I’ve has many types of leather, faux leather, and fabric shoes. My leather dress shoes have been the ones to last the longest, while all my other shoes seem to last about the same length of time even if they are leather. Some shoes are made with better quality parts and last longer than others.
Leather shoes can last much longer than other shoes. They last a long time when taken care of and re-soled. Leather’s longevity is one reason people think leather shoes are better, although leather shoes that are made cheaply last about as long as other cheaply made shoes.
There are many types of leather and different levels of quality. In general, genuine leather is better than bonded leather or faux leather. If your shoe says they are made of leather, you can usually identify what type is by inspecting them. We’ll discuss how you can tell if your shoes are made to last or not and if the leather is best for you or something else.
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Leather Shoes Can Be Better… Sometimes
Leather shoes are a good investment if you’re looking for a shoe that will last a long time. However, the quality of the leather you get will greatly determine if you are getting good shoes or one that barely last six months. So should you choose a leather shoe or some other alternative?
One of the first things to do when choosing a shoe is to determine what your budget is. Then you can determine the quality of the shoe. More expensive doesn’t always mean better. Some very well-built shoes are less than $100. (I’ll talk about determining leather quality in the next heading)
The last thing you want to determine is what are the pros and cons of each type of shoe. This can help you recognize if these are the shoes you want to get. This chart gives you 5 pros and 5 cons of having leather shoes.
There are so many different types of leather shoes but it’s usually the case that a higher-priced shoe will give you better quality and longer-lasting shoes. Try to get either full-grain or top-grain leather for the best leather shoes.
You’ll need to consider all the pros and cons of leather shoes and the other types of shoes you’re comparing them to. In the picture above, you see some canvas shoes. These have been known to last for years when used, similar to dress shoes.
Although leather and canvas shoes are very different, they may be similar in quality if they are priced about the same. A good quality brand canvas or leather shoe can last much longer than cheap ones. So, determining whether leather is better might depend on your personal preferences.
If we are talking about durability and longevity, then quality leather will likely always be better, but if we are considering other options, a non-leather shoe could be best.
Determining the Quality of Leather Shoes
Most leather shoes are made from shoes are made of cowhide. The cowhide is tanned, treated, and thinned if needed. You can make different kinds of leather depending is you leave it alone, sand it, or split the leather apart. The different layers in the cowhide can be used to make different leather shoes. These are:
- Full Grain – The best quality leather that will last longer, is stronger, obtains a natural patina if handled over time, and resists moisture better. It shows the natural grain of the leather and its imperfections. This is the top layer of cowhide leather after it is split or the entire hide.
- Top Grain – This is the second-best quality leather and is the middle layer of cowhide. The top has been sanded off or split off. It is usually thinner and easier to work with, smooth and uniform, not quite as durable, breaths less, but still a good leather for shoes.
- Genuine leather, Suede, and split-grain – This is the bottom layer of cowhide. The name genuine leather can refer to all types of leather but usually refers to this bottom layer. It is fuzzy but very soft. This leather is the least durable and can stain more easily. Yet, can be easy to maintain.
- Bonded Leather – This leather is made from scraps of leather that are “finely shredded and bonded together.” (libertyleathergoods.com) This type of leather varies in quality but usually has 20% or less leather in it. It has a polyurethane backing and sometimes a polyurethane coating as well. This is the lowest quality leather that often peels and cracks over time.
- Fake Leather – Called by different names (PU leather, pleather, imitation leather, vegan leather, leatherette, and synthetic leather – See my article about leather shoes) it is made from polyurethane. These types of shoes usually look good but are not very durable.
You can determine the quality of the shoes you are looking to buy by looking at the labels inside the shoe and any information from the shoe company that comes along with the shoe.
Unfortunately, many shoes don’t have clear labels, so it makes it difficult to clearly know the quality of the leather you are getting.
For example, my Bostonian shoes are labeled leather upper and leather liner on the inside of the shoe, but it doesn’t say full grain or top grain. I have to look closer to see if the finish is smooth, polished, and uniform. That means it is top-grain leather, except for the inside of the heel, which feels fuzzy and soft, so it’s suede or split-grain.
If you’re not sure about the leather, check the shoe labeling, shoe texture, and leather backing if possible, read user reviews, and do some research online to get the full story about the quality of the shoes you’re looking at.
If you want your shoes to last, get full-grain leather shoes. These come at a higher cost (~$200) but can last a lifetime with proper care.
Top-grain leather shoes can also last a long time with proper care. These can cost (~$100) depending on the quality and overall construction and will last almost as long as full-grain leather if you care for them regularly.
Suede shoes are also a good option for those who are careful with their shoes. These can cost (~$50 – $100) and come in a variety of shoe types, such as cross trainers, hiking boots, and dress shoes. These are easy to care for if you protect them with a shoe spray regularly (see the article about shoe spray protection); just be careful not to brush or rub too hard when cleaning.
If you see a genuine leather shoe for (~$20 – $30), chances are it could be bonded leather. These kinds of shoes won’t hold up well over time. Bonded leather needs to be treated carefully in order to last. Cleaning regularly with a rag and water, using conditioner, and avoiding hard rubbing, scratches, heat, or too much sunlight.
Fake leather shoes are similar to bonded leather in their quality. They tend to last for short periods and need the same types of care as bonded leather. You can find various fake leather shoes for (~$20 – $50).
Are Leather Shoes Good For Your Feet?
One reason you may like leather shoes is that they will somewhat conform to the shape of your feet. Leather can feel like it fits your feet extremely well. As long as you get the right size (see the article about fitting leather shoes), your shoes can feel very comfortable.
Another reason your leather shoes can help you feel comfortable is their breathability. Full-grain leather shoes breathe well, but top-grain ones don’t breathe too well. Suede, on the other hand, can usually breathe very well. Be careful with bonded, faux, and patent leather, as they can get hot and don’t really breathe.
Leather shoes tend to be fairly flexible most of the time unless you are getting a rigid boot or a shoe that has a rigid sole, like a hiking boot. Shoes with good flexibility are helpful for allowing your foot to move more naturally. This gives your foot a chance to activate more foot muscles and be a bit more healthy.
There are many types of leather shoes, so you’ll need to find a shoe that has the right fit and good flexibility for a better chance to be good for your feet.
Some leather dress shoes have leather soles. Leather soles may be good for your feet in some ways. They tend to mold to your foot shape and are fairly soft. If they flex where your foot naturally flexes, then they are helping your natural biomechanical motion.
Considering all these factors, leather can be fairly good for your feet. Yet, there are so many varieties and combinations of shoes and leather types that you need to be careful to get one that has the qualities you are looking for.
Can I Wear Leather Shoes every day?
I like to wear light, breathable shoes most of the time when I go out for a run, a hike, a walk, or just to go shopping. I wear leather shoes for church, at my previous job five days a week, and at times when hiking. There are leather shoes that work for all the activities that I participate in but I’d rather wear shoes that have mesh fabric that breathes a bit easier.
If you wanted to wear leather shoes every day, then it would be possible, but you would want to ensure your shoes could breathe if you were doing any activities that involved lots of walking or exercise.
Here are some options that you might see at the store. Some would be a good choice to wear often, while others may not. These shoes will
These are full-grain hiking boots you can wear when you go hiking.
These are full-grain hiking boots you can wear when you go hiking.
These are suede cross-training shoes you can wear during exercise.
These are “leather” shoes for casual activities.
These are synthetic leather dress shoes you can wear when you go to w
There is a wide selection of leather shoes to choose from when looking for a pair of leather shoes to wear. I’m certain you can find some good shoes to wear for just about any activity you want to do.
The most important thing to look for in a leather shoe is quality. If you want it to last, you will likely need full-grain or top-grain leather. If you see genuine or premium leather on a cheap shoe, it’s not likely quality leather.
You might find leather shoes that come from other types of animal hides besides cowhide. A popular boot that many people like is sheepskin boots that are lined with fur.
Some people are opposed to wearing anything made from animals. They choose to wear shoes that don’t harm any animals in the process of production. You might see the phrase vegan shoes, which usually means that all the materials are natural fibers or synthetic materials that cause no harm to animals.
You could find a vegan sheepskin boot that uses real sheep fur lining but not sheepskin (see Amazon link). The sheep’s hair is cut, but nothing else happens to harm the animal. That way, there is no harm done to the sheep when producing these boots.
Final Thoughts
Leather shoes can be very durable. If you get a good quality full-grain or top-grain leather shoe, you’ll have a shoe that has the potential to last for many years to come.
I feel that leather shoes are great for work and church, but I prefer to use fabric-upper shoes for most of my daily activities. One other leather shoe I might wear more often is leather sandals. I enjoy wearing them and I prefer them over flip-flops (see the article about sandals vs. flip-flops).
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