church consul vs c&j radstock

[kaizo]

So it's that time of the year again. My birthday/run up to Christmas. I just can't decide upon the two choices. Church's consul (rubber sole at £380) and Crockett and Jones radstock (dainite studded sole at £345). For either of the shoes I am looking for black calf. What would everyone go for given the same choice?

 

[jrd617]

Radstock by a mile. Love the pair I have in brown.

Church has had some low quality leathers in the past too. Don't know if they stopped doing that.

 

[Fred G. Unn]

+1 for C&J

 

[kaizo]

Thanks for the reply guys

Out of interest have either of you tried the consul?

I am inclined to buy the radstock at the moment now but just wondered.

 

[kaizo]

Thanks for the advice guys I went to c and j in jermyn street and had the most welcoming shoe buying experience ever. I ended up buying the conniston though as 341 last did not fit me that well. What was amazing was that I suffer from a low arch but they said they could stitch some cushion in for a price. I'm waiting for those to to arrive in the next 2 weeks.

 

[Fred G. Unn]

Congrats, enjoy 'em! I hadn't tried the Consul but the leather quality rumors after they were acquired by Prada sort of had turned me away from Church's calf too. I have 2 pairs of Church's suede shoes (plus a pair of suede slippers) which are fine, but honestly I vastly prefer my 10 or so pairs of C&J. The Coniston is a great boot! I have the black grain version of it that they made for BB Black Fleece and wear it quite a lot.

 

[kaizo]

Ah blast! Sorry I meant connaught not coniston.

 

[Canhapa]

how does the shape and fit of the cinsul compare to the C&J Connaught?