Hiking/Work Shoes

After having my third child, I am in need of larger shoes. My good old Nikes now pinch my feet something awful so I can't wear them into the ground which is what I normally try to do. I do see this as an opportunity to transition to a more minimalist, more durable type of shoe better suited to life on a farm. I am perfectly willing to buy a small men's or large children's shoe if it fits. My feet are in that size sweet spot where I can pick from any department.

Here's a list of things I'm looking for in a shoe:
- zero or low drop
- wide toe box and normal heel (usually shoes that fit my toes slip on my heel.)
- flexible sole
- water resistant (can walk through dewy grass without wetting feet. I've got Asgard zero drop rain boots for wetter conditions that I love.)
- low top (I hate having my ankles bound.)
- durable (will stand up to daily use around the farm for several years)
- protects from brush, rocks, cold, etc (so no sandals or thin, fabric tops)
- looks good (beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I prefer classic styles that are both practical and can be cleaned up to go with my nice jeans and blouses to go to town without looking like a hobo.)
- less than $150 (I need shoes now and that's what's in my budget)
- bonus points if they are leather, but I'm willing to go for breathable synthetics if they aren't ugly and will hold up

Does this unicorn exist?

Hi Katie;
I recently became a convert and have started wearing Blundstone steel-toe slip-on boots.
Sadly they are a bit over your budget, but maybe in the future, you may be able to give them a try.
I am hooked and will be wearing these from now on.
https://www.blundstone.com/stout-brown-mens-or-womens-premium-leather-pull-on-boots-style-172

Hi Katie,
I have a pair of VivoBarefoot shoes that I have been very happy with. They fit most of your requirements I think... although only a couple pairs are in your price range. They are flat, wide, breathable, sturdy, etc. The pair I got says they were made from wild boar leather. Some others I saw said it was from cattle leather from small farms. They also have recycled materials and synthetics, so you have to look at what you are getting.

Also, if you are not familiar with barefoot shoe sizing compared to traditional shoes, make sure you read that section before ordering.

https://www.vivobarefoot.com/us/

If you have a Red Wing Shoe store nearby I would recommend stopping in and taking a look at their Ultimate Fit Experience. They have a Volumental scanner that will take a full 3D scan/measurement of your feet as well as pressure mapping then email you the results. Red Wings might be out of your budget, but the scan will tell you what sizes would be a best fit in their shoes. They should have a really good idea on what sizes and fits will get you the snug heel and room around the toes. You might take a look at their King Toe and Tradeswoman boot lines.

Personally I'm making my own boots now out of leather. There are some really great YouTube channels out there now on making your own shoes. Doesn't sound like that's an option at this point for timeframe, but could be something to consider long term.

Something like a Birkenstock London or Montana might work for you.

I think I had some Londons twenty years ago - or something very similar. I loved them. I had to get them resoled once (puppy attack) and was surprised at how reasonable the price was, although I noticed the replacement soles wore a little quicker than the originals.  After a second puppy attack destroyed the leather, the shoes were reluctantly retired.

I don't know if the heel is what you're after, but I think all your other boxes are ticked.