Working Shoe for Young Exec

[All in a Day]

Kips and kwik at Bishan Junction 8 topy for $35 per pair.

I did mine at Orchard ION, $50 per pair.

To be clear, Topy is a brand that has been generalised to refer to the product (which ironically I am not clear what the correct name is: rubber sole add-ons?). Much like the term Scotch tape is widely used refer to adhesive tape, even if it is not 3M scotch brand.

$35 is not likely to be front and back, suspect is just the front sole.

I do mine at solemann (branches at arcade and one raffles place). $25 for the front. They use Vibram brand and not Topy brand soles. Works for me since I work in the vicinity. Pop by at lunch and collect after work usually same day.

I hope the ION one was for both front and back at $50.....

 

[kenzio8]

To be clear, Topy is a brand that has been generalised to refer to the product (which ironically I am not clear what the correct name is: rubber sole add-ons?). Much like the term Scotch tape is widely used refer to adhesive tape, even if it is not 3M scotch brand.

$35 is not likely to be front and back, suspect is just the front sole.

I do mine at solemann (branches at arcade and one raffles place). $25 for the front. They use Vibram brand and not Topy brand soles. Works for me since I work in the vicinity. Pop by at lunch and collect after work usually same day.

I hope the ION one was for both front and back at $50.....

Soleman is definitely cheaper and more worth it at $25.

Suntec charging $35 for same thing.

Power to the consumer please.

 

[lirahs]

I never topy-ed my goodyear welted shoes.
I even slipped and fell on a stupid bridge in China.
I also had one pair fully soaked when running back to office during a heavy downpour. Luckily it is a pair which is lower priced and have a bit of wear (i use it on multiple days when i travel).

Yet i still opt to keep my shoes un-topyed.

Whilst resoling is $180 or more, it is essentially replacing half of a shoe.
Topy costs a third of the $180, yet it wears out pretty fast as well.

Not worth it to topy in my opinion.

To each his own. This is entirely subjective according to one's nature of work, rotation of shoes and proper care maintenance.

For calculations and example sake...

A pair of shoes (non-Ed Et Al) —
Resoling @ Ed Et Al: $180
Vibram @ Kips & Kwik: $25 (soles) + $22 (heels) = $47

Assuming that one has to resole his shoes once in 2.5 years, taking into account that he rotates his shoes well, adhere proper shoe care maintenance and etc. While on the other hand, Vibram rubber pieces last for 10 months.

Coming back to the expenses —
Resoling @ Ed Et Al: $180
Vibram @ Kips & Kwik: $47 x 3 = $141

Thus, for 2.5 years, one can only resole ONCE but possible to affix Vibram at least THRICE, with spare change.

All in all, isn't affixing Vibram much more cost-effective? I'll like to reiterate that this is entirely subjective according to one's nature of work, rotation of shoes and proper care maintenance.

 

[dark_aLLeY]

Both prices are for full soles?

Only for the front.

I'm comparing the exact same vibram soles used, which is also the slightly thicker quality (lower attrition rate).

 

[d3n]

To each his own. This is entirely subjective according to one's nature of work, rotation of shoes and proper care maintenance.

For calculations and example sake...

A pair of shoes (non-Ed Et Al) —
Resoling @ Ed Et Al: $180
Vibram @ Kips & Kwik: $25 (soles) + $22 (heels) = $47

Assuming that one has to resole his shoes once in 2.5 years, taking into account that he rotates his shoes well, adhere proper shoe care maintenance and etc. While on the other hand, Vibram rubber pieces last for 10 months.

Coming back to the expenses —
Resoling @ Ed Et Al: $180
Vibram @ Kips & Kwik: $47 x 3 = $141

Thus, for 2.5 years, one can only resole ONCE but possible to affix Vibram at least THRICE, with spare change.

All in all, isn't affixing Vibram much more cost-effective? I'll like to reiterate that this is entirely subjective according to one's nature of work, rotation of shoes and proper care maintenance.

just curious, will replacing topy/vibram cause harm to the leather sole with each replacement?

 

[dark_aLLeY]

Anyone had experience with Burgol shoe wax?

Source: http://www.skoaktiebolaget.se/collections/frontpage/products/burgol-shoe-polish-made-in-switzerland

What does the "Brown with extra pigmentation" means??

 

[darthsid11111]

Means more colour pigments/richer colour.

Sent from the exploded Death Star using GAGT

 

[lirahs]

just curious, will replacing topy/vibram cause harm to the leather sole with each replacement?

I doubt so. One replaces the existing vibram rubber pieces when those are spent. Thus, the cobbler only needs to affix the vibram rubber pieces again without peeling the existing one since it's already worn-out. Oh, you can remind the cobbler to be gentle with your shoes though. Hah.

 

[All in a Day]

I never topy-ed my goodyear welted shoes.
I even slipped and fell on a stupid bridge in China.
I also had one pair fully soaked when running back to office during a heavy downpour. Luckily it is a pair which is lower priced and have a bit of wear (i use it on multiple days when i travel).

Yet i still opt to keep my shoes un-topyed.

Whilst resoling is $180 or more, it is essentially replacing half of a shoe.
Topy costs a third of the $180, yet it wears out pretty fast as well.

Not worth it to topy in my opinion.

Based on how you wrote, it seems to suggest that you agree that topy would have been effective in mitigating the situations you encountered but notwithstanding, you prefer not topy for personal reasons, including a belief that it is not as cost effective.

Anyway like what lirahs mentioned, it really is a personal choice. But to the forummer who sparked this series of discussion (cannot figure who already!), hope you benefited from the info on pros and cons to of topy vs no topy to arrive at your decision.

 

[darthsid11111]

Herring Shoes actually advises against topys:
" Avoid unsuitable additions to either sole or heel, such as stick-on soles, as these can affect the balance, comfort and life of your shoes."

Is it really just better to get them?

Sent from the exploded Death Star using GAGT

Based on how you wrote, it seems to suggest that you agree that topy would have been effective in mitigating the situations you encountered but notwithstanding, you prefer not topy for personal reasons, including a belief that it is not as cost effective.

Anyway like what lirahs mentioned, it really is a personal choice. But to the forummer who sparked this series of discussion (cannot figure who already!), hope you benefited from the info on pros and cons to of topy vs no topy to arrive at your decision.

That would be me, and yes, extremely informative discussion!

Definitely going to get sole protectors to save my poor shoes.

Sent from the exploded Death Star using GAGT

 

[d3n]

so besides soleman and Kips and kwik, where else can i find reliable cobbler to do topy/vibram?

 

[urbanturban]

Realising that i am the only one who leaves my shoes raw makes me feel suddenly naked and lonely.

 

[d3n]

Realising that i am the only one who leaves my shoes raw makes me feel suddenly naked and lonely.

haha everyone has their own likes...

maybe your shoe value higher so perhaps resoling if worth it...

my shoe value is relatively low, so i feel kinda stupid to pay an amount close to buying a new shoe just to resole.

 

[likehotbutter]

I even slipped and fell on a stupid bridge in China.

You know..I've got a feeling that I'll never hear the end of it from my SO if I do slip in one of what she terms "my expensive fancy shoes" due to lack of grip

To be clear, Topy is a brand that has been generalised to refer to the product (which ironically I am not clear what the correct name is: rubber sole add-ons?).

Sole-Guard

Soleman is definitely cheaper and more worth it at $25.

May have gone up to $27 but meh, still cheap.

just curious, will replacing topy/vibram cause harm to the leather sole with each replacement?

The cobbler may rip out the topy, sand down and repaste, or a more delicate approach may be to grind down the entire layer. So yes, there will still be some wear. Whether the wear will be worse compared to an untopied sole will be dependent on sole material quality(rendenbach soles etc), usage, rotation and environment to which the sole was most exposed to (as mentioned by Lirah), so YMMV.

But at the very least, the wear on the sole from replacement should be on an even plane as the topy is taking the brunt of the wear, which should theoretically extend how many times the sole can be topied before replacement.

After all gait is personal and people with forward prone gaits will face advance toe-area sole wear (if untopied/untapped), leading to premature need for sole replacement with front area threads/midsole/getting exposed despite 3/4 of the rear-portion been relatively pristine.

Im a heel striker. So similarly, the rear rubber portion of the toplift gets ground down rapidly at an acute angle necessitating replacement despite the rest been flat. But heck...heel block replacements are so much more convenient locally.

 

[d3n]

Im a heel striker. So similarly, the rear rubber portion of the toplift gets ground down rapidly at an acute angle necessitating replacement despite the rest been flat. But heck...heel block replacements are so much more convenient locally.

yeah i had this problem with my heels too

so i need to do a front and rear topy right?

 

[likehotbutter]

yeah i had this problem with my heels too

so i need to do a front and rear topy right?

Up to you really.

I personally leave my heels as they are (1/4 rubber, 3/4 leather top piece) and sole-guard the front portion of my sole.

Imo, its a good compromise as I still get some grip and the "clip-clop" sound so characteristic of leather soles

 

[All in a Day]

Realising that i am the only one who leaves my shoes raw makes me feel suddenly naked and lonely.

Think your preference will feel more welcome in SF for a discussion on this topic!

 

[BallGag]

Realising that i am the only one who leaves my shoes raw makes me feel suddenly naked and lonely.

Oh don't worry. You're definitely not alone. I'm just trying to refrain from commenting because it'll undoubtedly lead to me saying something like, "shoes are meant to be worn" or, "LMFAO learn2walk".

 

[BallGag]

Rubber soles are usually available as a factory option. If you don't know how to wal- ahem, I mean, if you find leather soles slippery or expensive to maintain, go for dainite or another factory fitted option(tomir, wensum, etc).

 

[urbanturban]

Oh don't worry. You're definitely not alone. I'm just trying to refrain from commenting because it'll undoubtedly lead to me saying something like, "shoes are meant to be worn" or, "LMFAO learn2walk".

Sole-Mate.

Yeah. My thinking is also if the shoe fails, and if the upper still looks good and if the shine/patina is great, I may spend the money to resole.

Otherwise a new shoe beckons.