u/lone-grizzly

Hi all, I recently bought my first pair of leather-soled Oxfords. I wore them once already and ended up dancing pretty hard in them for a one-time occasion. I normally wouldn’t do heavy activity in dress shoes though.

Someone suggested I get metal toe taps installed to protect the soles, but I know basically nothing about them.

A few questions:

1. Are toe taps actually necessary if I only wear the shoes about once every couple of weeks?
2. If they are worth getting, what brands/types are considered reliable? I’ve seen names like Lulu and Triumph mentioned.
3. Anything specific I should tell the cobbler so they install them properly and don’t damage the shoes? Assume I know absolutely nothing here.
4. Do toe taps noticeably change the walking experience? More slippery, less comfortable, louder, etc.?

Would appreciate any advice from people who’ve used them long-term.

Hey everyone, I bought a pair of Alden 907s for a wedding, my first pair of Aldens and also my first experience with leather soles.

I only wore them for the wedding itself, including a bit of dancing, and afterward the soles looked like this. Is this amount of wear normal for leather soles after a single wear?

I’m totally unfamiliar with how leather soles are supposed to break in, so I’m wondering if this is expected or if it’s something I should be concerned about / reach out to Alden about.

Thanks!