GBX Boots with Paint Splats that have Sentimentality get a HUGE upgrade

[@pherble]

I had a pair of GBX a number of years ago. Not great boots materials or quality wise, but they broke in so well and were so comfortable I can understand the feeling of sentiment and nostalgia.

[@MatthewHartsuch]

I had a few pairs of cheap Dockers that I felt the same way about, but I always just tossed them. I think the thick layer of kiwi wax that I put on made the shoes made them more durable.

[@Mapmigi]

These look comfortable, they also remind me of a pair of Maison Margiela’s painted boots.

[@waynedub1167]

Nice work. I like the blake stitch midsole upgrade.

[@bobbyb6012]

Like putting lipstick on a pig. But you did a great job on them.

[@galou0090]

Could you talk about the pros and cons of the Blake Rapid construction as opposed to a Welted construction?

[@StealthFX9]

Advantage is that the construction is simpler and therefore cheaper to produce. Durability is just as good as Goodyear-welted. For re-soles you need a Blake Stitch machine, if the midsole can no longer be used. Comfort should be slightly less good as the cork filling is usually thinner. But this can be compensated with a removable insole. Blake/Rapid is generally very underrated in my opinion.

[@kaikaichen]

I've even heard a suggestion that due to the lack of a glued-down gemming, it can be argued that blake-rapid is actually sturdier than GYW construction... but I think at that point we're splitting hairs, so to speak.

[@MatthewHartsuch]

I really wanna hear what sentimental value these shoes have to justify a resole that costs more than several new pairs. They should have just asked for a full rebuild, and tried to replicate the paint splatters, cause this resole was obviously not worth it and almost painful to see on such a crappy pair of shoes.