Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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Thanks to Old Speed Mfg for hosting us: oldspeedmfg.com
My 10 Favorite Loafers Ever: stridewise.com/best-loafers-for-men
My 5 Favorite Chelsea Boots: stridewise.com/best-chelsea-boots

Everyone seems to have the foregone conclusion that rubber soles like Dainite and Vibram are the best for boots, and I'm sick and tired of leather soles and crepe soles getting the shaft. I'll admit they're not as durable or grippy as rubber soles, but believe me, that's not all there is to a good boot sole. In this video, I visited Dave at Old Speed Mfg, a bootmaking outfit in rural Pennsylvania, to get an expert's opinion on on what everyone is missing when it comes to boot soles.

00:00 We're in a boot workshop!
00:34 Benefits of crepe rubber soles on boots
1:41 Benefits of rubber soles on boots
02:57 Benefits of leather soles on boots
04:12 Leather vs crepe soles
05:56 Which boot sole is easier to break in?
06:46 Which boot sole is cheapest?
07:13 Are leather soles slippery?
09:55 Wrapping up