CHEANEY FACTORY SHOE REFURBISHMENT | SHOE RENAISSANCE!

[@surinderjitsingh8954]

I always ask my english students to watch your videos, they get a lot of sophisticated vocabulary plus fashion sensibility

[@flasherol3764]

The factory has done a fantastic job on the shoes. Looks brand new.

[@michaelmclaughlin7328]

That is a lovely job! We have used the Loake refurbishment service on several occasions and we have been very happy with it. My wife is a nurse and she does a tremendous mileage in her shoes. All of her shoes came with leather soles, rubber wasn't an option and as the leather soles wore down we sent each pair back for Dainite replacements, which Loake did. Now they are almost indestructible!

[@jrandom2995]

The boots came out great. I recently had a pair of Red Wing heritage boots re-soled at Red Wing and I was thrilled with the results. I have a local shoe repair shop that has done well for other repairs, but the extra money for the factory service was worth it. Thanks for the great videos Ash.

[@dougster701]

They’ve done a great job! Although I would still seek a rubber stick on sole and a cobbler can usually do it for around £20. Will make the boots last a lot longer and will vastly improve the grip. Anything except dress shoes I’ll opt for rubber soles these days

[@MrBurtonshaw]

I've put a Vibram thin sole cover on some used goodyear welted shoes I've picked up in the past that I wouldn't pay to resole... but, some people say "why buy a leather soled shoe and not experience the feel of a leather soled shoe?" If Ash stuck something on those shoes, that's the end of factory refurbing them.

[@e-remes7029]

Another infotaining video Ash. I have had boots resoled by local cobblers in both Lincoln, and also by a local Timpsons agent. Both times excellent work and a personal service. I am considering a Danite sole for a pair of ankle boots when the time is right as the leather sole limits their utility in wetter months. As to Northampton and cobbling. As a child I was taken to factory shops there for shoes (nothing posh), hailing as I do, from near Market Harborough home of the Danite brand.

[@Agerskiold]

A new pair of chukka boots, they look very nice indeed 👌🏼 On some of my shoes Ive glued rubber patches on, (2 millimetres) before using them and it gives some years of extra wear to me.

[@Fanakapan222]

From new is the point. Light sanding to remove the finish enables a good key for the glue and rubber topy, so no problems with peeling. Its also worth bearing in mind that not all half rubber soles are actually rubber, and that can lead to problems with contact adhesives failing.

[@Fanakapan222]

Get some rubber topy's and Lulu plates on, plus a polish on the under arches, and they'll be good for only minor repairs in perpetuity. Interesting that Churches rewelt, presumably they've worked out that removing stitches, and hitting the same holes with the outsole stitcher takes longer.

[@ryanloucks1435]

Great content and happy miles in your newly refurbished shoes.

[@MrBurtonshaw]

oh, a suggestion for the future Ash.... enjoy the new soles, once they eventually wear out, try that Tring Cobbler lad and ask him to put a Dainite or Vibram sole on them.... Cheaney may not have been willing, but most cobblers would. The Tring fellow does top notch work too!

[@nicksuffolk7755]

That looks like a great job, I am currently waiting for a pair of Loake 1880 Oxblood boots to come back from a similar refurbishment from the Loake factory.

[@johnstokes3144]

Great content Ash. I've had a full resole done by a chap in Oxfordshire and the price was comparable. He did a great job with JR soles etc. However seeing that there is only a few pounds difference I think I'll send them to the relevant manufacturer. Those boots do indeed look like new. Have you considered having French tips/lulu plates fitted to the shoe tips. I find mine wear quite quickly in that area. Looking forward to the next video.

[@brynjolfurorgumundsson962]

Very interesting. I've purchased a few Loakes in the last year. This is something I'll look into when they start wearing down. Even though I tend to wear shoes down quickly with my silly walking style my local cobbler has managed to keep some of them going for close to twenty years. This might do even better.

[@MrBurtonshaw]

Fantastic video Ash. Seeing as you've bought those used initially, having them resoled/refurbed might make them even better fitting for you! The original owner would have made an impression in the cork to his feet.... now the cork has been replaced, only your feet will shape them. winner winner chicken dinner. As to what they charge, take off shipping... say a tenner each way at least, quality out sole.. 20 odd quid, heel stack... maybe a fiver... heel top... maybe .. 8 quid. I believe they replace welt.... not sure what that costs. I'm sure they can buy those sundries much cheaper than a punter could... but they are not charging much to give you a new shoe in effect! It looks a lovely job too and as you say, great for the environment! thank you again.

[@iliealexandruclaudiu5938]

Good morning sir! You've mentioned that these were the boots worn in Copenhagen. It would be very useful a video on how you managed to combine the casual style with the stylish one in holiday! Me and my wife prefer to explore a new city by foot and until now I've always surrender to my Salomon trekking boots which forced me to adjust the rest of my outfit to a sport look. During the last months I'm researching if a pair of Dainite chukka boots with the purpose of long walks should last for long time. Also I want to add a Barbour jacket to protect me in case of rain. Greetings from Romania, Alex PS: Another extraordinary content like always.

[@stevenplayford8223]

I think you have almost answered your own question there. Barbour coats can be a less formal city coat, you add in some chukkas, maybe a polo shirt/cotton oxford shirt with a fine knit jumper or cardigan. Still smart, many of those items you can wear in other situations too. I sometimes go for something like an American redwing boot or derby boots with a commando sole and heavier socks if walking all day. The redwings are much more casual.

[@iliealexandruclaudiu5938]

@@stevenplayford8223 Thank you very much for the tip. Until now I didn't take a look to redwing boots. They look nice. I wish you a wonderfull weekend!

[@grahamcurl5026]

I live 2 minutes from the Cheaney factory and, have had several pairs renovated by them. Absolutely superb service and, the shoes come back as good new. 👍🏻

[@TheChapsGuide]

Great to hear!

[@davidporter2770]

Hi Ash, in my business in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, I was a supplier to Barker shoes in Cape Town. In any event I only ever wore Barker shoes as they are so comfortable and the finest quality. In my business I was on my feet all day operating two luggage factories, so my Barkers were pounded on cement floors all day. Now, I always found "walking in" new shoes a pain, so with my contacts at Barker, when a hole appeared in the sole I took them back to Barker when I had to see them in Cape Town, and Barker were fantastic to me, and by the next day, a parcel was waiting for me at my hotel, with my Barkers fitted with brand new soles and heels. Just like new. Even new laces were fitted. And, being a supplier, Barker did not charge me anything . And all Barkers are Goodyear welted. In case you are wondering, I only repaired a pair of Barker's once. After that I bought a new pair, not that I was ever short of shoes. I had plenty of Barkers in my shoe cupboard. Cars, shoes and watches were my go! In that order. 🇿🇦🇿🇦

[@rogerr.8507]

I buy these overbuilt rugged forest firefighting boots, and when its finally time for a resole i get the sole and welt slimmed down to dressy leather style

[@grahamcarr17]

Just looking at the numbers again; I think this enables not just one, but nearly two refurbishments to break even with the original price. Great quality.

[@siguureinartraustason8564]

You know when your leather sole is worn out when you run your fingers over it and it's no longer firm just feels soft.

[@DaddySantaClaus]

it's is worth it indeed i am mostly loyal to crockett and jones and they charge 150 for the hand grade models and 125 for the regular models, basically the same as a cobbler, and you can ask for more details, like blind stitching or a fiddle in a cobbler also lulu plates.

[@misteroz]

I’ve had a pair of brown Barker brogues for about ten years, and have leaned on a cobbler for maintenance. Sadly this renders them ineligible for a refurb by Barker, but I shall certainly bear it in mind for my next pair. Thanks as always for your insight.

[@RaoulKunz1]

Oh that's such a lovely result! Collegial kudos to the shoemakers at the Cheaney factory! I personally (and it's *shoes* , that's my topic in many a way) replace almost every sole I get in a new shoe before it accumulates wear and tear with a JR sole which are not actually that expensive to buy, it's the working hours to get them on that costs you. And once they display wear, it's on with the 1-2mm hard rubber covering ( *Vibram* really is the best source of those, Italian rubber maker, *Continental* is another nice option) no need to go straight to the Dainite sole or any other provider of full rubber soles. Now here you have two options with the protective rubber sole: completely covering the sole, that's visible from the side, less so if you have the sides painted and include the rubber, though it's still another mil or two. The other one that can be done, and I've only ever done with a single pair of rarely worn black dress Oxfords honestly, is cutting the covering sole into shape so that it is essentially a rubber "area" 1cm from the outer edge. It's fiddly and demands a lot of work beforehands as well as some very precise minor grinding and roughing up of the sole in precisely the place but it retains most all of the "leather soled look" of the shoe. Probably a lot more expensive to get done. And of course JR makes these kinds of rubber inserted leather soles, but they are only roughly oriented in sizing so they can be closer or farther form the edge depending. Of course those options only minimize, not contain and limit to the rubber, any damage your leather sole suffers, but it lasts significantly longer. And let me drop a (obvious probably) hint as to the replacement of heel and cost: Take care to observe just how much ob the heel is gone and try to stop before there is any damage to the actual heel block because if we just need to replace the rubber or leather of the outermost segment of the heel it's incredibly simple (pry off the "sole", nail a new one on, cut to shape, clean up, done) and a lot cheaper than to replace and, especially if it's a layered leather heel block, pry off all the damaged layers and replace them, grind to shape, smooth and whatnot. I think the chief problem here is that a common repair cobbler with a single grinding machine in a corner of the supermarket can't do this, you need a "true" cobbler, a bespoke shoemaker or an orthopaedic bespoke shoemaker to get this done. We e.g. do this only for only our established customers, not generally as a service, but then we chiefly make bespoke orthopaedic shoes and complex inlays, the repair service is a bonus. But as far as I can tell (and of course I know several shoemakers but limited to Germany mostly - though I got to talk to a Canadian (orthopaedic) shoemaker who also does the full blown assortment of service on a seminar in Cologne) most "established" shoemakers, cobbler and bespoke shoemakers will get this done if asked (if it's not already part of the explicitly offered services) - I've yet to see a "supermarket" repair cobbler to offer anything like it. - don't mean to come down onto them, but they as far as I can tell from the requirements for the job they don't get the full blown training, just the repair stuff you already know after one year of the five year orthopaedic and bespoke (same trade schools in Germany for obvious reasons) shoemakers training - And there I got again... triggered🤣. Back on topic a bit: the heel element looks a lot like the recent JR ones with the "puzzled in" rubber element - but at least Euro Service Depot does those as well and I suppose a company like Cheaney will do their own - independently of who does them they work a bit better in my experience than the regular ones because there is more interlocking of the rubber element and also ~ a centimetre more of material there to carry the shock of hard surfaces. What it comes down to: from my professional perspective this was both a completely worthwhile investment of the funds and a comparatively cheap one for what you got! A great job done a Cheaney and given the work hours this eats up it's *really* reasonably priced! Best regards Raoul G. Kunz

[@TheChapsGuide]

Extremely comprehensive observations as ever, with some excellent ideas and tips!! Many thanks.

[@viclucyzia]

My formal shoes all have leather soles of course.. My casual ones Dainite soles. Since formal shoes are not worn for a long time the sole lasts quite long. Casual shoes are used under the elements and a rubber sole is really of preference. I will definetly resole one day my nice formal shoes and I own 3 pairs of Cheaney's.

[@ronaldpoppe3774]

Wow what a great way to extend the life of your shoes. Allen Edmonds has the same program. You are really going to get your money's worth out of those shoes. Cheers Ron

[@bjartone-ip5cd]

LOL, the shoebox matches your coat and scarf.😀 The shoes are great after the refurbish! It looks like Cheaney revitalized the suede on the uppers and sorted out some of the wrinkles on the vamp area too.

[@morrisdoug6497]

I have many pairs of Alden's and Allen Edmunds shows which offer factory recrafting. Alden's is about $160US. Unfortunately I have to pay shipping both ways, plus exchange rate and duty and taxes when they are sent back. In total about $400 CAD.

[@King_Harrold]

I have a number of pairs of shoes from Cheaney and Loake. I agree with your point about price to quality when compared to C&J. Plus that price difference.covers a few resoles! I've not had need to send a pair for refurbishment yet (a high percentage of my collection are dainite) but I'll be sending to the factory. Some local cobblers offer a full resole but their price if comparable to the factory, so I'd rather it returns to those who made it. Informative video as ever. Wear those refurbished shoes in good health.

[@DavidB-py8nz]

What a great job. I have a pair of cheaney shoes from the imperial collection. They're 13 years old and close to needing refurbishment, the problem is it costs £195! Just dont know if i can pay that, i've picked up brand new crockett & Jones and cheaney for basically the same price on ebay, absolutely love the shoes though so its a dilemma.

[@adrianwalker2833]

Couldn't the repairs be carried out by a good cobbler as well, and not just the stick on rubber sole to cover up the hole? (Although I do acknowledge they are hard to find these days.)

[@gregsayles9253]

Funny...The great Martin Grey from Cheaney (he had been there over 45-yrs), around 10 yrs-ago on KZbin stated that Cheaney would only charge about "1/3rd the price of a new-pair" for a complete refurbishment, which would take approximately three weeks or so/Guess 10 yrs-later both the cost & time have more than doubled, even percentage-wise 😞

[@darrenhall7454]

I’m very interested in Cheaney. I have several Loake shoes and boots. Would you consider Cheaney on a par with Loake? I bet you were referring to Abbots Shoes. I own a pair of Bourtons bought from Abbots. Very impressed with them.

[@TheChapsGuide]

Yes Abbots was the source of these boots. Cheaney are of a much higher quality than Loake 1880, although their prices reflect that fact.

[@techauthor324]

I've had Dunlop welted leather-soled shoes in the past. For some reason, l am ALWAYS hard on the wearing part of the toes of the soles. Rubber sole replacement for me ... ALWAYS!

[@AndyJHiscock]

That is absolutly amazing!

[@eg8568]

What's the name of the lightly-preowned shoe website you purchased them from? Thanks for the video by the way, just purchasing a beautiful pair of Cheaney trafalgar boots in dark leaf and am loving them!

[@TheChapsGuide]

Abbot Shoes. abbotsshoes.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIv9HBhpnxgQMVGj8GAB1cPArrEAAYASAAEgJbO_D_BwE

[@eg8568]

@@TheChapsGuide thank you!

[@b_altmann]

Interesting they didn't offer a Dainite. I like leather soles too though. Tricker's give you the option to have the sole type you want, no matter what the shoes or boots came on originally. - There is sole oil to treat leather soles after wearing them first, when the surface is already a bit roughed up. It is then recommended to re-apply it once in a while. This will prolong the life of the leather sole. I have also heard that one should first wear new leather-soled shoes in dry weather and on hard surfaces as this will harden the leather sole, which also helps with the lifespan.

[@peterwilliams6188]

Ash, I have two pairs of Cheaney shoes which I bought 40 years ago. They still look fabulous. What is the name of the web site you used to buy your chukka books from? Many thanks, Peter

[@TheChapsGuide]

Abbots. abbotsshoes.com

[@peterwilliams6188]

@@TheChapsGuide thank you Sir.

[@jeffreylamont8111]

How do you rate Herring shoes Ash?

[@TheChapsGuide]

Herring are a retailer of shoes and do not manufacture any themselves as far as I understand. They do badge some products with their logo and may even commission sho factories to make products on their behalf, but they are basically sellers and not makers. They generally deal in excellent quality footwear and I have purchased a pair of their own-branded chukka boots and they are still going strong some 10-years later.

[@freddykabulaschnitza2475]

Hello Ash, I know this is off topic, when we're watching a video on shoe repair but would you consider doing a presentation on making presentation? You are a very interesting first class communicator and I know you you'd have definitely made a top rate teacher had you chosen that profession. This is an area in life that many Chap's find really challenging and struggle with, I know I do. Any advice you may offer will be appreciated by many I'm sure. Renato you, Freddy.

[@TheChapsGuide]

You are a mind reader. I have recently filmed such a video and it will be dropping into the schedule in about a week. Thank you for your very kind compliments. Communications skills are built over time and mine have certainly been a long time in the making. Best wishes, Ash

[@nigelreynolds7330]

Hello Sir. I have a pair of Loakes which I meticulously look after. I know you didn't mention this brand in the video, but do you know if this is a good brand and could be factory refurbished?

[@MrBurtonshaw]

Loakes are excellent proper shoes ;) According to their website they offer similar repair service.

[@MrBurtonshaw]

I'd also add, after reading a gent's comments on here, that he feels that Loakes don't use the same quality of leather that some of the other (more expensive) proper shoe makers use. Loakes do a higher end English made range called the "export" range.... these may be on par with Cheaney, Church, Crockett & Jones etc

[@nigelreynolds7330]

@@MrBurtonshaw Thankyou very much for your words of advice and information. Much appreciated and I would certainly look to getting mine refurbished when the need arises. 👍

[@MrBurtonshaw]

@@nigelreynolds7330 My pleasure, I'm only learning myself. Maybe Ash could help you do a video on your findings!?

[@TheChapsGuide]

Not all Loake shoes are created equal. I would only investin Loake 1880 shoes and avoid the lesser tiers, which are not manufactured to the same level.

[@9er..]

Let’s talk about the slip and slide factor ….One has to always watch one’s step with new leather soles. I’ve been skating all over town with a new pair of Barkers😂😂😂😂

[@jimmydigital]

Where the rubber meets the road

[@haourss]

I get to make the first comment? New record😅. Great stuff as always Ash.

[@TheChapsGuide]

Winner!!! Good morning sir.

[@mattjohnson9469]

You beat me to it.... one day!

[@kjakan79]

What is the website for used quality shoes?

[@galou0090]

Why do factories choose to always replace the welt? This can shorten the life of the shoe. They should use the original welt as much as possible and then, if the welt requires, replace it. This is one of the reasons why people opt for cobblers, and not factory refurbishments ,which unfortunately doesn't make them possible to go into the refurbishment process.

[@MrBurtonshaw]

I've wondered this too. Factories often say "a shoe can only be resoled two or three times" ... Well, if they used the original welt for , say.. the first resole, then replaced it on the second... that's a few more resoles! Maybe it takes too much time to pick out the remaining welt to outsole stitches in the welt and it's quicker for a factory to take the welt off and machine a new one on?

[@galou0090]

@@MrBurtonshaw Perhaps, but that would limit the lifespan of the shoe, which I would assume would be one of the selling points of the manufacturers. I would like to learn more from the factories as well.

[@MrBurtonshaw]

@@galou0090 I suppose , say with, 3 resoles, a pair of properly made shoes lasted 10 years, if rested a day between wears or as part of a rotation of shoes....considering that the shoes are a quality craftsman made (if not actually handmade as such) ... 10 years is pretty good for the money. Maybe we expect too much!?

[@galou0090]

@@MrBurtonshaw I think the refurbishment service is superb! And yeah 10 years is a long time for a pair of shoes, considering our feet also change throughout our lives. We may expect too much, but rewelting without a need for it is just wasting resources when we don't to. If the upper is in good condition, then we should aim and ask for the most out of our cobblers.

[@MrBurtonshaw]

@@galou0090 Well, it would be interesting if Cheaney would -'replace an out sole and heel assembly, but not replace welt and to pick old stitches out of welt before sewing to outsole' if requested? Maybe they'd swap the cost of picking out of stitches with the cost of a new welt! If they slot refurbs into the production line to keep costs down, they may be reluctant.

[@bjartone-ip5cd]

Chap Nirvana on a shoestring!

[@UnknownUser-rb9pd]

A number of misleading comments here. Sorry for the long comment. 1/Regarding this refurbishment, any competent cobbler should be able to resole these GYW boots. Cobblers DO remove the sole and change the cork and is something that I have had done on many pairs of shoes. If your cobbler doesn't I suggest you change your cobbler. Many cobblers are used to working on cheap shoes and will automatically select the cheapest option. 2/ A Topy or rubber sole should normally be applied at the start of the shoes life, not to cover up a worn sole. with a hole in it. That will preserve the original sole and it is a simple job for your cobbler to remove and add a new one when required. Last year I had this done on two pair of boots and it cost £15 per pair locally (in Scotland). 3/Generally the shoe manufacturer will not replace the insole when re-soling as that is what the shoe structure is built around. Not unless it is absolutely necessary. Just the heel pad. 4/ Sending in shoes to the factory actually reduces the life of the shoe because they change the welt which is not necessary most of the time. They basically put the shoes onto the production line again. What this means is that they have to stitch the welt (by machine) to the upper and creates another set of holes in the upper. This is why Cheaney say on their own website that normally three re-soles are the maximum. If your local cobbler does it because you have worn through the welt (some people do this by the way the walk), they normally do it by hand which should re-use the same stitch holes. 5/ It is not necessary to use the original last to re-sole a shoe unless you are removing the insole and literally re-building the shoe around the upper. This is only likely to be required if your shoes are really worn or you have particularly toxic feet. 6/ Finally to say cemented sole shoes can't be re-soled is wrong. Most cobblers should be able to either grind off or apply glue thinners to remove a cemented sole and it is no different to what they do to remove a commando or crepe sole where the sole is too thick to stitch. Where this myth comes from is that it is usually not worth it for cheap shoes. For info, Cheaney are now selling cemented sole shoes themselves.

[@TheChapsGuide]

Sir, you make some fair points, but I think you will find that any observations I made within this video were not misleading, despite being contrary to your own views around shoe care and repairs in general. I reside close to a town of over 100K inhabitants, however, there is no cobbler within this area with the requisite skills necessary to effect a Goodyear welt resole on a pair of shoes of elite quality. Few local cobblers will have the required skills and will have the scant demand for such work in most typical UK provincial towns/cities. With this in mind, I would be very reluctant to entrust a pair of £500-£1000 shoes to a local cobbler for repair. I would much rather send them back to the factory, where the best tradesmen/women will effect the repair at a very reasonable price (a local cobbler will most likely exceed the refurbishment costs of the factory, as they will have to invest much more time in the repair to achieve anything like parity in the desired outcome). If you are fortunate to have access to a local cobbler with the required skills and at a price-point below the factory scale for refurbishment, you will be a very, very lucky customer. Rubber sole protectors - My advice still stands - If you want rubber soles on your shoes, purchase Dainte or similar at the point of purchase. Adding rubber or composite sole covers is incongruous to the style of good quality leather soled shoes. All manufacturers offer Dainite (or equivalent) sole options at the point of purchase. If you desire the sleek style of leather - buy leather, if you prefer longer lasting rubber, buy Dainite. To my eye, adding a rubber overlay on top of a fine, leather sole is like having plastic covers on your sofa to avoid wear and tear. Cemented soles - I agree, they can be repaired - but what would be the point! Throwing good money after bad!

[@UnknownUser-rb9pd]

@@TheChapsGuide Thanks for your response. Firstly I'll mention that Timpson's actually do full GYW re-soles. The outsole stitcher is an expensive piece of equipment so only a handful do them on the premises but they will send them away to one of their central repair places where people do such repairs full time. They actually train the majority of cobblers in this country. I have used local Timpsons for simple things like heel toplift replacements with mixed results and realise that the majority of Timpson's staff are not skilled cobblers so would suggest sending the shoes away if you do use them. I obviously can't comment on your local situation but in my local area there is one Master cobbler with a much smaller population. And in the nearest big city, Glasgow, there are several more. I do realise finding a cobbler you trust is not always easy but I would also argue that any cobbler who does not do GYW shoe repairs is not really a cobbler. Blake stitched (in this country) is much less popular and many cobblers don't invest in the the necessary machine but GYW.... I wasn't disputing your preference for leather soles, more that sticking rubber over the top of a worn sole is a bad decision and something that really shouldn't be done. Similarly Toe taps are better done with new or relatively new shoes. I'll add though that all the Northampton makers sell leather soles with rubber over the forefoot. Cheaney call them "Diamond soles" , shoes with the "D" suffix (Dainite soles have an "R" suffix confusingly) and Crockett and Jones call them "City soles". They are much lighter than Dainite soles and provide better grip on smooth pavements and tiles. I own a pair of Cheaney shoes with such soles myself (amongst 18 Cheaney boots and shoes). Many cobblers spend their lives fending off shocked comments by people who put cheap and nasty shoes into shops and customers expect (very ) cheap repairs regardless of the amount of labour involved, which is why they always suggest cheap repairs but generally will be delighted to do real shoe repairs. Cheaney sell their cemented sole shoes for £375 and if I owned a pair I would very much think they were worth repairing. As mentioned previously many of the soles used by Northampton shoe makers are only cemented simply because they are unable to be stitched. My Cheaney Milburn boots are a good example and that also includes a few Crockett and Jones at distinctly premium prices. That is why cemented shoes are worthwhile repairing. It is nothing to do with the sole attachment method but the quality of the shoe overall including the the cost of replacement. Most of the strength for a sole come from the glue used and I've owned mountaineering boots that have been abused horrendously but the uppers die first. There's lots of YT stuff regarding cobblers which explains this better than I can but I have had at least twenty GYW sole repairs over several decades and even have worn out Dainite soles and had them replaced and nearly all of them have been done by independent cobblers (including those contracted to shop chains such as Jones). This is not to say that the manufacturers don't do a good job (notwithstanding the limitation on number of re-soles which may not be an issue for most people) but you really don't need to replace the welt for every re-sole as the welt is there to facilitate the re-sole and it is simply not necessary to use the original last for nearly all shoe repairs.

[@sum11t]

Spending £££££££ on a pair of shoes isn’t an ‘investment’…. The shoes do not earn you profit. Not spending the cash on lower cost alternatives is called a ‘saving’. I feel people use the term ‘investment’ just to make themselves feel better for spending bucketloads on something material! 🤣

[@gregsayles9253]

But shoe's ARE a necessity by Nature...So perhaps one is investing in nature out of necessity 😮

[@olatusijazz8155]

In my own opinion, a reputable shoe repairer would be much better for the following reason. (1) The factory repair will replace the welt, which is not necessary if it is in good condition. (2) Replacing the welt is done by putting additional holes in the side of the shoes which would enable the repair to be done once or twice in the life of the shoes. (3) A reputable shoe repairer will replace the welt on the existing holes with would enable the shoes to be resoled multiple times. 18:40

[@shanewilliams9573]

It's bad luck to put shoes on a table.

[@TheChapsGuide]

Only new shoes.

[@mikewinston8709]

Loake are utter rubbish.

[@MrBurtonshaw]

their shoes or their refurb service?

[@mikewinston8709]

@@MrBurtonshaw the shoes. Ghastly leather and finish all done to a price.

[@Fush1234]

I live in New Zealand. Repair is not an option. We are simply too far away. Answer.. rubber shoe sole protectors. Fantastic.