Proper leather shoes

I hope you've not been throwing away good shoes?

You could buy Barkers and the like from TK Maxx on Charing X Rd for barely £80.

A half leather and heels isn't uneconomical.

waste not, ...oh wait!

I think you're taking this "minimal weight of equipment" thing a bit too seriously.

I hate the Trickers outlet. Five minutes walk from my house and costing me a fortune.

Not really "proper" leather shoes but I thought this might be the best place to ask about dying suede.

I picked up a pair of ladies motorcycle trainers cheap hoping they'd look alright. Maybe a bit '80s, maybe with some grey laces. The faux distressed look is better than I thought, but the shade of pink against the blue just isn't quite right.

So I was thinking about just going black.

Any tips for dying them?

I found this guide:

• Do they really want a sued cleaner first, rather than just brushing?

• Any recommended dye easily available?

• will the faux distressed look impact the dying?

• They have a waterproof inner membrain, any issues around that?

• will my feet turn black when it rains?

Cheers.

My god, this forum and photos!

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I think the pink looks a good contrast, embrace it!

It's hard to explain, but the shade is slightly too feminine. IRL it doesn't have that... I dunno... its just not quite right basically.

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Went for a pair a few months ago. 8/10 would bang again.

They're a bit stiff with the plastic rather than leather heel support, and i would say they fit true to size, unlike my various loakes which I've had to size down (size 9 in trainers, and 7 1/2 in loakes). Meermin I would take 8 1/2 as the 8s are a wee bit too close.

They've been on heavy rotation and polish up very nicely and barely look worn. The soles were their version of dainite and seem really hard wearing and watertight.

Likely to get another pair soon.

Cheers!

my boss is selling these shoes if anyone is interested - some blue suede paul smith and tan grenson 'jacob' chelsea boot (they have a mark on the left shoe but could be removed i'm sure
size UK9

£60 delivered for either - both cost £200+ new

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You're selling your boss's boots? Makes a change from licking them I suppose..........

haha - he's just a lazy bastard

Feeling shitty with this cough, and abandoning a few days of the bike tour. Feeling a little better after finding these for €25

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My experiences dying suede shoes @hugo7 :

It's v easy.

Clean them thoroughly, buy some sort of specific cleaner - this one was good for me and comes recommended generally but costs twice as much as other random amazon/diy shop types

Mask everything you don't want coloured, and then paint the dye on, wait for it to dry, rough it up a bit with a brush, paint it again. I just use dylon standar stuff, again, I am sure you could get better for more £$.

Spray the shit out of them with protectors and sealants and whatever else you can find. I have no good advice as to products here.

I have done two pairs - some almost white paul smith suede desert/chukka boots that went to navy blue. That was the first pair, they looked awesome to begin with but the blue has faded a bit and I didn't do as good a job as I could have with the masking.

The second pair were almost orange ("rust") double monkstraps from herring shoes, they were super reduced, presumably due to colour. I dyed them a slightly darker brown, masked them beautifully and they haven't run, look awesome and no one would tell they didn't come in their new colour.

Cheers, you reminded me I should have updated my results.

• wash with water and brush with stiff brush. (note: mine were waterproofed motorbike trainers, I wouldn't wash regular suede.
  
• leave to dry
  
• paint on Dylon
  
• brush once dry
  
  

I used about one bottle for most of the pair, and then almost another whole bottle to dye the pink accents.

Cheers, you reminded me I should have updated my results.

• wash with water and brush with stiff brush. (note: mine were waterproofed motorbike trainers, I wouldn't wash regular suede.
  
• leave to dry
  
• paint on Dylon
  
• brush once dry
  
  

I used about one bottle for most of the pair, and then almost another whole bottle to dye the pink accents.

Does anyone want a pair of Sanders chukka hi-tops in brown uk8.5? These : http://www.sanders-uk.com/shop/product/hi-top-6480tds

Worn a handful of times but a tad too small for me so how does £40 + shipping sound?

Can post pics if any interest

Hmm, that's my size - if you have any pics I'd be curious? Are they true to size or did they come up small?

dibs please if you don't mind shipping to sweden? PM coming

I'd say they're true to size, I am a 9 normally but took a chance on these as it was the only size they had. Will post pics today, should also say that I can't find the box.

I don't mind shipping to Sweden, but h2o did post first.

All cool with me, ping me if h2o doesn't take them

Since they're leather, I thought this might go here. I've a pair of Maressi shoes and need to sort out the sole. Anybody got any ideas of how to build it up as there isn't much cleat clearance anymore?

I've seen the glue gun approach with masking off the tread areas and building it up, and I've seen grinding everything off and replacing it all with a Vibram sole. Anything else I could try?