I'm retired now so I don't wear shoes as often as I used to. And I don't waste time going to the dry cleaner and buying suits and ties and all that stuff I never liked. Mostly I wear Hoka One or Tevas. But sometimes when I put on that gray suit or those black pants, those hokas don't look right. only good black shoes are suitable. I bought my last pair of black loafers - are you ready? - March 1995. A pair of Bass penny loafers with a shiny and smooth sheen that still looks great. But it's clear that the new black loafers are okay after 24 years. These Florsheim loafers differ in several respects. First, it's not smooth and shiny black leather. The leather has a very light pebble finish and they are not as shiny as my bass. It's not better or worse, it's just different. Second, these Florsheim shoes are longer - at least three quarters of an inch longer than my bass slippers. This takes some getting used to as I feel they are unusually long for my foot. But third and most importantly, these Florshiems are the most comfortable first shoes I've ever worn. New shoes have always been a double-edged blessing for me. I like to wear quality shoes, and shoes are just one of the things in my life that I try not to haggle over. But new shoes always have a break-in period where they hurt a little in places where previous shoes didn't hurt, right? You live with a little pain for days knowing the shoes will stretch a little and your feet will harden in new places. But wait! These Florsheims are different. For the first time out of the box and on my feet I noticed how comfortable they are. No pain. no pinch. no "waiting for them to settle down” – they already feel like old friends. Inside the shoes, I noticed that Florsheim called them "Comfortech" shoes. After putting a man on the moon, mapping the depth of Saturn's rings, and figuring out how to brew great-tasting beer with fewer toppings, Florsheim finally figured out how to make a shoe that doesn't hurt from day one. five. This is the wonder of Festivus.