To sole gaurd or not ?

Originally Posted by Quadcammer

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thats cool and all, but its a pair of shoes. They aren't meant to have an infinite life span.You wear them (and given most people on here have multiple shoes, not terribly often), get them resoled a few times, and then you move on.

Its like putting plastic covers on your nice leather couches because you don't want them to wear.

Wait, they're not?

Originally Posted by makewayhomer

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it also screams "I don't like cracking my head on ice"
I have to disagree. My own experience, plus a somewhat more than superficial understanding of the characteristics of leather versus rubber, tends to refute this common urban myth. Leather is a fiber mat. It has pores and when worn just a little...past the waxed grain...tends to expand in contact with moisture. As it gets wet it becomes a little softer as well. So the upshot is that leather, if not dismissed out of hand, will conform to any irregularities and will tend to grip slick surfaces better than a less porous compound. Rubber...topy in particular...has no pores. Has no ability to expand or get soft or grip. The texture or "tread" on the topy will work pretty well on wet surfaces that are not inherently slick. But, if nothing else, once that tread is worn down a little, it is slick against slick. If you doubt this principle try driving in Minnesota in the winter without studded tires. Despite what they say, even All Weather tires are not even a little secure on icy roads. DAMHIKT

perhaps this is a good compromise....especially in nyc where the sidewalks are like someone drop a bomb

Originally Posted by DWFII

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I have to disagree. My own experience, plus a somewhat more than superficial understanding of the characteristics of leather versus rubber, tends to refute this common urban myth.

Leather is a fiber mat. It has pores and when worn just a little...past the waxed grain...tends to expand in contact with moisture. As it gets wet it becomes a little softer as well. So the upshot is that leather, if not dismissed out of hand, will conform to any irregularities and will tend to grip slick surfaces better than a less porous compound.

Rubber...topy in particular...has no pores. Has no ability to expand or get soft or grip. The texture or "tread" on the topy will work pretty well on wet surfaces that are not inherently slick. But, if nothing else, once that tread is worn down a little, it is slick against slick.

If you doubt this principle try driving in Minnesota in the winter without studded tires. Despite what they say, even All Weather tires are not even a little secure on icy roads. DAMHIKT

I have to agree with this. I had dianites on a pair of shoes and not only did they feel not as sturdy I slipped around like crazy. Got them resoled with JR's.

Originally Posted by Kuro

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perhaps this is a good compromise....especially in nyc where the sidewalks are like beirut

Don't get DWF started on metal toe taps again!

From personal experience this winter, the vibram topies make a huge difference when walking on sidewalks with packed ice. Used both leather soled and topied boots and there is no comparison for me.

Originally Posted by Xenon

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This question comes up once in a while so here is my list of best to worst: 1) All my nice shoes will have leather soles only and left intact but will never see contact with rough or aggregate surfaces (asphalt, rough cement, mud, rain ect). For winter or outside use I will have a few pairs of leather soled shoes that have been covered with topy or other types of membranes. 2) keep nice leather soled shoes intact and don't use outside and have rubber soled beaters for outside uses. 3) Have all leather soled shoes covered with topy, ect 4) Keep nice leather soled shoes intact and use outside regardless 5) Wear only rubber soled shoes thinking they are nice

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Clearly a covered leather sole (topy) is not the equivalent of a rubber. A topy is infinitely thinner and less ugly than rubber (vibram ect). A leather sole is hard wearing except when wet, where it will soften and pick up all sorts of grit. This embedded grit will abrade the sole more and also abrade any type of flooring including granite that you walk on. lastly a well built shoe (welted or blake rapid) can be resoled but not having to disturb the stitches and leather sole is more desirable. Quite simply I do not trust third parties to accomplish a trouble and damage free resole 100% of the time. That resole will never be as good as the best original sole. This is akin to factory OE (Original Equipment) paint job on your car. Your Porshe, BMW, Bentley ect will never see a paint job as good as the original it came with ( including all the phospate and corrosion protection layers) if involed in an accident. There isn't a body shop in the world that reapplies all the necessary layers in the same diligent manner that is done in the factory.
I'd have to agree with a lot of this. My only reservation is that while wet leather will pick up grit...assuming there is a significant amount of loose grit on the surfaces you're walking on...and grit will hasten the wear on your leather outsole (no more than fixed grit such as on concrete) it will also tend to shed grit when dry. My wife and I dance --ballroom and latin mostly...and you need a fairly smooth outsole to make turns and spin. I wear leather soles all the time...dry and wet...and have danced on dry and wet leather soles. I've never felt like I was grinding the dance floor away as I danced. In fact, I've never noticed much of a difference between dedicated dance shoes with leather soles that never touch anything but a wood floor and my everyday shoes. And doing what I do, I am particularly sensitive to the state of my feet and shoes.

Originally Posted by DWFII

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That said, once you get going down this path the logical next step is to put topy on topy so that the topy never has to be replaced.

I've seen it.

Originally Posted by patrickBOOTH

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The key is to have enough shoes that having to resole is not really an issue.
And the key to THAT is to have an understanding wife. Sadly, mine thinks that anytime his/hers shoe ratio exceeds 1:10 something is WOEFULLY out of balance and the universe will implode unless she has another pair of Louboutins.

Originally Posted by ThatGuy

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Nothing says small-timer to me than a nice pair of shoes with topys on the bottom. It screams "I bought these on B&S and can't afford a resole" I own four very nice pairs of shoes. Non of them are topy'd. Leather is very heard wearing and is fine in the rain. Plus, if I wanted my soles to have rubber on them, I'd by Danite soled shoes in the first place.
Eat my shorts, TG. How many times can YOU get a pair of good shoes resoled? Why should I invest hundreds > thousands on shoes, work them into my regular rotation (~10 pairs), and STILL watch holes appear in the soles within a year? Yes, when a guy walks 35 minutes a day to and from the train there will be wear on his hoofs. My 1/16" zips don't show from the side and any one who stares at the soles of my shoes risks catching a swift one in the incisors. Care for a closer look?

Originally Posted by Fred H.

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Eat my shorts, TG. How many times can YOU get a pair of good shoes resoled? Why should I invest hundreds > thousands on shoes, work them into my regular rotation (~10 pairs), and STILL watch holes appear in the soles within a year? Yes, when a guy walks 35 minutes a day to and from the train there will be wear on his hoofs. My 1/16" zips don't show from the side and any one who stares at the soles of my shoes risks catching a swift one in the incisors. Care for a closer look?
I doubt you would risk taking anything more strenuous than a prance in your shoes. If you decide to go for one, you risk scratching the leather if you miss. It's a very cheap look. You all know that leather soles are pefectly suitable for all conditions that the streets can throw at you. It does separate the men from the wannabes.

Originally Posted by ThatGuy

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I doubt you would risk taking anything more strenuous than a prance in your shoes. If you decide to go for one, you risk scratching the leather if you miss.

I have NO idea what that's supposed to mean. Good luck with your four pair of shoes and new custom suit from Seoul. Get back to me with a comeback when/if you reach puberty.

Originally Posted by ThatGuy

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Yeah, don't listen to this douchebag. It's fine either way, just a personal preference.

Axel. I understand you're from Nederland. You can put your finger back in the dyke anytime now.

Originally Posted by patrickBOOTH

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I have to agree with this. I had dianites on a pair of shoes and not only did they feel not as sturdy I slipped around like crazy. Got them resoled with JR's.

comments like this made me nervous before buying my dainite boots...but I took the plunge, and I personally found them to be much, much better than any smooth soled shoes I owned.

so I dunno maybe different people get used to different things