CARMINA Shoe Review | Shoes are Taken Apart and Reviewed

In this video, we take apart a brand new pair of Carmina wholecuts. While we have them apart, we give our thoughts on the quality of the materials, the craftsmanship, and whether or not we think they are worth the money.
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Video edited by: Ashley Saldanha

[@TrentonHeath]

MA-YOR-CA. Got it! Slip of the tongue on my part everyone. 😉👍🏻

[@bobbibuttons8730]

Trenton & Heath there is Mallorca and also Majorca. Two separate Islands. Majorca is pronounced Mayorca. Just sayin 😁

[@wombleofwimbledon5442]

Yeah, "j" is kinda new to the party. Still, great work. Hint for foreign languages: say it like their 007. Winning.

[@kaikaichen]

@@bobbibuttons8730 Actually that's incorrect, both spellings refer to the same island. You're probably thinking of _Menorca_ (or alternatively, Minorca).

[@jackblack496]

I don’t see the welt on these. What type is it?

[@Antharby]

Jack Black they’re Goodyear welted as I think every Carmina shoe is.

[@anthonygardner400]

Hello fellow fans of shoes and the Brothers Potter! Just wanted to say I'm glad so many of you enjoyed watching my Carminas undergo surgery. :) I found it funny that, unlike many of you evidently, I wasn't cringing at all. I think Heath is amazing - a truly exceptional craftsman - so I had 100 percent confidence that my shoes were in the best of hands. I wasn't at all worried. I'm also happy to tell you that when Heath and Trenton returned my shoes, they had been put back together impeccably. I honestly couldn't tell that they had even been touched. So, wonderful job, guys! This is a great example of why you've hit 30K subscribers! Congrats, and thanks for the great videos. Take care.

[@TrentonHeath]

Thank you, Anthony!

[@stevendaniel5649]

My cancer surgeries were less painful. LOLOL

[@anthonygardner400]

Steven Daniel Lol.

[@donnalow3562]

What an amazing way to review!!!

[@tosca...]

Thank you Anthony 😊 For some of us accustomed to watching the handiwork of Trenton and Heath, there's no doubt those shoes were in good hands 👐

[@wt460]

Thank you a million times to the person who put these beautiful shoes through dissection for our benefit. I was thinking about making a purchase and now I have the complete picture, BEFORE I take the leap. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[@TrentonHeath]

Warren Timothy So glad you found it to be helpful in your future purchase. I think you’ll enjoy them!

[@kongmw]

This is the most gentle I’ve seen anyone taking apart a pair of shoes. You can see the respect for these brand new Carminas.

[@TrentonHeath]

We told the gentleman, who sent these in, that we wanted to get them back to him in original condition, so that’s exactly what we set out to do. 😉 A little nerve racking, but we did it.

[@SirMopy]

Trenton & Heath you guys are fantastic and amazing! Can’t wait till my shoes need some repairs!

[@kongmw]

@@TrentonHeath Also, thanks for shipping my recent order so quickly!

[@imnotdon3765]

Those things were a good looking inside as outside. Great job respecting the craftsmanship and thanks to Anthony for offering.

[@TrentonHeath]

Thanks! Yeah, they’re great shoes...and Anthony is an awesome guy!

[@anthonygardner400]

My pleasure. I had a blast doing it.

[@imnotdon3765]

@@anthonygardner400 on Whole cuts too. Beautiful shoes.

[@juventus4293]

The hero we don't deserve

[@noisybarinavalon]

This is what the KZbin cobbler/shoe repair community needs to present to viewers & prospective buyers. Otherwise, we wouldn't know the true quality of the product until it was too late. Love this!

[@Austin-gb1cq]

For my 36th birthday, I finally recieved my first pair of nice dress shoes last week. They were Carminas and I'm so happy.

[@TrentonHeath]

Congrats! They’re great shoes!

[@joeheinecke5134]

I am brand new to tuning in and already a huge fan! I have learned so much and now have a much deeper appreciation for not only both of your skills but shoes in general. As a Chiropractic Physician I have always expressed the importance of quality shoes. I now know what a quality shoe is! Thanks for all you do to make such cool and educational videos.

[@williambeck2202]

A big thank you to Anthony for his generosity and I also cringed when you started to take them apart and I am very impressed with the quality of their shoes , they are on my wish list !

[@rosietheriveter-wecandoit7417]

Thank you Trent and Heath for having the skill and courage to take this new pair of Carminas apart, and especially to Anthony for inviting the surgery on his new shoes. I'm so happy to see this as I'm planning on ordering a custom cordovan loafer from Carmina. So glad to see what I'll be buying. Quality. Thanks again.

[@kimberly_erin]

I’m watching all the videos in order and this one was really good. Love the Carminas, thanks guys and thanks Anthony!

[@rhymeandreasoning]

The craftsmanship of dissecting shoes. and repairing them. You two are truly amazing. I love your channel. Really cool to see what goes into the making of a shoes. Especially high end/quality shoes.

[@TrentonHeath]

We really appreciate that! It’s enjoyable bringing as many of these high quality shoes to you as we can. Thank you very much for watching.

[@Hotspur62]

Many thanks! I own three pairs of Carmina that I bought through the years. Very satisfied customer and happy to learn that you experts agree!

[@Heywoodthepeckerwood]

I just ordered a pair of their whole cuts in black thanks to this video. Have t received them yet but can’t wait. Great video and Thank you to Anthony.

[@Tamma_lamma]

It's so nice to hear your honest opinions on the different brands of shoes you work on. Great job guys!

[@TrentonHeath]

Thank you, Tammy! We really appreciate it.

[@ccc369]

Just ordered a pair of Carmina's based on this review. Look very much forward to receiving them. Thank you for your excellent videos.

[@eroberobe6931]

I've owned Carmina shoes for many years. Thank you for doing this.

[@rbchilds123]

These videos are great. I really love seeing you take the shoes apart and showing what is actually inside. It is one thing to see a review of a shoe, how it looks, how it feels, etc., but it is quite another to take it apart to get an objective look at what you are paying for. Your shoe reviews have already helped me purchase a great pair of shoes, and saved me some money in the process. I hope you will keep making these review videos.

[@TrentonHeath]

Randy, that’s terrific to hear! We really appreciate the feedback. This is exactly why we started our channel. We want folks to know exactly what they’re buying and what shoes are actually worth the money.

[@ducamealy9852]

Deconstructed a well constructed shoe now I would like to see the reconstruction of the same CARMINA which is a beauty from upper to bottom. Fantastic workmanship. I love it.

[@markmahan6868]

As usual, a very informative video from Trenton and Heath. I have two pairs of Carmina shoes and can attest to their quality and comfort. They do indeed just get better with age and use and are well worth the investment. Their fit is spot on too, if you know your size you can order them with the certainty that they'll fit exactly as they should.

[@RoyRogersMcFreely28]

I’d never heard of Carmina until this video. I just ordered two pairs. Thanks fellas!

[@michaeljkenny]

Carmina has been my go to for a few years now. Absolutely beautiful shoes and the only dress shoes I have found at that level that are as comfortable as they are attractive. Amazing to see they are worth the price.

[@wescobts]

great video, and thank you Anthony for such a huge gesture.

[@thomashendrick6711]

Really appreciate your videos, allways strait forward, to the point-honorable, thanks guys!:]

[@Tibbersthepedobear]

This is amazing. Can you do something at the end of year where you recommend your top brands you’ve Reviewed for specific prices.

[@ShowMeInHD]

If you want that go watch Kirby or one of the numerous review channels. Trenton&Heath are cobblers, they focus on construction.

[@LifeCoach44]

ShowMe yeah, but they can still make their recommendations from their perspective, which is unique among the youtubers. Most youtubers judge construction without actually understanding construction.

[@TrentonHeath]

Great idea! 👍🏻

[@davidhorne7444]

@@ShowMeInHD they can Still give recomendations from a cobbler's opinion.

[@jimguardino9149]

Great video guys. The precision shown when pulling these apart showed how much it did “hurt” to pull them apart but great to know you think they are that well made. I am considering saving up for that “next level” up and Carmina is at the top of the list. Thanks guys.

[@TrentonHeath]

Jim Guardino Thanks! We appreciate you watching. You definitely can’t go wrong with Carmina’s. Very well made!

[@golfben86]

Love this review series. Keep them coming! I’m a big carmina fan, and knowing that they invest in quality in all the places you don’t see just reaffirms my feelings.

[@TrentonHeath]

Thanks, Benjamin! Glad you enjoyed. Yeah, Carmina’s are great shoes! Glad we had the opportunity to take some apart and confirm.

[@FinalPattern11]

Pronounced ‘Moe-lorka’ for Mallorca haha amazing. I love these guys. They are real and straight up and aren’t ashamed by silly mistakes. Makes me trust the channels content more. With with from the UK. Keep them coming.

[@Vixcis]

Hello guys ! Currently owning 2 pairs of Carmina. Thanks you for confirming that this brand is pretty great !

[@rlkinnard]

YOu guys are the best. your autopsy gets to the heart.

[@SimoReynaldo]

If ever I need shoe repair, I will send them to you. You both are amazing educators and great at your craft!

[@johnym1]

Just wanted to say thank you to you guys. Helped me a lot on my shoe purchases

[@IODell]

Thanks so much for the review. Carmina makes a beautiful shoe, especially the shell cordovan.

[@Sarahhannahtx]

Y’all do such careful and beautiful work. I’m surprised by the attention to detail that the manufacturer put into these shoes. I would love to see some more videos on ladies shoes, and get advice on what brands are quality, or what brands should be avoided.

[@mikalrain]

Carmina just enjoyed the best publicity they could ever get. A fine gentleman it is that sacrificed himself for the many.

[@TrentonHeath]

Thanks, Mikal! We appreciate you watching. Yeah, definitely a nice guy to allow us the opportunity to do that.

[@MoPoppins]

He probably wouldn’t do it if he couldn’t afford to, but it was still generous of him to share , anyway.

[@mikalrain]

@@MoPoppins True. Yet, neither Gates nor Bezos would give 400 bucks to some random guy on the street. This gentleman, however, did. That is, as you said, quite generous of him.

[@MoPoppins]

Mikal - I don’t think I ever implied that EVERY wealthy individual is generous by default, but that this particular man was able to make this donation because he didn’t have to save his pennies for months or years doing backbreaking work to acquire the shoes. I obviously don’t know anything about him, but I’m assuming that he doesn’t worry about whether he can make rent or utility payments this month, or afford to buy groceries or fill up his gas tank. Maybe there was a time when he did, but not anymore, And if he were an enterprising type, he could even have ties to this shoe brand (as an investor) that now has the official endorsement of this reputable KZbin channel, having documented their craftsmanship for all to see and share with others who can also afford to drop hundreds on a pair of shoes. They’re an investment to impress their colleagues and clients, which will end up making them money, so it’s a win-win-win for all involved.

[@mikalrain]

@@MoPoppins Yes, you are right.

[@Matthew-vj2eh]

Shoutout to Antony not the hero we deserve but the hero we need! Nice choice going with the whole cuts too. Great review gentlemen keep them coming.

[@TrentonHeath]

Matt Weaver Definitely a nice guy for letting us do that! We’re glad that folks seem to enjoy it. We really appreciate you watching!

[@victorlee1126]

Outstanding video. I’m a big fan of the channel and you guys. By the way, thanks a lot Anthony. I just ordered a pair of Carmina loafers.

[@tofan2622]

Way to stay relevant in today's world, I think this deal of ripping the shoes apart, really helps us make the best decision for our application. Maybe my only "constructive criticism" is that you could do a little more in depth explanation of what each part is for and why it's good beyond "these have tons of adhesion". More like these features are normally in everyday wear shoes, expensive vs cheap, etc. Also very excited about work boot reviews. Thank you for a great video, and I'm happy to be a new sub!

[@andregreen8040]

Trenton and Heath @ If you’re ever in MA-YOR-CA you should try out their PA-E-YA lol Love your videos. Best wishes from Australia.

[@stephenathon]

Nice to see some high quality shoes getting reviewed! Not a lot of Carmina's around these parts (TN).

[@pastorshawn44]

Very nice, and well done. I love it gentlemen entertaining and educational. GB

[@carlosc3768]

Great video! Thank you Anthony!

[@v_r_]

Great video! Carmina is an excellent shoemaker, I love their shoes.

[@TrentonHeath]

Vladimir Riché Thank you! Yeah, they’re great shoes. I love quality! Great job on videos, by the way! Always nice and informative.

[@v_r_]

Trenton & Heath Thanks, bro! Greatly appreciated

[@MyBinaryLife]

Been waiting for someone to chop these for a minute, cant believe i never found this! Carmina is king of the price/quality ratio in mens shoes. ive never even heard of someone who can come close.

[@markusbocker2027]

I own some Carmina’s myself and I’m quite impressed by the quality at this price point. Thanks for sharing this breakdown with us! Wonderful content!

[@TrentonHeath]

Thanks, Markus! We appreciate it. Glad to hear you’re enjoying them.

[@forbes646]

How is their sizing? What do you wear in Carmina?

[@deansmits006]

I saw another cobbler channel, and in comparison, you are much gentler on the shoe when taking it apart. You seem to take more care in the process

[@tonydeltablues]

Carmina looks good! I appreciate the way to approached deconstructing a whole cut shoe like that; a lot of respect and what seems like a fair review. Thinking of getting my first pair of whole cuts....might check out Carmina. Thanks Tony

[@TrentonHeath]

tonydeltablues Thanks, Tony! We appreciate you watching. These Carmina wholecuts were quite nice. Definitely worth considering.

[@Aurrian]

Thank you for this video! Earlier this year I saved up for a pair of jodhpur boots from Carmina (they're by far my favourite shoes) and I'm very happy to see that they are indeed high-quality shoes.

[@TrentonHeath]

Aurrian Glad to hear you’re enjoying them! We’ve heard a lot of great things about Carmina from folks who have them. We appreciate you watching!

[@user-xd7hj5by4u]

I love Carmina and now i love them more , Thank you .

[@realleescoggins]

Nicely done guys. Informative channel.

[@incyphe]

@3:11 this is how I nearly half my thumb and went through pretty big surgery in 1989 lol. Thanks for the video. What a fantastically made pair of shoes.

[@wparo]

You deserve many more views. I will be a loyal fan

[@robertbankers8003]

Happy ThanksGiving guys to you and your families.

[@Antharby]

Hi Guys, I was very excited when I stumbled upon this video as I am a huge Carmina fan, since I think 3 or 4 years ago. I just would’ve loved if you explained what you were finding as you were taking the shoe apart, as to give us, mere shoe admirers an insight of what you were finding in real time. That would’ve made this vid awesome. Good work tho’.

[@paladinclothiers3628]

Thanks to Anthony, way to take one for the team. I wish you had gone into a little more detail about the build quality though. You spent way more time on a pair of under $200 shoes than with these. But, great review and thank you!

[@DisabledComics1995]

Always love watching you take a shoe apart and put it back together.... but my god I was sweating

[@BugGenerat0r]

My most expensive shoe is just a Magnanni I got on sale at $120, but these videos are fascinating and I cannot stop watching them.

[@seanjean941]

Feels like somebody's scraping my skin when you took them apart. Now off to look some Black Friday deal in Carmina's site. 😁

[@yankeedoodle6293]

Thanks gents, great job..👍

[@brianrussell7691]

Well done gentlemen, with reverence and respect.

[@TrentonHeath]

Thank you so much!

[@hansdampf5790]

Do you guys reminding that scene from toy story 2, the fixing woody scene? I love craftmanship. 👞 You could bring out a 3 hour video, without comentary and i would watch the whole restoration video. It has something meditative about it. 😌 Thanks for takeing us on your journey. Grettings from 🇩🇪 👋🏻

[@SrJurado]

Got Carmina Oxford Brogues in 2003 and they are still going!!!👌✨

[@drzaius844]

I have 5 pairs of Carminas, from Galway boots to quarter brogue derbies, man I love them all. They may not be perfect, but they are close enough.

[@bobbibuttons8730]

What a beautiful pair of shoes. It’s lovely to see the respect with which they are treated. A random question, how often do you guys suffer nicks and cuts when deconstructing shoes?

[@barrymantelli8011]

Definitely a beautiful shoe, even for the price. It was clear how respectful you were during the teardown. I would have liked to see you rebuild them with your expert skill.

[@TrentonHeath]

It’s definitely a shoe we recommend. We wanted to put that one shoe back together exactly as it came, so it was all about being extremely careful. Mission accomplished! 😉

[@akinigiri]

It was painful but thank you!!! That was very informative. I will pick a pair up the next time I go to Spain.

[@joaquin-jacknava2696]

Good looking shoe. Thank for sharing this video. Learned a little more.

[@TrentonHeath]

Joaquin -Jack Nava Glad you enjoyed! We appreciate you watching.

[@thomashumbert1006]

Love your videos. Extremely informative. Do you have any experience with / opinions on Curatore shoes? I noticed them for sale lately and I am unfamiliar with this brand. Thanks!

[@TheShoeEnthusiast]

Oh it did pain me to watch those new carmina shoes being taken apart. But kudos to your customer for allowing you to show everyone the craftsmanship of Carmina shoes. They are my favorite shoes and mostly what I buy now.

[@ntedesco93]

Thank you for an awesome video. Super informative as always! How would you compare Carmina to the ready-to-wear offerings from brands like John Lobb, Crockett & Jones, or George Cleverley? Any differences in the construction or materials?

[@aaron_333]

Great video! Good to see the Spanish shoemakers stepping it up and bringing great quality and workmanship to the rest of the world. Have you had the opportunity to resole a Yanko? If you have, how do they compare to Carmina?

[@jiboo6850]

after having saw that video few weeks ago, as i live near spain, i decided to pull the trigger with this brand and i bought nubuck Chukka desert boots (rain cut) for my father for his birthday. 300$ in promotion in tobacco color called "Polo". these things are absolutely gorgeous. as we have the same feet size, i of course tried them and, oh god... the 1st introduction made me brain fart like "wow! what did i put my feet into??" i was so confused at how unbelievably comfy straight out of the box they were. i really was in WTF mode for few seconds. mind blown. speechless. it's kinda crazy to figure out such quality brand through an american channel when i live near by this company. i highly recommend this shoemaker and thanks to y'all guys for letting me know about them. this is my absolute best buy of my life. and i'm not joking at all. dead serious. cheers! 😃✌

[@powderriverfarrier]

In case you missed it when he was addressing potential objections to this video Heath's statement pretty much nailed what these guys are all about. He said, "... I'm here for the customer." That sums up the quality of the work they do and the regard they have for their customers. That sort of attitude builds trust and appreciation with their customers. Way to go guys.

[@TrentonHeath]

thepowderriverfarrier As always, a very big Thank You! We enjoy doing what we can for all of our customers, as well as those folks watching our videos.

[@corpsiecorpsie_the_original]

Yay! Shoe dissection. 😄

[@wombleofwimbledon5442]

Great work. I know it hurts, but forensic analysis makes better shoes. That helps everyone.

[@ardentdfender4116]

I’ve never seen surgery done on a pair of dress shoes of any quality. So this was a bit of an education as I also own a dozen plus dress shoes of varying style and quality. I’ve recently learned of Carmina Spanish quality shoes, so found it curiously interesting finding the video. I learned something unquantifiable just watching you guys take the shoe apart. Yet, I would have liked more commentary as to what you both though of the shoe construction as you took it apart to ad more for the viewers.

[@derrickivory226]

On my shopping excursions in NY I walked in the CARMINA shoe store, and examined the shoes and the first thing I notice was the leather on the shoes, were outstanding and the product was well made, now let me tell you I am a high end shoe aficionado, I know shoes. And the price was unbelievable for quality shoes, they remind me of my first pair of Crockett & Jones. A lot of people don’t understand that the designer shoes are cosmetic affect with a high price no substances and the Leather is horrible, So do your homework if you want quality shoes that will last you a lifetime!!!! Excellent video

[@twozup1098]

Mallorca is pronounced Ma-Yorka Beautiful shoes and yet again another brilliant video from T&H.

[@JonShanny]

Looooove my Carminas! Great stuff guys!

[@TrentonHeath]

Thanks, Jon! Anxious to get a pair myself.

[@gabelogan8302]

How do they compare to Crockett and Jones? Really enjoy your work. Thanks for doing it.

[@Jase583]

Great video. Have you guys ever worked on R.M Williams boots. If so what are your thoughts about them.

[@nodieusa]

Thank you gentlemen! I've been a huge fan of Carmina since I bought my first pair on Drop (my most handsome pair of shoes). I check their outlet section every day on their website. I own 3 pairs now, the latest being a pair of Shell Chukkas. It's really hard for me to go back to Allen Edmonds, even when they have sales, when Carmina's outlet (online) store has such better quality for not that much more money.

[@doge973]

Are their outlet shoes as good as the retail ones?

[@nodieusa]

@@doge973 I'm not sure what you mean but they are the same quality as new shoes at the store, they just don't have as many models and sizes. Lately I've seen several models even in shell cordovan.

[@jazzman5652]

Hey guys love your videos. How do i get stains off my baige suede shoes without damaging them.

[@rayleeaustralia]

A few months ago I bite the bullet and bought a pair of Churches. Had always wanted one so it can be crossed off my bucket list😅

[@arabicsartorial2431]

Thanks guys. Carmina are flawless. Any thoughts about Velasca?

[@scdobserver835]

I swear I heard the shoe screamed BLUE MURDER! when the first stab went in...

[@six159]

Im just as interested in watching you put the shoes back together.

[@gordonarnold7465]

THANK 👉 "U" GREAT VIDEO AND VERY INFORMATIVE CAN'T GO WRONG WITH WITH THE BROTHER'S 👍👌👏

[@asadandrew]

Great channel, what are your thoughts are their Blake stitched loafers around 330

[@johnmika4579]

Thank you. I’m interested in a pair of these from Carmina. so these are worth the price it seems !

[@frankelepartners]

Great video... Can you give a review of Huarachi sandal and shoes from Mexico.

[@dauntmoar147]

Can you do a video about top 10 best value shoes based on quality-price ratio? Thank you!

[@Newman8881]

Thanks, very informative. But just wonder is this shoes brand comfort? Is Carmina need a break in time? I know they re all goodyear welt, But I know a couple of people say the real quality leather shoe should need no break in time/should feel comfort for the first time wearing. Comfort for me is first important.

[@ianmedium]

Mallorca has some great shoe makers. I have been there a few times and not only is it a beautiful place their leather working is really excellent. Though not in this range I have a pair of Campers which I think are still made there. Had them for ten years and they simply will not wear out and are super comfortable.

[@TrentonHeath]

ianmedium Yeah, there’s definitely some great shoes being made over there. So many brands being made in Spain nowadays.

[@johnflynn4923]

A comparison with Meermin would be very interesting - same basic family but 2 separate businesses and manufacturing strategies. Worth noting too that the Carminas do not come with JR soles as standard, that's an extra €35 upgrade and MTO.

[@marcopolo2230]

Thank you Anthony!!👍🏾

[@saiyajedi]

I have a pair made for Skoaktiebolaget in Sweden. I have no complaints as to the quality, but whatever last they use seems quite small for the stated size. They’ve stretched modestly over time, though they’re still tight in the toebox and over the instep. I should’ve gone for half a size up.

[@rlm5657]

Would have loved to see you put them back together. How about an Undandy shoe review?

[@salome10011]

Hi from Spain! So happy to see this video! Have 5 pairs of Carmina lady shoes. Love them. However, they do take effort to break in.... any tips for breaking in high quality shoes? The blisters keep me from wearing them as much as I would like.

[@cyrilhudak4568]

Since no one else responded in over a year, mix 50:50 Distilled Water and Isopropyl Alcohol in a spray bottle. Spray the interior of the shoes generously then wear them for an hour or two until dry. Best to wear light athletic socks when you do this. Repeat until they are no longer painful. Shoe trees would be helpful between wears.