The Best Black Shoes for Men Are a Sure Bet

Well, well, well. Looking for the best black shoes for men, eh? Fancy that: so were we. But in doing so, we encountered an odd phenomenon: almost every permutation of “mens black shoes” we plugged into Google turned up this weird hodgepodge of way-too-casual-shoes, Nike Air Force 1 Shadow ,a sundry mix of streamlined running shoes, hardcore training shoes, and hulking athletic shoes from the likes of Nike, Adidas, and Converse.

Granted, those shoes have their time and place. (And that time and place is at the gym, sweating through your last set in the squat rack.) But that’s not what you’re looking for. If you’re here, you’re looking for some foolproof footwear options that sit squarely between brogues and basketball shoes—and won’t quit on you after one night out. So if your search engine’s been hiding all the good stuff until now, don’t fret. (And definitely don’t switch to Bing.) All the answers you need are right here, in these 21 unimpeachable pitch-dark stompers—that’s right, the very best black shoes for men—that’ll make the off-brand chukkas you were eyeing desperately before this look downright cringey in comparison.

None of these are quite as dressy as wingtips, but they’re still lightyears ahead of the performance-enhancing schlock other outlets would have you consider. Own a crisp white tee, simple gold chain, and loose black trousers? Add one of these (and maybe a long, dark topcoat) Newly Jordans to the equation and you’ve got a go-to winter fit, too. And next time you’re in Google-related pickle head straight to GQ Recommends. We’re always feeling lucky.