Shoes that look better with age...

[Stratos]

Don't know if this is the right thread, but I have a pair of Red Wings that need new soles. I haven't been able to locate a store or repair shop in Belgium that could do it and I get no answer from the guys at Red Wing.

Any suggestions? I live in Belgium pretty close to the Dutch border and wouldn't mind traveling quite a distance to get them fixed.

[jstavrin]

Aquaphor: how in the hell did you get a perforated cap toe?

EDIT: nevermind. I see you can get that option with their shoe.

[k4727]

thats the bakershoe medalion cap toe, i was considering one of those

[Aquaphor]

Yeah, it's an option on the bakershoe website. Seems they only offer it for the Retro Oxford since it is uber expensive. Good thing I catch their white's coupon discount when it was still active.

[milosz]

response from White's re: Natural Chromexcel

"Yes you can order the semi dress in Chrome excel leather. If you have any other questions please feel free to contact us at anytime." - I specified natural, not sure they picked up on that, but it'll be worth a try when I get around to ordering.

These are Indys in natural, I'm thinking SDs should look damn good without captoes.

[hieveryone]

^You know, and you might wanna check, but I think the distressed leather looks somewhat similar, in case you can't get the natural chromexcel.

[CrashTestBrummie]

Been a while since I last asked a n00b question on here, but this sneakerhead is crossing the tracks, thanks to a skim through this thread...

Just how easy is it to get a commando sole fitted to/instead of a leather welted sole?

Cheers!

[coleslawyum]

Pretty simple, since you can add / switch to a full commando sole or a leather / half commando sole to any leather welted shoe. A competent cobbler should be able to do this.

[CrashTestBrummie]

Cheers....gotta spread

Leather soles are all very well, but not the best in a rainy climate when you're pretty active...

[SLAB]

a bespoke question; i understand its not a big problem having the color of the leather soles edges changed but what about the top where the welt stitching is located? I'd like to remove the black finish and have it replaced by brown (similar to the antique edge color from Alden). Possible or is a new leather sole required to achieve this result?

[coleslawyum]

You're going to have to re-welt the shoe. Sometimes the welt is dyed black or a black welt is used. Either way it'll be a difficult task to sand down the color. I usually re-welt my shoe if I want a natural welt. Costs a bit more though and sometimes unnecessary, if the welt is brand new. It becomes an aesthetic decision since a welt can handle 2-3 resoles before you have to re-welt. Also a stitch-down welt will be the color of the upper.

[coleslawyum]

Here's an example of not re-welting. Since This welt was already a brown color, I didn't have to re-welt.

The original welt was black, but I wanted an un-dyed welt and mid-sole. I also wanted a wider double stitched welt, so I changed the whole thing.

Since this was a stitch-down construction, (White's, Wesco, Viberg etc.) the upper becomes part of the welt, so its the color of the upper, in this case, black. So I couldn't change the color of the welt, just the mid-sole.

[edmond]

who did the 1st 2?

[coleslawyum]

You know I'm only a one cobbler man.

[edmond]

hahaha same here

[beeetus]

coleslaw have you ever posted a picture of your entire collection?

[coleslawyum]

Just bits here and there. One of these days…

[edmond]

hows the site going? link please buddy

[philjay]

So I know this is a bit of a repost (posted a similar thing in supertrash) but I thought I could get a better response here.

So it's not a blister, and it's only on my right foot. Essentially it feels like when my foot is about to get off the ground, at the furthest point back in a step, the back of the boot is pushing down on my achilles tendon and it's pretty painfull (feels internal rather than surface pain). Thing is it's really on and off. Any ideas?

I've been told to simply breaking them in which ranges from wearing them, to soaking and wearing them etc. Just wondering if anyone had different advice.

3 second diagram to clarify:

Thanks very much guys!

[M4TM]

Just bits here and there. One of these days…

Was just gonna ask you to post as well... So nice...

[davichan]

coleslawyum,

need to spread rep.

your share of knowledge and demonstration of photos makes learning and new ideas about boots and shoes is one of the main reason i keep finding myself coming back to these threads... besides all the great boot porn as well~ ha

thank you again for your solid posts..

[fre-co]

Coleslaw is a proper boot otaku.... I never seem to be able to rep though.

[fre-co]

So I know this is a bit of a repost (posted a similar thing in supertrash) but I thought I could get a better response here.

So it's not a blister, and it's only on my right foot. Essentially it feels like when my foot is about to get off the ground, at the furthest point back in a step, the back of the boot is pushing down on my achilles tendon and it's pretty painfull (feels internal rather than surface pain). Thing is it's really on and off. Any ideas?

I've been told to simply breaking them in which ranges from wearing them, to soaking and wearing them etc. Just wondering if anyone had different advice.

3 second diagram to clarify:

Thanks very much guys!

Have you tried getting a cobbler to hammer the boots along the back?

[choice]

New Alden cordovan in ravello.

[fre-co]

There seems to be a lot of whiskey/ravello these days. Is the drought over...?

Lovely chukkas indeed.

[choice]

^^ Ravello and Cigar were pretty readily available, I didn't see any whiskey in the chukka boot though.

[fre-co]

Where did you get them from?

[choice]

I got mine from a local retailer, the shoe mart has ravello in a few sizes and cigar in all sizes though.

[Layne]

A shop down the road from me just got a full size run of these in. Natural Chromexcel leather, crepe sole, on the Barrie last.

PM me for more pics & info.

[superbeveridge]

A shop down the road from me just got a full size run of these in. Natural Chromexcel leather, crepe sole, on the Barrie last.

PM me for more pics & info.

what shop? those are nice.