Lacoste Concours Review

Editor rating: 8.1 / 10

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By Brian Price

The Lacoste brand values both elegance and optimism, promoted with passion and enthusiasm. They strive to share their positive view on life with everyone around them, including customers and partners. Their number one goal is to become the leader of premium casual wear, and they are doing a pretty good job of climbing that latter and reaching their goals. From apparel to footwear and everything in between, Lacoste works hard to please their customers and give them what they want. They are always on the hunt for, and it shows in their products.

The Lacoste Concours are another pair of fabulous shoes that they have added to their collection. The driving shoes have a unique look that will stand out in a crowd. They have a pebbled outsole that extends up to the back of the heel which is designed to give you a good grip while driving. They are not meant to be worn as a casual, daily shoe, as they won’t give you the support and protection you would require. They are, however, perfect for an occasional day at the office or taking a beautiful leisurely drive. When compared to some of the other similar products they have a pretty affordable price tag, but be aware that some consumers didn’t have an excellent experience when it came to the durability of the loafers. Overall, the slippers aren’t bad, and most reviewers were happy with their experience.

Editor's Pros & Cons

Pros

Looks great

Fantastic driving shoe

Relatively inexpensive price tag

Super comfortableGreat color options

Cons

Some durability issues

Very little protection

Not practical for everyday wear

No versatility

Uppers

The uppers of the Lacoste Concours are made out of robust and durable leather to ensure that they are going to fall apart on you prematurely. They have a slip-on design and a round moc toe for added comfort and convenience. They feature a soft leather sock liner that helps keep the shoes comfortable against your skin as well as allowing for a decent amount of air to flow into them, assisting in keeping you fresh throughout the day. You will appreciate the ventilation while you're out and about, especially on warmer days, as it will help keep your feet cool and prevent you from overheating.

Midsole

The Concours have a cushioned leather insole to ensure that your underfoot experience is going to be pleasant, helping decrease the amount of discomfort you may feel while you are out and about. There are some consumers out there who feel like there is not quite enough cushioning, however, and that the arch support is lacking in them. If you find yourself needing to add some extra padding for more comfort or support, then you can always opt to add an additional insole to them, but if you do, you might want to consider sizing up a bit to make room in the foot chamber for the insole.

Outsole

The outsole of these driving shoes is quite unusual for those who are unfamiliar with this type of footwear. The origin of this type of slippers comes from men who wanted to have a better grip while they were out driving their Italian roadsters. The sole itself is soft, made from the same soft leather as the rest of the shoes. They do, however, have a pimpled sole made out of rubber. They are little oval rubber dots that stand out, raising the foot. These studs line the whole bottom of the shoe and move onto the back heel, which makes sense since you'll need that extra grip when you are pressing down on the gas.

The design of the outsole is not going to give you any kind of protection from the outside world. It is best to stay off indoors or to travel to and from your car as if you stumble onto a more abrasive surface such as a gravel road, and your feet won't be protected. The sole is soft and the only real thing standing between you and the ground is a layer of leather and rubber studs lining the sole. If you're trekking out on foot, then you can always consider something different, but if you're traveling by car or just want a stylish look in the office, then the Lacoste Concours is going to be the perfect matchup for you.

Flexibility

Since the majority of the loafers are made out of leather, from the outsole to the uppers, they are incredibly flexible. You are going to be able to move your feet as freely as you can while still getting a little bit of added protection from your footwear. You won't have that uncomfortable feeling of your feet being restricted that you might experience with other similar products. The beauty of them is that when you're driving and switching between the gas and break and hitting that clutch, your feet are going to transition between those movements flawlessly because your shoes aren't going to be holding you back.

Support

One thing that the Lacoste Concours cannot offer is a decent amount of support. That being said, as a pair of driving shoes, it is not as important as it is in other types of footwear. They are mostly worn for aesthetic purposes and, of course, driving. When you're sitting behind the wheel of a beautiful car, you aren't going to have to worry about how much support your loafers are giving you.

As long as you are purchasing the correct size and getting the well-fitting pair of loafers, then you aren't going to have any problems with your feet falling out of them while you're out. You will still get that locked in, and secure feel that is important in any kind of shoes.

As for arch support, the lightly padded leather insole is not going to offer a whole lot in that department. If you have high arches and require something with a lot of extra padding, then these may not be the right shoes for you. You can always choose to add an insole to give you more of what you need, but many consumers don't like to do that, and it isn't essential with this type of slipper since you will mostly be sitting when wearing them.

Fit

Whether you are running a marathon or sitting behind the wheel of a car, you want to ensure that your shoes are fitting your feet comfortably and adequately. Unfortunately, the Lacoste Concours are running a little on the small side which can make ordering them online a bit difficult, especially if you are unsure as to what size you should request to begin with. You can always take a quick peek at a sizing chart to give you an idea as to what you should be ordering and go from there. Customers are recommending, to be safe, you order about a half to a full size bigger than you would normally wear to make up for this discrepancy.

Durability

One of the biggest downfalls to the Lacoste Concours is that they don't seem to be the most durable, and it causes quite a bit of negativity surrounding them. Customers mentioned that the leather from the soles would start to peel after the first time wearing them and continue with every wear after that. Some have stated that they look cheaply made and are incredibly disappointed in the poor quality. That being said, there are some reviewers who were delighted with the construction and materials that make up the loafers and had no problems at all with the longevity of them. It might come down to what you are doing while wearing them and how they are being taken care of. Keep in mind that these are driving shoes and are designed to be worn behind the wheel of a car and not while running errands or going to walks in the park. If you're wearing them as a daily casual shoe for your everyday tasks, then they are going to fall apart significantly faster than if you were wearing them as intended.

Value

The Lacoste Concours may seem like they are on the pricey side of things, but when you are comparing them to other similar products, they are actually on the low end of the spectrum. Some consumers were unhappy with the construction of the shoes and the materials used to make them and believed that they weren't worth the price tag, but that does not seem to be the consensus. There were a lot of customers that were satisfied with the cost of the slippers and believed that they were well worth the money they paid of them. As long as they are being taken care of and you aren't abusing them too much, they are going to last you quite a bit, making them a suitable investment as you won't have to spend the money to replace them for a while.

Style

The Lacoste Concours has the classic driving shoe look and style to them that customers can appreciate. The raised oval pebbles on the outsole cover not only the entirety of the sole but also extend up onto the back of the slipper, giving you an excellent grip while you're driving. They have a slip-on design with a rounded moc toe and penny keeper detail on the top of the loafers, giving you a traditional and classic look.

There are a couple of color options available for purchase so you can find something that will look the best for what you want them for. You can purchase them in brown and black leather, tan leather, black, dark blue, light brown, or dark brown.

Comfort

One thing that the Lacoste Concours can really offer their customers is a decent amount of comfort. They are not going to be the comfiest pair of slippers in their closet, but they aren't too bad. They have a lightly cushioned leather footbed to give you some underfoot comfort, but there isn't a whole lot there, and if you're on your feet for too long you might start to experience some discomfort and maybe even pain. The uppers do, however, hug your feet like a sock, giving you a pleasant feeling around your foot. As long as you aren't on your feet for too long, they can be rather comfortable.

Weight

Everyone wants a pair of comfortable shoes that weigh almost nothing. It is a general rule that when it comes to your footwear, the lighter, the better. Thankfully for those who enjoy the Lacoste Concours, they will experience that lightweight feel. The weigh only 9 ounces, and that is for a size 11 medium. Of course, that measurement is just for one shoe and not the pair, and it will vary depending on the size. Consumers can agree that they feel almost weightless on their feet, giving them a pleasant experience whether they are hitting the road or the sidewalk.

Versatility

There might not be a whole lot of versatility to these loafers. They are going to look great, but they just don't seem to be that practical for everyday wear, so they will probably work best as a special occasion type of shoe. They are designed with driving in mind, not walking or running. The design of the outsole is made to keep your grip in a car, not on a slippery sidewalk. If you're looking for an everyday walking shoe, then these are not right for you. If you want something to wear to the office occasionally, then you might be able to get away with wearing these. If you're going to own a pair of driving shoes to wear while hitting the road in your old school Italian roadster, then yes, these are the perfect loafers for you. There may only be a few instances where they are practical, but when you find that reason, you can rest assured knowing that you'll look snazzy in them.

Bottom Line

Do you want to look your best while cruising around in your new sports car? Do you want to look great at the office? Are you looking to show off your unique style? If you said yes to any or all of those questions, then you might want to consider purchasing the Lacoste Concours driving shoes. They are designed based on the look of the classic driving shoes of the past. They were initially intended to help those with fancy Italian roadsters a better grip while hitting the gas or pressing in the clutch. They have a unique look, with a pebbled outsole that extends up to the back of the heel. They might not be the best choice as an everyday casual shoe and definitely wouldn't fit in at the track, but for a special occasion loafer and a driving slipper, they are perfect.