Not Delicate: How CF Stead Makes the World's Best Suede

★ First is the process, then at 07:12 we dive deeper!
★ Huge thanks to Andrew and Michael at CF Stead for letting me film there! Check out their website: www.cfstead.com/
★ 11 ways to save money on boots: stridewise.com/best-boot-deals
★ More factory/tannery visits:
* How Horween makes the world's best cordovan: • How Is Shell Cordovan ...
* Why Lefarc is Mexico's most sustainable tannery: • I Visited Mexico’s Mos...
* How Thursday boots are made: • How Thursday Boots Are...
* How I made boot leather in Mexico: • How I Learned to Make ...
* How I learned bootmaking in Guatemala (in 5 days): • How I Learned Bootmaki...
From the highest end footwear in the UK and US, like Crockett & Jones and Viberg, to the most popular and widspread suede footwear in the world like Clarks and their desert boot, there is zero question that Charles F Stead makes the finest suede on the planet. And they make DOZENS of kinds of suede, for thin and supple dress shoe uppers and for sturdy, all weather work boots. There's a lot about suede you don't know about - I certainly didn't before the good folks at Stead granted me access to their tannery and let me pepper them with all the questions I've ever wanted to ask.
00:00 Why we're in Leeds
00:28 How CF Stead makes the best suede
07:12 The history of CF Stead
08:28 What kinds of suede are there?
11:20 Is suede worse than full grain leather?

[@les-chouans]

you simply CAN NOT destroy the waxy commander suede from CF Stead. It is undestroyable and beautiful.

[@Stridewise]

It's such a monster, I loved that Andrew was wearing his during filming

[@les-chouans]

this is by far my favorite leather tannery and my absolute favorite leather. Absolutely amazing work these guys do! Great Video, Nick!

[@Christopher_Stead]

The Repello suede is truly amazing for how delicate it feels, despite being hard-wearing. I have a pair of Travelers in this from Grant Stone and they're awesome.

[@rockymtnstyle]

Awesome! Thanks for taking the time to share this with us!

[@jeffloucks2120]

Always in for some rugged waxy commander. Thanks for the tour and great content.

[@USDAselect]

You don't disappoint, Nick. Great tour of a storied English tannery.

[@aurthordunne]

These type of videos are great. Really in depth and get a chance to see what we normally would never get to see cheers Nick!

[@Crackers2549]

Great video Nick…! Love the history of CFS suede…! Greg

[@TreadHeavilyShoes]

CF Stead are truly one of the Masters of the craft. Great job with this video, Nick!

[@billystpaul8907]

You are certainly the world travler. Always great to see how different aspects of of boot and shoe making from different places and companies. Thanks Nick..

[@davidmacy2252]

CF Stead and Horween...my two favorite tanneries. Great video! I have a pair of Coach Ramblers from Truman and I've worn them hard and that leather takes it and honestly looks so cool as it gets beat up. Great leather!

[@darrenhall7454]

Another incredible factory video. I’m so pleased you went to CFStead! I own and have owned a few CFStead suede shoes and they’ve all been buttery soft but amazingly durable. Fabulous!

[@Stridewise]

So happy this resonated with you Darren

[@kenbling910]

The kudu from Stead on my Grant Stone boots is probably my favourite leather to date, so rich with character and extremely soft, yet so durable! Great video as always mate.

[@Stridewise]

I have the gray kudu diesels and love them! I was wearing them in this video, i should have included a shot :D

[@kenbling910]

@@Stridewise I did notice the sneaky peak at them at the start of the video, was honestly waiting all video for the quick feature on them!

[@Vultain]

Agreed Kudu is amazing. I am shocked it doesn't stretch and blow out. So many soft leathers remind me of Chrome Excel and CF Stead's Kudu has been a pleasant surprise for me.

[@coinecc]

Dang, that pure white suede looks so nice. Never thought I'd be into white suede, but I want that in like a service boot format. Funky.

[@waxedearth5425]

fascinating video. I have their grey suede, waxy commander and a hearty waxed roughtout (grant stone calls it Dark Oak). Big fan of Stead leather

[@Stridewise]

Me too! I love gray suede boots a ton. I've also got gray kudu boots with their leather. Glad you liked the video man

[@iHustleLXXXI]

I just got a pair of Grant Stone's Midnight Suede Ottawa boots and they are awesome. The suede is super soft and I have been wearing them every day since I got them during the labor day sale and I haven't rotated them yet. It's been almost 2 months of daily wear but I brush them after every wear and I put boot tree's in them so they are always in good shape. I love the suede and I'm looking to get more CF Stead suede boots like the bourbon suede from GS but I'm worried they will stain easily but I understand that the suede that is used is waterproof and will probably repel stains from the suede as well but I emptied a can of Tarrago Nano spray on the boots so they are pretty waterproof for the most part. Let's go CF Stead!

[@brunonjezic6208]

one of my favourite leathers is waxy rust calf made by CFS for Meermin, seems to be same process as commander leather but on a smooth calf I asked them to make me MTO order for me. Looks incredible and super tough for thinner calf. Unfortunately they were half size off so i let them go. Im still thinking to reorder them maybe. I do miss that leather in collection

[@thaterasound]

Ernest crack has to be one of the best names ever.

[@anonymousotter6455]

A very cool and insightful video! I'm curious, does CF Stead also tan/make leathers meant to be used for non-shoe-things like bags and hats?

[@abcthecamper1799]

bro made a video about crown northampton and cf stead while I own a crown northampton shoes with cf stead suede. Very nice video

[@tombaily29]

Janus reverse calf is my favorite

[@Stridewise]

Waiting on a pair from Onderhoud!

[@smilersmiles]

Literally just down my street. Proximity doesn't make it cheaper though.

[@Stridewise]

Damn we should have hung out when I was there!

[@alexsherel3344]

You read my comments…THANK YOU…

[@thaterasound]

I want to make a shoe with rough mohawk or sny other hairy suede. Its my favorite texture on a shoe

[@M1_u]

Stridewise visited le Farc, Horween and now C.F Stead. Bringing us amazing content . If you had to choose, which one is your favorite?

[@ladder85]

You know if Sanders UK uses this suede for their boots?

[@IsaacZaetz]

Great video. Do you know who makes the waxy commando boots shown?

[@aurthordunne]

Parkhurst

[@tommysmith7031]

I need to get a pair of cf stead footwear

[@luljk2740]

Who made those stitch down green boots

[@jhnlngn]

Who makes that Rough Mohawk hiker?

[@WordsandWings12]

The boots in the thumbnail are the RM Williams Rickaby ?

[@Stridewise]

Those are Viberg service boots, an old model in "Anise calf suede"

[@aradoran]

Edit: didn’t realize Castoro wasn’t from CF. Been wearing my unlined Castoro Cognac suede desert boot style chukkas to beat the heat here in the central U.S. Great leather thank you C.F. Stead!

[@UnknownUser-rb9pd]

Castoro suede is made by an Italian tannery. Sciarada Industria. Still very good suede.

[@aradoran]

@@UnknownUser-rb9pd Ahhh yep you are correct. Thank you. Well I have a pair of Clark’s chukkas with CF suede and they are good too. Just wish they weren’t lined.

[@UnknownUser-rb9pd]

@@aradoran Yes, I have a few pairs of boots and shoes made of Repello suede and Janus suede from CF Stead and also a pair of Castorino (not Castoro) reverse suede boots from the Italian Zonta tannery they are all good.

[@nafis6668]

wow , it looks like fabric

[@Post_Leako]

So wait, wouldn't a full grain reverse suede just be a roughout?

[@ibbjos08]

Should have brought Troy along to review the place.

[@Stridewise]

“Not enough vegetable tannage: 0/10”

[@yme3267]

So.... my confusion is.... how do I know if a company is using their type of suede? In terms of their website it shows that they are obviously a manufacturer that then presumably sells their suede to whatever company wants it..... they only seem to sell on their website bags? Which.... aren't bad looking..... just not what I would be after. He obviously mentioned names of brands at the end, and I assume he didn't want to name drop too specifically as they sell to all types of companies. Just would be cool to know I guess when looking for specific colors and quality.

[@KunoSA1]

Like horween chromexcel if a company is using C F Stead suede they'll let you know about it

[@Stridewise]

Good question! The answer is most people who use Stead suede say so on a boot's product page, because it's not cheap and it denotes high quality. Though some brands like to keep their sourcing secret from competitors, I don't think many people secretly use Stead suede. So like Viberg, Crockett & Jones, Truman, Clarks, Grant Stone, Rancourt, Indonesian brands, truthfully most of the brands on my channel I think will have some Stead offerings, Red Wing and Thursday are the only big high quality brands I can think of that don't right now.

[@EricMLopez]

@@Stridewise I've always wondered if Satchel & Page makes their Montgomery jacket from Stead leather. It's a solid feeling jacket, but the item description only says "British, waxed flesh" leather. Do you have any insight on whether or not they're using Stead for that particular leather?

[@thehunt226]

Looks like all of the staff is way over middle age, I wonder if they find younger folks as trainees at all? Awesome leather for sure!!!

[@TheDagraner4576]

Wet the drys, dry the wets, trim the drys and then wet the drys again.

[@Stridewise]

There were actually even more re wetting and re drying stages but I thought it'd be stretching it

[@yme3267]

Better suede! Better ingredients! Papa Johns.

[@Stridewise]

Now I want breadsticks

[@SteelKreel]

What an unfortunate last name…

[@Stridewise]

it means 'good time' in irish!

[@IIHOGZBREATHII]

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