Wearing used shoes?

green papaya · Jan 12, 2017

I wouldnt buy a "used jock strap" buying used shoes is the same thing

outerwear like a coat is acceptable, but no socks, underwear, shoes, swim suits / speedos

belfastboy · Jan 12, 2017

green papaya said:
I wouldnt buy a "used jock strap" buying used shoes is the same thing

outerwear like a coat is acceptable, but no socks, underwear, shoes, swim suits / speedos

Even if it was a vintage Speedo?

green papaya · Jan 12, 2017

belfastboy said:
Even if it was a vintage Speedo?

with or without "skid marks?" stains

belfastboy · Jan 12, 2017

green papaya said:
with or without "skid marks?" stains

I just read the thread on cleaning vintage garments. If you can remove rust stains then skid marks should be a breeze.

Edward · Jan 13, 2017

Course, it seems we're all fortunate enough that these things are a matter of choice. I've known folks for whom they are not.

bn1966 · Jan 13, 2017

Any-one want first dibbs on a used pair of vintage 'Budgie Smugglers' (Speedo's) before I put them on eBay??????? Only worn for a couple of years...very minor skid stains that might be removable....

belfastboy · Jan 13, 2017

bn1966 said:
Any-one want first dibbs on a used pair of vintage 'Budgie Smugglers' (Speedo's) before I put them on eBay??????? Only worn for a couple of years...very minor skid stains that might be removable....

Would you happen to be famous?

bn1966 · Jan 13, 2017

I might well be & you might be buying into an appreciating asset! Have you seen the movie..'Johnny Thunder-pants'? Never mock when opportunity knocks!!!!

LuvMyMan · Jan 14, 2017

Silverstreak said:
Sorry, not a fan. As much as I enjoy thrifting, you can't really sterilize used shoes IMO. Too much risk of catching someone else's crud. Same goes for hats. I buy my own.

I'll "step in" and set this right. Yes you can actually sterilize a shoe or any other garment. Even a vintage shoe or hat or clothing item. A spray called "Hospiseptic" it kills any know germ or virus or bacterial known to mankind. You spray your shoe and let it sit. Then saddle soap the entire shoe, (not suede on this step) inside and out. A quick inspection of any vintage can let you know it the shoe has any imprint from wear due to anyone wearing it. If the shoe is a REAL shoe and can be resoled, that can be fixed. A new layer of cork goes on with the new sole and no more imprint.

Even a brand new shoe can have germs or a virus in the shoe. My normal procedure for any shoe is the same, new or not...vintage or just made. After a spray with Hospiseptic, and wash with the saddle soap, a soaking of leather conditioner is applied. On new shoes maybe just of day. Vintage maybe a week or more. After the leather is really soaked and then sits for over a day, you wipe off any excess conditioner, and buff them with a clean clothe. Spend some time buffing. Then polish with the best polish you can find. Shoe trees also are a must. I have rebuilt a few very old vintage that looked new, even after 50 or more years old. But to say a vintage shoe is going to give you someone else's "crud" is not founded in fact.

One major thing about a vintage shoe, depending on when it is made and who made it, you can obtain a vintage shoe that you may not be able to duplicate the quality of, even if you had a limitless budget. The leather is not the same for the most part concerning what modern leather is available and the craftmenship as well. If you look hard enough and long enough you can find a vintage shoe that has never been worn. Then you have a real treasure.

LuvMyMan · Jan 14, 2017

Edward said:
I'm wearing a pair of William Lennon B9 boots now; bought them second hand, on eBay, for a third of retail price. They were in as-new condition when they arrived - I can only assume the original purchaser never wore them. I've bought a lot of second-hand shoesx over the years, with no problem. As long as they're lightly worn, I find it never takes more than a day or two for the footbed to completely remould around my feet - no real differentg to wearing new shoes, really. The only people who've ever really looked at me in askance over this have been people who either sneer at the idea of second-hand clothing generally, or people who think of shoes as too cheap to buy used, because they only ever buy twenty-quid cheap shoes new themselves, and don't appreciate the idea of a quality pair of shoes, let alone one at a bargain. For every person I've heard fear catching all sort of unspedcified nasties from lightly-used second hand shoes, I've yet to hearf of a medically-verfied instance of this.

Well said!

captzak · Jan 17, 2017

I looked at it this way when building my wardrobe. I could have one pair of Allen & Edmonds or Alden Cap Toe Balmorals, OR I could have 10 pairs of shoes (Balmorals, Spectators, Wing Tips, etc.) all vintage (Allen & Edmond, Johnston & Murphy) and made way better than even the $400+ modern offerings. I good cleaning, conditioning, and shoe trees go a long way. And after a resole they feel like your own. Hell, they're basically a new shoe after that.

LuvMyMan · Jan 17, 2017

captzak said:
I looked at it this way when building my wardrobe. I could have one pair of Allen & Edmonds or Alden Cap Toe Balmorals, OR I could have 10 pairs of shoes (Balmorals, Spectators, Wing Tips, etc.) all vintage (Allen & Edmond, Johnston & Murphy) and made way better than even the $400+ modern offerings. I good cleaning, conditioning, and shoe trees go a long way. And after a resole they feel like your own. Hell, they're basically a new shoe after that.

Yes you are correct. Vintage shoes are actually a decent bargain as long as they are in decent condition.

Americanaaa Mark · Jan 18, 2017

I own a pair of redwing iron rangers that i got for $70 on ebay. It's the moleskin and has a lovely patina. I wore them for a bit and then sent them off to have the soles rebuilt. I don't see anything wrong with buying boots second hand. You treat and condition them plus you can wash the insides out with water and saddle soap. I don't think I would wewr 2nds with sneakers though.

LuvMyMan · Jan 19, 2017

Americanaaa Mark said:
I own a pair of redwing iron rangers that i got for $70 on ebay. It's the moleskin and has a lovely patina. I wore them for a bit and then sent them off to have the soles rebuilt. I don't see anything wrong with buying boots second hand. You treat and condition them plus you can wash the insides out with water and saddle soap. I don't think I would wewr 2nds with sneakers though.

I agree. The comments about underwear made are a bit "out there" as no...not the same thing as a pair of shoes...unless you wear your shoe in a "strange way"....lol!

Vampyre Master · Jan 31, 2017

shoes just not a problem stick 'em in the freezer over night and use shoe trees to get the shape back...come on ManUp

Dnewma04 · Mar 30, 2017

I have no issue with used shoes. Of my 20 pairs, 18 are used.

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LuvMyMan · Mar 30, 2017

Vampyre Master said:
shoes just not a problem stick 'em in the freezer over night and use shoe trees to get the shape back...come on ManUp

Not sure what you mean in this statement? I have never heard of anyone placing a shoe in a freezer over night to get the shape back, I have heard of putting bags of water in the shoe to make them stretch wider, but it does not work.

Simply when a shoe, new, used no matter what is first in your hand, you clean it, spray it with hospiseptic spray, use some saddle soap in and outside of the shoe, then condition until they are really well conditioned and then polish if that is a finish you want. Never think just because a shoe or boot is new, that there is no bacteria inside or outside. And when anyone takes the steps I do with a shoe...it is completely disinfected with no issues to it at all. New or used.

Dnewma04 · Mar 30, 2017

LuvMyMan said:
Not sure what you mean in this statement? I have never heard of anyone placing a shoe in a freezer over night to get the shape back, I have heard of putting bags of water in the shoe to make them stretch wider, but it does not work.

Simply when a shoe, new, used no matter what is first in your hand, you clean it, spray it with hospiseptic spray, use some saddle soap in and outside of the shoe, then condition until they are really well conditioned and then polish if that is a finish you want. Never think just because a shoe or boot is new, that there is no bacteria inside or outside. And when anyone takes the steps I do with a shoe...it is completely disinfected with no issues to it at all. New or used.

I think the freezing bit was to kill off critters and the shoe tree was to reduce the signs of wear.

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KURGAN · Mar 30, 2017

Once my first reaction about second hand shoes was "che schifo!!!" (i don't know how to say the same in English but you say this words when something disgust you) But when i began to collect western boots, once i tried a used pair that were in very hard to find (used 2-3 times, like new) and no problems. At the moment i have 3 pairs of vintage boots and i've never had a problem.

lab1dobie · Apr 1, 2017

I have purchased several pairs of Allen Edmonds and others used. I wipe out the shoe with a clorox wipe, dont get any residue on the leather. This will disinfect the interior. Let it dry for a day. Polish as usual to restore shime and nourish leather. AE and Alden can recraft them and replace the cork lining and sole and heel. Don't buy shoes that are badly mis-shapen and have stains.

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