How to Make Your Shoes Last Forever: A Review of Potter and Son's
Guest Post by Zach Mitchem
When you make the decision to invest in higher-quality shoes, you may start thinking about things that you never considered before. Questions like the best shoe polish and how to make your shoes last longer become important. You may also want to learn about some old-school shoemaking methods. Finally, you’ll almost certainly go in search of a cobbler. Yes, cobblers are still around. They’re second in importance only to your tailor if you’re serious about your wardrobe.
I found a really good cobbler about six months ago and I want to tell you about my experience. Here’s what happened when I took my shoes to Potter and Sons.
Experience
Original Condition
Original Soles
I’ve always enjoyed shoes but their status in my wardrobe increased significantly after I finally found a pair that fit. For a long time, I didn't have a single pair of shoes in the right size, so I made a trip to Allen Edmonds. I’ve been obsessed with high-quality shoes ever since. I bought several pairs of Goodyear Welted shoes (what does that mean?), and I knew at some point I would need a good cobbler.
At the time, I didn't have any shoes that needed resoling, so I found a pair of oxblood wingtips for just $50 on ebay. I contacted Trent and Heath over at Potter and Sons to do a restoration on them to see what kind of work they did, and the results blew me away!
Although these shoes were still visibly worn before I sent them out, the upper was still in excellent condition. At Potter and Sons, you can get shoes completely resoled for $90 plus shipping. I opted for infamous JR leather and heel block, as well as conditioning and polish. This leads to a total of about $200, which slightly bit less than you’d pay for second-hand Allen Edmonds. For me, this route for me was totally worth it! JR soles last 2-3 times longer than the average sole and are used on some of the best shoes in the world.
Since the shoes were so cheap, I had them sent directly to Potter and Sons, where Trent was kind enough to check them over with me on the phone and confirm their condition before starting. Excellent communication on Trent's part went a long way and made this project a breeze for me. This level of customer service is another reason I recommend this business so highly.
Final Condition
On the Potter and Sons site, there are are many color options for the soles. My only requirement was that they us JR leather and a stacked heel. With the shoes being oxblood, Trent went with a waxed sole, giving it a medium brown color, and he used red contrast stitching. Originally I was going to ask them to do their burgundy finish, but I am glad I gave them the artistic freedom to do what they thought looked best. It turned out to be much more in line with my taste, which speaks profoundly to Trent and Heath's skill and intuition.
As you can see on the right, the finished product looked like new and they’ve become a new favorite in my rotation.
Polish
Saphir Pommadier Cream Polish
The final touch to my order was to add some Saphir Pommadier Cream Polish in the Mahogany shade to match the shoes. Having polish is critical, and I do not recommend any other brand. When I saw that Potter and Sons stock and use Saphir products in their services, it was just another confirmation for me. If you don't already have some, you need a good polish for your shoes and Saphir is the best I have ever used.
Conclusion
Trent and Heath at Potter and Sons have become my go-to cobblers. They are masters in their craft, treated me really well, performed some beautiful work on my shoes, and exceeded all of my expectations. If you have some shoes that need to be resoled or just need shoe care products, give Potter and Sons a try. You’ll be glad you did.
About the author
Zach is a regular contributor to the Kavalier blog. A competitive weightlifter and powerlifter, Zach writes about style with the goal of helping other stylish men avoid the frustration he encountered at the beginning of his style journey. He also works as a professional clothier at Smith Bespoke in Salt Lake City. Follow him on Instagram here.
Zach Mitchem
I have been lifting weights for over 15 years and have been a competitive weightlifter and powerlifter. I have had issues with finding clothes that fit properly for as long as I can remember. In 2017 I stepped up my style game in a serious way and realized there are very few decent options for muscular men at the average online or brick and mortar store. I started a journey to find options that fit the muscular man, and the start of the 'Muscular Style' blog was born.
I write about style with the intent to help you avoid all the wasted time and frustration I have encountered in my journey. I want you to be able to buy quality clothing that fits well. Currently, I work as a professional clothier at Smith Bespoke in Salt Lake City and have made helping men dress better into my career.