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Rubber sole onto leather sole

DirtyHarry

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I got a new pair of Loakes recently, should I have this done?

On their site they say-

'We use leather soles for the comfort and health of your feet. Attaching rubber additions to the sole or heel can affect the balance and comfort of the shoe, and put excessive strain on the construction.'

Is that just a load of crap so you give them more money to resole your shoes in the long run or what?

Cheers.
 

Tomasso

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Opinions will vary but I've used Topy on a few pairs for several years with no ill effect. My cobbler, one of the best in the U.S., has been touting it for twenty years.
 

Tangfastic

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I'm no expert, but I've put rubber soles on two pairs of leather soled boots with no discernible ill affect. Maybe a true shoe lover would say I'd ruined the balance of my shoes, but I can't see a difference. I don't believe the argument about shoes needing to breathe through the soles. This may be true, but if you don't wear the same pair in the wet every day for days on end the shoe will dry out anyway.

Plus you can go out in the damp and not slip or worry about the leather needing to dry out.
 

Recoil

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I put Topy on my Ralph Lauren loafers, no problem. I also replaced 2/3rds of the heel once it wore out with a rubber bottom and I still can't tell the difference.
 

Gus

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I had rubber soles affixed to the leather soles on a pair of lightweight loafers in an attempt to make them more comfortable. It gave them better traction and made them more comfortable for walking, so it worked. I used them all over Italy last summer and my feet were happy. I did the same thing to several of my wife's shoes and she loves them, especially on her boots. I don't need them for my better shoes, but it certainly was an upgrade to shoes with very little padding.
 

alliswell

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Loake is warning you that if you have a glued shoe and you put a thick rubber topy on, the upper may separate from the now much more rigid sole. So make sure to put the slimmest topy you can find on.
 

Nick V.

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Originally Posted by letmebefell
Loake is warning you that if you have a glued shoe and you put a thick rubber topy on, the upper may separate from the now much more rigid sole. So make sure to put the slimmest topy you can find on.

f applied correctly, the sole guard (or Topy) will not make the shoe more rigid.
If we are talking about a welted sole it is impossible for "the upper to separate from the sole". Sole guards (or Topy's) are about the thickness of a dime. However, before applying, the sole must first be roughed up. This slightly reduces the thickness of the sole. When adding the sole guard (Topy) it adds a slight thickness. Net/net the difference is about that of a credit card. If you want to "feel" the actual difference put a credit card on the floor and step on it (with your shoes on). Make sure the c/card is under the ball of your foot. Compare that to the other shoe which does not have a c/card under it. Can you tell the difference?

I'm sure this exercise will put the balance issue to rest.
Please post your findings.
 

DirtyHarry

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My shoes have a welted sole, is the rubber sole stitched on or glued on?
 

Tomasso

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roryj

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you've bought a nice pair of shoes - why put a extra layer of rubber on the soles?
 

emptym

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I've put it on a few pairs of shoes. I leave it off of my most formal shoes, but I love it for it's grip on smooth marble and anything wet, especially when I'm running late and careless.
 

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