These were actually my shoes! Trenton and Heath did a wonderful job of restoring these. I wore these everyday for about two years and tried to keep up with them the best I could, but obviously was unable to. However, they brought these back to original condition. Great work gentlemen!

@frenchjd01

4 жыл бұрын

John Hosford just curious if you have started to use shoe trees after seeing this video?

@MeToo-py1tq

4 жыл бұрын

John Hosford Hi what is the name and color of these shoes? I want a pair of these. Hope you respond. Thanks.

@curtainsup9

4 жыл бұрын

John Hosford , I am glad you commented about these shoes because as I was watching this, I thought: wonder what the owner will think. I personally think the shoes came out beautiful. I loved the style of them.

@MeToo-py1tq

4 жыл бұрын

Opi-Rage He could be lying but what makes you say that he’s lying? Thanks let us know.

@six159

4 жыл бұрын

Do you ride a motorcycle?

It's strangely therapeutic to watch the highlights of the whole refurbishment process...

@Laliyaan

4 жыл бұрын

I thought its just me.

@markn4253

4 жыл бұрын

my interpretation is that if a boot can be restored to a beautiful and working object then maybe a human can be redeemed as well.

Watching you at your craft was so satisfying

As a young guy just starting his career in finance, I found their Kickstarters and have fallen in love. I own 4 pairs (with 2 more coming from their most recent factory access campaign), all for about $180-$200 each. I think one of my other favorite KZreadrs over at Gentlemens Gazette said it best "Are these the best shoes money can buy? Heck no. But especially when they're at or below $200, they're sure a great way to start". I admit it I'm a fanboy about their brand personally. I absolutely know they're very "okay" shoes, but I love the look and it's at a price I need. It was very cool to see them taken apart and put back together again, I have a whole new respect for cobblers now! That is a master craftsman at work. (To those like me who get into men's shoes, the shoes are: black cap-toe Oxford, caramel brown full brogue Oxfords, oxblood penny loafers, the cognac double monk straps like in this video, and the two coming are a pebbled walnut horse bit loafer and my fun summer shoe of a woven chestnut slipper)

@brantbrooks7337

3 жыл бұрын

Now that you’ve had a year to make money, what do you wear

I own 2 pairs of Ace Marks shoes including the brandy monks shown in this video and they are very stylish and comfortable with no break in period. I did a ton of walking in the loafers in DC and was perfectly comfortable.

For someone who doesn't even like to wear pants this is fascinating.

@mortarsquad12

4 жыл бұрын

This hits hard and close to home

@jlhumor1565

4 жыл бұрын

These shoe videos popped into my feed 3 days ago and I have now learned so much more than I ever wanted about dress shoes and will probably be searching on ebay for a pair of allan edmonds then talking them to a cobler or whatever theyre called to have them repaired.

@504CreoleCrystal

3 жыл бұрын

I feel seen! Louisiana Creole woman here....no pants as often as I can 😂😂😂😂

@504CreoleCrystal

3 жыл бұрын

adam anthoni ford Didn’t it? Pants are so unnecessary 😂

@hotwax9376

3 жыл бұрын

@@504CreoleCrystal "I wear no pants, I wear no pants, I wear no, wear no, wear no, wear no..."

Glad I bumped into this video. Love all the work you did here. Watching you rip and reconstruct the shoe was fascinating. Thanks for this 👍🏻

You and Your brother do amazing restorative shoe work! Love to see the restoration and rebuild process on handcrafted items. I also appreciate your personal perspective and opinion on whether or not a shoe is of quality, and the characteristics that a quality shoe possesses. Great work! 👍

Best therapy to watch these. Nice to see beautiful products receiving beautiful refurbishment.

I m not a shoemaker or repairer but your movies are amazing nice to see

Thanks for your thoughts on ace marks brand! It brings things closer to understanding the ins and outs of how it is built compared to similar shoe brands. I'm a big fan of ace marks and have alot of pairs of them in my shoe rotation and was wondering how they stacked up compared to others when it came down to build quality . Thank you for reviewing them!

Hey so happy to see the care and craftsmanship My dad taught me well... I will keep watching My own Alex Marie's will get revamped!!

Wow! You have super human abilities! I own several pairs of Ace Mark shoes and love them. Thanks for the insight on them. If I ever have a problem with them I'm going to look you guys up. And I promise they won't be anywhere near as beat down as those. The guy must have been testing you 😉😉

@TrentonHeath

4 жыл бұрын

67spankadelik Haha...thank you!

That my friend was great! When you pulled that heel off I thought hm ...he didn't tell us about what the heel was made of. Thanks for gettin bk to that. I just get so amazed at what you guys can do.. I watch you videos when I can. A fan from OHIO

It's nice to see old fashioned craftsmanship and professionalism. I hope you have a few apprentices around that you're teaching.

@TrentonHeath

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you!! We’ll probably be looking for some more folks very soon.

Oh that’s slow stitching part was beautiful! It’s so fascinating.

It would be really cool if you guys did a restoration video and actually showed the customer reaction to the finished product. I can't imagine anyone not being in awe after getting their shoes back from you guys. Great video!

Well im here because of the elegant oxford and did enjoy your video! So let’s give you a big 👍 and you have a new subscriber! Thanks for carrying on such a lost tradition

@TrentonHeath

4 жыл бұрын

You are the man, John!! 👍🏻 We really appreciate you watching and subscribing! Glad to have you along.

Again, you guys did a great job refurbishing the shoes. The stain actually looks much much better. Well done

Great review! Nice to hear thoughts from an expert. Also love watching the refurbishing process :)

Super job. Nice job getting the stain out. You guys rock.

Mesmerizing watching your craft

The sweet sound of the stitches being smooothly popped 🥰

Hello, really enjoy your videos, i just today recieved a pair of ace marks wingtip oxfords, right away i checked the heel block to see if it too had a particle board construction, it is layered leather. So I'm happy i got a superior product over the monks you re-soled, $299 is what i paid. Yes, i got your shoe trees in them and they already have a coat of universal conditioner and a coat of medium brown saphir cream. 😁

You can tell you love your job and it shows 👍😊

Trenth and Heaton are my favourite shoe gazing hosts.

What a great trash to treasure transformation. These shoes turned out beautifully. You gentlemen are not only cobblers but also magicians .

Admiro el profesionalismo que aplican en todo lo que hacen. Enaltecen la labor. Soy de Chile y nunca he visto gente tan meticulosa y profesional en el arreglo de calzado. Acá en Chile le dicen ZAPATEROS. Espero algún día, en mi país, ver profesionales como ustedes en el arreglo del calzado. Los felicito por la PASIÓN y el Amor que derrochan en lo que hacen. bye!!!

Nicely done! They look great. 👍

Loving this series of reviews, great content!

@TrentonHeath

4 жыл бұрын

D Thanks!

You guys should make your top 5 or 10 shoe video

Now I know why these giuseppe zanotti boots squeak. I stopped wearing them because of this. I’ve been getting into shoe repair for myself and potentially shoemaking in a small way. Thanks for this!

Thanks for the honest final review, it is clear ace marks cut corners in multiple places regardless of the upper quality otherwise they would not be selling for low 300 msrp in some cases. Gets old seeing "unbiased reviewers" show up with brand new pairs of these and claim they are equal to 500 dollar shoes.

Sweet! I picked up a pair for $99 buck on their site on the mystery box! Sounds like a good deal for that price. Thanks!

Great video as always and super informative. When you sand and buff the heel and soul next time could you cover which grits you use and what types of buffing wheels and buffing compound you use? The woodworker and tool sharpener in me is curious about how this compares for cobblers.

A true artist.

"Compressed particleboard" heel block. Was looking at Ace Marks as a potential buy, but not now. Thank you for the informative video.

One of your best work.

I'm glad you wrapped up on the heel blocks. I felt like you were compromising for a minute. Great narration as usual. Thank you!

@TrentonHeath

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

I have a pair of Acemarks penny loafer and I love them. they are very sleek, stylish and are super comfortable right out of the box. No break in period. I also own 2 pairs of Allen Edmunds oxfords, which are also very comfortable The AEs are really good shoes but a bit bulky, probably because of the Goodyear welt. And they are not as stylish as the Italian shoes

Awesome 👌💪👏 Great job!👍 You The Man 💪

GOOD JOB, BRAVO AND BRAVO.

Very informative thanks

Excellent video!

Great job!!

Nice, really nice work.

Great review! I’ve been thinking about ace marks for a while but now wondering what other brands to take a look before going ahead and buy? 🤔

If you are building up a library of reviews it would be useful if you could rate each build part of the shoe and end up with a final score.

@TrentonHeath

4 жыл бұрын

James H Good idea!

@TheVirtualStealth

4 жыл бұрын

I like how TGV does his Head to Head Watch reviews. Maybe something to look at.

@varun009

4 жыл бұрын

Brilliant idea. Companies can even pay you to use your rating on their sites. I don't know but it's great for everyone in the end. If you get views and we get info we all win.

@uniaguilar

4 жыл бұрын

A Doug score

@NoelKunz

4 жыл бұрын

@@uniaguilar my thought exactly when I read the original comment!

Looks like the leather is very good! Unexpected!

Absolute awesome job. Love to know where you got the little machine from that takes off all the excess sole.

I really enjoyed this tremendously. It would have been nice to see you give the lining of the shoe a good scrubbing. That was my "inside thought".

Great video. I always wondered if ace marks are good shoes. I recently bought a pair of Testoni shoes and wonder if you will be reviewing them? Thanks

Thanks for these videos! Any plans to share your thoughts on Frye GYW boots/shoes?

Awesome video!

This is art.

Can you guys do an in-depth video on Blake Stitch versus Goodyear Welt? I think most of us understand the difference but apparently you need a special machine for the Blake Stitch. How does the machine work all the way to the toe area? Love these videos!

Awesome job

Great work. As I only own goodyear welted ones currently, does anyone know how often a blake stitched shoe be resoled in practice?

Those were really beat up. I own a pair of double monk straps from Ace Marks and they are hands down the most comfortable (for my feet) out of the box. To put into context my Beckett Simonons break in on my first day wearing, my Allen Edmonds take a couple of days longer, my Carminas are my most handsome shoes and take about 2 - 3 wears to break in. My Ace Marks sneakers though (I own 2 pairs) do take quite a big longer to break in to get to the point I could wear them without socks. Thank you again for taking these shoes apart and providing a review from a different and more professional perspective.

@TrentonHeath

4 жыл бұрын

nodieusa You’re welcome...glad it helped!

@aymanalij

4 жыл бұрын

How would you compare the leather quality between Ace Marks and Beckett Simonon?

Stumbled across your channel. Wondering how much total time you would spend on a repair like this and what the rough cost of this repair. Might be interesting to gauge both of these vs. the cost of a brand new pair.

News shoes ! Great job Not fussed with the composite heal block HeyHo 👍

Very cool refurb. On one of your next videos could you explain the inner sole and lining. In this vido it looked like the internal sole was originally sewn in, and was in two pieces. Could you explain how you deal with that to make it comfortable/even in the foot bed, etc. and or how often that needs to be cleaned or repaired when doing a refurb? Thank you, these videos are great!

Great content! Will you do a review on Paul Evans shoes?

Great video! Just one thing: Magnanni is not italian. They are made in Spain.

@TrentonHeath

4 жыл бұрын

MadddSkillzzz Good catch! You’re right. Magnanni’s, build and quality wise, are still very, very similar to these Ace Marks and many other Italian, Portuguese and Spanish made shoes.

@opulenceluxury8548

4 жыл бұрын

Well the uppers are made in China I believe. They are assembled in Mallorca.

@hotwax9376

3 жыл бұрын

@@opulenceluxury8548 Carminas are also made in Mallorca.

Thanks for the video! You mentioned that perhaps there are better options in that $300-400 price range-what are some of those brands you prefer?

@DC430

4 жыл бұрын

I'd like to hear the answer to this too!

@TrentonHeath

4 жыл бұрын

I hope I didn’t throw people for a loop too much. Ace Marks makes nice shoes...primarily their upper leather. Very nice calf skin. Build quality wise, they’re a typical blake stitch. There are some Ace Marks selling for $425, which is craziness...and I’ll throw Magnanni, To Boot NY, etc into that craziness price range as well. For that same money or less, Cobbler Union or J Fitzpatrick are two that come to mind. Amazing quality, Goodyear welted, blind stitching on many styles, calfskin uppers, Spanish made.... Believe it or not, you could also thrown a lot of the Meermin’s in there. We’ve had a lot of them come through our shop, and while many of them are harder to break in, they are making beautiful shoes for around $200...many with JR soles. Again, a pair of Ace Marks should last you for years with care. There are just other brands giving a little more bang for the buck at that $200-$400 price range.

@aaronsilva2282

4 жыл бұрын

For $300+, I would definitely get a pair custom made. Many super high-end brands take advantage of cheaper overseas mass production (made with Italian leather, but *_made in_* the Philippines, for example). Although this brand doesn't do that, they are still commercially produced at a rate that makes it difficult to ensure top; top quality, and at the very least, consistency depending on which factory or studio worker made them. I guarantee that you can get a much more durable, comfortable, and visually attractive pair of shoes if you go custom. The golden rule is just like if you were to get a tattoo: you'll want to check out the quality of their work before you have it done (first-hand if possible, because you can do wonders with Photoshop these days!). You can get a custom pair of plain-Jane leather shoes starting at around $150 and the price can go up quite a bit depending on the design, style, tooling, and maker. A higher priced shoe-maker doesn't necessarily mean they will craft a better quality pair than a less expensive maker, so do your research and pay attention to materials offered and very especially, the type of stitching they use. Also, for creative inspiration and to see some unique designs (in case you're considering a custom pair) check out paulfredrick.com. They're commercially mass produced overseas; like many other brands; and are overpriced, but you might like some of the ideas. Their designers are very talented, but a good custom maker can make you a pair in any style and particular look you want. I hope this helps! 🙂

@aaronsilva2282

4 жыл бұрын

@@DC430 For $300+, I would definitely get a pair custom made. Many super high-end brands take advantage of cheaper overseas mass production (made with Italian leather, but *_made in_* the Philippines, for example). Although this brand doesn't do that, they are still commercially produced at a rate that makes it difficult to ensure top; top quality, and at the very least, consistency depending on which factory or studio worker made them. I guarantee that you can get a much more durable, comfortable, and visually attractive pair of shoes if you go custom. The golden rule is just like if you were to get a tattoo: you'll want to check out the quality of their work before you have it done (first-hand if possible, because you can do wonders with Photoshop these days!). You can get a custom pair of plain-Jane leather shoes starting at around $150 and the price can go up quite a bit depending on the design, style, tooling, and maker. A higher priced shoe-maker doesn't necessarily mean they will craft a better quality pair than a less expensive maker, so do your research and pay attention to materials offered and very especially, the type of stitching they use. Also, for creative inspiration and to see some unique designs (in case you're considering a custom pair) check out paulfredrick.com. They're commercially mass produced overseas; like many other brands; and are overpriced, but you might like some of the ideas. Their designers are very talented, but a good custom maker can make you a pair in any style and particular look you want. I hope this helps! 🙂

Great video gentlemen, as always. I've got a couple of shoes with these kind of creases. How can i straighten them? Will shoe trees help during shining?

@TrentonHeath

4 жыл бұрын

Bilal Mahmood Couple of ways to get these kinds of creases out. 1) always use shoe trees. I don’t believe the owner of these does. 2) put shoe trees in the shoes and then heat up the leather with a hair dryer and work the creases our 3) get the shoes completely wet, dry them off, put in shoe trees and then work the creases out as they dry.

You rock Gentlemen! The video editing, the details (e.g. side by side comparison), the audio all have been improved a lot, while the content remained of very high quality. What I'd like to ask for: - Could you also name the material welt threads are made of? In case it affects the longevity or quality of the shoes. - I'd like to see a review of Shoepassion shoes (German company, Spanish made shoes). Thank you!

@TrentonHeath

4 жыл бұрын

Matyas Gembala We really appreciate it! Yes, we’ll try to start discussing the welt material, etc as well. If we can get our hands on a pair of those, we’ll definitely do it. Thanks again!

Please give us some other good Quality brands in this Price range!

I would live the background music in the whole video (even in the introduction). Awesome video though

Awesome!!

Good video and craftsmanship. I would suggest you use a shoe tree to improve those crest on the shoes during the process.

Master cobbler. Nothing else needs to be said. Dam you're good.

@TrentonHeath

4 жыл бұрын

Raphael Thank you very much! We really appreciate you watching.

Love these videos. Being a fan of Thursday Boots, I'm glad they got a good review. Interesting on your take of Ace Mark's. I got a pair of their shoes from the "mystery box" sale they had. $99 for a random shoe of their choosing in the size you select. Got a pair of tan wing tips. They look good. Have yet to wear them.

@Oezeo

4 жыл бұрын

@DeJuan McGuire for that price I think it's a steal. Have you wore them yet?

@ddq123

4 жыл бұрын

nice. i got the brown antique captoe. cant wait for the next mystery box

@Oezeo

4 жыл бұрын

@@ddq123 yeah I might buy another pair from mystery box. Just hope I don't get the same pair, they're aren't exchangeable or returnable.

Hi, guys! I'd like your input on Paul Evans shoes. How do they stack up against all those Italian made shoes that you mentioned. It would be cool to see a restoration on a pair of those.

Beautiful! Your work is stunning!! Do you use trees before returning to the client? I would think you'd want to get the creases smoothed out as well.

@JayWalkerOnline

4 жыл бұрын

I'd imagine they do it if the customer asks/pays for it, but only then.

You need to make a asmr channel of just cutting/pulling out stiches,ripping off soals and welts!

Enjoy your videos! Would love to see you do a review of Cobbler Union shoes. Their shop in ATL is worth a visit if you are in the area.

@TrentonHeath

4 жыл бұрын

Anxious to get our hands on some. We’ve heard they’re very well-made.

@Scarywoody

4 жыл бұрын

Good to know. I live a bit west of ATL and my long time cobbler passed away.

@robbie154

4 жыл бұрын

Trenton & Heath my cu whole cuts are the best shoes I own. Sub 500 I do not think you can beat CU. Even beat out many 500-1000 shoes

Good Job 👍

Can you give your opinion on their shoe lining? The ones I bought in late 2018 doesn’t seem to absorb conditioners at all. Uppers already absorbed the conditioners while the lining was still wet after I left it overnight. I used leather honey.

Hello. Concerning boots that’s sole/heel is “welded” to the leather, will you sand off the bottom and replace with a commando sole/heel?

Hi Guys. I was wondering what brand of dress shoe would you recommend to someone who has plantar fasciitis? I've been using Rockport for some things because I can remove the insole and use my lyncos orthotic inserts. Any suggestions?

Great review! I have been looking through your reviews lately trying to determine what shoes I could go for for my wedding. I really want some that I'll be able to have on my foot for 14+ hours and will hold up to dancing and walking for pictures. I think I'm zeroed in on Allen Edmonds but do you have any suggestions for this use? TIA!!

@Baconatorz

4 жыл бұрын

Can't go wrong with Allen Edmonds IMO. Wear them around the house a few times to break them in before your wedding and you will fall in love with them. I like that when I buy Allen Edmonds I know i'm providing jobs for fellow Americans. You can watch factory tour videos on youtube and see how they are being hand stitched and made here in the US. I think in terms of price vs quality its very hard to beat Allen Edmonds, especially if you can catch one of their seasonal sales. You can also send them back to the factory to get resoled/refurbished if properly cared for its entirely possible for your son to wear the same pair of shoes at his wedding. After I bought my first pair of properly made dress shoes I'm sad I missed out all of those years. I'd suggest finding a local AE store to try on a few pairs.

What do you do if you have wood heels and they're starting to crack/split length wise? (aka they look like if I tried, I could pull the heel off) They're not overly expensive shoes (clarks), but I really like them and they actually seem like legitimately well made boots minus this one issue. Maybe next time the Blues go to Nashville I'll make the trip and bring them by haha

Good review. Helped me decide on whether to buy ace marks or not, thanks. What kind of buffing compound do use when buffing the leather?

@TrentonHeath

4 жыл бұрын

Leroy Barker When we polished these shoes we used Saphir conditioner, shoe creams and waxes...the MDO line.

does that stain remover have butane or propane in it? I wonder if dry shampoo would work similarly

Very well done! I noticed that you chose a black-colored polish at the end to deal with the scuffs. This got me thinking; would you please consider a video where you go into detail about which color creams and polishes should be used in which situations or based on the original color? I purchased the neutral colored Saphir creme to stay on the safe side and not ruin the color based on my ignorance. But with the variety of colors they sell, it would be nice to dial it in more. In the meantime, I'd still love to know why you chose the black for these ace marks. Thanks, again, for the great content!

@TrentonHeath

4 жыл бұрын

dean uga You got it! We’ll definitely do some more videos where we get into more details regarding shoe cream and wax colors. With these shoes, they were very scuffed, and one of the shoes had some darker patina to it. In order to balance it out and make the other shoe look the same, I added darker wax. Wax pigment isn’t very strong, so it’s easy to work with them and add patina.

@uga.d4173

4 жыл бұрын

@@TrentonHeath Thanks for the reply!

I notice sometimes you apply polish with a flannel cloth and other times the brush/dauber. Is there a reason or does it matter? Keep up the great content fellas. I have always been fascinated with this craft! It is true artisanship!! (Is that a word?). Lol. I love to see this work in action. Thanks again

Just out of curiosity, is it possible to shrink out or somehow reduce the creasing across the vamps/uppers of the shoes? Could they be restored to a closer to new condition?

I like the way that sounds cutting the stitches with a blade Lol

Holy Moly, Rock & Rolly! Did that rascal play soccer in those poor monks??? You did a bang-up job of getting them back though. Interesting to find out that the heel blocks are not leather. Just got a pair of double monks from their latest kick starter and was let down that the soles are rubber and not leather. Gonna stick with BS from here on out. Could a deer bone have gotten those deep creases out? As always, thanks for the video guys

@TrentonHeath

4 жыл бұрын

Brett Patrick We’ve been impressed with BS, particularly with what you’re getting at $200. As far as the wrinkles go, we probably could have gotten a lot of them out by wetting the shoes down completely, putting in some shoe trees and working the wrinkles out as they dry. Too much work for this video. A deer bone works better on shell cordovan.

@JayWalkerOnline

4 жыл бұрын

Ace Marks soles aren't completely rubber, just the toplifts and even then it's usually combination. The reason they do that is because having a 100% leather sole can be really slippery--entirely leather soles, including the toplifts, are sometimes called "suicide soles". It's actually a thoughtful touch.

Do you know the Italian Make "artioli" in the range of lobb but Italian style and s lighter shoe. ?

What is that product used at about 15:50 ? Is that like a colored wax for buffing?

I owe both Beckett & Simonon and Ace Marks and Ace Marks are so much better.

New video from Potter And Sons. Hmmm. I could be constructive and do some useful work or I could watch the new video. No brainer. Work will have to wait. Thanks guys. Everytime I watch your videos I learn something.

@TrentonHeath

4 жыл бұрын

thepowderriverfarrier We ALWAYS appreciate you watching...and your commentary! Glad you enjoy! 👍🏻

For that price point what brands do you recommend ? Thank you

Question: what are some examples of better quality Italian style shoe brands at the same price point that you mentioned?

At the beginning you said these shoes were some different type of welt than Goodyear, and the sole stitches had to be removed from the inside. Blake welt? What is the difference in stitching the sole of these compared to Goodyear welted shoes? Also, I've read that Blake welt shoes are more comfortable, but Goodyear does better in wet weather. Can you give your insight on this? Thanks.

Two questions. In your opinion, who makes the best quality shoes? And who is the best bang for your buck? Thanks,

Yours critique is gentle....but thanks for your efforts...❗

As an active duty military member I'm stuck in suede combat boots. Cleaning, care and recommendation would be good. I've noticed Rockies delaminate, and Belleville stand up

@mattberg6816

4 жыл бұрын

Ryan Karr Corcoran really hold up well