I am 83 years young, and this is the first time that I have ever heard of sole protectors!!! I am going to have this done, from this point forward, to all of my subsequent shoe purchases!!! Thanks for this valuable advice!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Goodness gracious someone needs to do a cobbler calendar & he needs to be on it! That hair is insanely beautiful!

I live in cold snowy Chicago and have this done to ALL my leather sole shoes. With good quality polish and shoe trees, my shoes have lasted 10+ years and counting.

Has become one of my favorite channels on KZfaq. I always wore my shoes until the wore out and pitched them. I just bought my first pair of high quality shoes and will take care of them.

Thanks for the info on his video Heath. It really helped because I recently purchased a nice pair of used John Lobb boots and was wondering why they had a "cheap" pair of looking rubber Vibram soles on them? Well now I know, what I am seeing are the previous owner's good sense in installing rubber sole protectors! Makes me even more happy with my purchase. Thanks again!

Id love to see more vintage stuff, im a reenactor and just found the motivation to learn myself. Specifically how to put hobnails in a new sole and replacing a half sole. Very interesting stuff, keep it up!

I do this at home with all my shoes, I still have shoes I bought 20 years ago, because I started doing this, you did a great job there, I dont have all your proper equipment, I simply use some spring clamps and a hack I come up with to get the edges stuck, is I use small bulldog clips, all around, the edge, and leave overnight, trim with a mora knife, never had a sole come undone, recently bought 12 pairs of boots and shoes when Samuel Windsor stopped trading, so will be doing a lot of soles, this week.

Have being doing this for decades and have 20 year old shoes that I have never had to resole and still look better than some people's poor quality shoes! Cost effective and easily done by a competent shoe technician.

I have done this to my shoes all my life. I got 4 pairs of beautiful brogues, two oxfords and two long wing brogues, when i was 16. I am 61 and still wearing them. The original cobbler did this, now his son does this! He had me wear them for a few days to rough the soles then cleaned the soles and stuck the sole protectors on. These shoes now would cost a small fortune! Nicely done sir!

I only have one pair of leather shoes. Cheapos. I somehow watched your videos for a couple hours. Great job. I'll get myself a proper pair of shoes soon.

An Irishman watching my great grandfathers craft makes me a happy man, thanks guys

Great information! When I get in my Beckett Simonon's I'll do just that.

Thank you for the great video. I just purchased a pair of J&M wing tips and want to get this done. You answered all of my questions. God bless.

Also gives you more traction. Good process. My next resole I’m getting this done. Thanks for the info👍

I randomly discovered your videos and am receiving a great education from your excellent discussions. I've shared your site and videos with other shoe "illiterates" I know and they are also coming around to the philosophy of only dealing with true craftsmen in all aspects of life. Focusing on "Good Work" rather than "the almighty dollar" is the only way to live. Keep up the "Good Work" and keep the videos coming; you guys are the "real deal"!

thanks for posting love the channel and the work ethic

Discovered you channel just typing in cobblers. Real enjoy your passion.

I like it. Gonna do a re-half sole on my Tony Lamas and I think the sole protector would be just the ticket to protect my investment. Love your videos!

I had that done 15 years' ago on my pair of Loake and it's still good.

This is literally so informative. Love watching these videos in the background while I work.

Great channel guys! After getting the sole protectors do you we need to add toe guards as well?

Thanks for video. It is very informative.

Great video, i have them on all my 40'ish pairs that came with leather soles. Great investment and a lot less slippery on carpet etc.

I've watched a lot of your videos, I love what you do.(I wish I could) I just wondered I've seen you do Cow Boy Boots and was thinking can you do Cuban heeled Cow Boy Boots I bet you do I've had many pairs of said boots and always ended up throwing them away. If you have can you do a resoul and heel video so we can see it. Thanks from the UK. .

....and ladies. We watch this channel too💖

Great video. I used to always get the protectors installed on new shoes. Unfortunately, we no longer have a shoe repair shop in town. Too many wear tennis shoes nowadays, and kills business for a small town shop to make a go of it. I very much enjoy your videos, you do great work, and present it very well.

Thank you for the video and the tips. About how much is fairto pay for sole protector install?

All my Allen Edmonds shoes have sole protectors. I think it gives shoes a longer usage by not wearing out the outsole.

A lot of help from this video

Awesome plus you get some added traction.

Great video. Thanks! Can you tell me if you'd recommend lug sole protectors ?

HI , I like the quality of workmanship done on the shoe. You guys are good! I have had some protectors work done on some used pairs of my shoe . The workmanship was not of the best and the sole protector started to unstick. I have to return them to have the protectors redone. I have learned some tricks to advise my new repair shop guy. I have purchased some new shoes recently , so I will have the protectors added . Thanks. By the way I am from Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean.

I just sent you a pair of AE Fifth Avenues for this service. I would not have thought about it until I watched the video.

Great video. I have a cheap pair of shoes that have lasted forever because of some protectors.

Will start doing this.

Nice work. What adhesive do you use?

Great tip

Good Day to you, As a fellow cobbler from the UK Just wanted to ask you that when i have watched many of you great videos (always looking to improve my cobbler skills) i have notice that when trimming your soles you do not use a drag knife, is it just a preference? Hope you don`t mind me asking Great video as always THANKS.

I am a new subscriber and enjoying your content. I have a question: A shoe sole and heel, should sit completely flat, if it is decent quality, right? So by adding thickness to the front sole, are you not changing the pitch of the shoe, and tilting the foot? I mean, if the heel and sole both sit flat, would adding something, anything to the front sole, require another pad to be added to the heel? Thanks

I just paid my cobbler $80 to do this. Now I know why. Thank you!

Hi there. Thank you so much for this video. Can I still resole a shoe that I’ve been using almost everyday for 2 mos.?

You guys are great! Should I slightly thin my glue? I have the Master glue.

Nice good idea to on new shoes

I suppose the protector is thin enough that you don't have to build up the heel the same to maintain the balance. And by just looking at them on the ground you'd never know they were there. Loved those shoes!

thank you sir

Great advice and video, what would you advise for the heel at this point ?. Thanks Prav from Leicestershire England

All my 6 pairs of my Carmina shoes have sole protectors. Before they even hit the sidewalk I take them down to the cobblers to get sole protectors.

I would have enjoyed the video more if you included showing the different processes you used to fit and fix the sole protectors. I just enjoy seeing how things are done more than talking and explaining what you did or how you already did it. I don't mean to sound like a jerk, just intend it as constructive criticism is all. I do enjoy watching your videos from time to time, I just wish I could see the whole process from time to time video edited for time.

"Blends in nicely..." more like perfectly. Great job. Enjoying the channel. I don't see why one would prefer to remove the GYW stitching then restitch the protector? In any event, I would assume that the attention to detail will vary from shop to shop. Would it be rude to ask your cobbler to walk you through their process or see the results of a similar project before you commission them for a project?

I wish I could find a business like yours around here. Shoe makers and cobblers are a dying art here. Most can only shine shoes and put new insoles on . The rest they suck at.

Trenton and Heath,I'm looking to buy a new pair of Allen Edmonds soon. Would you recommend doing this method over the danite soles from the factory?

Do you need to reheat the first coat of glue before applying the second coat? Thank you

Living in Canada, I put sole protectors on most of my shoes

Hello, excellent video. Quick question: do you have to cut or skive off some leather sole to ensure the transition between the sole protector and the sole is smooth?

The Brother's 👍👌💪 Thanks a lot for your channel Awesome 👌👏👍

Very helpful. Just got my new AEs and went to a cobbler to ask for these. He asked for $80. I’m going to do it myself. Fingers crossed.

Mercy! That's some do.

Do those provide extra grip as well? I’m looking to try to get some v-tread like rubber soles (the ones from Allen Edmonds) aftermarket just for grip’s sake

how much does it typically cost to have shoes re-soled with JR soles and adding Toe taps?

Barkers shoes (England, since 1880) make high quality shoes with leather welted soles - in the box is a Care leaflet which says “sole protectors may distort the shoe or cause it to be unbalanced”, and they advise against it saying they won’t offer their repair service to any shoes with protectors (they otherwise fully rebuild the shoes, at a cost, so long as they haven’t been previously repaired by a cobblers ). I do have Barkers which have thin sole protectors glued and pressed on by my local excellent cobbler (when the shoes were new and unworn), and they do wear better than my barkers without this job done. Barkers also do an excellent full repair service for original shoes up to three times . Do you think there is a risk as Barkers claim? My cobbler says the heels can be repaired easily when needed, and the sole protector replaced many times.

Great video on sole protectors,could you show a closeup of the rasp that you use? My wife caught me using her CHEESE GRATER and got pissed off,i need to get actual real tool,thanks

I've seen that some manufacturers advise against fitting sole protectors starting that they put stress on the shoe's construction. I guess they affect the way the sole flexes? But i can't say I've had any issues.

how often do you need to replace the rubber and how many times can you replace it ?

Guys, you are awesome. Can you give me an idea of how much it should cost to get a sole protector put on by pros like you?

Beautiful job, where are you located?

While I can see the argument for something like this, I would not put a sole protector on my good shoes. Two reasons. 1. I am very sensitive to temperature and moisture issues with shoes. In particular, it drives me crazy if my feet sweat in shoes, and rubber soled shoes are always worse than leather. Sealing the sole up with rubber would make the shoe hotter and that would drive me crazy. Maybe most guys wouldn't notice it but I think I would. Second, one of the reasons I like high quality leather soled shoes is that I like the overall performance of a leather sole. Once it's broken in, it has (usually) the perfect amount of both traction and "give." I hate squeaky or overly grippy rubber soles on shoes. In other words, why do I want to put a piece of rubber over a beautiful leather sole? Just my preferences. JP

Hello gentlemen, I'm just starting to get into the boot aesthetic and came across your channel! How much would a service like this cost?

If the leather sole has been worn out is it possible to put the sole protector? Also,in case you want to have your leather sole again after u have put the protester,can u remove them and stay with the leather one? Thanks

Do these ever come off on their own , with heavy use of the shoe say ? I'd be really embarrassed to have them partially sticking to the sole of my shoes . Sole protector vs complete resole with Dainite rubber sole - what is the best option ? I just can't seem to get the right advice .

Many videos do cover leather protection on the uppers, thanks for your tips on sole protection. What about any tips for the inside of the shoe? I have for many years use Bick 4 once a year to apply inside the shoe entirely. I don’t know who or where I picked up this tip, sorry. Is there any other method you would suggest for Maintenance inside the shoe besides the shoe tree?

Would you recommend adding a flush toe tap in addition to the topy? ie. the toe tap is flush with the topy, which means no additional leather removed at the toe tap area.

Can that be put on Alden’s neocork outsoles of the Indy boot?

Does the outsole have to be leather in order to apply sole savers properly? I have some boots but I think the outsole is some type of rubberish material. I haven't worn them yet for the reason I would like for this to be done to them

can't get enough of your craftmanships and your southern accent; keep it up!

How much for sole protectores on a new pair of Allen Edmunds?

Have you found a way to prop up shoes upside down at home so the Saphir Sole Guard dries evenly? I don’t want to smash the uppers.

and i live in NYC so i walk around a lot in that one day

Hi, should I do this to a new shoe?

Can you cover the suede sole or bottom of dance shoes with a leather sole protector to make them last longer?

If I have a brand new higher end pair with closed channels, will the sanding expose those? Does it matter?

can you add a sole protector if i have a metal toe cap ? when you change the sole protectors after they wear out do you sand the out sole again and rough it up or do you just put glue and stick the new sole protectors ? if i wear my shoes once a week for a few hours. how often should i resole ? once a year ?!! great video by the way and i just subscribed to your channel.

Why you don't recommend putting it on the heel part? So I had mine on the toe and heel. Problem is in the heel part, the rubber sole peels off, the glue isn't that strong. Why is that?

You ever add these to Alden Indy cork soles?

Would this work for Chanel ballet flats?

ive seen need for the sole protector all the way to the heel dad used to walk up stairs alot like 25 times up and down a flight of stairs between offices and the edge of the steep would sometimes damage it as dad would take 2 at a time and it damaged it

Aside from appearances and the ideal seal you mentioned, would it still be fine to add them to a sole that's been worn quite a bit? Or definitely not? I have some AEs that need new heel pads and I was thinking about adding rubber soles on the front, too, in order to get some more life out of them before I do a full re-sole.

I usually buy leather soles for dancing, I would love it if I could find a sole protector with a similar feeling to leather soles( for dancing purposes). any ideas anybody?

can this be done to rubber-soled shoes? or is it just leather

What glue do you use to do this??

Are there sole protetors for Doc Martens or New Rock boots? I mostly use them for dancing so I was also wondering if theres a variety that is non slip so its easier for me to turn while dancing

I'm new here and just curious about something in the community. I'm planning to purchase my first pair of Loake shoes and I'm considering using sole protectors. In this case, what advantage does a Goodyear welt construction offer? (since I'll be hopefully changing my protectors only)

Do you accept shoes sent to you for resole or sole protectors?

Anyone know of orange sole protecters to match Santoni orange soles?

Does this hurt the breathable aspect of a leather sole?

I appreciate the concept. I am not in that demographic though. I have enough shoes that standard leather, V-tread, Dainite, and lug soles cover all my needs.

How long does it take can I get it same day?

Can one achieve a good seal without a press. so one can diy?

What glue did you use?

Hi what glue do you use

Is there a brand of sole protectors you recommend? Where can I buy them? Specific thickness for AE strands?