Hey Teik! First of all, thank you for this review, we feel blessed with your honesty and the very detailed attention you have placed in us. Thank you for the recognition and your clear communication. This review is of great help to us, and we can't stress how much we appreciate and how much value this review has to us. We are going take concise note on your comments and we are going to work on making better boots, as we are committed to create the best products we can and we clearly see that we can improve on them to make a much better boot than we have been making them. We will take close attention to our finishing process and the aesthetic of our boots. This is now our priority. Thanks again, and cheers!
Just received my first pair of Cordobes and they look great. Unfortunately the gusseting gets in the way of my high, broad insteps so the boots just paid a visit to the cobbler to have the gusseting trimmed. This is not the first boot of mine that required such treatment.
They cut a groove in the outsole, stitch it, then roll the outsole to press it back down. I’ve talked to them about their heel stacks too, months ago, I see why you did brown edging. The star pressing on the hooks is just the hardware choice, and I agree - they’ve got potential. I had this talk with them almost a year ago. You’re right, that tab is unnecessary and unsightly - cut it. Unlined vamp?? That’s really unlikely, or should be.. Good review though. They said they can’t level their stacks due to a lack of some beveling tool 🤷🏻♂️ beats me. They just need to learn how to level the first layer, where it contacts the midsole. I sent them multiple references, but I don’t think they got it. I think they’re not shaving it to contour, and just slapping it on at full thickness and then working around it. They’ll figure it out eventually, nice people though, and open to kind/constructive criticism. I may come off as a jerk sometimes, but I mean everything in the friendliest way - I’m just direct. New Yorkers huh? I ain’t Nick English, but I know my boots 😎
Just ordered my first pair of Bordon boots due to your reviews and I’ve been eyeing Cordobes as well for the last few weeks. Clicked on this video way too fast, love your content Teik!
I recently purchased a pair from Cordobes as well. I have similar feedback. The finishing is rougher in some areas and needs improvement (heel block is not sanded and finished smoothly, some gaps with glue showing around the midsoles and heel blocks, some inconsistent stitching, outsoles have rough edges and can be finished better as well). However, as you mentioned, there are a lot of positives. First off, Alfonso is an amazing owner and his communication and customer service is second to none. The boots are structurally very strong and high quality. The overall profile and shape of the boots are very attractive from all angles (side, back, and top), which is not always the case with many boots (e.g., Oak Street Bootmakers Trench boots look amazing from the side, but sometimes looks a little off from the top). And the boots are solidly comfortable. I agree that if Cordobes can work out some of the details in their finishing, the boots would be amazing and could garner a lot more attention in this niche.
Glad to see you here Mr. mightydwighty12! We took your word on our finishing very seriously and we will work precisely to improve it. your next boot will be a banger!
Hey I was wondering if perhaps you had heard from the boot brand BLKBRD? I just received a pair of their boots (under 2 week making and shipping time) and I gotta say, they are pretty amazing for their price point. I highly recommend checking them out if you can/will.
Yes but I ended up sending them to Pablo @ Dimar Shoe Repair to change the soles and heel stack. The soles were leaving black marks everywhere and my heels were a bit uneven. Waiting for him to return them after the Easter Holiday here. I'll send you photos when I get them back.
Regarding large boot brands, my first Thursday boot order number was around the six hundred thousand mark back in the middle of 2020. The order numbers in late 2021 were around the million mark and over many orders they have continued to rise in a linear fashion and my last order number in late 2023 was around 2.8 million. It certainly looks like the order numbers go up one by one (I have even and odd numbers) which if that is so, even allowing for returns, it means they are selling far more footwear than Northampton companies like Loake, Barker or Crockett and Jones who sell perhaps two hundred thousand pairs a year. And many Northampton manufacturers are smaller than those mentioned. As Northampton manufacturers do a lot of sales through retail stores and wholesale prices are perhaps 50% of retail prices plus VAT is 20% of each sale, you can see that even allowing for significantly higher selling prices by the more premium British brands like C&J that Thursday turnover will be much higher than the established British manufacturers. That will definitely be the case for Loake who seem to sell a lot of their cheaper, Indian made shoes, at full retail prices comparable with Thursday prices if you exclude VAT. And yes, I do have too much time on my hands....
I wish you can review one of Willie's Leather boots from the Philippines.. I'm actually planning to get a pair on my holiday in the Pacific. I'm hearing tons of praises from my friends who got their pairs.
Love your videos! One request, could you include more outside lighting shots/video? It's incredible how much that can change the look and color of some of the boots and other items you discuss.
Want to love these and don’t mind roughness but the leather layers in heal and midsole separated through poor gluing. After only about 6 hours of wear. My$300 purchase will become$400 when send in for repair. Unless they have fixed QC BETTER TO Spend your money. Elsewhere. Grant stone has infinitely better SECONDS FOR $250
I like the overall shape especially the low toe box. Your comparison with Robin Hood boots made me laugh, exactly what I thought, too. They do have that look, which I like. I can’t wait to see how they look with some miles on them. I suspect they’ll look nicely relaxed and comfortable.
That way of stitching is what I have been told to be "hidden channel" stitching. Distinctly different from closed channel stitching which is what you referred to with bespoke shoes. The hidden channel seems to be common with central and south American makers since both of my pairs from Mexico makers had it. Overall these seem like good value boots! I think the term you are looking for in regards to what can be improved is finish. The construction seems really good, it's just the finishing work that needs a step up.
I don't necessarily watch the reviews for the shoes but mostly because you have a very soothing voice and you are very articulate :)
Hey Teik!
First of all, thank you for this review, we feel blessed with your honesty and the very detailed attention you have placed in us.
Thank you for the recognition and your clear communication. This review is of great help to us, and we can't stress how much we appreciate and how much value this review has to us.
We are going take concise note on your comments and we are going to work on making better boots, as we are committed to create the best products we can and we clearly see that we can improve on them to make a much better boot than we have been making them.
We will take close attention to our finishing process and the aesthetic of our boots.
This is now our priority.
Thanks again, and cheers!
Awesome!! Great to see Cordobes getting some love!!
Thank you Dale, we certainly keep you close to our heart!
Just received my first pair of Cordobes and they look great. Unfortunately the gusseting gets in the way of my high, broad insteps so the boots just paid a visit to the cobbler to have the gusseting trimmed. This is not the first boot of mine that required such treatment.
They cut a groove in the outsole, stitch it, then roll the outsole to press it back down. I’ve talked to them about their heel stacks too, months ago, I see why you did brown edging. The star pressing on the hooks is just the hardware choice, and I agree - they’ve got potential. I had this talk with them almost a year ago. You’re right, that tab is unnecessary and unsightly - cut it. Unlined vamp?? That’s really unlikely, or should be.. Good review though. They said they can’t level their stacks due to a lack of some beveling tool 🤷🏻♂️ beats me. They just need to learn how to level the first layer, where it contacts the midsole. I sent them multiple references, but I don’t think they got it. I think they’re not shaving it to contour, and just slapping it on at full thickness and then working around it. They’ll figure it out eventually, nice people though, and open to kind/constructive criticism. I may come off as a jerk sometimes, but I mean everything in the friendliest way - I’m just direct. New Yorkers huh? I ain’t Nick English, but I know my boots 😎
Just ordered my first pair of Bordon boots due to your reviews and I’ve been eyeing Cordobes as well for the last few weeks. Clicked on this video way too fast, love your content Teik!
I recently purchased a pair from Cordobes as well. I have similar feedback. The finishing is rougher in some areas and needs improvement (heel block is not sanded and finished smoothly, some gaps with glue showing around the midsoles and heel blocks, some inconsistent stitching, outsoles have rough edges and can be finished better as well). However, as you mentioned, there are a lot of positives.
First off, Alfonso is an amazing owner and his communication and customer service is second to none. The boots are structurally very strong and high quality. The overall profile and shape of the boots are very attractive from all angles (side, back, and top), which is not always the case with many boots (e.g., Oak Street Bootmakers Trench boots look amazing from the side, but sometimes looks a little off from the top). And the boots are solidly comfortable. I agree that if Cordobes can work out some of the details in their finishing, the boots would be amazing and could garner a lot more attention in this niche.
Glad to see you here Mr. mightydwighty12! We took your word on our finishing very seriously and we will work precisely to improve it. your next boot will be a banger!
Hey I was wondering if perhaps you had heard from the boot brand BLKBRD? I just received a pair of their boots (under 2 week making and shipping time) and I gotta say, they are pretty amazing for their price point. I highly recommend checking them out if you can/will.
Spot on as usual.
Liking yours?
Yes but I ended up sending them to Pablo @ Dimar Shoe Repair to change the soles and heel stack. The soles were leaving black marks everywhere and my heels were a bit uneven. Waiting for him to return them after the Easter Holiday here. I'll send you photos when I get them back.
Thanks for the introduction to this brand. I think they are worth keeping an eye on for sure.
Regarding large boot brands, my first Thursday boot order number was around the six hundred thousand mark back in the middle of 2020. The order numbers in late 2021 were around the million mark and over many orders they have continued to rise in a linear fashion and my last order number in late 2023 was around 2.8 million.
It certainly looks like the order numbers go up one by one (I have even and odd numbers) which if that is so, even allowing for returns, it means they are selling far more footwear than Northampton companies like Loake, Barker or Crockett and Jones who sell perhaps two hundred thousand pairs a year. And many Northampton manufacturers are smaller than those mentioned.
As Northampton manufacturers do a lot of sales through retail stores and wholesale prices are perhaps 50% of retail prices plus VAT is 20% of each sale, you can see that even allowing for significantly higher selling prices by the more premium British brands like C&J that Thursday turnover will be much higher than the established British manufacturers. That will definitely be the case for Loake who seem to sell a lot of their cheaper, Indian made shoes, at full retail prices comparable with Thursday prices if you exclude VAT.
And yes, I do have too much time on my hands....
I wish you can review one of Willie's Leather boots from the Philippines.. I'm actually planning to get a pair on my holiday in the Pacific. I'm hearing tons of praises from my friends who got their pairs.
Love your videos! One request, could you include more outside lighting shots/video? It's incredible how much that can change the look and color of some of the boots and other items you discuss.
Want to love these and don’t mind roughness but the leather layers in heal and midsole separated through poor gluing. After only about 6 hours of wear. My$300 purchase will become$400 when send in for repair. Unless they have fixed QC BETTER TO Spend your money. Elsewhere. Grant stone has infinitely better SECONDS FOR $250
Did you contact them?
No, I already wore them and gave them good review based on one wear! @@Bootlosophy
I like the overall shape especially the low toe box. Your comparison with Robin Hood boots made me laugh, exactly what I thought, too. They do have that look, which I like.
I can’t wait to see how they look with some miles on them. I suspect they’ll look nicely relaxed and comfortable.
That way of stitching is what I have been told to be "hidden channel" stitching. Distinctly different from closed channel stitching which is what you referred to with bespoke shoes. The hidden channel seems to be common with central and south American makers since both of my pairs from Mexico makers had it. Overall these seem like good value boots! I think the term you are looking for in regards to what can be improved is finish. The construction seems really good, it's just the finishing work that needs a step up.
Love the silhouette. I specifically love the low heels. I wish you could show us the fit on your foot when you put them on.
See the unboxing video
Many thanks for your nice taste, we hope to see you around soon!
I would agree with you on Cordoba having a grand vision for the company, but no heart..
That’s not what I said