Double leather soles

[Pandaros]

I live in Ireland so it rains hard and it rains often. You probably think this is similar to a lot of other places but the Romans didn't call this land Hibernia for nothing. When I lived in Scotland I was struck by how much less it rained.

But I'm forgetting myself, I'm talking about the Hberno-rain because I've seen a pair of double leather soled boots. I've gone for rubber-soled up until now because I've been led to believe that alongside increased durability they stand up to wet weather much better. In fact, I've had this assumption that rubber supercedes leather soles, but to be honest I don't really know that much about leather soles and especially double leather soles.

If I get these boots, do I need to worry about water getting through the soles or anything else that someone used to rubber soles would need to consider the practicality thereof?

 

[Nobilis Animus]

Double soles increase the durability of the leather, but are still susceptible to water seepage if they are soaked through. It wasn't for nothing that heavy brogues were originally country shoes - the brogueing originally was designed to allow them to drain and dry after being soaked through.

In general, leather soles are more slippery on surfaces like wet metal and grassy areas (both of which you may still encounter in the city). They will also wear out faster if exposed to wet weather and surfaces like concrete over time, as once the soles are wet they wear down more quickly.

That's where the practicality of rubber ends for me.

Leather soles are better for almost any other time, IMO. They allow your feet to breathe, and I think they feel more comfortable and natural over the course of the day. They are also more traditional and aesthetically pleasing.

For the bad raining I'd keep a pair of rubber boots handy, but for strolling about the city once it's tapered off somewhat, double soles will be perfectly fine. Just remember to let them dry thoroughly afterwards, and stuff them with paper.

 

[dieworkwear]

Double soles increase the durability of the leather, but are still susceptible to water seepage if they are soaked through. It wasn't for nothing that heavy brogues were originally country shoes - the brogueing originally was designed to allow them to drain and dry after being soaked through..

Hm, I've never heard of water seeping into a shoe through a double leather sole.

Some constructions are better at keeping out water than others, however. A few years ago, Nicholas Templeman provided me with these drawings of a Veldtschoen, storm welt, Norwegian welt, and Norwegian storm welt construction. These constructions stop water from sitting in the seam between the welt and the upper.

That said, I wear regular Goodyear welted shoes in the rain, either with leather or rubber soles, and find them both to be fine. I mostly wear rubber soles in the rain though.

 

[Nobilis Animus]

Right, that's what Goodyear and other welts were originally designed to prevent - a direct passage of moisture into the shoe. There's a definite difference when you have a good welt construction, and I've walked around in boots with single-layer leather soles in wet conditions with my feet still dry.

However, leather soles will eventually get soaked through if worn in the rain or stepping in puddles. It can be mitigated through treating the soles and edges with something like dubbin or a polish, but leather soles will eventually soak up water and cause one's feet to get wet from the inside.

 

[willyto]

I wear double leather soles often when it rains and never had a problem with soaking feet but then again I avoid puddles.

On the other hand I have gotten my feet and socks when the uppers got soaked.

I have a pair of double leather soled Veldtschoen shoes and they're the most rainproof shoes I've ever worn, that was until the stitching started to separate (Old shoes) then water got in through the soles.

 

[florent]

Double soles increase the durability of the leather

Most RTW makers use leatherboard or low quality leather as the middle sole so it doesn't do much about durability, once the external sole is used through you've got to change it just as single soled shoes.
I don't know about bespoke makers.

 

[JJ Katz]

In my experience, unless it’s badly worn down, a double leather sole will keep your toesies dry in anything short of standing in puddles (as opposed to stepping through them) or a very prolonged walk in swampy conditions. But rubber soles are fine, unless you’re wearing quite formal clothes and vibrant, etc. are really quite durable.

 

[JFWR]

Saphir also makes a sole guard oil that is water repelling.

 

[EUtroll]

I've never experienced a problem with my jr double soles, but comparing to my longer lasting dainite soles, I'm opting for the latter most often these days.