Questions about shoes!

[pete146]

Hi All

My first post here, but I'd like to thank the community for the great advice I've found over recent weeks.

I have always spent around £50-£80 on high street shoe - generally they last for 12 months and look dreadful and ready for the bin. I've recently increased my income and would like to look to buy better quality.

I just recently bought a pair of Loake Oxfords (747s) - See here:
http://loake.co.uk/747.html- they retail for around £150. I read on here that the main reason to buy better quality is that, when looked after properly, they will last for years. I must say I'm not surprised - but perhaps for the wrong reasons!

IMO the Loakes will last for years because the leather is like iron! It it very stiff, digs in around the back of the heel and has very little flex or give in it. They are also a little 'plain' looking in real life - from the pictures I saw on the web, I expected the shoes to shout of quality, but I suspect that they will look like £50 Clarks shoes to the untrained eye.

I think I expected the leather to be 'super soft' and supple - like a great quality leather jacket. I'm unimpressed and the shoes are destined for ebay

I have owned a pair of Next Italian leather soled ankle boots for around 10 years (they don't make them any more). They have been worn a huge amount - for work, in nightclubs (treading on beer, broken glass etc), in rain. They look like new! Lovely soft supple leather and extremely comfortable.

I also just purchased a pair of Ted Baker Ashcrofts from TK Max for £60. They are leather soled, and seem like really nice quality for a 'less formal' look.

So my question is - What am I not getting here? Is it really worth spending the extra? Did I just buy the wrong pair of Loakes, or are cheaper brands actually just as good?


Also - what would you recommend as a routine for my new shoes before I wear them? I was going to seal/condition them with either Grangers G wax, or Cobblers cream, and then polish them with standard wax shoe polish - is this correct?

Finally - Should I bother with shoe trees for these shoes/ankle boots? If so, are the wooden 'one piece' trees (like these http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mens-Cedar-...=1384687619&sr=8-13&keywords=cedar+shoe+trees) satisfactory, or should I spend more and buy the ones that split (like these http://www.amazon.co.uk/Seeadler-Pr...d=1384687619&sr=8-1&keywords=cedar+shoe+trees)

Thanks in advance for any help and opinions

 

[Veremund]

You bought the wrong shoes.

 

[Fred G. Unn]



So my question is - What am I not getting here?  Is it really worth spending the extra?  Did I just buy the wrong pair of Loakes, or are cheaper brands actually just as good?

Loakes are actually a good introduction to finer footwear but you bought the wrong line of Loakes. The 747s are from the "Shoemaker" line which uses corrected grain leathers. The Loake 1880 line is quite nice and a pretty good value for the $$$. If you're looking for a black captoe, maybe try the Loake Aldwyche:
http://www.herringshoes.co.uk/product-info.php?&brandid=7&shoeid=2388

 

[pete146]

Thanks

How about the question on trees, and on treating my shoes before wearing them?

 

[Veremund]

Did you buy your shoes online or in person? I'm guessing online as you seemed surprised by the feel of the leather. If so, that's mistake number one. You need to touch and test your shoes before buying them.

Treating your shoes and using shoes trees are not optional. They're a must. Buy the best shoe trees you can afford. You'll have them the rest of your life.

 

[Fred G. Unn]



Also - what would you recommend as a routine for my new shoes before I wear them?  I was going to seal/condition them with either Grangers G wax, or Cobblers cream, and then polish them with standard wax shoe polish - is this correct?

Honestly, except for suede I don't do anything to new shoes before wearing them. Maybe others do. Trees are a necessity and must be used. Do not buy a pair without a heel like the first pair you linked to as that will eventually cause the heel to be misshaped. That second pair looks quite nice!

Saphir Renovateur is my favorite conditioner, and is highly recommended. A tiny dab goes a long way so don't over-apply it until you get a feel for how much you actually need. Unless you are buying hiking/winter boots, I wouldn't use a product like the Granger's G-wax, certainly not on calf dress shoes.

 

[pete146]

Thanks for the help

Yes I bought them online And I've now ordered 3 pairs of shoe trees

Thanks again