Leather Heels

[cufflinkmaniac]

When did rubber or leather/rubber combo heels become the standard?I like the look of all leather heels,and I'm considering having them put on to a pair of my dress shoes when I take them to get the heels replaced (which will be soon).I know that they wear out much faster,but heels are cheap,and I can live with replacing them every few months.And is there any way to keep them from slipping?Right now I use the heel plates that have adhesive on the back (I always use the nails that come with them),do you think they would work?Bottom line is,should I go with the all leather heel or get leather/rubber?

 

[The Shooman]

When did rubber or leather/rubber combo heels become the standard?I like the look of all leather heels,and I'm considering having them put on to a pair of my dress shoes when I take them to get the heels replaced (which will be soon).I know that they wear out much faster,but heels are cheap,and I can live with replacing them every few months.And is there any way to keep them from slipping?Right now I use the heel plates that have adhesive on the back (I always use the nails that come with them),do you think they would work?Bottom line is,should I go with the all leather heel or get leather/rubber?

l prefer the look of all leather heals too. l think the combinatioin heal came in during the 60's. The soles of the vintage Florshiem lmperials are amazing.

 

[DerMann]

The heels on my brogues were originally rubber, but when I had them resoled, I went ahead and put leather heels on too.

They really do wear out a lot faster than rubber. However, plastic or metal (metal's better) Blakeys do the trick quite well, and that way you can just keep on replacing a $2 piece of plastic instead of an entire heel.

Most modern cobblers will probably tell you not to get leather heels, but do it anyway. Try and ask for Blakeys or something similar.

 

[The Shooman]

When l get heal replacements, i'm going to ask for an all leather heal.

 

[cufflinkmaniac]

l prefer the look of all leather heals too. l think the combinatioin heal came in during the 60's. The soles of the vintage Florshiem lmperials are amazing.

I'm drooling just looking at those!I love the way older soles are laquered (when I was younger I thought they were wood).

 

[cufflinkmaniac]

The heels on my brogues were originally rubber, but when I had them resoled, I went ahead and put leather heels on too.

They really do wear out a lot faster than rubber. However, plastic or metal (metal's better) Blakeys do the trick quite well, and that way you can just keep on replacing a $2 piece of plastic instead of an entire heel.

Most modern cobblers will probably tell you not to get leather heels, but do it anyway. Try and ask for Blakeys or something similar.

Do the Blakeys reduce the slipping (I've heard that leather heels are reffered to as butt busters)?

 

[DerMann]

Not especially, no.

The slipping is just part of the fun. I've already fallen twice and almost fallen at least half a dozen times.

 

[cufflinkmaniac]

Not especially, no.

The slipping is just part of the fun. I've already fallen twice and almost fallen at least half a dozen times.

Sounds like a load of fun (excluding the broken tailbone). I wonder how people did it back when all leather was standard.

 

[GoldenEraFan]

When did rubber or leather/rubber combo heels become the standard?I like the look of all leather heels,and I'm considering having them put on to a pair of my dress shoes when I take them to get the heels replaced (which will be soon).I know that they wear out much faster,but heels are cheap,and I can live with replacing them every few months.And is there any way to keep them from slipping?Right now I use the heel plates that have adhesive on the back (I always use the nails that come with them),do you think they would work?Bottom line is,should I go with the all leather heel or get leather/rubber?

I had been wondering that myself. From what I've seen in photographs and movies, both the rubber and leather/rubber combo heels have been around at least since the 1910's. I origionally asked the local shoemaker to replace my worn out rubber heels with all leather ones (I thought it would look more golden era), but he wanted to put rubber on both the heel and the sole. In the end I agreed on the half rubber half leather heel, which he called "English heels". To be honest, rubber heels are much better because they don't slip as much, but I do prefer leather soles over rubber ones.

 

[Paisley]

Those look like they would be great for dancing.

 

[Mark P]

I've had all leather heels and they're dangerous! Very slippery, eventually you'll fall. I didn't fancy getting a broken arm, so now alwayshave a 'quarter heel' in rubber, the remaining part of the heel being made of leather and nails.

 

[J.J. Gittes]

l prefer the look of all leather heals too. l think the combinatioin heal came in during the 60's. The soles of the vintage Florshiem lmperials are amazing.

I've always wanted to know what the little metal wedges are in the heel of shoes. Can anyone educate me on them?

 

[The Shooman]

I've had all leather heels and they're dangerous! Very slippery, eventually you'll fall. I didn't fancy getting a broken arm, so now alwayshave a 'quarter heel' in rubber, the remaining part of the heel being made of leather and nails.

l had my Kenmoors on yesterday at the shopping center and nearly fell over on the tiled floor. l completely lost my footing. Evenstill...l will not be doing any modifications to the bottom of the shoo, l like it in it's original state, looks too good to change. Maybe when i'm in my 70's...l might put rubber on the bottoms then. Until then l will continue to slip and slide and enjoy a free ride. lol

 

[The Shooman]

I've always wanted to know what the little metal wedges are in the heel of shoes. Can anyone educate me on them?

They are heavy metal slugs which slow the wear in the area of the heal that is most prone to it, the right side of the right heal and the left side of the left heal (the back of the heal). When we walk we walk towards the outside of the shoe, our legs don't buckle inwards. Look at the wear on your shoes to see what l mean.

 

[Talbot]

I'm wearing a pair of black hanover wingtips with leather heel and sole right now. Even got the metal wedge in the heel.

The metal wedge makes a loud clacking noise as you walk (like a ladies heel), and can even be a bit jarring compared to rubber heels.

Good for dancing on a wooden floor, and fine on carpet - dangerous on smooth tiled surfaces.

Not much point in dressing well if you get around like a labrador on linoleum.

Talbot

 

[John in Covina]

However, plastic or metal (metal's better) Blakeys do the trick quite well, and that way you can just keep on replacing a $2 piece of plastic instead of an entire heel.

****
The metal heel savers were simply too slippery for me, the rubber or plastic ones were better for my situation.

 

[adamjaskie]

Sounds like a load of fun (excluding the broken tailbone). I wonder how people did it back when all leather was standard.

Take up dancing. You'll learn pretty quick how to control the sliding around.

 

[Cigarband]

They are heavy metal slugs which slow the wear in the area of the heal that is most prone to it, the right side of the right heal and the left side of the left heal (the back of the heal). When we walk we walk towards the outside of the shoe, our legs don't buckle inwards. Look at the wear on your shoes to see what l mean.

It varies by individual. Some walk with the foot rolling from the outside in, (Pronation) and some from the inside out (Supination).
And if your feet are rolling too much, you've had enough to drink.

 

[Tomasso]

Take up dancing. You'll learn pretty quick how to control the sliding around.