G.H. Bass Review: I Tried Their Most Popular Loafers (2024)

As a man who’s somewhat plugged into fashion (or at least attempts to be), I have a lot of shoes.

I have sneakers, boots, brogues, slides, sandals, runners, and oxfords, and they all generally have their place with certain outfits. That’s just my style.

I can dress up the boots and dress down the brogues to an extent, but there’s not much around that covers me from jeans and a t-shirt to a suit and tie.

Finding shoes that fit this niche with any sort of success would be invaluable, which is how I stumbled upon G.H. Bass. Hearing someone describe the utility of their loafers by saying, “you can wear them like Vans” made my ears perk up.

I picked up a few classics from this brand to see for myself. Check out the findings in my G.H. Bass review below.

What Is G.H. Bass?

G.H. Bass is a classic shoe brand that started in Maine in 1876. Nearly 150 years later, they’re still pumping out high-quality shoes.

“Weejuns,” G.H. Bass’s signature shoes, are named after the shoes that travelers saw Norwegian fishermen wearing in the early 1900s. The style exploded and was soon everywhere, from Palm Beach resorts to Hollywood. G.H. Bass got in early, made necessary improvements to the style, and became an American footwear staple.

They offer a handful of different styles, ranging from classic penny loafer Weejuns to chunky-soled, 90s-inspired versions with contrasting fabrics and color blocking.

Their versatility is something the brand seems to hold near and dear, with a social media presence showing off just as many streetwear, alternative, and punk looks as high-fashion and formal.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Multi-purpose shoes, and clothing in general, are booming right now. And while G.H. Bass certainly offers versatility in terms of styling, they aren’t particularly built for comfort or for speed. As versatile as they may be in terms of the look, keep in mind that these are built like dress shoes.

If you’re looking for something to add a little flair and an extra touch of style to your look, G.H. Bass definitely has you covered. However, if you’re searching for something that’s going to be as supportive and cushioned as a pair of sneakers for putting miles on the pavement, their shoes aren’t going to have you so comfortably covered.

My Hands-On Review

Logan Flat Strap Weejuns

Loafers have been popping up in all sorts of different looks, with high-fashion streetwear being one of the most recent additions. It turns out, classic style is classic for a reason. It just works.

The Logan Flat Strap Weejuns from G.H. Bass are what seem like the best representation of what the brand is known for: well-made, classic leather loafers. Let’s take a look at the specs.

Leather upper, leather sole, moc stitching, unlined, and hand-stitched in El Salvador. The insole has a bit of cushion in the instep and in the heel, as well as some perforation to keep things cool.

The stitching on these seems durable, and the leather upper also feels like it will last. They’re still a bit stiff after a few times wearing them out and about, but I’m excited for how they’ll feel once they’re broken in.

These shoes also feature the classic flat strap and penny holder, which I love on a pair of loafers. Will I stick a penny in there? Maybe one day—for now, I’ll let the shoes shine without any extra hardware.

One thing to keep in mind about these shoes is the fit. I have long, narrow feet; and not only do these shoes run a bit large, but they also run a bit wider than many other shoes, meaning that they tend to slip without further modification.

Luckily, a tongue pad was enough to solve the issue and get these bad boys fitting right. They’re generally made of felt or leather, and run about ten bucks for a few pairs.

While these shoes are comfortable when they fit right, they’re dress shoes, so you wouldn’t catch me walking around the city all day in them. If you insist on putting some miles on these, an insole would be a must.

Overall, I’m a fan of these shoes. They look great with jeans and I wouldn’t think twice about throwing them on with more formal attire. With socks or without, these are a pretty versatile addition to anyone’s wardrobe, and their classic styling fits into a wide range of looks.

Layton Kiltie Weejuns

When feeling out a new brand, sometimes it’s best to stick to the classics, which is why the other pair I snagged from G.H. Bass were their Layton Kiltie Weejuns.

These shoes aren’t too far of a cry from their Logan Flat Strap Weejuns, but there are some small details that make a big difference in the look.

For starters, the most obvious difference between these shoes and the flat strap alternative is the Kiltie and tassel styling on the vamp. While the structure and materials of the shoe are the same, as is the fit and the insole, these additions alone give these loafers a different flavor.

Another difference between these shoes and the Flat Strap Weejuns is the lacing around the top, which is slightly more reminiscent of boat shoes.

With the same addition of tongue pads to make these slightly large and wide shoes fit on my narrow feet, these shoes felt the same as the others: high-quality and comfortable, but not something I’d walk around in all day without a word from Dr. Scholl.

I picked these up in tan, and I’m glad I did. The Kiltie and tassel on the shoe soften the look up a bit, making them less streamlined and punk-friendly than the black, flat strap version. I like this contrast because these tan Kiltie loafers pair phenomenally with neutrals as well as the odd pop of color.

No socks for a summer look, or socks with a fun pattern to add a little whimsy to your outfit. The versatility of these shoes is where they shine, in my eyes even more so than in black.

Although these don’t differ that much from the Flat Strap Weejuns on paper, they offer different styling options and a much different overall look. I’m just as satisfied with these as I am with the Flat Strap Weejuns, and because of my tendency to rock neutrals, I’ll probably get even more use out of them.

What Do Other Reviewers Say?

I honestly can’t think of many brands that are just as well-received by punks and rockabillies as by golfers and politicians. I certainly never saw a president in a pair of Doc Martens.

G.H. Bass has been all over the place in street fashion, with trendsetters applauding their classic look, comfort, and versatility. And although I do make an effort to care for my shoes, there’s a vast number of the streetwear crowd that claims their Weejuns look even better after they’re a little beat up.

This brand also receives positive reviews from more buttoned-up customers, many of whom regard their shoes as American classics that they wouldn’t hesitate to get resoled (when the time comes).

My Thoughts Overall

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