Leather Sole Care/Life Expectancy, Hole in my boots' sole.

I'm a soon-to-be graduate who just invested in his first nice pair of shoes, a pair of Grenson's Sharp Boots; tan leather brogue boots with the double leather sole.
http://www.grenson.co.uk/shop/sharp-189
I love the boots. I've yet to buy a shoe tree for them because I decided to wear them in a bit so I don't look like I care about my boots as much as I do.

The problem is the sole. I've noticed that on the heel and on the tip of the toe, the sole has ground down to the point where there is starting to be a bit of wood damage, and somehow there is a central crack in the sole of the right shoe. I only noticed it yesterday.

I am a bit amazed by this. I'd heard Grensons had a reputation for being hard-wearing by the standards of more expensive boots, but I've had these for less than two months. I don't think this should be happening. I've been wearing them a lot, most days when it doesn't look like it will rain, but after two months I'm still amazed by the hole. I feel almost cheated.

Should I just replace the leather with vibram? How much would that cost? I'm particularly annoyed because I was really starting to enjoy leather soles-the sound they make is amazing, and after a bit of scruffing they're really very comfortable.

Cracked sole in 2 months? Return them.

I am wondering if I could do that. I am really, seriously pissed right now. I loved these boots.

Anyone know what the return policy is on Mr Porter?

So you've worn them, without any care or tree placement, for 2 months?

Do you wear them everyday?

Picture would be helpful.

Durable does not equate indestructable.

You might be able to avoid this problem by getting toe/heel taps installed. Any shoe repair place should have them. The cracked sole is a cause for concern though.



MrPsellus said:

I am wondering if I could do that.  I am really, seriously pissed right now.  I loved these boots.  

Anyone know what the return policy is on Mr Porter?  

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You want to return a pair of boots you've never used shoe trees on, probably never rested and worn 40 times in two months, all because they are showing wear on the soles?



Reborn said:

You want to return a pair of boots you've never used shoe trees on, probably never rested and worn 40 times in two months, all because they are showing wear on the soles?

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If it was just wear, I would agree, but a cracked sole? I'd like to see pics, though.

What does rested mean?

Reborn said:

You want to return a pair of boots you've never used shoe trees on, probably never rested and worn 40 times in two months, all because they are showing wear on the soles?

Click to expand...

I don't have a reasonable chance of that, but at the same time I think I it was reasonable to not expect a hole at this point.

Leather shoes are going to absorb moisture as you wear them. After wearing leather shoes it's a good idea to let shoes rest for a day or two so that they can dry out naturally. This is especially important if you've worn them on a wet day.

I thought that was just common sense. I've gone three-four days without wearing them on days after rainfall, and never wear them when it was raining.

It was drizzling yesterday briefly, and I was on my feet almost all day, but this is...extreme. I wonder if I stepped on something?

That just looks like extensive wear. "Rested" means you shouldn't wear shoes on consecutive days lest they wear too quickly.

Damp soles are very easy to cut or gash. That looks like what you might have done.


You can put a half leather sole on those for about $25. If you are going to wear them so much, rubber might be a better choice.

How much would a rubber sole cost?

Here in NC, Half soles are $25, ask you cobbler where you are,

Rubber soles are probably going to show on the side though, I would take them to a cobbler and see if they can stop the damage and put off a new sole.

You need to wear them less though either way.