addressed between the two boat shoes –
Break-in period
After you get either the Sperry Top-Siders or the Sebago Docksides, one of the few differences you can quickly spot from these shoes during and/ after the break-in of the new pair is that while the Sperry Top-Siders have been noticed to be stiffer and more cushioned (when compared to the Sebago Docksides), the Sebago Docksides feel more flexible and grounded.
Both shoes are characteristically lightweight, but after the break-in period, the Sebago Docksides take the lead as the most lightweight shoes between the two of them.
Type of leather
When it comes to the kind of leather and leather uppers used to manufacture both shoes, the Sebago Docksides takes the lead as having a quality that is a touch higher than the Sperry Top-Siders.
While the Sperry Top-Siders are made with full-grain leather uppers of medium quality, the Sebago Docksides presents as shoes with unlined, full-grain pull-up leather uppers that can either be nubuck or waxy leather.
The richness of the leather used for Sebago Docksides is very evident right from the sweet and strong scent of leather that you get from opening the box of the new pair of shoes.
Design
When it comes to the unique designs of both shoes, there are not many noticeable differences between the two.
However, there are some qualities that differentiate the Sebago Docksides and the Sperry Top-Siders in the market today.
The Sebago Docksides has a distinctive moc construction for its shoes that is handmade and sewn.
These shoes have brass eyelets that are not corrosive and rubber soles that are anti-slip and meant to improve the overall balance of the wearer.
The Sperry Top-Siders have a unique 2-eyed style and a unique 3-eyed style that is favored by naval officers and sailors.
The uniqueness of the Sperry boat shoes makes it stand out from other boat shoes.
The rubber soles of the Sperry Top-Siders have slitted grooves that are for optimum balance. These shoes also have
EVA heel cups absorb shock well and they have OrthoLite cushioning material to make the shoes more comfortable.
Lacing system
The exclusive leather sock lining system of The Sebago Docksides sets it apart from other boat shoes in terms of the lacing system.
This makes the Sebago Docksides a very comfortable fit for the wearers.
The Sperry Top-Siders have a 360-degree lacing system that ensures that the wearers have a comfortable experience wearing these shoes.
The make of the vamp
The vamps of the Sebago Docksides, as well as all of it, are made from 100% premium leather.
The quality of the leather used in making the vamps of these boat shoes really does add to the appeal and overall elegance of the Sebago Docksides.
The Sperry Top-Siders have vamps that are made from either leather or converse.
The converse material, when used in making the vamps of The Sperry Top-Siders does well in bringing out more of the distinction and exceptionality of these great boat shoes.
Quality control
Although the two brands of shoes, both the Sebago Docksides and the Sperry Top-Siders, are known to be great examples of Quality American Heritage Footwear, one of them takes the lead in the area of Quality Control.
The Sebago Docksides are known to be more concerned and efficient with Quality Control when compared with the Sperry Top-Siders.
Conclusion
In the market for comfortable shoes that can go with most of the clothes in the wardrobe and also make you look and feel fabulous?
Then you should surely keep in mind that the Sperry shoes, as well as the Sebago shoes, have an appeal and functionality to them that cannot be ignored if you are looking at things the right way.
The former naysaying about boat shoes that implied that they were only just sturdy and functional and definitely not stylish or comfortable has surely been put to rest by the presence of shoes like the smart-casual brands of Sperry and Sebago shoes.
When you look at these kinds of shoes and once you get a feel of them once they are worn, you will find it hard just calling them boat shoes.
When people want to get comfortable footwear that can be smartly and also casually worn for many occasions, they definitely consider getting a pair of Sperry shoes or a pair of Sebago shoes.
Most of them end up getting the two brands just because of how good they both are when you examine the statistics.
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