To sole or not to sole, that is the question...

irlrobins

Hey all,

I recently bought a (expensive) pair of Barker shoes, for use as my work/office shoes. As with all good handmade shoes, the soles are leather.

My question is this, should I get rubber non slip stick on soles on these new shoes. Some pros and cons:

Pros:
1) The soles will weather better, especially as I often have to walk across Dublin city centre between clients and office
2) Better grip

Cons:
1) Barker recommends not to use stick on soles as they can affect the breathablity of the shoe
2) Barker offer a complete repair/rebuild service but only if the shoe hasn't had stick on soles applied

I'm in two minds as to get soles or not. Any opinions gentlemen?

OldGoat

Always go with leather soles. The sole might not last as long but the shoe will keep on going - if that makes sense.
I saw a pair of Loakes that had been re-soled in rubber and they looked like a (cheap) pair of Clarkes - the thickness of the sole gave them a schoolboy look.

I didn't realise Barkers did a re-furbish of shoes. Damn, I just left a pair in to be soled. €28.00 :eek:

Dord

Where did you buy them? I was looking at Barkers online yesterday. I was surprised to find that they make larger sizes. I'm fed up buying Clarkes. They don't last at all and aren't the nicest looking shoes.

Victor Meldrew

irlrobins wrote: »

Hey all,

I recently bought a (expensive) pair of Barker shoes, for use as my work/office shoes. As with all good handmade shoes, the soles are leather.

My question is this, should I get rubber non slip stick on soles on these new shoes. Some pros and cons:

First wet day you will have wet feet with all leather. and they will wear out really fast.

I went all leather (Big Barker Fan) for years when I drove to work and walked all day on carpet, Then, leather is so much nicer and you feet will never smell.

However, with a walk to office in rain, you get sick of wet feet, so I use rubber soles after the leather gets a bit worn.

I resole them till the uppers go. I have a pair of Barkers that are 6 years old and are on their 5th sole

Hermione*

Definitely go with the leather sole. IMO, a leather sole always looks so much better,a nd far more stylish!

My Dad buys Barkers and has been known to get decades from a pair from looking after them properly.

irlrobins

Dord wrote: »

Where did you buy them?

Fitzpatricks in Dundrum. They're online too: http://www.fitzpatricksshoes.com/

padi89

Stick with the leather sole.
Just don't wear them in the wet the first few times.
Get some shoe trees to help keep their shape and polish them on a regular basis.
It's best to have a second pair so you can rotate them daily or give them a chance to properly dry if they get wet.

OldGoat

I'd miss the sound of leather shoes. Stones and pebbles just don't crack and crunch under rubber soles.

LightningBolt

Interesting. Something I've never really considered as I've only started buying proper expensive shoes the last while.

I'd have quite a large foot wide fitting 13 to a 14 depending on the shape of the shoe. I'm wary about buying shoes and them wearing out quickly as I tend to only rotate two pairs (it's a pain to try find decent footwear), would I be mad to buy two pairs of the same shoe and rotate. I could have four pairs but only two styles if that makes sense?

OldGoat

Proper care of your shoes adds years to their lifespan. As mentioned above get shoetrees (the cederwood foot shaped blocks that go into your shoes). When you take your shoes off first check them for condition, nicks, scratches, wear and tear, then put the shoe trees in right away, while your shoe is still moist from sweat or rainwater. Let your shoe dry out naturally for 24 hours. If the heels or the soles are near replacment time then get them done. Don't wait till the hole appears or even wrse, letting the leather of the heel block get worn down. Change the rubber heel before it wears out. Rebuilding the leather heel is expensive and will ruiin your shoes looks.
Wipe them clean, polish frequently (like a couple of times a week). Add a leather nurishing cream every now and then.
One set of shoe trees is enough as you can rotate your shoes. If you are in the habit of wearing two different pair of shoes each day then obviously you'll need a second set of shoe trees.

Other bits...
Use a shoehorn when putting them on.
Replace worn laces before they snap.
Don't kick your shoes off, take them off and never ever use one shoe to push the other off your foot as this just scratches the leather.
Scuffed toes on shoes look sad, polish 'em.
Clean the stones and debris from the drivers car footwell to protect the back of your shoes from scratches.

It might sound like a bit of nonsense and overly fussy but when your shoes cost you a weeks wage then you'd be insane not to maintain them as best you can.

Stheno

+1 to Old Goat, I'd add find a good cobbler, I spend a lot of my days walking around if I'm training, and I've three pairs of shoes/boots that I only wear if I'm training. Leather soles etc, and they wear out, but are well worth it. Other male trainers I know are the same.

A good cobbler will do your shoes no end of good, I'd recommend Tara Leathers in Dublin City Centre, Timpsons in Newbridge and Stephens Green, and there is a great chap in Castleknock too across from Myos.

I swear my cobbler grins from ear to ear mentally when I arrive in

p.s. if anyone goes to Banbridge regularly, Daniel footwear there sell Loakes and Barkers for about £75 a pair iirc

LightningBolt

OldGoat wrote: »

Proper care of your shoes adds years to their lifespan. As mentioned above get shoetrees (the cederwood foot shaped blocks that go into your shoes). When you take your shoes off first check them for condition, nicks, scratches, wear and tear, then put the shoe trees in right away, while your shoe is still moist from sweat or rainwater. Let your shoe dry out naturally for 24 hours. If the heels or the soles are near replacment time then get them done. Don't wait till the hole appears or even wrse, letting the leather of the heel block get worn down. Change the rubber heel before it wears out. Rebuilding the leather heel is expensive and will ruiin your shoes looks.
Wipe them clean, polish frequently (like a couple of times a week). Add a leather nurishing cream every now and then.
One set of shoe trees is enough as you can rotate your shoes. If you are in the habit of wearing two different pair of shoes each day then obviously you'll need a second set of shoe trees.

Other bits...
Use a shoehorn when putting them on.
Replace worn laces before they snap.
Don't kick your shoes off, take them off and never ever use one shoe to push the other off your foot as this just scratches the leather.
Scuffed toes on shoes look sad, polish 'em.
Clean the stones and debris from the drivers car footwell to protect the back of your shoes from scratches.

It might sound like a bit of nonsense and overly fussy but when your shoes cost you a weeks wage then you'd be insane not to maintain them as best you can.

Cheers for that. Already have shoe trees for shoes and use a shoe horn as I find it stops having to try force my foot in ruining the leather on the heel. Always have polished shoes thankfully.

I am a bit guilty with using one shoe to kick off the other though!

Stheno

LightningBolt wrote: »

I am a bit guilty with using one shoe to kick off the other though!

That's very naughty. Do it for a week with a pair of shoes, and just see the effects, mank it is.

Worse tho is being female and wearing high heels in the car, and not taking out the debris on the mat, OMG the damage :eek:

irishescorts

If they offer a free rebuild service then don't add the soles!

When they're wrecked you can have them repaired for free, simples!

alejandro1977

OldGoat wrote: »

Always go with leather soles. The sole might not last as long but the shoe will keep on going - if that makes sense.
I saw a pair of Loakes that had been re-soled in rubber and they looked like a (cheap) pair of Clarkes - the thickness of the sole gave them a schoolboy look.

I didn't realise Barkers did a re-furbish of shoes. Damn, I just left a pair in to be soled. €28.00 :eek:

Barker usually charge about £100 for a resole... however they resoled a pair for me for free as the wore out really quickly (I'm a recent convert to leather soles and wore them in in the rain ) it's a tough one - resoling is expensive and it rains a lot in Ireland...

irlrobins

As an update, I decided to sole the shoes in the end. If I was in the situation where all I was doing was going from car to carpet then I would have left as is.

But in reality, I have to walk to and from the office and between client sites. And on a wet day like today, I think having rubber soles is the best approach.

Thanks for all the opinions though!

Cyrus

im not sure if there is a little confusion here,

what the op is talking about i think, is putting a rubber covering on his leather soles.

something that i do on all my good shoes, why? because i walk to the bus every morning, 7-8 minutes and when its wet shoes get wrecked and leather soles are bloody lethal on the foot paths.

The rubber cover is quite thin and doesnt cover the entire sole.

The italian heel bar d2 is a good place, little pricey but worth it, ever since i discovered decent shoes i havent looked back, to think i used to spend €100 on shoes in office that lasted 6 months

MadsL

Not cheap, but if you commute a lot;

Rock these galoshes.. at least you can have the pleasure of explaining them (Ga,wha??) Need a be a briefcase or bag guy though. These would be great for rainy summer days or dublinbikes trips.



http://gearpatrol.com/blog/2009/03/02/swims-classic-galosh/

Stheno

Have to say I don't find my leather soles lethal in the weather after I've worn them in for a day or two.

And I prefer to have them as I prefer how they feel and sound

LightningBolt

Wondering what's the thoughts on buying two pairs of the same shoes? Quite large feet so getting a good pair is quite difficult.

Stheno

i've just bought six pairs of a particular boot in different colours and am thinking of buying second pairs for at least three of them so if they do die I'll have replacements

LightningBolt

Stheno wrote: »

i've just bought six pairs of a particular boot in different colours and am thinking of buying second pairs for at least three of them so if they do die I'll have replacements

That's all I needed to hear!