Proper leather shoes

I'd recommend finding a retailer to try on first, if it's possible. Trickers have quite a roomy last. For me they don't fit me at all. They're just too wide/big but, the length is fine. Unfortunately, I've a pair of amazing Belstaff Trickers collaboration boots, which I never wear because of this. But for you they may be perfect?

Instead, I found out I'm far more of a Crockett & Jones person. Their lasts are better for my feet and feel like they actually fit. As a result, I've far too many C&J shoes/boots. The Trickers Grassmere's are quite similar to the C&J Coniston's.

I have 4 pairs of grensons and 3 pairs of trickers plus a pair of cleverleys RTW
Would never buy grensons again as they look cheap, feel cheap and last cheap.
I like the trickers which are now all due a new sole, the cleverleys are made by Crockett and Jones and I will probably but from them for next pair but that’s likely to not be for a while as they are all lasting so well (grensons aside) that I don’t need new shoes.

I have a pair of these exact boots - they are superb. I bought them from a small cobblers in York who without much prompting offered £100 off the RRP and a £50 repair voucher. This was a few years ago mind and I had previously bought other shoes from them / use them for any repairs.

It might be worth seeing if you have a similar local shop?

Otherwise maybe give the place I bought mine from a ring and see what they say?

https://g.co/kgs/9Gpebc

@Muppetteer @Mr_Smyth @goodhead
Thanks for the advice, the most obvious is sometimes the best. Turns out there is a small shop fairly local to my work so I’ll get myself in at some point and try the boots on and actually get a proper feel for them. More than happy to buy local and support local business but would definitely need some movement on Rrp for that to happen in the short term.

Good quality boots and shoes are a decent investment if it’s affordable. Just given my C&J Islay’s and Coniston’s a wipe over. I’ve five pairs of boots I wear on rotation for work, with the Islay’s taking the brunt of the wear. They’ve old, and work out now at about £50 a year, which isn’t too bad. And they’re on their second sole, but still come up looking nice.

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Must admit, good as a new pair of shoes/boots look on the shelf they only really improve with wear. Yours look great.

I completely agree shoes and boots just get better with age. I got the C&J Islay around 2012 which cost about £450 at the time. Always wanted a decent pair of boots and after a lot of deliberation decided that I was going to go for it. It was probably one of the best clothing purchases I've made. I absolutely abused them at the start and wore them far too many days in a row. About a year later, I got a pair of Coniston's. And then some more, quite a few more. The Islay's come up so nicely when I spend a little time on them, they've just been brushed in the photo above.

Trickers have an outlet website + a factory shop in Northampton both offer decent discounts on RRP. Have got 3 pairs of Trickers all bought with big reductions & all have come up wide compared to other brands. I do think if you can get your head past the full price RRP of good shoes (I haven’t) they do actually offer value for money as can easily last 10-15 years if looked after.

From snooping around the Trickers website it appears their factory shop is closed indefinitely and the outlet website is how they’re operating discounts going forward. Which sucks balls because I’ve got some great stuff from the previous sample sales.

Has anyone tried re-colouring their shoes themselves? I’ve had my eye on a pair of Navy C&J Ashdown for a while and have these Onslow that I’m not wearing so much… I’m tempted to strip them and dye them navy… 😬

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I've died a pair of knackered Trickers from tan to black which was pretty straight forward. There's a solution from Saphir you put on first to take the finish off, and then the dye. With black it was pretty easy. I'm not sure how difficult it would be to get a uniform navy that looks professionally done? Also, make sure you have lots of newspaper down everywhere, gloves and rags available. I just followed a guide I found online.

cool thank you, think I'm going to try it myself...

In other news, I'm slightly embarrassed to say I think I like nearly all of the current Massimo Dutti shoe and boot offerings... buy cheap buy twice etc, but still, style wise I like what they're doing, tempted by the Paraboot knock-offs for £99

Coincidentally i just bought a pair of Paraboots. Been considering them for a while and pulled the trigger on these as were on sale.
https://www.thehipstore.co.uk/product/brown-paraboot-micka-velours/16117500/

I'm dead chuffed with them. After some recommendations for protector as have not had any suede shoes for a looooong time.

Am considering liquiproof based on reviews but anyone have any recommendations?

Any interest in these Loake 771s? 9.5, bought off here a while back but too big for me. £30?

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After a week of actually using work boots for work, my redbacks are looking dusty, scuffed and dry. I'll brush the off and clean away the dirt, but what's the best way to moisturise and rejuvenate the leather?

Are there any Northampton shoe makers that do still have factory outlets/ sample sales? My sister lives up there and I've been meaning to take a trip round a few at some point.

Yes, most of them I think. last time I went there was Edward Green, Lobb, Church's and Trickers, as well as Crockett and Jones but they had more restricted opening hours.

This looks like a good guide -

https://before-n-after.co.uk/visit-northampton-factory-shops-listings-defender-motorhome-rustproofing-visitor-attractions.html

this is good stuff, although tbf I have a couple of tubes of Clark's stuff which seems decent as well:

https://saphir.com/product/renovateur-cream/

Would never buy grensons again as they look cheap, feel cheap and last cheap

I have two pairs of Grensons and like them both. They were both off eBay for not huge amounts of money which may affect my expectations a bit, but they seem decent to me.

I've had rubber soles put on a pair of Grenson black brogues (yeah, crime I know) and these are my usual work shoes now. Really comfortable.

edit - sorry, they are Oxfords., not brogues.

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Cheers, will probably try Clarks first!

Grenson certainly used to be able to make very high quality boots & shoes, these are mine from a few years ago picked up at a special stock sale event for about £100 they were made in England & the quality is excellent. Ladder lacing takes ages to lace to the top!

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Bloody hell, love those monster trucks. Grenson made in uk is on par with the rest of Northampton IMO. No offence to the other ranges made elsewhere, sewing, clicking, finishing looks fine. But the leather is tosh. Same with Loake.

If you are a size 41 these Tricker's Keswick come up as £156 with the EXTRA20 code, https://www.arket.com/en_gbp/men/shoes/product.trickers-keswick-black.0521614001.html

Bought these Trickers online from Tkmaxx. Down from £465 to £160.they arrived but I thought they were a tad loose and at £160 I decided to return them. To my local store. Got a refund. 3 weeks later a mate spotted them in the store, in clearance....at £65. I made a mercy dash, bought them and a pair of leather insoles and with a not thin sock they fit! It's not often I've bought the same shoes twice!

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Great shoes, I've not seen them in that colour before.