“The quality is incredible you can see the imperfections in the leather which makes the shoe that much more unique.
I feel like I’m wearing a show that will last me a lifetime, I love it.”
“I’ve now owned these shoes for several weeks, and have worn them a lot. I’m lovin’ them! I was highly anticipating their release since they were first mentioned as a possible production item. These slip-ons are like gloves for your feet, with supreme comfort and ease of use. All of the leather is very supple and conforms easily to your feet. My Brannock size is 10 D/E, and size 10 in these shoes fits me perfectly. They were slightly snug at first but stretched and conformed quickly. They fit me best barefoot or with thin socks.
Perhaps the best part is that they are made of my favorite top-quality full-grain English Tan leather. When I say that they are made of ET leather, I mean that they are REALLY made of it. No thin leather liners here. The uppers are made of 2 pieces of Horween leather hand-sewn back-to-back. The insert is a very thick piece of ET leather that comes with the rough-out side up and the Popov name embossed on it. It is very easy to switch and invert the inserts so the grain side is up if desired. The insole (which looks like the same ET leather as well) and midsole are also made of high-quality leather. Only the outsoles are not made of leather. Though I often like leather outsoles for loafers, the rubber outsoles are more versatile and should be easy to re-sole whenever needed. Despite the rubber, these shoes “breathe” extremely well and are just as flexible as my leather-soled loafers.
As a matter of opinion, while I certainly enjoy the ease of use as slip-ons, I prefer a higher heel counter for a more secure fit when walking a lot. My only criticism is not really a fair one. My right shoe has what I would consider as having an average grain structure for this leather, without being notably tight or loose. My left shoe has exceptionally tight grain, and barely shows any creasing at all. Oddly, I actually prefer the looser grain with this leather since it has more character. I wish the grain of both shoes matched better, but again, this is not really a fair criticism, as there will always be natural variation, and the grain of the majority of my other shoes also does not match.
These are truly handmade shoes, which is exceedingly rare when made in North America. I enjoy watching the Popov Leather videos online that reveal how the shoes are constructed. I will certainly treasure these, possibly for a lifetime. I find these shoes to be very versatile. They can be worn with shorts or slacks and a blazer. I was fortunate enough to receive one of the first pairs made from their initial production run. These are worth every cent, and I look forward to Popov Leather’s next footwear creation. Very Well Done!!”
