any one know about shoe soles?
Discussion
just brought a nice pair of church's loafers. I got a cobblers to put rubber soles on the leather base, but the taylors I brought them from said when time comes to get them resoled, I have to send them off to church's and it will cost £80!!
so does anyone know how long your "average" pair of leather soles last? or if I have to get it done by Church's?
Ta
so does anyone know how long your "average" pair of leather soles last? or if I have to get it done by Church's?
Ta
Couldn't give you an "average" lifespan for leather soles but they're certainly not to be worn as an everyday shoe. The leather needs time to air in between wearings so ideally you need to rotate them with another pair. And if they get wet, let them dry naturally i.e. NOT in front of a heat source.
My Bro brought me a lovely pair of dealer boots from a reputable maker in Australia, really cool comfy but with leather soles, I wore them a number of times and it became obvious that they were wearing faster than I would have liked, I took them to a high street little shop that also cuts keys, the guy said they looked quality and fitted some new rubber soles and heels for under £20. sorted
Aha - I used to work for Church Shoes as a student. I've still got a pair of Grafton brogues I bought for my first job interview in '93 and they've been resoled about 4 times now and look good as new.
The last time I sent them back to Church, I think the price had gone up to about £80 (and it takes about 6 weeks for them to come back!) but IMO it's worth it. The shoes go back on the original last and have the entire shoe replaced, not just the layer of leather on the bottom, plus the insides are re-done, laces replaced, etc. Each time it's like getting a pair of new shoes back.
Given that a pair of cheap shoes will need to be replaced each year, I reckon that I've saved over the years by buying Churchs and having them properly re-soled -
13 years x 1 pair of cheap shoes (say £60) = £780
1 pair of Church plus 4 re-soles (£300 + 4 x £80) = £620.
I much prefered wearing a pair of quality, classic English brogues than a cheap pair of more fashionable shoes it comes down to a matter of personal taste I suppose...
CG
The last time I sent them back to Church, I think the price had gone up to about £80 (and it takes about 6 weeks for them to come back!) but IMO it's worth it. The shoes go back on the original last and have the entire shoe replaced, not just the layer of leather on the bottom, plus the insides are re-done, laces replaced, etc. Each time it's like getting a pair of new shoes back.
Given that a pair of cheap shoes will need to be replaced each year, I reckon that I've saved over the years by buying Churchs and having them properly re-soled -
13 years x 1 pair of cheap shoes (say £60) = £780
1 pair of Church plus 4 re-soles (£300 + 4 x £80) = £620.
I much prefered wearing a pair of quality, classic English brogues than a cheap pair of more fashionable shoes it comes down to a matter of personal taste I suppose...
CG
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