Church's Appreciation Thread

[PairOfDerby's]

Y

Quality wise the post Prada criticism has been overblown. It is the huge 2021 price increase that deserves criticism. Church’s shoes are very well made and use some of the best quality insoles (matters to me as it goes to comfort) in the business. I particularly like the 173 last for its fit.

Yep, I've only bought crockett and jones since the church's price increase.

 

[jellyroller]

I've been able to find decently priced Church's, whether new through retailers or pre-owned on the secondary market, but the regular retail prices on their website are stupid.

 

[Fenners81]

In case anyone might be interested, I have a BNIB pair of black ‘Toronto’ semi-brogue Oxfords in size 8UK G I’m looking to shift…

 

[Ypuh]

I've been able to find decently priced Church's, whether new through retailers or pre-owned on the secondary market, but the regular retail prices on their website are stupid.

Somehow there seems to be an abundance of 2nd hand Church's available. I'm only into GYW footwear for a short while, but I can't imagine anyone buying a new pair of Church's over C&J.

Quality-wise they are more similar than different, but Church's come at almost twice the cost which makes it a bit silly a proposition. I also don't believe the quality slipped, but you're still getting a €/$ 500-700 shoe like pre-raised prices. Also there's a minefield of bookbinder and sneakers devaluing the brand as a whole.

 

[DorianGreen]

Somehow there seems to be an abundance of 2nd hand Church's available. I'm only into GYW footwear for a short while, but I can't imagine anyone buying a new pair of Church's over C&J.

Quality-wise they are more similar than different, but Church's come at almost twice the cost which makes it a bit silly a proposition. I also don't believe the quality slipped, but you're still getting a €/$ 500-700 shoe like pre-raised prices. Also there's a minefield of bookbinder and sneakers devaluing the brand as a whole.

Yes, the same can be said of John Lobb (Paris) and their prices are outrageous.

 

[Fenners81]

I’m looking at a pair of McFarlane boots that Church’s describe as LW (lightweight). They look to have a pretty rugged looking commando sole as well as a leather midsole. From the pictures it just appears that the rubber sole itself is a little thinner with a foam like material in between it and the midsole. I’ve not seen this before and wondered if anyone has this pair and can offer a review before I pull the trigger.

https://www.church-footwear.com/gb/en/p/highland-grain-laceup-boot-brogue/ETC208_9FQ_F0AAR_F_000000

 

[Schweino]

I’m looking at a pair of McFarlane boots that Church’s describe as LW (lightweight). They look to have a pretty rugged looking commando sole as well as a leather midsole. From the pictures it just appears that the rubber sole itself is a little thinner with a foam like material in between it and the midsole. I’ve not seen this before and wondered if anyone has this pair and can offer a review before I pull the trigger.

https://www.church-footwear.com/gb/en/p/highland-grain-laceup-boot-brogue/ETC208_9FQ_F0AAR_F_000000

If you zoom in on the sole you can see that it is a St. Moritz blowtech sole, made by Gommus (Italy).

Carlos Santos also uses their soles for instance (their Ridgeway variant). I like the St. Moritz soles because of their softness and grip. Comparable to Vibram imo.

From the Gommus catalogue:

Gommus – Quality soles for any occasion

www.gommus.it

ARTICLE 545
ST.MORITZ
Sole - Blowtech
Model:
Type: LUG SOLES / DIMA SHEETS
Size: 36/7/8 / 39/40 / 41/42 / 43/4/5 / 46/7/8

 

[William Kazak]

Somehow there seems to be an abundance of 2nd hand Church's available. I'm only into GYW footwear for a short while, but I can't imagine anyone buying a new pair of Church's over C&J.

Quality-wise they are more similar than different, but Church's come at almost twice the cost which makes it a bit silly a proposition. I also don't believe the quality slipped, but you're still getting a €/$ 500-700 shoe like pre-raised prices. Also there's a minefield of bookbinder and sneakers devaluing the brand as a whole.

Where is a minefield of Church's bookbinders? New? Used? Why would you consider bookbinder devalued? In quality? Why?

 

[shoefan57]

Church’s Polished/Bookbinder leather is a lot nicer, imo, than Crockett and Jones Cavalry Calf, which, to my eye and touch, looks and feels even more plasticky. Church’s have used polished leathers for many decades, long before Prada bought them. My criticism on this score is therefore not that Church’s use polished leathers ( that last many years IME) but that they offer fewer normal calf alternatives alongside them , this is particularly noticeable with the Grafton model where years ago you could buy it in 4 calf colours and a suede. Shannon has always been all polished leathers, but you can now buy it in these new bleached skins too, which do look appealing.

 

[PairOfDerby's]

I’m looking at a pair of McFarlane boots that Church’s describe as LW (lightweight). They look to have a pretty rugged looking commando sole as well as a leather midsole. From the pictures it just appears that the rubber sole itself is a little thinner with a foam like material in between it and the midsole. I’ve not seen this before and wondered if anyone has this pair and can offer a review before I pull the trigger.

https://www.church-footwear.com/gb/en/p/highland-grain-laceup-boot-brogue/ETC208_9FQ_F0AAR_F_000000

I've got the McFarlane and McEntire on the St Moritz sole. It is extremely comfortable and very grippy but it won't last as long as a dianite or other commando soles. Have you had this last before? It is shorter than other lasts. Mine don't get a lot of wear because I find them a little short. Other than that, they are great boots. The leather is superb and the sole works very well.

 

[jellyroller]

Church’s Polished/Bookbinder leather is a lot nicer, imo, than Crockett and Jones Cavalry Calf, which, to my eye and touch, looks and feels even more plasticky. Church’s have used polished leathers for many decades, long before Prada bought them. My criticism on this score is therefore not that Church’s use polished leathers ( that last many years IME) but that they offer fewer normal calf alternatives alongside them , this is particularly noticeable with the Grafton model where years ago you could buy it in 4 calf colours and a suede. Shannon has always been all polished leathers, but you can now buy it in these new bleached skins too, which do look appealing.

I have my eye on the bleached calfskin Shannons but it looks like they're tough to come by in F fitting. I tried the Shannon in G and it was too wide for me - and my foot is fairly wide. I find that the F gives me plenty of room.

 

[PairOfDerby's]

I’m looking at a pair of McFarlane boots that Church’s describe as LW (lightweight). They look to have a pretty rugged looking commando sole as well as a leather midsole. From the pictures it just appears that the rubber sole itself is a little thinner with a foam like material in between it and the midsole. I’ve not seen this before and wondered if anyone has this pair and can offer a review before I pull the trigger.

http://[URL]https://www.church-foot...-laceup-boot-brogue/ETC208_9FQ_F0AAR_F_000000

[/URL]

I've got the McFarlane and McEntire on the St Moritz sole. It is extremely comfortable and very grippy but it won't last as long as a dianite or other commando soles. Have you had this last before? It is shorter than other lasts. Mine don't get a lot of wear because I find them a little short. Other than that, they are great boots. The leather is superb and the sole works very well.

 

[DorianGreen]

Where is a minefield of Church's bookbinders? New? Used? Why would you consider bookbinder devalued? In quality? Why?

Bookbinder is inferior quality leather because it's a treated one with a corrected grain and an artificially polished look.

See also:

https://www.styleforum.net/threads/shoe-question-is-bookbinder-always-bad.675844/

https://theshoesnobblog.com/bookbinder-leather-dont-be-fooled/

 

[William Kazak]

Bookbinder is inferior quality leather because it's a treated one with a corrected grain and an artificially polished look.

See also:

https://www.styleforum.net/threads/shoe-question-is-bookbinder-always-bad.675844/

https://theshoesnobblog.com/bookbinder-leather-dont-be-fooled/

In my Church's booklet from many, many years ago, they say nothing about inferior leather being used in their shoes. On the contrary, they praise their quality. I have two pair, currently, that are over twenty five years old. I have worn them in the rain and the snow.

 

[DorianGreen]

In my Church's booklet from many, many years ago, they say nothing about inferior leather being used in their shoes. On the contrary, they praise their quality. I have two pair, currently, that are over twenty five years old. I have worn them in the rain and the snow.

Of course, any producer will praise the quality of their product. And of course, you can like that polished look that basically doesn't require any care.

Another article:

https://bestleather.org/types-of-le...eather is leather,be imprinted on the leather.