Leather or Suede?

[KatieR]

After a speaking with a few people I have noticed everyone has a difference of opinion when it comes to the soles of their shoes.

Me personally, like a leather-suede, or suede sole - I can control my spins a lot easier and can do controlled slides. Leather is good except on a fast floor - , but still find I dont have as much control.

I stopped wearing leather soles at Twyford because I know that one of these days Im going to land in quite an unattractive way on the floor.

Thoughts?

[David Franklin]

Thoughts?

I think you're unfairly biased against people in dance trainers!

[Cruella]

I too prefer suede. I don't have enough control with leather on a fast floor. Suede still allows you to spin freely but doesn't let you slip all over the place when you're not intending to! I'm actually thinking of getting suede soles put on my dance trainers, as they are not slippy enough on some floors.

[KatieR]

I think you're unfairly biased against people in dance trainers!

You are correct... I have, to my horror, left off the trainer option and it is too late for me to correct my poll...

All trainer wearers please forgive my oversight it was not intentional..

[KatieR]

I too prefer suede. I don't have enough control with leather on a fast floor. Suede still allows you to spin freely but doesn't let you slip all over the place when you're not intending to! I'm actually thinking of getting suede soles put on my dance trainers, as they are not slippy enough on some floors.

I used to wear trainers all the time when I first started, but now I have two pairs that are sitting in the cupboard getting all dusty. I find them very difficult to dance in but some people swear by them. They are definately handy to have though at the end of the evening when your feet are sore, but I got myself a pair of the freed practice shoe for that. They are a leather suede sole. Very comfortable.

[Minnie M]

There isn't an option for synthetic or rubber based ????

[KatieR]

There isn't an option for synthetic or rubber based ????

I know, I did post an apology... I wasn't able to update it in time.. .so please accept my humblest of apologies for all synthetic and rubber sole shoe wearing peoples... please imagine that there is an invisible option and feel free to discuss all synthetic/rubber related things..

[TiggsTours]

I generally dance in my dance sneakers, and love them, but recently I've branched out a bit in footwear. I bought some of the new ballet style dance sneakers, which have hardly any sole, and they are fantastic to dance in, I've never found anything that gives me so much control, but can get a bit sore towards the end of the evening. Also, after years, I finally bought some girly dance shoes, with a suede sole, and they are fab! The most important thing to me though is the heel, can't dance in anything higher than 2.5 inches. Also, they need to fit well, no slipping around inside them, and the padded inner on my new shoes is the best!

[under par]

when it comes to soles I prefer th "S" and the "T" and definitely avoid the "R"!

[Cruella]

when it comes to soles I prefer th "S" and the "T" and definitely avoid the "R"!

T ?

[under par]

I really hate "R" soles

[Zebra Woman]

I prefer the extra control of suede, but after having two pairs of HDS shoes made with suede soles I was horrified to find they made my feet feel so sore. It felt like I was dancing barefoot on the floor.

After a month of trying to like them, I had them re-soled by Heavenly and one of the heels reduced in height too. ISTR it was a very reasonable price to get two pairs of shoes back in action.

I use resin soles outdoors. My Capezio dance trainers are too sticky and hurt my knees and feet, I haven't worn them for nearly a year. I am still contemplating glueing a leather sole onto the bottom them. It's qute a risk, if the glue fails then the trainers will be ruined.

[Andreas]

I love the control of suede and have used it for ballroom and latin, initially also for MJ. But the shoes are usually too soft, hence short-lived, considering the amount of foot movements I do during a dance, let alone a whole night. So I moved on to shoes with complete leather soles, including heels. While there is not a lot of control in those shoes, there are a couple of moves which I can't do with rubber heels. For the sake of control I have currently compromised and use leather soles with rubber heels.

Outside I occasionally danced in ordinary sneakers and usually made an effort of being right on my toes to reduce the strain on my anckles and knees.

[KatieR]

I love the control of suede and have used it for ballroom and latin, initially also for MJ. But the shoes are usually too soft, hence short-lived, considering the amount of foot movements I do during a dance, let alone a whole night.
.

Can suede shoes be resoled if it wears out? I want to take really good care of my shoes but given that suede does wear out a lot faster than leather I wondered if this can be done.

[Rhythm King]

Depends on the floor, the dance and what I'm wearing. I like suede for good quality, clean floors and for doing WCS. Leather or jazz boots depend on the floor, but I won't wear boots with smart clothes. It's just not right...

Oh and yes you can get suede replaced, either by the cobbler, or by buying replacement soles, eg from Freed.

R-K

[Lynn]

Most of mine are suede. I do have a leather soled pair of b&w lace up shoes, which I have sometimes worn at a local swing venue where the floor was too slow (and dirty) to wear my suede soles. I like the control of suede, but I can't freestyle in my trainers (unless its a very fast floor, like the venue I used to hire for MJ last year)

Some of my suede soles have worn a bit smooth, so I do have a good range of soles with me when I go to a venue.

Bare feet - I did that once at about 6am in the blues room at Southport 'cos I had taken my dance shoes off. And I got some of those really fluffy socks for Christmas - spinning in those on a laminate floor is fun!

[Zebra Woman]

Bare feet - I did that once at about 6am in the blues room at Southport 'cos I had taken my dance shoes off. And I got some of those really fluffy socks for Christmas - spinning in those on a laminate floor is fun!

I love fluffy socks on a smooth floor too. I like running and sliding best, I keep an 8 metre stretch clear in my dining room for that purpose.

I hate to see women dancing barefoot, after what happened to one of my sailing/dancing friends a few years ago.

At a party at my sailing club my friend was frustrated at not being able to dance in her high heeled mules so she kicked them off and danced with me barefoot, admittedly it was a hard lino. Dancing endorphins meant she didn't feel any pain at the time. Later that night and the next day she was in agony, the massive blisters on her feet had to be seen to be believed! She had to take a week off work and couldn't stand or walk anywhere.

[DavidB]

I used to wear Supadance latin shoes with a suede sole, but found they made my feet very sore.

I got a pair of dance sneakers when they first came out, and loved the comfort. I could walk at the end of a weekender! Fortunately for me the sole was not a problem for social dancing - the extra grip actually helped me not to move.

However I started to use them when practicing cabarets, and realised how much damage they could do. I now have a pair of dance sneakers with suede soles glued onto them, which is a good compromise.

I still don't like the split sole for social dancing - it doesn't give enough support. So my next pair will probably be regular trainers with a suede sole glued on.

I've never even considered leather-soled shoes for dancing.

[Icey]

Can suede shoes be resoled if it wears out?

They certainly can. I'm having new suede soles put on mine in the new year. I also put seude soles onto my old pair of character shoes as the synthetic sole was knackered.

I would advise going to a proper shoe repair place though as industrial strength glue is needed, pritt stick just won't do the job

[CeeCee]

Originally posted by Katie R
Can suede shoes be resoled if it wears out? I want to take really good care of my shoes but given that suede does wear out a lot faster than leather I wondered if this can be done.[/PHP]

Yes it can, I’ve had suede dance shoes resoled but a good cobbler is hard to find. Perhaps I was just unlucky but I contacted several who refused to do it. The chap I eventually found didn’t know what the fuss was about and does them often. He did a super job and they lasted.

Regular brushing with a wire brush maintains the condition of the suede, don't let them get wet and they should never ever be worn outside.

Originally posted by Icey
I would advise going to a proper shoe repair place though as industrial strength glue is needed, pritt stick just won't do the job.

Katie, this is good advice from Icey.

The cobbler will use specialist glue and apply the correct amount of pressure for a specific time to make sure that the new soles adhere properly. If you attempt to do it yourself the glue is unlikely to stick, the cobbler won’t want to touch them after the event and you’ll have to replace the shoes.

Originally posted by Andreas
I love the control of suede and have used it for ballroom and latin, initially also for MJ. But the shoes are usually too soft, hence short-lived, considering the amount of foot movements I do during a dance, let alone a whole night. So I moved on to shoes with complete leather soles, including heels.

Totally agree with you Andreas.

When I first discovered MJ, I made the mistake of wearing my latin suede soled shoes and my feet would ache after a short time of dancing. I had to compensate by dancing slower and more cautiously because of the likelihood of twisting an ankle. They are too soft, too flexible and don’t give enough support for club dancing which is why I moved to wearing leather soled club shoes.

I love dancing to all music, fast and slow and admittedly the ladies’ latin shoes are pretty, sparkly and strappy with an infinite number of designs but I refuse to compromise my dancing for the sake of pretty feet.