Proper leather shoes

I’m in Glasgow! So yeah, could be big price differences but if it’s around that I’d pay it. I pass a cobbbler on my way to work so will give the boots a clean and pop in and ask.

Just wanted to know it wasn’t gonba be like £100 or something!

They are Clarks. Nothing fancy (more expensive than I remembered though, I must have got them in a sale) but I’ve worn them in now so they’re well comfy and bought them for going on honeymoon so bit of sentimental attachment to them.

You can get Vibram/Dainite/Commando soles to go on any boot, but if the original sole is a composite it can make a hot smelly sticky mess so many cobblers will say 'no'. It can take too much mess, time and effort to scour off. But it can be done, results depending on the original boot construction.

My Loakes are tatty and in need of a good polish. Any recommendations for somewhere that could sort them out for me? What's the Alsal watches of shoes?

This?

1 Attachment

I could but time vs money and a professional will do an infinitely better job. I can maintain a polish but need a new baseline to work from. A shoe MOT.

Time, effort, two brushes, a yellow duster (with red stitching), good shoe polish and elbow grease is the formula

I wanna see how bad they look now. If I were local i could have done it but I doubt it makes sense when you could pay £££ on Savile Row tomorrow and have it done to suit your schedule.

Theyre not awful, just a few scuffs and grubby marks from my office chair. Maybe I am just being lazy and could do then myself. If there was a super convenient place I could get them done for a tenner I'd do that but I'd that's not the case I'll invest the elbow grease.

Unlikely. For a tenner you could get the stuff you need to do it a million times yourself.

If the scuffs are deep (but not damaging the leather) you can use saddle soap. It will help scrub off the old polish and reduce the visible marks. When it dries and looks very matt you can work on top with some polish and a rag before buffing.

Unless they are black, make sure you use a polish that is a shade lighter or you'll risk darkening the leather. After saddle soap and new polish they will look darker but dry lighter when the moisture evaporates.

If they are really dry and dead some leather cream after the saddle soap but this can definitely darken the leather if you aren't careful. Takes longer before they're dry enough to polish too.

I've got the stuff already 🙊

Will report back.

When I bought them Loake recommended cotton pads and water. What's that about? Always been about the two brush approach.

If there was a super convenient place I could get them done for a tenner I'd do that but I'd that's not the case

No. Nobody will do that for a tenner!

Urghhhhhh you can do damage with plain old water if you apply too much. A very slightly damp cotton pad could help remove grime and dirt (and top layer of polish).

I watched the gf's brother apply a wet rag to a pair of "high quality" Italian black shoes and wonder why they went matt and soggy.

Cotton pads and water would normally relate to water bulling - after polishing. Seems odd for Loake to say that. Is it on their website? I didn’t get any polishing instructions with any Loakes I have had.

Was their outlet shop in Cambridge

Fair enough. Im in Norn Iron - no outlet shops here 😢

Still seems odd though. Water will clean mud etc off. Cotton pads would dry the shoe. Then polish - IMO. Kiwi is my brand of choice. If black, don’t use Parade Gloss - normal black is fine.

anyone able to ID these?

Is that a Vibram sole?

Maybe like a Redwing 9165: https://www.redwingamsterdam.com/2013/04/16/an-analysis-of-the-new-red-wing-shoes-9165-hand-sewn-chukka-style/

Could be. The upper looks like it's made by Sperry or someone like that - but that sole is quite RW

Yeah tbh dude I struggled - that was the closest I could get

they might be quoddys?

https://www.endclothing.com/gb/quoddy-cross-stitch-kennebec-chukka.html

similar but not quite

I’m looking for a general walking shoe. Can anyone recommend anything similar to the Sorel Madson Hiker?

Shoes polished and look much better. Thanks lufugss

I always wanted a pair of Danner Mountain Light

http://www.danner.com/mtn-light.html?___store=default_danner_int

Might be more hiking than walking though? Certainly ticks the geography teacher box though...

Reminds me of Fracap. Except more spendy

https://www.aphrodite1994.com/footwear/mens-designer-boots?manufacturer=355