Size Guide
The majority of shoes listed on our site are graded in UK sizes; a small number of styles within the Loake lifestyle range are graded using the continental scale.
English made Men’s shoes (and boots) are generally made in fittings E, F, G and H and these can be classified simplistically as follows:
Between fittings in the same size there is approximately 1/4" difference in girth measurement.
Fittings with an X suffix are half as wide again, FX for example is half way between F and G.
Although there is no absolute standard for fittings, there is a table of measurements and we believe our shoes are made as near as it is possible to get to that "standard" as they have been for over 130 years.
The bulk of our styles are made in F fitting, as statistics show that worldwide this is the most appropriate fitting for a majority of males, but we also offer a good selection of G fitting shoes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are a list of frequently asked questions we regularly get requested to answer. If the below doesn't answer your query, then please get in touch at enquiries@loake.com.
All products must be returned in the original packaging, in the same unworn and unused condition in which they were received. Returns should not show any signs of wear or damage, including, but not restricted to, creased uppers and scuffed leather soles. Wearing items outdoors or on a hard floor, is deemed as acceptance of goods.
If a return does not meet this criteria, you may not qualify for a refund.
Goodyear welted leather sole
Goodyear welted is the method of shoe construction that has made Northamptonshire's traditional shoemakers famous throughout the world. All of our UK made shoes feature Goodyear Welted soles. The stitched construction gives great comfort & excellent shape retention. Leather, being a natural material, allows the wearer's foot to breathe.
One of the best features of the Goodyear welted construction however is that the shoes are designed to be repairable. When they need repairing (preferably just before the soles actually wear through), Loake offers a full factory repair service. Please see here for details of our repair service.
Welted Rubber soles
Loake also produce shoes with rubber soles, rubber soles tends to be harder wearing, and is more appropriate for damp conditions, giving better grip on slippery or uneven surfaces etc.
Leather Sole with a rubber insert
Some of our welted shoes feature a leather sole with a rubber insert. This type of sole provides the benefits of leather, with the added grip and wear properties of rubber.
Cemented Sole
Shoes of this type feature a sole which is bonded to the upper using adhesives, rather than stitching. Cemented shoes generally have a more lightweight appearance than their welted counterparts, and are not as robust.
Blake Sewn Construction
A method of shoe construction in which the upper is directly attached to sole. The upper is lasted to the insole and the sole is then attached by vertical chain or lock stitching.
Moccasin Construction
Moccasin construction provides a soft, lightweight and naturally flexible shoe. The upper of the shoe is wrapped around to also form the insole. The sole can be cemented or stitched to the upper. Moccasins are supremely comfortable, but by the very nature of their construction they have very little resistance to water and should not be worn in wet conditions, when stouter more robust footwear is appropriate.
Although LIGHTWEIGHT stick-on-soles can be added to Goodyear welted shoes without detriment, (NEVER to either moccasins or cements), we cannot recommend doing so; because the balance of the shoes can be affected and lead to premature failure. We cannot accept responsibility for premature wear if modifications have been made to our product.
Calf or full grain leather has not been sanded or corrected to remove blemishes etc. it is a naturally soft and flexible material, and has excellent breathability. Properly looked after, this type of leather will develop an attractive patina with age.
Polished or 'corrected grain' leather has the natural leather finish corrected and a top coat added to provide the final highly polished appearance. This type of leather is more resistance to water and staining, but will not develop the same patina as with calf or full grain leather. It is also initially a stiffer material, and the shoes may require a short period of breaking in when new.
Always use a shoe horn when putting on your shoes. This will keep the backs strong and sturdy.
Try to wear your shoes in dry conditions on the first few occasions, the fine grit picked up by dry leather soles assists water resistance.
Fine leather shoes can require a full day to dry out from natural perspiration. Try to give them at least twenty-four hours between wears. Try to avoid excessive wetting, should this occur always let the shoes dry out away from sources of direct heat. Newspaper can be used within the shoes to help draw out moisture.
Before polishing your shoes always wipe them over with a dry cloth to get rid of surface dirt.
Your shoes will benefit from a regular application of quality wax polish. This helps to moisturise the leather, keeping it supple and helping to prevent cracking.
A shoe last is the approximation of the shape of a foot, which the upper of the shoe is drawn over during the manufacturing process. It is the last which gives the shoe its shape and fitting properties. Loake use many different last shapes and alternative width fittings to try and cater for the various needs of our customers.
The last number or name and its width fitting are shown within the product details for each shoe.
You can view all the lasts we currently use by clicking here.
If you ordered to a BFPO addresses outside the UK, you can request a VAT refund for your online order.
To request a VAT refund for a BFPO order, please contact one of our Customer Care Team via the contact options here AFTER your order has been dispatched. Refunds can not be processed until after the 28 day returns period has passed.
Please remember to include your email address, order number and full billing address.
You'll need to contact us within 3 months of the time of the receipt of your order to qualify.
If you wish to cancel your order, please contact Loake as soon as possible, quoting the relevant order number.
Please note that it may not always be possible to prevent an order being sent, once it has been processed by our warehouse. In these circumstances you are welcome to return these using our free returns service, we can refund these goods upon receipt, subject to our standard returns conditions.
At Loake Brothers we are committed to providing high quality products and services to all of our customers. In the unlikely event of a consumer having a complaint regarding our footwear, accessories or service, we recommend that you view our 'Complaints Process' page and follow the steps outlined to ensure a prompt and fair resolution.
No. We are unable to process orders over the telephone.
Upon successful checkout of your order, you will receive a confirmation email which will include an order number relevant to your purchase.
Yes. When your order has been despatched, we will send you an email containing the courier details and tracking number.
No. All orders placed online must be delivered to a residential address as goods require a signature upon delivery.
Our international customers can purchase from the Loake website in their local currency by simply clicking on the flag icon at the top of the website and selecting the designated country of delivery.
We have partnered with Global-e, a third party service acting as your seller-on-record, so we can ship worldwide. Their software allows our customers to pay in their local currency - duties and taxes will either be included or calculated at checkout depending on the country.
Our shoes can come up slightly more generous than high street brands. Our sizes tend to be in line with other British shoemakers. With over 200 different styles and over 30 different last shapes we know how important it is to find the right Loake shoes for you.
We would always recommend visiting one of our stores for fitting if you can. If this is not possible, we do provide as much information on our website as possible, including size guides which offer conversion sizes and last descriptions. All should allow you to make an informed decision.
We have two width fittings available. An F fit is our standard width fitting and a G fit is our wide fit.
If your shoes are a half size you need to round down to the smaller size, so for example if your shoes are a 10.5 you would need to order the size 10 shoe tree.
Yes. Every Loake store can assist you in finding the perfect pair of Loake shoes for you. You can find the store nearest to you by clicking here; https://www.loake.com/shop/
The difference between an Oxford and a Derby is that the Oxford is a formal shoe with closed lacing, while the Derby is slightly less formal and has open lacing. The quarters, or the panels of leather containing the lacing eyelets, are sewn on top of the vamp in a Derby, rather than under it.
The main difference between a semi-brogue vs a full brogue is the style of the toecap. The wingtip is more elaborate and has more broguing decoration sweeping into a “W” shape. In contrast, the toecap of a semi-brogue neatly caps the end of the toes.
Care guidance will depend on the upper materials used. You will receive a care booklet with your purchase. Please feel free to contact us if you have any specific questions.
All shoes/boots visible on the website have recommended care products and videos underneath the description suitable for that individual item.
This is a factory code used during the manufacturing process and is not fitting information. The size and style information can be found on the inside side panel of the upper leathers.
Products showing on our website are available to purchase. If a particular size or item is not showing it would mean that it is out of stock. Please contact us if you would like to know if an item will be back in stock and when.
You can view our Returns policy in full here; https://www.loake.com/delivery-returns/
For customers in the UK please use the free returns label on the back of the despatch note included inside of the packaging to return any products to us.
If you are one of our international customers please create a returns label via our global platform and follow instructions through the link here https://www.loake.com/delivery-returns/
For peace of mind Loake offer a trackable prepaid return service, to enable customers to check the tracking via the Royal Mail website. When you check tracking, it will advise you of the date your parcel was delivered back to us here at Loake. If you have not heard from us within 14 working days of your goods arriving at our warehouse please send an email to the relevant department.
Online orders: - web.enquiries@loake.co.uk
Repairs: - customerrepairs@loake.co.uk
We aim to process refunds within 14-working days of receipt of the return. You will receive an email to confirm the refund as soon as this is processed.
Yes. We can arrange a shoe stretch from our factory or one of our stores.
Yes. The beauty of a Goodyear welted style is that they can be refurbished. At Loake, we are dedicated to improving our sustainable footprint, which is why we are delighted to offer a full repair service at our Northamptonshire factory in England.
Yes. All Goodyear welted styles can be repaired. You can even change the sole type should you wish at no extra cost.
No. We are unable to conduct a repair to shoes that have been repaired elsewhere.
All repairs are subject to an initial inspection, but generally we can, yes.
No we do not offer this service.
No unfortunately we can't, as the elastic is stitched into the uppers before the boots are constructed.
No this is not possible.
Every repair is subject to an initial inspection. If our team foresees any reason why we can not repair your shoes, we will let you know.
The upper leathers and insoles must be in good condition. Damage to either of these components can result in us not being able to proceed with a repair.
Please visit our Repairs page for full details about our repairs service and timescales.
The payment options available are Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, Clearpay, Klarna and Debit/Credit card.
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