English brogues, take 2

I've just bought a pair of Loake Cumbrias from Brogue Trader in Cardiff with the same rubber soles. I have some lovely blisters on my heels to show for them, but will persevere as they look amazing and I'm sure will be very comfortable once broken in.

I think Brogue Trader are opening in Bath in a few weeks too. Great service and lots of time for you.

My heels are fine, it's my little toes that hurt. The key is two pairs of thin socks, according to the man in the shop. I walk two thirds of a mile to the station, and half a mile at the other end, so I'm leaving the Loakes at work and changing when I get there. I'm sure it will be worth the effort. I love the red soles and stripy heels, and it's great to have something hand made in England. 

Thanks for the tip! Mine were a little narrow for my one foot despite having a wide fitting so they stretched them in the shop for me over a week - this appears to have done the trick.

They'd better be worth it as I've not had to break a pair of shoes in for years now - I decided I really wasn't interested in the pain any more. However I'm making an exception for these.

I'm off to find 2 thin pairs of socks to wear together...

The idea is that one pair moves with your foot, and the other with the shoe, thus reducing rubbing. It's working for me so far. 

Decoupling then.

C.

I do like the red Dainite sole; it is different but still subtle. I recently bought a pair of two tone brown Tricker's brogue with a similar sole that I am still breaking in.

Whenever I come back to the UK I end up taking a day trip to the various factories in and around Northampton; makes for an interesting day out and a bit like traveling back in time to see how things are (still) made. A couple of years ago I asked somebody in the Tricker's factory about their business; seems like well over 90% of their sales come from exports. It is great that such a traditional old company is still appreciated, but still a bit of a shame that demand in their home market has dropped off so much.On the other hand, at least some hipster fashion trends over the past decade or so must have generally helped......

Yeah, they can take a bit to break them in. My wife doesn't like the style for social wear, so the few pairs of brogues (not this brand) I have tend be office/work shoes.

How do you find you walk in them ? Does it feel like you walk in a brogue style, like John Cleese with his bowler hat and silly walk or can you shuffle about like they are a pair of slippers. My ones have a leather sole that has not been broken in and is a nightmare over tiles ,wood and fine stone. 

Like some ladies who can not adapt to stilettos and a pencil dress, I often feel like I'm teetering about.

Little confused here.

You are giving them at least a days rest between wears?

You are putting decent shoe trees inside after each wear?

Are you sure you got a good fit?

I'm sure your toes are not supposed to be 'squeezed' in or your leather needing to be 'stretched' to supply some extra space for the little toes.

By the sound of it I would say the width of the shoe is too narrow or the shape of the front not right for the shape your foot. Some shoes have their front pointing more to the inside leaving less space for the little toes, others point more to the middle or are wider as a whole.

I bought myself two pairs of C&J's on Jermyn Street last month (Derby and Chelsea) and was assisted very well by the staff, in finding the proper combination of size, width and last that suits my feet and my need for orthopedic soles.

I have not had any blisters or painfull toes and find them very comfortable to walk in.

Chaps

I have bought Church and Loake for the last 30 years and have never had to break them in. I always wear them for only a day and wear another pair the day after. Sort of slowly slowly catchee monkey.

I am currently in Ronda in Spain and have just bought a pair of Spanish hand made boat shoes made of calf leather and they are brilliant.

I shall keep these in Spain and when I return back to the UK, I intend to treat myself to a pair of Loake boat shoes and it will be interesting to compare them to the Spanish pair.

Regards

Mick

A colleague had a pair of handmade Church brogues gifted by his wife (£600) and as a result ended up seeing another colleague of ours - a Professor of Orthopaedics!

The shoes are too heavy apparently and causing all sorts of issues. The Prof recommended 'Clarks Air'.

About £50.

Ghastly though.

G

If the toes hurt, the fit is wrong.

That's a lovely pair of country brogues - the red Dainite soles looks great!

Leather has the ability to stretch itself and soon your nice looking brogues will fit as a hand in glove.....

Some of the best shoes I've had has required a little breaking in and although it's possible to find a last which fits perfectly it shouldn't be a lasting problem. Having said that a brogue has an extra piece of leather on the side of the toe cap so it may take a little longe compared to plain shoes.

For those who have problems with sore heels whilst wearing in a pair of brogues should try a pair of these;

We dispense them in our Foot and Ankle Clinic for plantar fasciitis and when I bought a pair of Barker brogues earlier this year they worked a treat.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sturdy...-Grade/dp/B005PFCD5K

When buying a pair of stiff sturdy shoes like brogues it's very important to get the sizing and width fitting correct or they will damage your feet.

I honestly wish I had these during my military service. Long marches and new NATO boots makes for a painful experience.

They should be standard issue! 

I have been wearing Clarks Air type shoes (eg Nature) and Barkers for the past 35 years or so.

The rim of the Clarks are always soft and easy to fit. The Barker's rims are quite hard and stiff, and I have to use a shoe-horn to get my feet into them, even after several years of use. But boy are they comfortable and I have never had to "break" a pair in or suffer blister.

Yes, I can attest to the two pairs-of-thin-socks approach. Have been using them with my brown brogue Loakes for a while now. 

I've had few pairs of Clark Air shoes and still where a couple of pairs.  I like the comfort but not the look.  Recently I bought a pair of black Rockport shoes which seem to combine comfort with a more formal appearance. They are also waterproof.  I will but more when they wear out. 

Sweeny brogues ... never had a problem from the off set.

ATB Pete

I've done this all today and it's working very well! I'm going to call you HH2socks from now on, in honour of your magnificence in the shoe wearing tips department.