Barker

I'd never heard of Barker until today. Does anyone have an experience with the new Barker Tech collection? Goodyearwelt with a removable insole. I'm not getting any younger and I'm looking for something with sneaker like cushion.

cerneabbas said:

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My Barkers, I think that if you like a heavy(ish) country (ish) looking shoe then Barker make some reasonably priced examples (I also like Sanders and Alfred Sargent in similar styles).

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HI may I ask what model name is your wingtip? Also what last? Thanks

Bien said:

HI may I ask what model name is your wingtip? Also what last? Thanks

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Barker Grassington in Cherry grain on the 29 last...
I think that Barker have stopped making them now and replaced them with the Kelmarsh.

Does anyone know where Barker sources their waxy bridle calf leather used for the Mansfield chelsea?

I see Barkers all the time in my local shops and to be perfectly honest they all seem reasonable to me compared to the competing Loakes. I'd take a Barker shoe over a Loake L1 any day.

I've just taken a punt on these given I've destroyed my milsurp oxfords by treating them as slip ons. Hopefully I'm not in for a bad time or about to receive a shoe with a heel made of compressed cardboard like earlier posts ITT warn of.

Barkers have been my go-to brand for years, mostly loafers. Have bought mostly new, also second-hand but near-immaculate. I think the value is generally pretty good for the price (depending on model) and certainly prefer them to Loake in general, but IME the QC isn't quite what it used to be. Don't get me wrong, they will happily exchange or refund if there's a fault but it just makes the buying experience a tad less hassle-free.

EDIT: Someone mentioned Barker Black earlier in the thread and I thought I'd comment since I own a pair of their wingtip brogues. Yes, I've also heard that the sizing is a little inconsistent and odd, but I've owned my shoes for about 5 years, worn them very regularly and have found build quality and durability to be fantastic, similar to Church's.

transitoryanglo said:

I see Barkers all the time in my local shops and to be perfectly honest they all seem reasonable to me compared to the competing Loakes. I'd take a Barker shoe over a Loake L1 any day.

I've just taken a punt on these given I've destroyed my milsurp oxfords by treating them as slip ons. Hopefully I'm not in for a bad time or about to receive a shoe with a heel made of compressed cardboard like earlier posts ITT warn of.

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got these today. seems i am once again a victim of my awkward feet size and theyre no good for walking distance, nice as they are there just isnt enough width in them for me. construction isnt amazing, the milsurp shoes i have are done to a higher standard, but the barker ones dont seem to be a polished leather so it has a slightly nicer texture. i will likely reserve these for nice days out, or perhaps sell them on at a reasonable price.

to elaborate on the quality, its little things like the edges of the leather not looking quite as nice, the tongue being glued to one side rather than loose or stitched there as with other shoes ive had. not a reason to bin it, but i probably wont be thrifting any more barkers unless in person given the price of thrifted shoes has doubled over the last couple years.

_Nicolas_ said:

Barkers have been my go-to brand for years, mostly loafers. Have bought mostly new, also second-hand but near-immaculate. I think the value is generally pretty good for the price (depending on model) and certainly prefer them to Loake in general, but IME the QC isn't quite what it used to be. Don't get me wrong, they will happily exchange or refund if there's a fault but it just makes the buying experience a tad less hassle-free.

EDIT: Someone mentioned Barker Black earlier in the thread and I thought I'd comment since I own a pair of their wingtip brogues. Yes, I've also heard that the sizing is a little inconsistent and odd, but I've owned my shoes for about 5 years, worn them very regularly and have found build quality and durability to be fantastic, similar to Church's.

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have you or anyone else in this thread had experience with the Caruso loafers?

Looking at these Barker Noel but cant find any information on the 466 last for sizing,anyone on here know about the last ?

Barker Bailey in ebony (about 2 yrs old) perhaps used 10-20x
According to Anthony from Shoe healer, the heel stacks are not compressed cardboard (Loake 1880 uses some cardboard for heel stacks-source Shoegazing Blog)

Barker Bailey in 460 last, fits like dream, no torture to my feet. Very beautiful natural sole, double stitching are almost perfect, (i have no idea about the sole component, I hope the insoles and midsoles are all veg tanned leather, no leatherboard/compressed cardboard ) barkers might give clarifications on this

Comparisons:
I've owned C&J Coniston(325 last) but a half size smaller, the fit is not good, very cramped in the toes, heel hard as stone, very painful in long walks

Many C&J last shape resembles women's shoes, just too pointy for my taste, even the 325 last

Trickers stow, in my Correct UK size, slight pinch in my pinky toes, OK fit

Trickers 4444, too much heel slip

Loake Edward, OK fit, a bit stiff sole
Allen Edmonds 65last, slight pinching pinky toes

Conclusion: Barker shoes (in their higher end ranges) are so underrated, their 460 last is excellent, comfort is king, and the shape is not too elongated, just the right roundness

they use good, descent leather and amazing details in construction, and

the brougeing details for this Bailey is not a common sight upon comparing to other longwings, kudos to the designer, I love it very much for years, Value for money