asking the forum's shoe advice...

[Guest]

I know this is crude, but i generally divide shoes into black, non-black, weatherproof black and weatherproff non-black.

I am looking to acquire another pair of weatherproof non-black shoes. I am considering the CJ Shelton, Sedbergh, and Weston Golf in brown. Care to give your input?

[SouthPender]

By "weatherproof" I assume you mean rubber-soled or equivalent. You choice will likely turn on whether you want a stylish-but-weatherproof shoe, like the EG Dover with Dainite sole, or a real mudder/slusher with a heavier rubber sole, such as the John Lobb Barros or something with a vibram or commando-like sole. If the former, I might suggest the C&J Onslow (with the Dainite sole), a shoe much like the Shelton you mention, but to my eye, a little nicer. Both are on the C&J 325 last; I particularly like (but do not own) the Onslow with their Tan Scotch Country Grain leather. In my opinion, the Sedbergh suffers from what seems to me to be a kind of incongruous design--Dainite-soled, storm-welted, plain captoe. To me, a captoe is a city shoe, and thus does not work well with a Dainite sole and storm welt. In addition, I believe that C&J's "Hurricane Hide," in which it's made, is corrected-grain leather.

The Weston Golf is a real honker of a shoe. I have it in dark brown. My guess is that this shoe will work best with a foot that is very large from the instep forward, a characteristic not true of mine. Thus, it is a little loose on my feet, but I've made it fit reasonably well with an additional spongy insole in each shoe. The toe box on the Golf is the highest I think I've seen on a dress or casual shoe. The Golf will cost you a little more than the C&Js mentioned above--$750 retail the last time I checked. For about the same price, you could get the Weston Demi-Chasse (Model 696, or "Split-toe on Ridgeway" as it's described on their website) with Weston's lug-rubber "Ridgeway" sole. Some would regard this model as a little more stylish than the Golf. The sale at Sky Valet in Washington, DC may still include some of these Weston models at 20% off. For another $200, you can move up to the John Lobb Barros or other similar rubber-soled models in the Lobb line. The Barros, which I have in dark brown, has an extremely thick rubber lugged sole (about 5/8" including the welt), and fits nicely into the really heavy weather category.

[Concordia]

I have the Weston Golf. It's OK for what it is-- is that what you want?

[Guest]

Thanks for that excellent and detailed reply.

[dopey]

Don't you have the Hunt derby? Why do you need something similar? Has the Hunt derby turned out to not be to your liking?

When I ordered my bespoke version, one of the leathers I looked at was an even heavier waxed calf in a dark brown and I might use that next go around so I am curious as to what your positive and negative experiences have been.

[Guest]

I do as a matter of fact and I love it. Jesus, you don't forget anything! But it has metal taps that click. I have to say, amongst all the soles I have on my shoes and everything considered, I absolutely love the Ridgeway on my EG Dundee the most. It is the most comfortable sole, it is nicely elevated above the muck (to my way of thinking, the true "weatherproof" feature, not its composition), and it does not gather dirt like the Dainite does.

Time and use reallly exposes the quality of the shoes. When you see the Weston shoes, at least the two I own, the Hunt Derby and the boat shoe, angels do not sing. But over time they look so lovely and their excellent material and finish really outs.

[bry2000]

I would prefer any of the C&J options over the Weston Golf. I have tried on the Golf and I just don't like the look of it. I would take the demi-chasse over the Golf, but you have the full chasse so there is probably no need for the demi.

[SouthPender]

I do as a matter of fact and I love it. Jesus, you don't forget anything! But it has metal taps that click.

I have the Hunt Derby as well and, like you, found the heels/soles less than optimal. Since I regarded mine as basically hard-wearing, outdoor shoes, the metal toe and heel taps and smooth leather sole weren't ideal. I solved the problem by having textured thin Topy oversoles put on (and cut just short of the toe taps, so that those remained; it was the heel taps that clicked), and the top lift of the heel, including the heel tap, replaced with a stout, somewhat-corrugated (but not lugged) vibram heel lift. Now they are quieter when walking and pretty-well slip-proof. You might think that adding something to a triple-sole is beyond the pale; however, the Topys are very thin (but do provide good traction), don't show when the shoe is down, and add next to no height to the shoe.

I got the Golfs after the Hunt Derby, and see them as more of a really messy-weather shoe. The C&Js you're considering fall into a different category--the same one containing EG Dovers--somewhat stylish country shoes, but not shoes you'd get down and dirty in!