MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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What do you pay for a "decent" pair of brogues - proper ones with welted rubber sole - pref brown.
I cover a lot of ground in my day job and prefer to walk whenever possible, I can often end up out in the rain and on semi agricultural ground, therefore, welted and rubber soles are necessary.
Loakes - £130 +
Barker - £300 +
What other makes are out there?
or mail order options but not Samuel Windsor or the like - buy cheap buy twice jobs..
I'm currently in a pair of Barker's that I certainly didn't pay £300 for. They are 5 or 6 years old and bar a new sole, still look great.
Grenson are worth thinking about as well.
In not so keen on barkers, prefer the fit of Cheaneys , Grensons, loakes. With my recent barkers just felt bit cheap (uk made ones not the lower range made in India) have churchs but feel that over priced However I keep getting new pairs.
Crockett and Jones or Alfred Sargent,
Clarks.
Worth noting that if you fancy a trip to Northampton there are bargains to be had in some of the factory stores. Barker have one as do Church's and Crockett & Jones.
Loake 1880 'Chester'.
My first pair lasted about 15 years before reaching the point where they couldn't be resoled again.
Current pair are 4 years old and still look like new.
STW does not disappoint.
I have worn DM brogues for years and years, getting about 4 years of near daily use out of a pair before sole breaks through. Waterproof and comfy.
Crockett and Jones followed by Cheaneys (last I heard now owned by two brothers of the Church family (who lost control of Church's decades ago)). Shoes that last for life. I sold a pair of Church brogues on Ebay last year for more than what I paid for them 10 years ago.
@dove1 - but did you wear them everyday? tbh if they last 5 years at that price it would be acceptable.
Loake Edwards, on a welted rubber sole.£250. Mine were bought in 2015 and have been resoled once so far. The resole/refurb service is superb.... all in for £80 including postage.
Son also has a pair, he wears them all day every day for work, bought in 2016 and they've just been sent off for a refurb/resole.
Loake Chesters here too. Be warned, mahogany is really quite red. Dainite sole far better than the leather soled versions I've had.
Trickers Bourton with Diante sole, been good for the past 6 years.
Trickers sale now on - as is Pediwear.
Jeffery West - Hannibal brogue boot.
Who is missing from this thread ?? 🤷♂️🤗😱
NPS do some nice ones
I have loakes. A black pair and a brown.
Should see me till I’m dead. (Not worn very often!)
Another vote for nps. Church are really well made BUT a bit clunky.
Think (will need to check) have pair of Churchs from many years ago. To be fair they're not worn as much these days and look 'weathered' but obviously fit like a glove and are most comfortable shoes I have. Bought in 1987. Insides faded so much can't make out maker any more. Glennevis. Plus a lot of numbers and letters..
Still got my churches which were 460, they are 14 years old and very comfy. Apparently they don't sell that type of leather anymore due to cost. Just as well as I couldn't afford them again..
Ooh I also have a brown pair of churches,they are my faves!
+1 for the Loake chester brogue. Look good, last well and made in the UK.
bikebouy
Who is missing from this thread ?? 🤷♂️🤗😱
Not sure the pictures of his shoes were brogues. 😉
Brogues with tweed, Oxfords with a suit. Obviously.
Was that what the pictures said?
😉🤨😁
Anyway, how very hidebound and fuddyduddy.
Brogues for anything you like.
Brogues and Oxfords aren't exclusive, I've a lovely pair of Barker wingtip Oxford brogues. Westfields, Leather sole though so not what you are looking for.
I've been looking for a black Derby wingtip brogue myself, not sure if i want leather sole or rubber.
The NPS Gibson brogue looks nice, might look at that in more detail. Would love some Church's Grafton triple soles but they're quite spendy. Any other recommendations?
I'll never buy a Ted Baker shoe again.. Absolute garbage for wear and tear.
Clarks for a daily ride.. A quick polish every 6 months and they'll last 5 years plus. Clarks designers aren't very trendy though.
I bought some Clarks RRP £130 and they're hard leather which I've never worn enough to fully break in (seemingly), partly because I swapped to Grensons rrp £210 which I much prefer for fit and they needed next to no wearing in.
Clarks do a welted brogue with waxed leather and a goretex lining. I have no idea how much they are new but I found them for £30 in the factory shop in Hatfield. They’re outstanding shoes, highly recommended.
@dove1 – but did you wear them everyday? tbh if they last 5 years at that price it would be acceptable.
Not everyday, no. Probably worn for 50% of the days. I tend to go through phases of wearing them. I may wear them every day for a month and then not wear them again for another month.
The first pair were leather soled and needed resoling every couple of years. The new ones are Dainite soled and are wearing very well.
im ultimately very disappointed with my loakes.
ted baker = bin absolute garbage.
clarkes are actually alright as are a lot of cheap (non trendy) shoes but invest in an insole.
Trickers are a good bet for outdoor wear. Get some with a commando sole, storm welt, and bellows tongue. Most other Northants brands do similar too.
If you want a pair of decent shoes to last a good amount of time:
* Don’t wear them every day
* Always use shoe trees
* Use a shoe horn when putting them on
* Regularly clean and polish
* Get heals/soles (or any other worn bits) fixed before they are too far gone
Start building up a collection of decent shoes and you start to find that they last pretty much forever and the cost then reduces over time. You can then just add new ones if you spot a bargain as you aren’t in desperate need for them.
senor j
Subscriber
Ooh I also have a brown pair of churches,they are my faves!
They are ace, but they changes the lasts (you can see which last was used to make your shoes from the hand-written spec on the inside) so the current production is not the same is it was.
I have two pairs - one black (older) and one brown - and the former has always felt the better fit for my flippers.
More about it here: https://www.styleforum.net/threads/churchs-different-lasts.99316/
DM brogues
Can they be re-soled? Mine are getting a worn 🙁
I bought a couple pairs of Trickers the other day, the Bourtons are too big and I prefer the Durhams. The Bourtons can be returned but I got them at a decent price and am happy to sell on if interested. Uk Size 10, come up big suit a regular 9/9.5
https://www.trickers.com/uk/mens/country-shoes/bourton-10596.html
White sole probably not suitable though.
[strong]DrJ[/strong] wrote:
DM brogues
Can they be re-soled? Mine are getting a worn 🙁
https://www.nps-solovair.com/collections/accessories/products/sole-sol-hw-tw?variant=19776585203776
Bit of a thread resurrection but bought these yesterday...half price at £40 from a shop in Loughborough.
https://londonbrogues.co.uk/collections/shoes/products/gatsby-leather-brogue-tan-navy
Not as fancy as some mentioned above but to my untrained eye they look and feel lovely TBH - even come in individual shoe bands with cloth 😉 For the very rare occasions I’d wear them I’m sure they’ll be very good - granted they may not last as long or have the kudos and quality of premium brands/shoemakers but at that price I couldn’t leave them in the shop! Wife got some half price Fly sandally-things too.
Plenty of styles and sizes.
Garbage website admittedly but shop is in Loughborough... http://www.roomforshoes.com/collections/mens-2
Also solovair worth a look, I’ve had a pair for a few years so can’t vouch for longevity but they are lovely and look very well made
Jez,not planning on wearing them in public are you rascal?Are we in 1928 still?
Got 2 pairs of loake brogues, they get worn alternately every day for an office based job with a little walking involved. I need to get both resolved every year. Brown/tan ones seem to stain and need binned after about 18 months. Was hoping for better sole life TBH but not had a chance to try other brands yet.