Yes, I wear shell cordovan in the rain!

**ecox** · November 12th, 2009, 14:41

We're getting the remnants of Ida here in DC, and it's been rainy for the past couple days. I met some new friends at the Alden store in DC yesterday. I walked about a mile each way. In the rain. Wearing a pair of old #8 shell PTBs. You always hear that shell is waterproof and all but indestructible. In my experience it's true, which is why I'll wear them in almost any weather other than when there's a lot of salt and slush on the sidewalks during winter.

Anyway, I though you might like to see how the shoes fared in their outing in the rain. Some pictures:

After walking back to the office, the shoes were wet and grimy. They looked like this:

Close-up:

Fast forward 24 hours. The shoes are dry, but still dirty.

Close-up:

After roughly one minute per shoe with a dry horsehair brush and exhaling a breath of hot air on each shoe, they were transformed back to their earlier beauty:

Close-up:

So the moral of this little story is that Yes, shell cordovan can get wet. It kept my feet dry while walking in the rain, and buffed up easily to that wonderful, deep shine we all know and love.

Who else wears their shell cordovans in the wet? Let's see 'em!

-Erik

**AAF-8AF** · November 12th, 2009, 15:16

Very nice pictorial! I saw Erik and these shoes in person in the store, and they're a great pair of shells. I don't think I have a pair of shells I'd yet be willing to wear in the rain, but I do feel better that when they're ready I will be too :icon_smile_big:
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**LeatherSOUL** · November 12th, 2009, 15:39

Great post! Forecast calls for rain in Tokyo next week and I'm only packing my shell chukkas!

**speedmaster** · November 12th, 2009, 16:39

Cool! ;-)

**Pier lala** · November 13th, 2009, 02:11

Great post, Ecox!

**eagle2250** · November 13th, 2009, 04:15

Great post!

Yes, I also wear my shell cordovan shoes in the rain, just like I do with my calfskin versions...covered in a pair of Tingleys!

**rich_202** · November 13th, 2009, 07:35

Right on.

I always like to see shoes being worn. Threads about only wearing shoes on carpet, avoiding concrete, etc, in order to extend the life of the shoe just don't seem right to me. Now, I'm not of the stance that one should abuse a pair of shoes, but on the other hand, I won't break out into tears if I have to walk in the rain in a pair of AEs. Shoes are meant to be worn.

**CJB** · November 13th, 2009, 08:04

If the forecast calls for rain, as it does today, I wear my shell.

**JayGatsby** · November 13th, 2009, 11:17

Originally Posted by rich_202

Right on.

I always like to see shoes being worn. Threads about only wearing shoes on carpet, avoiding concrete, etc, in order to extend the life of the shoe just don't seem right to me. Now, I'm not of the stance that one should abuse a pair of shoes, but on the other hand, I won't break out into tears if I have to walk in the rain in a pair of AEs. Shoes are meant to be worn.

I agree. Shoes should be treated with respect, but they are meant to be worn. What's the point of owning a pair of fine shoes if you can't wear them in the normal course of your day? If you think that such normal wear will destroy your fine shoes, then perhaps they aren't so fine after all.

**DCLawyer68** · November 13th, 2009, 12:53

I thought this post was about a new Dr Suess book aimed at the trad market.

I'm sorry I missed the Alden's outing! Hopefully I'll catch you fellows the next time you get together though.