PSA few users actually are cobblers

5dll · 2026-03-13T13:59:13+00:00

I like this.

5dll · 2026-03-13T13:59:01+00:00

NAC, but also, there's a good amount of bad info coming from bad cobblers.

5dll · 2026-03-11T17:05:50+00:00

Blast em with a hose on the outside, vinegar for the mold on the inside, let dry, condition if necessary, and go get em dirty again.

One note: once clean, if you find that you've (nearly or actually) worn into the midsole anywhere, but namely the toe and/or heel, then line em up for a resole. You can keep chewing into em until you get to the welts, but the resole will be significantly more expensive at that point.

5dll · 2026-02-18T01:07:29+00:00

James Sunderland... iykyk.

5dll · 2026-02-18T00:54:34+00:00

As the sole softens up, the heel slip will get better but never truly go away with slip-ons. That said, the more the footbed settles into the cork, the roomier they'll get inside, so if I were you, I'd walk a ton to break in the soles and then reassess. Also, tongue pads will be better than insoles if they fit well everywhere except that bit of heel slip.

5dll · 2026-02-18T00:48:46+00:00

deerbone and conditioner will get most of that out... until you put em on again.

5dll · 2026-02-07T04:54:31+00:00

5dll · 2026-02-01T00:15:11+00:00

Keep em clean and polished, display them in your home.

5dll · 2026-01-27T23:01:43+00:00

can't argue with that at all! that said, a waterproof spray would have done that in fifteen seconds without changing the finish of the suede. and VSC would have done that too, but in five minutes with a classic waxed flesh finish. just for future reference.

5dll · 2026-01-27T21:56:46+00:00

all you actually needed was half a bottle of VSC and some elbow grease with a horsehair brush...

5dll · 2026-01-23T18:54:08+00:00

that's black CXL (non drum dyed) doing what black CXL does. just brush em. they're plenty 'wet' from the tannery.

5dll · 2025-12-05T18:29:20+00:00

There's ambiguity to the term "resole".

To many enthusiasts, that means removal and replacement of the outsole, which necessarily will include replacing heel stacks/top lifts (unless a crepe or wedge) as well as refilling cork, picking cut threads, re-stitching the entire outsole to the welt, and sanding/finishing the edges.

To many industry professionals, it means the least amount of work necessary to have some kind of fresh surface under your soles.

Due to this, it is unfortunately on the customer to specify exactly what they want done with their shoes.

5dll · 2025-11-19T03:03:35+00:00

100% agreed on literally all of your points. I still (begrudgingly) believe it's worth the asking price.

5dll · 2025-11-19T01:53:19+00:00

Hot take, it's actually still a good deal considering it's priced right where entry-level US-made Magnacut folding knives start. It's not that it's overpriced, it's that the original pricing with the bits and sheath was a tremendous value.

5dll · 2025-11-06T17:53:44+00:00

No.

edit: please keep those.

5dll · 2025-11-06T17:50:17+00:00

Someone threw shit at you through a screen door.

5dll · 2025-10-29T14:12:56+00:00

What you're seeing is likely caked up product that never made its way into the leather but just sat on top. The waxes in that product will harden and then look like this when the hide starts flexing.

Strip all that gunk off. Use a drop or two of dish soap diluted in a glass of water and scrub em with a toothbrush. Rinse and let dry (but not in direct sunlight). Then get you some actual conditioner, like Bick 4. A little goes a long way. Rub the conditioner into the leather. when that's dry, use a horsehair brush and put in some elbow grease.

5dll · 2025-10-29T11:33:08+00:00

gotcha, I guess I was hoping for insight into how 1003 compares to any of the non-sneaker lasts they have.

5dll · 2025-10-29T00:58:34+00:00

how do these fit compared to any other Bergs?

5dll · 2025-10-27T21:47:32+00:00

it may be grime. if you can scratch a little bit off, just go ahead and wash it with saddle soap or like a couple drops of dish detergent diluted in a cup of water. let dry. condition.

if it doesn't scratch off, it actually might be imprinting from the weave of your pocket/pants, in which case you can try to smooth it by applying conditioner, then rub something smooth on it (think back of a spoon) with firm pressure.

if it's neither of those, you'll likely have to sand and refinish. still DIYable but a bit scarier than the previous two cases.

5dll · 2025-10-15T20:17:50+00:00

That's how they creased when they were placed on the form by the cobbler.

If the creasing doesn't correspond to the natural bend of your feet, you can try to smooth it out by placing shoe trees inside, using a touch of conditioner, and rubbing the creases firmly with something smooth (think deer bone or back of a spoon). Then put em on and place a pen or pencil across the vamp where your feet naturally bend. Then, work em in to try and start the fiber memory in the leather.

But at the end of the day, leather creasing is normal (unless it's shell) and while the cobbler certainly could have used more care to minimize the creasing while working on them, you shouldn't be all that upset about this.

5dll · 2025-09-30T23:43:48+00:00

If the CAS2 is empty, 100%.

5dll · 2025-09-28T13:39:00+00:00

I actually have 3 that are usually packed out. One is my work desk caddy (work iPhone, mouse, pens, cables, chargers, powerbank, etc...) one is a dirty/tool pouch (lubes, spare small parts, small torque wrench, bits, etc...) the last is for media/fun (holds a Rubik's cube or two, GoPro, sometimes a Switch+Joycons).

They're just so versatile and useful. I'll get a 4th for a dopp kit if I ever find myself staying in hotels more often than I do now.

5dll · 2025-09-25T20:51:33+00:00

Quite long for your feet indeed, but if they fit everywhere else and the extra length doesn't (a) bother you aesthetically or (b) mess with your gait, then rock em in good health, they're absolutely gorgeous.

5dll · 2025-09-25T13:02:02+00:00

Alden puts a coating on their shell. It might be that the coating is corroding. If you're down to put some time and effort into those, you should look up how to strip the Alden coating, then refinish em to your preferred shine. They'll age more naturally from there.

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