Proper leather shoes

Ha! Sadly not, it's madness, I can't walk down a slightly sloped pavement if it has rained without slipping. I've fallen on my arse in the office lobby twice in 2024 already. I may be unbalanced and malcoordinated, but not actually this badly. Any sole advice gratefully received.

I've fallen on my arse in the office lobby twice in 2024 already

wish i had been there

Hmm, replace them with the ripple soles? :)

I guess you must have the vibram ones, they look really nice but no idea how they wear. Sounds like the dreaded crepe sole slip you get with clarks.

When I got mine they came with a lovely little tube of italian leather cream, after that I've used a mix of good quality wax polish I think. Might have even had the dubbin out when I wore them on a few hill walks or in the snow. They've been around for so long now I've probably used all sorts of products and what I had at the time. Could do with a polish now so thanks for the reminder.

I’d say talk to your cobbler about finding the lowest durometer sole that still has some tread and get that on there. You can have the most aggressive treads in the world but if the sole is hard and inflexible it won’t do you any good in wet conditions or when it’s icy.

Yep, vibram on there at the moment. Don't really like the aesthetic of the ripple but if it made the shoes wearable in the conditions they look like they should be appropriate for, would consider. Will go and speak to a cobbler.

Also helpful, just bought some 'leather nourishing cream'. Who doesn't want to be nourished.

I have no idea what durometer means, but thanks for the response, will def go talk to a decent cobbler.

There's the vibram place on city road you could try.
fwiw I have found the white wedge vibram soles can be slippy once pretty worn

thanks man, that was my plan i think. And I picked these up second hand and the sole was already pretty smooth. I think I'll try a like for like replacement and see how long it actually remains functionally grippy. If not long enough to justify the expense I'll have to look at alternatives, although I'll get the shops input first too.

Your cobbler will know, likely google as well.

How should I lace these? Like the right or left one.

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had my 13 year old red wing 875 boots resoled at bleu's in cheltenham. great job and they actually feel more comfortable that when i took them in. well pleased with the job. couldn't get original redwing soles so went with a slightly chunkier " the boot brotherhood " or " the brotherhood boot " sole. well solid with great grip. will spend tomorrow giving them a wash a clean and a coating of mink oil.

now the boots look like one of those freaks off the only way is essex who've had their teeth whitened. need to let the boots smoke some fags have a few glasses of red wine and tromp around in some mud to tone them down a bit

Get rid of the speed hooks, that’ll simplify things.
I hate speed hooks.

Wait are they the ones you picked up from me?

Looking forward to not cleaning these new soles.

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Left, but go over and into the holes. this means you don't get that crease here over time

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I have to admit that my Danners are too small. At least half a size, maybe even a full size. Made worse by an invalidating ingrown toenail.
It turns out that my specific model is made in Vietnam and exlusively sold in Japan. The store don't offer international shipping.
Anyone know a good proxy shopping service?

Lace-to-toe hiking boot style? Get some Fracap instead, they're nicer.

Yeah. Fracaps are on the radar. Thanks for the suggestion.
The ones I'm after have kletterlift soles and closed speedhooks though. And are cheaper if I can get them...

Oh yeah, nice. Cheaper, really? Thought Danners were like £400

END clothing in town have Fracap if you wanna try em. I did today, now I’m gonna get a pair direct from the factory in Italy as you can go full custom for the same price. They do a black commando sole btw. Might even do closed hooks if you ask.

https://store.stumptownjapan.com/shop/g/g5705380002023/
31,900 japanese yens if you are in japan...
I think its the country of origin that gives the price difference from standard Danners from USA.

FromJapan often has great prices for such.
https://www.fromjapan.co.jp/japan/en/item/search/Danner+D121005/Al_11_Yh_RaSuBpRmMrMv_N_N_0N00ja00_N/

May I share a recent tip for the best made stitch down desert boots currently sold and made in the UK - Jadd - https://jadd.shoes/collections/desert-boots/products/desert-boot-brown-suede

I had been on the look out for some replacements for my Clarkes. Wanted to have replaceable soles, lined and more comfort out of the box. I went for the Loake Sahara, they have been excellent and ticked all the boxes. Hey don't have the vibram option, at least not new and out of the box. My feet are a standard Loake 8.5 as well.
Made in Portugal.

But those lace and sole options could had swayed me, if I'd seen earlier.

Like those Danners, would like to purchase but can't work out the purchasing procedure.

Loake Sahara

I'll be impressed if you can find someone to resole these for less than the cost of new, I had a really comfy pair of blue ones which I had to bin because I couldn't find a cobbler prepared to do it.

They weren't fracap were they? But no, anyway, i moved those on here for free again as they were just a bit too big.