A silly question on shoes with leather bottom

[duanjian]

Does anyone feel they are really slippery? Tried a few pairs of Testoni and honestly i am afraid I may fall

 

[TCN]

I'm guessing you tried them on on carpeting? Until they get a bit scuffed up, they'll be slippery on most surfaces . . . just walk carefully for the first few minutes.

Now they'll never be quite as sure footed on ice as ruber soles will, but I'm assuming that's rare enough that it won't cause too much concern.

 

[gnatty8]

Are you serious?

 

[chewy]

Are you for real?

 

[Nick V.]

Have you ever tried sole guards? Or, you can always bring them to a local repair shop and ask them to rough up the bottoms a bit.

 

[Thurston]

Or just go outside and shuffle your feet on the sidewalk. I can't imagine what a cobbler would say if I asked him to rough up the soles of my shoes. It seems like you are affiliated with a shoe repair, so I guess you'd know better than I, but I'd feel like an ass asking for that 'service'.

 

[stevie_wonderful77]

I once read somewhere that lightly scoring leather soles with a very sharp knife helps make them less slippery. Could be complete bollocks though -- have never tried it.

 

[stickonatree]

Originally Posted by stevie_wonderful77

I once read somewhere that lightly scoring leather soles with a very sharp knife helps make them less slippery. Could be complete bollocks though -- have never tried it.

that's what the SA at nordstroms told me as well. i keyed up some pair of ferragamo loafers right when i got home and it didn't really help that much.

 

[Tarmac]

just wear them more

 

[atroopan]

I was under the impression leather soles are also slippery in the rain too. Haven't been caught in much rain myself since it is more or less an underground trek.

troop

 

[Nick V.]

Originally Posted by Thurston

Or just go outside and shuffle your feet on the sidewalk. I can't imagine what a cobbler would say if I asked him to rough up the soles of my shoes. It seems like you are affiliated with a shoe repair, so I guess you'd know better than I, but I'd feel like an ass asking for that 'service'.

Yes, I do own a shoe repair company.

Customers come in from time to time and ask us to do this (or we suggest it). We happily accommodate them. Please don't "feel like an ass asking for that service". Any reputable shop would be happy to do it for you. Usually at no charge. It's good customer service.

 

[epa]

I put rubber sole protectors on all my leather sole shoes (well, actually, all my shoes have leather soles, except a pair of loafers and the sneakers), at least on those I expect to wear in rainy weather. Actually, thinking about it, I notice that my only pair of shoes that has escaped the rubber sole protectors is a pair of suede shoes that I do not intend to wear on rainy days.

 

[lee_44106]

I just can't imagine that scoring a leather sole will work that well toward improving the traction of the sole.

Topying the whole things ruins the good look of the leather sole.

An alternative option is to buy little traction stickers (in oval shape) that you can stick on the sole.

 

[wEstSidE]

people put rubber on their leather soles? to protect it? i thought you can just get the sole repaired when it starts to wear out...

anyway it is slippery, especially on a smoother surface like hardwood or linoleum. walk outside and it will be better in a few minutes.

 

[epa]

Originally Posted by wEstSidE

people put rubber on their leather soles? to protect it? i thought you can just get the sole repaired when it starts to wear out...

anyway it is slippery, especially on a smoother surface like hardwood or linoleum. walk outside and it will be better in a few minutes.


I put the rubber protectors on more in order to make the shoes less slippery, than in order to actually protect the sole from wear. True, it may deteriorate the nice look of the leather sole. However, I have seen substantially worn out leather soles that do not look that great either. I guess that I do simply not care too much about the way the sole looks. I understand that some people will find my behaviour offensive, but, please, consider that 1) I fear that I will look ridiculous when rolling around on the ground in my expensive suit after slipping on the pavement (and I do not find too much comfort in the idea of the people watching me giving me compliments on the look of my nice leather soles) and 2) I am not doing this to any USD2000+ bespoke shoes; my most "exclusive" pair of shoes is probably a pair of Tramezzas, and I felt pretty OK when asking the cobbler to put the topys on.