Yes, these are Cole Haan's. Yes, they're the Pinch Penny (non-Nike Air). Yes, they're a good price. However, this pair is a step down from the identical shoe I have owned maybe a dozen pairs of over the past 25 years.

First, I have always loved these shoes. The Pinch series were absolutely made for my feet. Classic styling, durable Brush-Off leather uppers, cushioned leather lining, great fit and superb comfort, unlike most Johnston Murphy's I have tried.

I've long been dubious of CH's move to Indian manufacturing of the Pinch series, and this pair confirmed why. The US-made shoe (gone for about 15 years) was of quality non-par. The Mexican-made products that followed were nearly as good. However, now they come from India, and the shoe sucks!

This is the first CH shoe I have owned that does not have a combination leather/rubber heel. These have a full rubber heel, with an affectatious grove molded into it where the leather to rubber joint used to be. Not that it really matters to most people, except die-hard Cole Haan buyers like me. The all rubber heel adds nothing to its durability, and the fake groove actually makes the shoe look like a cheap knock-off.

Beyond that, the previous meticulous moc-toe stitching now is bunched and slightly uneven, and the lower portion of the toe box appears to have been stitched to the sole in a twisted manner. The leather soles on this pair were cracked and wrinkled at the leading edge of the heel, giving them an extremely cheap appearance.

These are not your father's Pinch Penny. They are simply mediochre examples of the attention to detail that we have come to expect of Cole Haan shoes. I promptly returned mine and will shop locally for a pair that is a better example of the company's former level of workmanship.

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