The idea of splurging hundreds of pounds on a pair of trainers might baffle some people. However, more of us are doing it – designer sneakers have never been more popular. There’s no denying that these luxury sneakers look good, but are they really worth hundreds of pounds? We only wear them for comfort and to work out. Is there really a difference between a pair of £650 Balenciaga trainers and a generic £40 pair?

The difference in manufacturing quality

There is in fact a big difference between your average cheap pair of trainers and your average high-end designer pair. Your average low-cost generic trainers tend to be mass-produced in a factory using cheap synthetic materials. The parts are usually assembled using glue. While they may look the part, they’re often more likely to wear out quickly, becoming easily wrinkled and discoloured. The soles tend to wear out more quickly too. Compare this to your average top-end designer pair – the likes of Balenciaga hand stitch all of their shoes. These shoes also tend to be made from more expensive natural materials such as genuine leather. The result is that they last longer.

Not all designer shoes are created equally

However, unfortunately not all designer shoes are built to a high standard that justifies the price. As a result, you do have to be careful when buying choosing what to go for. Always research the materials they are made from. If a shoe uses lots of synthetic materials, you can bet that it’s cheaply made. Signs of glue instead of stitching are also a sign that it’s likely not been hand-crafted and won’t last a long time. It’s also worth considering where you buy your shoes from. Use trusted sellers where possible – buying second-hand through eBay or Depop might seem like a great way to save money on the price of designer sneakers, but there’s a greater risk that they may be fakes.

Where will you wear them?

Designer sneakers can be a worthy investment – providing that you’re likely to actually wear them. If you’re not a sneaker person, then you probably don’t want to be splashing out on a designer pair of sneakers. Similarly, if you only wear them at the gym, does it really matter what they look like? Even if you do like regularly wearing sneakers, you should consider whether there’s a need for you to own such luxury ones. Who would you be showing them off to? Might your money better be spent on a designer pair of boots instead? More people would likely be able to admire them.

Can you realistically afford them?

Lots of people don’t have hundreds of pounds sitting in the bank to spend on a pair of trainers. Just like a car or a piece of furniture, it’s something that you might need to save up for. Assess your other life priorities and decide whether a pair of designer sneakers is worth saving up for. Never take out a loan to buy sneakers (this applies to any type of clothing also). Such personal luxuries are not worth getting into debt for. By saving up money for these luxury items, you can walk around proudly knowing that you’ve earnt them and that they were worth it.

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