Half sole / full sole for repair

[juniper]

I can't seem to find this in the archives.

Is there any real difference other than aesthetics between repairing my soles with the leather cut off at the narrow part of the shoe (just replacing the worn part -- a "half sole") and replacing the whole lot, assuming both are done competantly?

This is a pair of Loake 1880 calf seconds which only cost 65GBP. The place I use charges 30 pounds for half sole and heel, 36 pounds for full sole and heel.

 

[nmoraitis]

Not to sure if this helps.

http://styleforum.pbwiki.com/photoessay

 

[juniper]

Originally Posted by nmoraitis

Not to sure if this helps.

http://styleforum.pbwiki.com/photoessay

Beautiful results, but he seems to simply stick the half-sole on -- I'm talking about stitching a new one on.

 

[well-kept]

Most shoe repair experts strongly favor full sole replacement and some catagorically refuse to do half-soles. For the price differential I'd go with the full soles.

 

[Shoe-nut]

Considering how seldom one has to change out the sole of a shoe it makes better sense to me to do the fulls.

 

[juniper]

Originally Posted by Shoe-nut

Considering how seldom one has to change out the sole of a shoe it makes better sense to me to do the fulls.

Three days wear a week (spaced out), six months for these. Holes in the middle of soles (stitching saved by toe-plates). Presumably Loake use cheap leather, or I'm very hard on them...

 

[Teacher]

Originally Posted by juniper

Three days wear a week (spaced out), six months for these. Holes in the middle of soles (stitching saved by toe-plates). Presumably Loake use cheap leather, or I'm very hard on them...

I have only one pair of Loakes (1880's, via Charles Tyrwhitt), but mine came with very fast-wearing sole leather. A couple of others have echoed my experience.

 

[juniper]

Originally Posted by Teacher

I have only one pair of Loakes (1880's, via Charles Tyrwhitt), but mine came with very fast-wearing sole leather. A couple of others have echoed my experience.

Ah. I'm coming to the conclusion that Sanders are much better value in the "I must have calf and I must have it cheaply" stakes. I have some 75 quid full-price black calf captoes from them which have good hard soles, combination heels and very close stitching. Not a great range of styles, though.