I’d like to surprise my DH with some Sperry boat shoes in blue. He needs some new ones, his are 31 years old. He would mostly wear them with medium blue or khaki shorts, white shirts…a summer look. He does wear them with jeans, too. Which do you like best? One has a whiter sole, would look great in summer. The other is interesting and versatile with 2-tone, but would it look ok with summer looks?
They are both very nice but I like the crisp look of the first one the best - more summery.
I prefer the original…the first one…
Women prefer slip-on sneakers to boat shoes for men.
^not in New England, they don’t. 
Thanks…I think I prefer the first one, too! He had on a nice summer look the other day but had to change it because no shoes he had looked good with it.
I’d get something very similar to what he already has. If my H is a guide, change can be hard.
TODS driving shoes are fresher
The first ones look great!
Either will be just fine. Get them both and send back the pair least preferred.
Nike just came out with some Harbaugh khakis too, for guys who don’t wear what their wives want them to. 
Both look good; I prefer the 2-tone but it’s just personal preference.
Here’s a couple options to consider that are a little more modern with a touch more style. This brand uses a driving-shoe sole though so he won’t get 30 years out of them.
Mesh+leather, so cooler on the feet in summer and very soft. I have the all-mesh version:
http://www.zappos.com/olukai-nohea-lace-mesh-dark-java-dark-java
I’ve worn through a couple pairs of these (the 2nd color on the page with smooth leather), I wear them both at work and casually with shorts (no socks) on the weekends.
http://www.zappos.com/olukai-akepa-moc-rum-rum
Anima dee, I really like the first u posted. I don’t know how suede and water get along.
I also like some Cole Hann shoes.
I like the two tone better. Think they go with more clothes and further than just summer. What color are his boat shoes now?
Another vote for the two-tone choice.
I like the first one better, but they’re both nice.
My husband likes the Sebago brand more than the Sperry brand, and likes Campsides more than Docksides (too preppy for him), but they’re all good, versatile shoes.
S bought these in the spring as his casual school shoe. H expressed interest in them lately (which is unusual).
https://www.ghbass.com/product/hampton+ii+boater+wide.do?sortby=ourPicks&from=fn
I like the second one. I basically have the same shoe but the Timberland version. I wore in Italy with linen pants.
I’m not crazy about blue shoes in the first place, but for a blue shoe I prefer the first one. But they are both nice. So are the Bass versions.
My S wore topsiders from toddlerhood onwards. He hated new shoes, so I would just replace his old pair with an identical new pair. I don’t remember how old he was when he finally stopped wearing them daily. In some ways he is a New Englander to the bone. 
Now he is a bit of a hipster/euro dresser, with very decided tastes. I don’t dare buy clothes for him!
I’m not sure that it’s an accurate statement to say that 'women prefer slip-on sneakers" , but basically boat shoes are pull on…or at least after they aren’t new out of the box, you just slip them on and off without having to use the laces. Slip on sneakers sounds like something they would give men in prison to wear but i will say my H and a few of his friends bought the Sketchers GoWalk 3 Unwinds this past spring in canvas and they work pretty well on slippery decks…and for casual dressing. They are alittle bit hard to find now because I think they were pretty popular with men. Some of the men friends in our group also like the basic Cole Haan and Tod’s leather driving shoes in the summer with shorts or pants. Anything goes for guys for summer social as long as it doesn’t look like a sneaker that you’d wear in the gym and doesn’t look like an industrial strength cold weather leather soled shoe
Both would be great. I’d just go with your own personal preference!