Lower Cost Shoes

[Fifty150]

I had to re-do it every year

Here's another look at how they prep the surface, before they glue on soles.

 

[Ernest P Shackleton]

I've followed directions to a T on the respective containers. Various types of solvents to clean u surfaces. Fine sandpaper to rough up contact areas. I've tried it all.

How are you doing that? Are you just adding glue between the shoe and the sole? Or are you taking the entire sole off, prepping the surfaces, then reattaching? I see those videos where they have a pneumatic press, and I'm sure that really helps bond the surfaces as the contact cement cures.

tried acetone, paint thinner, 91% rubbing alcohol. tried sandpaper, metal files. also have tried a couple different vices that max out at 400LBs of pressure. I don't think it's the tools or my process. I think it is the contact cements I've tried. that's why I was curious if you had a favorite.

 

[Fifty150]

I'd really appreciate a recommendation.

I've used Masters and Barge. Both have worked okay for me.

 

[Fifty150]

I've seen the YouTube videos where they use these brands:

 

[大馬伕]

It seems like when you spend less, the expectations are less. The bar is lowered. You get a lesser grade of product, but that's okay. When you buy Wal-Mart shoes, you don't expect Horween leather.

You expect more with increased pricing. What happens when you spend more, and still get less? When shoes price over $300, $500, or even $1,000? In what world are $2,000 worth it?

We all have our own ideas. I have a hard time with buying a luxury car. But I don't drive a Kia either.



What shoe is "worth it"? You actually get your money's worth?

 

[Fifty150]

It may come as a surprise to some around here that not everyone can pay $350+ for a pair of shoes

When you spend more, it does not mean that you get more.

 

[Fifty150]

I got these for $25.

For some of us, when we are wearing suits, we could still get into a little action.

And while it's nice to own better quality, and to be able to walk around in expensive shoes......... I need shoes that I can run, climb a ladder, climb a fence, and fight in. The first consideration is comfort. My feet cannot hurt on long shifts. The second consideration is traction. I cannot slip and slide on leather soles when my life depends on it. Then I think about cost. How much should I spend on shoes that will get ripped, torn, cut up, etc.? Not to mention chewing gum, spilled drinks, broken glass, urine, blood, and other bodily fluids.

 

[Fifty150]

Right or wrong? The price was right. About $41. I glued on a rubber sole protector. It's ready, in case a political dignitary orders Panda Express, and the dishwasher, me, has to make the delivery.

 

[gekej]

We have gotten so used to ultra cheap clothing made overseas that we forget that clothing wasn't always this cheap. People back then made less money and got by. They got by buying less but spending more where it counts. The average household back then often spent over 10% of their income on clothing, but bought far fewer items overall.

Those items were of higher quality which could be worn longer and repaired/altered many times, usually by the consumers themselves.

Today we spend less but buy exponentially more. Many buy clothing they don’t need that isn't even worn once before it is thrown out. This results in clothing made to be disposable, which costs us more in the long term. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out this isn't sustainable long term, especially once you know how this clothing is made.


So, I don’t think "expensive" clothing is the problem; the problem is unconscious (and unsustainable) consumption. Buying less but better-quality clothes will be cheaper in the long term, and is more sustainable both for the economy and the environment.

A $200 pair of shoes that can be worn for 15 years will cost you less than the $50 pair that will last a year or two.

- Buy factory seconds, they sometimes can be had for less than half the price.

- Buy second hand. I get a lot of my clothing second hand. Items like shirts, trousers and jackets can easily be had second had. I dress very well, but I spend relatively little. My button up shirts once cost over $200, but I paid less than $20 for many of them. Many "used" items have never been worn or were worn once. After dry cleaning & pressing they are as good as new.

-Buy clothing made of natural, biodegradable material, like the options highlighted in Boston Proper, and don’t contribute to the plastic problem & unsustainable manufacturing practices.

- Buy clothing able to be altered & repaired.

- Do some research and find out how clothing is made & constructed. Find out what can be repaired and what it takes. Find out what it is made of.

- Buy less.


If we buy just a few less things we don’t need, we will have plenty of money to buy good quality clothing. It’s rarely matter of "I can’t afford" and more one of "I don’t care to change by spending habits". I maintain that almost anyone short of bums can afford to buy good quality clothing if they only want to. If you don’t want to that’s fine, but then don’t complain.

Does anyone have an older, inexpensive pair of shoes they just can’t part with? I have a pair of Bostonian shoes I picked up for $39 at an outlet 3-4 years ago. They’re decent quality (made in India), though not on par with my higher-end shoes. I bought them for the cap toe design, and over the years, I’ve had a cobbler replace the heel, add a rubber sole cover for water resistance, and even add taps to slow heel wear. These shoes predate my interest in Allen Edmonds and other high-end dress shoes, but I can’t bring myself to toss them. After pulling them out of the closet for the first time in over a year, I was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable they still are. They’re not the prettiest, but their comfort and the fact that I don’t worry about ruining them make them a joy to wear—perfect for muddy or wet conditions without a second thought.

 

[Fifty150]

Allen Edmonds and other high-end dress shoes

The idea is that "high end" quality is better leather, and recraftability. Not just a resole. The entire shoe could be recrafted. Toe counter, heel counter, toe cap, insole lasting boards, welt, midsole, outsole....... all the parts are replaceable.

Can "low end" shoes be recrafted? Sometimes yes. There are lower priced shoes which can be resoled, and recrafted. And in today's market, there are shoes from other countries which are also recraftable. You no longer have to pay a premium price to get something which can be repaired.


The caveat being that the shoe upper is good enough that it will be worth recrafting the shoe. If the leather used for the uppers is not very good, would it be worth adding a new sole?



The biggest drawback to rebuilding footwear is the price. How much are you willing to spend, to keep wearing your old shoes? Is the repair bill worth it? As opposed to just buying new shoes? Maybe 100 years ago, people actually did own 1 pair of shoes, and with a different economy, their shoes were rebuilt. With modern technology, a lot of cheap shoes are good, will last for a long time, and you simply replace them. It is cheaper to buy $100 shoes every 5 years, than to buy $400 shoes, and spend $150 on a rebuild.



As for the cheap shoes that I own, I own them because I like them. The cheap shoes which I own are every bit as comfortable as the higher priced shoes. Are they nicer? No. Are they as well built? No. But I'm okay with cheap shoes that feel good on my feet. I fully expect to get my money's worth with a $41 pair of cheap shoes.