Show us your new shoes
Discussion
So said:
I would probably spend the money on getting a decent shoe repairer to do it. More likelihood of a good job, less chance of an expensive cockup.
I agree with this. I'd have thought your local chap could make a decent go of it. Worth a few quid and if that fails try the potato trick!
Edited by CharlesdeGaulle on Tuesday 4th April 20:12
hing I asked how long it takes to produce that toe cap shine. It looks good.Barker shoes arrived. They don't feel like shoes with a £290 RRP (as claimed on the box).
Box is plain white. Sticker states these are Cambridge II. Indeed the exterior design is the same when compared to the Cambridge on the Barker website.
The quality of the leather is v average. I ordered some Loakes from TK a while back. They turned out to be L1s and subsequently returned. These Barkers seem comparable in quality.
The insoles are v different from the 'hand-crafted' Cambridge on the website. Same with the soles. I'm not sure if these are genuinely goodyear welted.
These are not £300 shoes discounted to £100. They do feel made to a budget and would fit in with a Barker budget range. My Cheaneys blow them away tbh. Are they worth £100? Perhaps, if genuinely goodyear welted. I'm still debating whether to keep them as I quite like the style regardless.
Hope the above is useful. They might be worth a look, but important to go into the purchase knowing what to expect.
Box is plain white. Sticker states these are Cambridge II. Indeed the exterior design is the same when compared to the Cambridge on the Barker website.
The quality of the leather is v average. I ordered some Loakes from TK a while back. They turned out to be L1s and subsequently returned. These Barkers seem comparable in quality.
The insoles are v different from the 'hand-crafted' Cambridge on the website. Same with the soles. I'm not sure if these are genuinely goodyear welted.
These are not £300 shoes discounted to £100. They do feel made to a budget and would fit in with a Barker budget range. My Cheaneys blow them away tbh. Are they worth £100? Perhaps, if genuinely goodyear welted. I'm still debating whether to keep them as I quite like the style regardless.
Hope the above is useful. They might be worth a look, but important to go into the purchase knowing what to expect.
Edited by g3org3y on Tuesday 4th April 21:28
g3org3y said:
Barker shoes arrived. They don't feel like shoes with a £290 RRP (as claimed on the box).
Box is plain white. Sticker states these are Cambridge II. Indeed the exterior design is the same when compared to the Cambridge on the Barker website.
The quality of the leather is v average. I ordered some Loakes from TK a while back. They turned out to be L1s and subsequently returned. These Barkers seem comparable in quality.
The insoles are v different from the 'hand-crafted' Cambridge on the website. Same with the soles. I'm not sure if these are genuinely goodyear welted.
These are not £300 shoes discounted to £100. They do feel made to a budget and would fit in with a Barker budget range. My Cheaneys blow them away tbh. Are they worth £100? Perhaps, if genuinely goodyear welted. I'm still debating whether to keep them as I quite like the style regardless.
Hope the above is useful. They might be worth a look, but important to go into the purchase knowing what to expect.
You'd be better off putting the £100 in a piggy bank and adding to it until you have enough for some nice, good quality shoes. Box is plain white. Sticker states these are Cambridge II. Indeed the exterior design is the same when compared to the Cambridge on the Barker website.
The quality of the leather is v average. I ordered some Loakes from TK a while back. They turned out to be L1s and subsequently returned. These Barkers seem comparable in quality.
The insoles are v different from the 'hand-crafted' Cambridge on the website. Same with the soles. I'm not sure if these are genuinely goodyear welted.
These are not £300 shoes discounted to £100. They do feel made to a budget and would fit in with a Barker budget range. My Cheaneys blow them away tbh. Are they worth £100? Perhaps, if genuinely goodyear welted. I'm still debating whether to keep them as I quite like the style regardless.
Hope the above is useful. They might be worth a look, but important to go into the purchase knowing what to expect.
Edited by g3org3y on Tuesday 4th April 21:28
FreeLitres said:
Regarding the "Cambridge II" name, I have noticed that many of the TK Maxx barkers add the II after the name. The Barker's website never seems to show a II version. For me, I now read the II as "Same design as the normal version, but made with cheaper materials for TK Maxx".
So, buying the TK Maxx version could be considered, "going for a number two".So said:
You'd be better off putting the £100 in a piggy bank and adding to it until you have enough for some nice, good quality shoes.
I'm tight. Don't like to spend very much.FWIW, the cheapo Barkers are going back.
FreeLitres said:
Regarding the "Cambridge II" name, I have noticed that many of the TK Maxx barkers add the II after the name. The Barker's website never seems to show a II version. For me, I now read the II as "Same design as the normal version, but made with cheaper materials for TK Maxx".
Interesting observation. I'll keep an eye out.FreeLitres said:
Those Barkers look to be G fitting (wide). Standard width is F in the Barkers range. No mention of that on the TK Maxx site.
I think perhaps you're being too optimistic over TK Maxx. You get what you're given. Beggars choosers etc. 
Speaking of which, thought I'd give these boat shoes a go:
g3org3y said:
Barker shoes arrived. They don't feel like shoes with a £290 RRP (as claimed on the box).
They are not. They are part of their budget range that they sell through other retailers at around £130. Jeffery West do this too and they are completely different in terms of quality of materials and manufacture to what you get in the proper range. Another thing I am trying to figure out is the "George Webb" brand on TK Maxx. I'm 99% convinced that George Webb = Barkers. They seem to use eactly the same model name for the same looking shoe. i.e. George Webb Gatwick is exactly the same as Barker's Gatwick.
Sometimes both brands are for sale on TK Maxx at the same time, at the same price.
All a bit weird.
Sometimes both brands are for sale on TK Maxx at the same time, at the same price.
All a bit weird.
FreeLitres said:
craigjm said:
George Webb was a Northampton manufacturer that closed down in 1980 and Barkers bought the remains and use the brand as a budget option. They were well known in the 60s and 70s
Are they made in the BArkers factory then? Same line/leathers?craigjm said:
They are not. They are part of their budget range that they sell through other retailers at around £130. Jeffery West do this too and they are completely different in terms of quality of materials and manufacture to what you get in the proper range.
Thanks for the info Craig. I think we suspected as much, good to get confirmation.To your knowledge, are they goodyear welted at least?
craigjm said:
FreeLitres said:
craigjm said:
George Webb was a Northampton manufacturer that closed down in 1980 and Barkers bought the remains and use the brand as a budget option. They were well known in the 60s and 70s
Are they made in the BArkers factory then? Same line/leathers?I did order a pair or two about 6 months ago, they were sent back. Again, comparable quality to Loake L1s.
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