18 Best Affordable Common Projects Alternatives

Looking for shoes like Common Projects Achilles minus the $500 price tag? Good idea. Here are some of the best options you can choose from right now.

Every guy needs a pair of white sneakers in their rotation. It doesn’t matter what your personal style is. You can basically wear them anywhere that isn’t strictly formal, and sometimes you can even wear sneakers with a suit. They’re so easy to style — and not that difficult to clean if you know what to do. Common Projects Achilles have become the gold standard (and not just because of that iconic gold stamp). However, at $500 a pop, you might consider affordable Common Projects alternatives instead. 

Common Projects has leveled up the category using high-end materials, proving that even simple sneakers can be luxurious. In terms of alternatives, you might want a more high-value option. Or perhaps an alternative that’s less brand-centric. Or maybe you just want something cheap. Regardless, I’ve represented all priorities in this edit.

Best Alternatives to Common Projects Shoes: My Personal Favorites

Let’s start with some of my old faithful go-tos. I’m not opposed to dropping big bucks for something I absolutely love. I’m a big Rolex guy, after all. I used a Louis Vuitton messenger bag throughout college. You might absolutely want that gold stamp or need the extra two or three years the Achilles might give you. Otherwise, the alternatives below are the most high-value white sneakers on the market.

Koio Capri

The Koio Capri could easily be in the last category of this round-up, too (“Edging Towards Luxury”). However, at less than $300, it punches way above its price point.

Each shoe is hand-finished and constructed with Italian leather threaded with waxed cotton laces. Not only are they hand-made in Marche, Italy, but the leather is LWG-certified. This means the Leather Working Group audited the leather facilities and assessed and approved them for good energy usage, wastewater disposal, and chemical safety.

Excellent materials and craft aside, it just looks like a luxurious shoe. We’ve reviewed the Koio Capri, and we highly recommend it. Personally, I also prefer minimal branding over a gold stamp. 

Beckett Simonon Reid

The Beckett Simonon Reid is just about as high-quality as the Koio Capri. What you don’t pay in dollars, you pay in time. Each shoe is made-to-order, allowing them to serve such premium shoes at below-market prices. However, it’ll take time for your order to arrive — sometimes months.

Still, if you’re willing to wait, you get a lot of bang for your buck. This includes supple, full-grain leather, a Vachetta lining that manages temperature, sweat, and odors, and foot-accommodating insoles. Beckett Simonon finishes the shoe with carnauba wax for protection and shea butter for luster.

Oliver Cabell Low 1

The Oliver Cabell Low 1 is made with calfskin leather. Calfskin is known for its tight grain, flexibility, and high strength-to-softness ratio. Brands often use calfskin for high-end bags and wallets.

The gold Oliver Cabell branding on the back collar is reminiscent of the Achilles gold stamp. However, its different placement and intentions ensure it isn’t a copycat accent.

Like the Koio Capri, the Low 1s are handcrafted in Marche, Italy. The cushioned footbed features antibacterial textiles and sits over a removable molded insole, which is convenient if you need specialty insoles.

My favorite part about Oliver Cabell is that they offer sizes as small as a men’s 5. You can read more about what we like about this sneaker in our comprehensive Low 1 review.  

Affordable Common Projects Alternative Options: Undeniable Value All Under $200

These are your best bet if you’re looking for minimal sneakers under $200. I think these options best balance the budget with quality. You can’t get luxury under $200, but you can get top-notch, long-lasting options. Sometimes, you just want a functional, good-looking shoe without the “craftsman” premium.

Thursday Boots Premier Low Top

With the Premier Low Top, Thursday took their boot-making chops and used them to build a minimal sneaker. The result is a hard-wearing shoe accommodating a wide range of foot widths. Unlike most simple sneaker models, the Low Top comes in standard, EE, and EEE widths.

It’s definitely one of the most functional models on the list. Thursday Boots makes this sneaker from durable and smooth Italian Nappa leather. It features shock-absorbing footbeds and high-traction, dual-density outsoles.

Greats Royale 2.0

The Greats Royale 2.0 is almost like a genuine athletic shoe. It’s not as technical as a dedicated running or gym shoe. But these shoes would do fine if you were in an impromptu flag football game during a picnic.

In addition to its premium leather construction and soft, leather-lined, cushioned footbed, it boasts Strobel construction. This means that the upper is attached directly to the insole without a lasting board or midsole, providing lightness in weight, flexibility, and foot conformity.

Moreover, the gold Greats branding and double-stitched accents provide character without compromising the minimalist aesthetic.

Charles Tyrwhitt Leather Sneaker

Charles Tyrwhitt makes a 100% white leather sneaker just as value-forward as their shirts. The Tyrwhitt Sneaker effectively combines lightweight comfort with support and security. You can thank that perfectly padded collar and the leather lining with a full leather insole. Plus, the rubber sole is feather-light and resistant to water and discoloration. It’s strength meets style.

Common Projects Dupes From Heritage Commercial Brands

I have a certain loyalty to some heritage brands. However, I know that they aren’t always the best when it comes to market disruption. They don’t benefit from that, after all. And that’s okay. However, Ralph Lauren and Cole Haan serve up pretty decent, well-priced white sneakers worth considering for different reasons.

Ralph Lauren Jermain

Though stylistically universal, minimal white sneakers are in the vintage tennis whites family, which is inherently preppy. And who does preppy better than Ralph Lauren?

The streamlined Ralph Lauren Jermain features a 100% leather lining and pigment-dyed upper. It’s a stark white, but one that’s bright and vivid. Of course, it wouldn’t be Ralph Lauren without the debossed pony on the tongue. There’s also branding on the heel, a subtle but important nod to the great American designer. 

Cole Haan Grand Cross Court II

For an older, non-start-up brand, Cole Haan has done a good job of keeping up with state-of-the-art comfort technology. The Cole Haan Grand Cross Court II boasts the brand’s GrandFoam technology. This unique cushioning absorbs shock and distributes weight and stress as you walk.

Meanwhile, the injection-molded outsole and rubber heel pods provide comfort and stability. With a price tag of under $100, this model could easily be in our budget category.

Common Projects Alternatives: Sustainability and Comfort

There’s a lot of greenwashing in fashion these days. That is, their marketing uses words like “sustainability” and “eco-friendly.” But, with older brands especially, these factors aren’t built into the business. That’s not faulting older brands, as these values weren’t at the forefront of companies when they started. 

However, some newer brands started with sustainability as their foundation. The two in this category are some of the most comfortable options.

Cariuma OCA Low

Not only is the Cariuma OCA Low eco-focused, but the pebbled leather has that sort of crunchy eco-aesthetic that’s become quite popular. The leather is soft and LWG-certified with a gold rating. And when you buy a pair, two trees are planted.

The lining is organic cotton, while Cariuma makes the insole from cork and bio-based foam from mamona oil. If you didn’t know, mamona oil is a plant-based alternative to petroleum.

OLUKAI Lae’ahi Li ‘ILI

These sneakers barely need any breaking in. The OLUKAI Lae’ahi Li ‘ILI has a drop-in heel design, meaning you can wear it like a sneaker or slip-on. Talk about versatility. That makes it a convenient shoe to have by your door when you’re rushing out of your house.

Meanwhile, the dual-density microfiber footbed and gel insert provides comfort and support. OLUKAI uses natural latex in its rubbers, fully recycled packaging materials, and 30% recycled materials in every outsole.

When You’re Just on a Budget

Sometimes, you just want an affordable pair of sneakers that you can get fast. That’s fine. Perhaps you have an event in two days and don’t have time to research. Nor do you have the budget just to pick the “best” and, therefore, most expensive model on the market. In that case, these options will do the trick.

New Republic Kurt

Sneaker fans describe the New Republic Kurt as the best Common Projects dupe under $100. And I can see why. It checks all the boxes visually and offers a 100% microsuede lining that feels rich and soft.

The design itself is the most minimalistic on the list. The lack of branding gives the shoe an anonymous look, making it highly adaptable.

Bruno Marc Skate Shoe

As we mentioned in our Bruno Marc review, you get what you pay for with them. Vegan leather may not last long, but it looks the part and is environmentally friendly. Between the sub-$50 price and the Amazon shipping, the Bruno Marc Skate shoes are a good choice in a pinch. 

I also recommend them to people who want a minimal leather shoe but won’t wear it often. If that’s the case, you don’t have to invest in a luxury model.

Edging Towards Luxury

These options are over $200. This means they still cost way less than an actual Common Projects Achilles. They also cost way less than most other luxury sneakers, including ones from Maison Margiela and Saint Laurent. However, they’re as close to luxury as you get without spending an arm and a leg. In fact, you might call them luxury minus the brand name and price tag.

Axel Arigato Clean

One thing these upper-tier affordable alternatives have in common is that they’re all extra minimal. The back and collar of the Axel Arigato Clean aren’t even separate pieces of leather; they’re visually separated with stitching.

Axel handcrafts this shoe with LWG-certified leather set on rubber capsules (partly recycled). The capsules are stitched and glued for extra durability. They’ll last longer than the $150 models and may even last as long as a Common Projects shoe.

Ace Marks Duke Dress Sneaker

Men of modest height, take note: Ace Marks is a brand that offers shoe sizes as low as a men’s 5. Ace Marks Dukes are made with just as much attention and craft as their dress shoes. Fourth-generation artisans handcraft each shoe using Italian leather. The lining is calfskin, perfectly balancing comfort with strength.

Suitsupply Sneaker

Finally, if you want a no-fuss, high-quality white sneaker, look no further than Suitsupply. Like the New Republic, it has that anonymous aesthetic but is far more luxurious and long-lasting. The Suitsupply sneaker exudes quiet luxury and boasts unmatched versatility. The upper is made of calfskin, while the soles are strong, bouncy rubber.

Conclusion: The Right Common Projects Substitute for You

Which of the Common Projects alternatives are you considering? Do you need something quick and highly affordable? The New Republic or Bruno Marc have you covered. You can go for higher-end models like the Axel Arigato on the other side of the spectrum. Again, some of my favorites include the Koio Capri and the Oliver Cabell.

Ultimately, adding a white sneaker to your wardrobe gives you so much more versatility. You can wear them casually on the weekend or business casual during the week. The possibilities are endless.

Do you have a white sneaker in your wardrobe? If so, which one? Let us know in the comments below.