Usefulness of these shoes.

[A3M0N]

I'm in need of updating shoes and taking inventory of what I currently have in my closet. I have some faux leather brown slipons that will need to be replaced, and a pair of Sketchers that serve as casual shoes - for now.

As far as lace ups go, I only have these:

Here is some info from the manufacturer's site: leather upper, Goodyear welt construction, and made in the USA. On the downside, not so bad in some camps, they have Vibram soles.

In the picture they currently have the military polish stripped off and have been freshly cleaned. Some other things I already know: they are creased and wrinkly (can you call a shoe wrinkly?), and I need shoe trees in them.

My questions. Are the useful for wearing with anything other than a uniform? Also, with the use of shoe trees and some leather conditioner can they be saved?

Thanks!​

 

[mark the shoeshine boy]

YES....those look good to me....since they have been freshly cleaned, they just need some conditioner and about two coats of polish...check out the thread about Saphir products....clean the soles and welts...i usually apply just a little black kiwi with a toothbrush if they are not coming clean...use a heel dressing...you will have these looking great in no time...and of course get some new laces...

 

[A3M0N]

Thanks Mark. I was hoping they could double as dress shoes in civilian wear as well as with my service uniform. I will be wearing that uniform a lot this year, more than I have in my career so far, so I pulled these shoes out to see what can be done with them. I've been shining shoes most of life, but never had them go all wavy and wrinkly like this. Next purchase of mine will be a set of shoe trees.

 

[Doc4]

I agree with Mark that they can be saved with a bit of TLC.

I have no problem with the vibram soles ... not a biggie nowadays.

I think they could double as "civilian dress shoes" for wearing with suits &c, but ... I'd suggest looking into a pair or two of dress shoes that appear to be "obviously non-military". A nice pair of brown shoes ... maybe monkstraps or brogued wingtips, or whatever tickles your fancy ... but something that as soon as you put it on reminds you that you are not in uniform ... not on duty ... not at work ... it's a real "state of mind" sort of thing.

(It'll also avoid anyone thinking that you are stuck in "military mode" or trying to make your uniform-issue stuff do double duty, but mostly it's for your own state of mind.)

 

[Cannata]

I, too, agree with Mark.

Steve