Expensive shoes - are they all so fragile?

[RobM77]

All my life I've bought £50 shoes for work from high street stores. They've always been very uncomfortable, but I just assumed work shoes were like that and put up with it.

Last year I decided to go to a proper shoe shop, get my feet measured, and have a decent pair of shoes fitted to my feet. They look great and fit like slippers, so I'm chuffed to bits. However, 12 months in and they look utterly trashed - I've got scrapes and gouges all over them. I've never had that with a pair of shoes before - is that normal for expensive shoes?

[CooperS]

Well depends on the type of shoe you've gone for surely?

I usually get some Paul Smiths for work as again they fit and feel just right but due to them being probably more fashion than anything else I go through a pair in 9 - 12 months tbh...

Wouldn’t of thought I would go through them at the same rate if I bought Churches or something which was getting proper expensive.

[FastLaneGirl]

As any girl can testify, the cost of the shoes is usually inversely proportional to the amount of time they will last.

[CommanderJameson]

RobM77 said:

All my life I've bought £50 shoes for work from high street stores. They've always been very uncomfortable, but I just assumed work shoes were like that and put up with it.

Last year I decided to go to a proper shoe shop, get my feet measured, and have a decent pair of shoes fitted to my feet. They look great and fit like slippers, so I'm chuffed to bits. However, 12 months in and they look utterly trashed - I've got scrapes and gouges all over them. I've never had that with a pair of shoes before - is that normal for expensive shoes?

I've got a pair of Barkers which, while not very expensive, were still £100 (it's a lot of money oop north).

They last very well, and seem very resilient.

However, I spend a lot of time on my feet at work and so I need a bit more bounce in the heel than is provided by a traditional shoe.

So a £50 pair of Hush Puppies it is.

[RobM77]

CooperS said:

Well depends on the type of shoe you've gone for surely?

I usually get some Paul Smiths for work as again they fit and feel just right but due to them being probably more fashion than anything else I go through a pair in 9 - 12 months tbh...

Wouldn’t of thought I would go through them at the same rate if I bought Churches or something which was getting proper expensive.

I don't really know much about shoes I'm afraid. They're fairly standard smart office shoes really.

I called the shoe shop and they said they could put new uppers on. I'm heading for a resole soon, so surely that's getting a bit like Trigger's broom?

[ab@]

In gave up with Paul Smith after the heel came off just from driving and having it resting on the carpet.

[RobM77]

FastLaneGirl said:

As any girl can testify, the cost of the shoes is usually inversely proportional to the amount of time they will last.

Looking back on it now, that is actually how things have gone. I've even gone through three sets of laces in 12 months!!

[HundredthIdiot]

FastLaneGirl said:

As any girl can testify, the cost of the shoes is usually inversely proportional to the amount of time they will last.

This is only true for girly shoes.

[JMGS4]

If you want a pair of really good shoes you'll have to fork out more than for a pair of italianate fashion slippers. Go and buy Churchs or Crocket & Jones. I've 3 pairs of C&Js, the newest pair is 15 years old and only had to be resoled twice and reheeled thrice............ and they look as good as new!!

Mind you, I'm one of the Grumpy Old Men who actually know how to clean and polish their shoes properly EVERY DAY!!! Thats's what the Forces does for you meboy!!!;);)

[rlw]

Not being funny but have you actually tried polishing them with shoe polish as it usually fills in any marks and thye just keep on getting shinier. Also, did you put rubber soles on when you bought them - this preserves the leather soles but does lead to a slight bend in the profile of the shoes - but it does help them last a lot longer. I reckon to get about five years out of a pair of £100 Barkers before they get a bit tired.

[RobM77]

JMGS4 said:

If you want a pair of really good shoes you'll have to fork out more than for a pair of italianate fashion slippers. Go and buy Churchs or Crocket & Jones. I've 3 pairs of C&Js, the newest pair is 15 years old and only had to be resoled twice and reheeled thrice............ and they look as good as new!!

Mind you, I'm one of the Grumpy Old Men who actually know how to clean and polish their shoes properly EVERY DAY!!! Thats's what the Forces does for you meboy!!!;);)

Without wishing to get into the details of shoes and why they're better quality etc, what sort of price are we looking at? Mine are Cheaney and they were about £200. It still doesn't explain why a £50 pair of shoes looks new after 12 months, but a £200 pair look trashed.

[RobM77]

rlw said:

Not being funny but have you actually tried polishing them with shoe polish as it usually fills in any marks and thye just keep on getting shinier. Also, did you put rubber soles on when you bought them - this preserves the leather soles but does lead to a slight bend in the profile of the shoes - but it does help them last a lot longer. I reckon to get about five years out of a pair of £100 Barkers before they get a bit tired.

Yes, I polish the shoes regularly. These are proper deep gouges though and the polish won't hide them. It really does look like someone's attack the shoe's upper with a penknife!

I have rubber on the soles. This was my first pair of leather shoes, so I asked for a rubber stick on sole to stop me slipping over, not realising how much leather soles scuff up and give you grip in a few weeks. To be honest I regret having the rubber put on; I think it inhibits the bending of the shoe as I walk and I'm sure it doesn't allow my feet to breath as well (or maybe I'm just imagining it?). Anyway, the rubber stick on sole has a hole in now! I noticed it this morning.

Edited by RobM77 on Monday 4th August 08:45

[HundredthIdiot]

RobM77 said:

Without wishing to get into the details of shoes and why they're better quality etc, what sort of price are we looking at? Mine are Cheaney and they were about £200. It still doesn't explain why a £50 pair of shoes looks new after 12 months, but a £200 pair look trashed.

I have never experienced "scrapes and gouges" on a pair of smart shoes. What the hell are you doing to them?

You shouldn't expect expensive shoes to be more hard wearing. They should be more comfortable, repairable and stylish, and shouldn't fall apart from internal stress (i.e. walking), but softer leather is obviously not going to be as physically tough.

[JMGS4]

RobM77 said:

JMGS4 said:

If you want a pair of really good shoes you'll have to fork out more than for a pair of italianate fashion slippers. Go and buy Churchs or Crocket & Jones. I've 3 pairs of C&Js, the newest pair is 15 years old and only had to be resoled twice and reheeled thrice............ and they look as good as new!!

Mind you, I'm one of the Grumpy Old Men who actually know how to clean and polish their shoes properly EVERY DAY!!! Thats's what the Forces does for you meboy!!!;);)

Without wishing to get into the details of shoes and why they're better quality etc, what sort of price are we looking at? Mine are Cheaney and they were about £200. It still doesn't explain why a £50 pair of shoes looks new after 12 months, but a £200 pair look trashed.

My last C&Js bought in GB around 2000 cost around £220,-, the last bought here were SFR 550,- (around £230,- then).... solid well built shoes with proper storm welts. Mind you there are very few real cobblers left who can resole them... better to use the factory service, cheaper and guaranteed.
I think that buying good shoes of a high quality have saved me around 3 pairs of cheap ones per annum!

PS I use mine for all normal things, on the farm, at work, driving hiking etc.. but not on a building site. I'd advise good protective shoes there!

Edited by JMGS4 on Monday 4th August 08:49

[phillvr6]

I've been wearing Oliver Sweeneys for a few years now, I find they wear pretty well and the first pair I bought still look good.

As far as the reason yours are knackered, my first guess is that you've worn them every day. Ideally shoes shouldn't be worn two days un succession as they need time to recover.

Secondly, they are probably made from decent leather as opposed to the plastic coated stuff a cheap pair of shoes may use, this would make them more succeptable to damage. Decent shoes should also be cleaned fairly regularly to keep them in good condition.

As you can probably tell, I'm no proffessional though.

[RobM77]

HundredthIdiot said:

RobM77 said:

Without wishing to get into the details of shoes and why they're better quality etc, what sort of price are we looking at? Mine are Cheaney and they were about £200. It still doesn't explain why a £50 pair of shoes looks new after 12 months, but a £200 pair look trashed.

I have never experienced "scrapes and gouges" on a pair of smart shoes. What the hell are you doing to them?

You shouldn't expect expensive shoes to be more hard wearing. They should be more comfortable, repairable and stylish, and shouldn't fall apart from internal stress (i.e. walking), but softer leather is obviously not going to be as physically tough.

I'm ever so careful with my shoes. I wear driving shoes for driving (necessary in the Elise), and walking shoes if I'm walking to work. My work shoes just get worn in and around the office and to the odd wedding or funeral! They're not a delicate style either - ordinary lace up ones.

They're certainly far more comfortable than cheaper shoes . I have very wide feet, so it's hard to find shoes anyway (work shoes seem to be built for slim feet, whereas any walking shoes or running shoes fit my wide feet - strange eh?), but high street £50 shoes are so harsh they give me hard skin on my ankles! These shoes are hugely comfortable - it's like wearing a pair of slippers!

[JMGS4]

RobM77 said:

I'm ever so careful with my shoes. I wear driving shoes for driving (necessary in the Elise), and walking shoes if I'm walking to work. My work shoes just get worn in and around the office and to the odd wedding or funeral! They're not a delicate style either - ordinary lace up ones.

They're certainly far more comfortable than cheaper shoes . I have very wide feet, so it's hard to find shoes anyway (work shoes seem to be built for slim feet, whereas any walking shoes or running shoes fit my wide feet - strange eh?), but high street £50 shoes are so harsh they give me hard skin on my ankles! These shoes are hugely comfortable - it's like wearing a pair of slippers!

go to
www.crockettandjones.co.uk/

also various wide and IMO good fittings

Edited by JMGS4 on Monday 4th August 08:53

[marvelharvey]

I once bought some incredibly expensive snake skin shoes. They came with some instructions, which said said:

Don't wear out in the snow
Don't wear out in the rain
Don't wear when the weather is too hot
Don't wear when the weather is too cold


They've lasted me for donkey's years. Mainly due to the fact that the right weather conditions come along so infrequently.

[HundredthIdiot]

marvelharvey said:

I once bought some incredibly expensive snake skin shoes.

Snakes With Toes, the lot of 'em.

[tonyvid]

RobM77 said:

They're certainly far more comfortable than cheaper shoes . I have very wide feet, so it's hard to find shoes anyway (work shoes seem to be built for slim feet, whereas any walking shoes or running shoes fit my wide feet - strange eh?), but high street £50 shoes are so harsh they give me hard skin on my ankles! These shoes are hugely comfortable - it's like wearing a pair of slippers!

As I inhabit the lower end of the PH range...

I have big and wide feet and have lived in Clarkes shoes for years now. I don't go for the pastie geography teacher look though. I have one pair of black shoes that were made in somewhere daft like Vietnam and they have lasted about 5 years, are amazingly comfortable and will probably outlive me. Clarkes will get the book out to tell you what shoes are available in which wider sizes and all the shoes I have bought in the last 15 years have been comfortable from the off. This is probably the only downside of having big feet