Leather soled shoes walking to work
Discussion
INWB said:
I walk a great deal (prefer it to taking the tube) so I need a hard wearing shoe that is also light and comfortable. As I hate wheeled luggage I also need a shoe that can stand being thrown in a rucksack.
I am now on my second pair of Rockports and they really are superb. Highly recommend.
I didn't realise so many shoes self-destructed when being "thrown" into a rucksack?????I am now on my second pair of Rockports and they really are superb. Highly recommend.
I was wearing some leather-soled Barkers in the wet today. I wanted to just test the friction of the wet sole against the tarmac so I rubbed my foot along the floor a few times. I could actually see distinct beige streak on the floor where the wet leather had rubbed clean off my soles! I know more expensive shoes will have a better quality sole leather, but it did shock me a little.
I do like a leather soled shoe for dry conditions - they just feel nicer to walk in. However, they can wear very quickly if you get them wet. Rubber soles are much better for the winter.
I do like a leather soled shoe for dry conditions - they just feel nicer to walk in. However, they can wear very quickly if you get them wet. Rubber soles are much better for the winter.
SpeckledJim said:
What technology goes into expensive leather shoes that does not go into cheap ones?
The manufacturers of the expensive shoes have isolated the smugness gene and implanted it into the DNA of the sole. It gives the wearer a sense of superiority over those who have 'only' spent 50 quid on a perfectly decent pair from Clarks.FreeLitres said:
I was wearing some leather-soled Barkers in the wet today. I wanted to just test the friction of the wet sole against the tarmac so I rubbed my foot along the floor a few times. I could actually see distinct beige streak on the floor where the wet leather had rubbed clean off my soles! I know more expensive shoes will have a better quality sole leather, but it did shock me a little.
I do like a leather soled shoe for dry conditions - they just feel nicer to walk in. However, they can wear very quickly if you get them wet. Rubber soles are much better for the winter.
That's what we like. I do like a leather soled shoe for dry conditions - they just feel nicer to walk in. However, they can wear very quickly if you get them wet. Rubber soles are much better for the winter.
A poster conducting his own experiment and reporting the findings for the benefit of the thread.
I must confess having advocated leather soles earlier in the thread that surprises me too but clearly leather has its limitations - namely water and friction.
InductionRoar said:
... I must confess to finding a well finished sole a rather nice feature and one that requires a lot of handwork. To then think about covering this workmanship up with adhesive "topies" is not something I understand....
Just going back to this point - there are different "levels" of leather soles. For entry-level welted leather soles with open channel stitching, I think topy covers are fair game.However, higher quality shoes with oak bark tanned, closed channel soles should not be messed with IMO.
Plus, worth noting that many manufacturers say they will turn away any resoling work if there are signs that the shoes have had covers or toe taps installed. Not worth the risk on an expensive shoe.
FreeLitres said:
I was wearing some leather-soled Barkers in the wet today. I wanted to just test the friction of the wet sole against the tarmac so I rubbed my foot along the floor a few times. I could actually see distinct beige streak on the floor where the wet leather had rubbed clean off my soles! I know more expensive shoes will have a better quality sole leather, but it did shock me a little.
I do like a leather soled shoe for dry conditions - they just feel nicer to walk in. However, they can wear very quickly if you get them wet. Rubber soles are much better for the winter.
Thats my experience too. I had a job where people noticed your shoes and they had to be traditional, Barkers Loakes Churches, stuff like that, whn it was wet I used shoes like these Samuel Windsors, good leather upper and rubber soles, not expesive either.I do like a leather soled shoe for dry conditions - they just feel nicer to walk in. However, they can wear very quickly if you get them wet. Rubber soles are much better for the winter.
http://www.samuel-windsor.co.uk/buy.cfm/oxford-sho...
FreeLitres said:
I was wearing some leather-soled Barkers in the wet today. I wanted to just test the friction of the wet sole against the tarmac so I rubbed my foot along the floor a few times. I could actually see distinct beige streak on the floor where the wet leather had rubbed clean off my soles! I know more expensive shoes will have a better quality sole leather, but it did shock me a little.
I do like a leather soled shoe for dry conditions - they just feel nicer to walk in. However, they can wear very quickly if you get them wet. Rubber soles are much better for the winter.
Having seen exactly the same thing as you describe in the past, I carried out a similar experiment yesterday.I do like a leather soled shoe for dry conditions - they just feel nicer to walk in. However, they can wear very quickly if you get them wet. Rubber soles are much better for the winter.
Wearing a pair of Barker shoes I bought a little under two years ago, worn regularly if not frequently (at least twice per week), still with original soles.
A five mile perambulation around the town centre, and through the park, ensuring that I walked through quite a lot of wet grass and didn't miss a single (shallow) puddle.
I found a patch of grey/white stone paving (fine but not smooth finish) and rubbed the sole across it several times.
Nothing showed on the paving at all.
To the best of my recollection, I have oiled the soles twice; once when new, and again last autumn.
Goaty Bill 2 said:
...A five mile perambulation around the town centre, and through the park, ensuring that I walked through quite a lot of wet grass and didn't miss a single (shallow) puddle.
I found a patch of grey/white stone paving (fine but not smooth finish) and rubbed the sole across it several times.
Nothing showed on the paving at all...
I love the dedication to the cause. I found a patch of grey/white stone paving (fine but not smooth finish) and rubbed the sole across it several times.
Nothing showed on the paving at all...
On a completely unrelated point, did you get any strange looks?
InductionRoar said:
I love the dedication to the cause.
I spent a few months in Aberdeen a couple of summers ago and went through the soles of two pairs of Barkers in about 6-8 weeks.The constant wet (and no doubt the salt helped) murdered them.
I was advised by a colleague to try oiling the soles, then recalled that we always treated our leather caulk boots with bear grease (including the soles), in my younger days.
I had just never thought to use a similar approach to shoes.
That and the shockingly poor availability of bear grease these days.
His suggestion of gun stock oil seemed a sensible alternative, though finding a gun shop these days is nearly as difficult as locating the aforementioned bear that is willing to part with it's grease.
InductionRoar said:
On a completely unrelated point, did you get any strange looks?
I tend to wear colourfully patterned bow ties, and a fedora so...No more than usual
I love a good pair of shoes like the next PH gent...I have a few pairs of Loakes but basically have given up on wearing leather soled shoes in the wet. I mean FFS if you bought tyres that needed breaking in, had no grip on some of the conditions you used them on, wore out in a few weeks and self destructed in the rain, and couldn't be driven on two consecutive days and needed treating all the time, you'd change tyres, right? But no, we keep them because they are "leather" and therefore "the real deal"
Hush Puppies brogues, decent but subtle rubber soles, very comfy, plenty grip, no wear, job done. Keep the leather soles for special occasions or that important meeting. And yes for me it's still a Barbour not Craghoppers, a laptop case not a rucksack, and an automatic not a quartz. But practicality and 20th century technology needs to have a place somewhere...
Hush Puppies brogues, decent but subtle rubber soles, very comfy, plenty grip, no wear, job done. Keep the leather soles for special occasions or that important meeting. And yes for me it's still a Barbour not Craghoppers, a laptop case not a rucksack, and an automatic not a quartz. But practicality and 20th century technology needs to have a place somewhere...
Goaty Bill 2 said:
I was advised by a colleague to try oiling the soles, then recalled that we always treated our leather caulk boots with bear grease (including the soles), in my younger days.
I had just never thought to use a similar approach to shoes.
That and the shockingly poor availability of bear grease these days.
His suggestion of gun stock oil seemed a sensible alternative, though finding a gun shop these days is nearly as difficult as locating the aforementioned bear that is willing to part with it's grease.
Saddle soap might be worth a try. I always use Renapur on my bike gear, waterproof and keeps the leather nice a supple http://www.renapur.com/I had just never thought to use a similar approach to shoes.
That and the shockingly poor availability of bear grease these days.
His suggestion of gun stock oil seemed a sensible alternative, though finding a gun shop these days is nearly as difficult as locating the aforementioned bear that is willing to part with it's grease.
RizzoTheRat said:
Saddle soap might be worth a try. I always use Renapur on my bike gear, waterproof and keeps the leather nice a supple http://www.renapur.com/
They make some pretty strong claims for the saddle soap.It might well be worth a punt for especially nasty leather uppers, but I can't see it providing the level of waterproofing / protection for leather soles.
Fancy testing that for us?
Saddle soap is mainly for cleaning. I do use it occasionally if my work shoes get muddy.
However, I have read that it can change the acidity of the leather which can break down the fibres over time.
I used to use some Saphir Renovateur on the soles, but the soles were very absorbent and it took a lot of product to get a decent coverage. I then moved to dubbin grease which improves water resistance, but i didntt want to walk it over the carpets. I don't tend to apply anything to the leather soles any more and select a rubber soled shoe for those wet days.
However, I have read that it can change the acidity of the leather which can break down the fibres over time.
I used to use some Saphir Renovateur on the soles, but the soles were very absorbent and it took a lot of product to get a decent coverage. I then moved to dubbin grease which improves water resistance, but i didntt want to walk it over the carpets. I don't tend to apply anything to the leather soles any more and select a rubber soled shoe for those wet days.
I have enjoyed this thread, and had to look up bear grease. Looks like its useful stuff http://www.bear-hunting.com/2014/5/bear-grease-101 and in the process of rendering you get bear crackling!
Vandenberg said:
I have enjoyed this thread, and had to look up bear grease. Looks like its useful stuff http://www.bear-hunting.com/2014/5/bear-grease-101 and in the process of rendering you get bear crackling!
mmmm crackling 
Very much like pork, but a bit 'gamey', as you might expect.
The sausages are especially nice, though the steaks and roasts are tasty too.
Also subject to the same cooking rules as pork, as trichinosis is a possibility.
AAD44H said:
I currently own a few pairs of leather shoes and have been wearing them for the past few years to work however it annoys me when they get wet and the amount of wear that they receive when walking a mile to and from work every day. I have now decided that the best solution would be to leave my 'formal' shoes at work and wear a pair of cheaper shoes to and from work. Any thoughts of opinions on this? My thinking is that this will mean my shoes last longer and don't get wet.
All I can say is that we have very different jobs. Good luck with your footwear.Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff