Submitted by TielAppeal t3_11hcqs6 in BuyItForLife
I'm slowly trying to have more of a minimalistic/versatile shoe collection, and most of my fashion boots are on their last legs, so the idea of splurging more for a long-term, durable shoe that has a replaceable sole is very temping. However, aside from the styles that are geared to be mainly work boots, I'm a bit unsure if the cost-benefit analysis makes them worth it.
For example, I usually spend ~$30-$100 per pair of shoes, depending on sale/clearance prices and if they're flats, sneakers, or boots. While I only use flats for special occasions and practically keep them forever until they're scuffed and unpresentable, my boots last anywhere between 2-3 years with constant use in the fall/winter/early spring months. With good year welt (GYW) shoes, I understand that the construction and durability of the boot is usually better than mass-produced shoes because of the materials and the ability to re-sole them, but they're more expensive at ~$125-$700/pair, depending on the style and where you buy from.
There also seems to be more upkeep with leather shoes, since you need special brushes, cleaner, and conditioner to dry them off/make them waterproof, and some websites say to never wear the same pair of leather shoes again the next day, which makes sense to let the shoes air out/have the leather relax, but can also be an inconvenience if you want that shoe as an everyday shoe.
For those who have leather/GYW shoes, what has your experience been? How long do your leather/GYW shoes last compared to mass-produced shoes? Do you find that certain styles are worth investing in real leather with GYW? Are there diminishing returns once you reach a certain price point, or do you find that you generally get what you pay for? And is the maintenance of a leather shoe worth it, or do you find it to be a hassle?
Muncie4 t1_jasvx2p wrote
You do not need special stuff for quality leather shoe care.
You can get all the above from eBay for crazy cheap. Make you a black shoe kit and a brown shoe kit. You can use neutral shoe polish on every flavor of brown shoe as there are 934,893 shades of brown shoes and 63,214 shade of brown shoe polish and they odds of you getting a match are near zero. You can even skip the daubers and use old tooth brushes or sacrificial cloths. Don't mix up the kits as you don't want to blacken up your brown shoes. You polish your shoes every 3-6 months and perhaps buff when you see them getting dull. Youtube has an infinity of videos on how to do it.
Cobblers are a thing. You can take your shoes there and say, "Make deez good". Return in 1-5 days and for $20 and zero effort, you have nicely cleaned and polished shoes.
Anything you apply to make your shoes waterproof is a lie. Shoes are natively waterproof based on construction/materials, not some goo you rub/spray on. If you want waterproof shoes, but them out the gate that way.
You can wear for days in a row. Allowing them to rest is smart and will increase the lifespan and split toe shoe trees will help keep the shape when not worn. Rest is best practice, not a requirement.
GYW shoes can last your literal lifetime. I have two pair from the 80s. The real sweet spot is around $300 pricepoint for men. Anything less is lower tier. There is no such thing as break even point as that talks to your desires and budget and we know neither.