Founded in 1973, Vagabond has half a century of Swedish shoemaking behind it — and the confidence that comes with it. It sits at the accessible end of the Nordic spectrum: the same restrained lines and considered proportions as the expensive brands, at a price that doesn’t require a decision-making process.
The heeled range runs from utilitarian block-heel ankle boots to genuinely refined pointed pumps. Construction has improved noticeably in recent years, and the size range — EU 35–43, with wide fits on part of the range — is broader than anything else we track.
Price range: roughly $100–$200 · Origin: Sweden · Sizing: true to EU, wide fits available · Resoleable: no
Start Here
The best Scandinavian block heels — Vagabond ranks third overall and first under $200. The block-heel ankle boots are the standout.
Best heels for wide feet — ranked second, and the only brand here with explicit wide-fit options.
Where It Appears in Our Edits
- The most comfortable designer heels — included as the low-risk way to test whether a 60 mm block works for you before spending three times as much.
- Scandinavian shoe sizing — listed as a safe blind order at your measured size.
Before You Buy
- Scandinavian shoe sizing — true to EU, and the widest size range in the directory.
- Finding your heel height — the block-heel styles sit in the practical 50–70 mm band.
What to Know
Check the material on the specific style. This is the one thing that matters most with Vagabond. The range spans full leather through microfibre and synthetic blends, and the difference in how they age is substantial. The leather styles are the ones worth having.
Wide fits are per-style, not range-wide. Confirm on the product page. When they exist, they are genuinely useful — this is rare in Scandinavian footwear.
Treat it as a three-to-five-year shoe. Not resoleable, and at this price it isn’t meant to be. It is excellent value on those terms and shouldn’t be judged on others.
It’s the right first purchase. If you don’t yet know what heel height and toe shape suit you, finding out at $150 rather than $400 is simply the sensible order to do things in.
Also widely stocked at Nordstrom and ASOS, which often carry a broader selection of the heeled styles than the brand’s own store.