A Good Pair of Shoes Should Last A Man His Entire Life

Years ago I heard someone say that a good pair of shoes should last a man his entire life.

I recently saw a picture of Prince Charles with a patch on his shoe. And in a documentary on PBS about the queen, one of her footmen said he would wear an older pair of shoes on special occasions because those were the better shoes as it take years for a pair of shoes to acquire the desired high-gloss sheen. (Possibly there is an obsession in the British royalty with holding on to one’s shoes).

Shoes lasting an entire lifetime is an exaggeration, but with proper care shoes should last one a good long time.

Here are a couple of simple tips to make your shoes last-

• Do not wear shoes on back-to-back days. Repeated wearing does not allow for the proper drying out that is required to make a shoe last.
  
  
• Use shoes trees. This will prevent the shoe from curling. Cedar ones are recommended as them help to absorb moisture. I bought a pair for $15 at Men’s Warehouse. I see them in consignment shops all the time, albeit rarely cedar. And I saw plastic shoe trees at Ikea for $1. (Aren't your shoes worth the extra dollar?)
  
  
• Keep your shoes polished. There’s debate over whether one should polish their own shoes or not (DIYers say it's an easy chore. While those in favor of contracting it out say it’s a dirty job best left to the professionals who only charge a few bucks anyhow), but regularly polishing shoes help to keep them in good condition, prevents cracking and all those layer of polish add to the sheen.
  
  
• In the winter, wipe the salt off of your shoes with a mixture of water and a little white vinegar.
  
  
• But, most importantly, whether the soles are leather or rubber, make sure your shoes can be resoled. With proper care, your leather upper will last a long time, but eventually your sole will wear out. If your sole is glued on (as are many cheap shoes today) it cannot be resoled. Florsheim has a nice chart on dissecting shoe construction. Soles that are sewn or Goodyear welted can be resoled. With the sad state of affairs that is the modern-day shopping experience, I doubt if the salesman helping you will know if your shoes are resoleable, but if you see stitches and leather on the top of the sole, that it a good sign.