Will Faux Leather Shoes keep my feet dry?

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Please be gentle if this is a stupid question! I have always had leather shoes, my mum had a thing about leather shoes being better for your feet. However my beloved fly boots that I got in a sale 8 years ago (I have really got my £45's worth from them) have worn through the sole and are not financially worth repairing.

Like lots of people there is not much spare income at the moment so if I get a cheap pair of boots from somewhere like shoe zone will they keep my feet dry? Or will it really be a false economy and should I try and patch up my boots until I can afford a leather pair?

I have been looking in charity shops for boots, but round my way although I have a pretty common size there have not been any suitable black boots in my size. Don't really want to risk buying 2nd hand online as I can't risk them not fitting.

I think the only “faux” leather shoes I have are Birkenstock sandals and I don’t wear them on a daily basis so haven’t noticed a huge deterioration in wear with them. I certainly wouldn’t choose the faux version if I intended to wear them daily or had any other reasonable choice. Have you looked for Fly boots on eBay / Vinted? You may be able to find a good pair of the same style for the same price of the plasticky ones.

I’ve just realised I do have a pair of faux patent ankle boots from M&S…they were about £30 and started to crack across the toes after a few wears. Other boots like a snakeprint pair did let the rain in yes.

I do think cheap shoes are a false economy. You’ll probably find an amazing bargain on Vinted

There are some good buys on vinted, but I'm just concerned about them not fitting when I get them. I know I could sell them on again, but then I'd have to wait for them to sell before I could buy something else.

DP has bought some special glue home from work so hopefully we can patch the split in the sole to at least buy me a bit of time temporarily as it's sounding like it is better to try and hold out and get a leather pair. I'm just so shocked at how much leather boots are now. The cheapest pair of knee high Clarks were £90! and thats half price.

I find shoes one of the best things to buy because I know what size I am!

Is there a Clarks outlet anywhere near you? You can sometimes get a bargain there. I think faux is unfortunately a false economy, they only last a few months with regular wear however my clarks leather ones are 6 years old and still going strong.

I find that faux leather boots make my feet very cold too as they sit in a pool of sweat all day as the plastic doesn't breathe.

I can't wear faux leather, they make my feet stink & never last. Save up for a new pair of fly boots. My ones after about 6 years the Zip has burst, gutted, saving for new ones. X

If you want waterproof shoes then you need to buy ones sold as waterproof.
They have a membrane inside that keeps water out but still breathable, leather or fabric.
Leather shoes are the next best thing but you'll still need to use something to keep them waterproof like wax/dubbin) specialist spray occasionally.

You're better off taking them to a cobbler and having them re-soled. Even if it cost £25 it's still more economically sound than wasting the same amount on cheap shoes that will only last a few months.

This exactly. Leather shoes and faux leather let water in if they don't have waterproof seams e.g. Sorell type boots, Dubarry etc.

As for cost - I used to be a footwear buyer and cost price of a pair of European-made boots went over £50 a good long time ago. Then you have to add box and tissue, shipping (factory to company), website running costs, staff, shop rent or mail order warehouse rent, photographer, model, marketing, and some profit.

Have a look in Amazon warehouse. I buy my fly London boots there and have a black and a tan pair for £50 quid ish. I also got fly London sandals for a tenner.

With very cheap (when new) shoes, it's the glue and quality that will cause them not to be weather tight, as much as whether they are faux or real leather.

Faux leather (vegan) DMs are great shoes, but they are not cheap.

Depends what you want them for.

For a daily walk of an hour plus in all weather I'd be sow if more than a if it was to work car park and into work and reverse.

I always have leather too as I like the breathability but sometimes it's it possible and I bough a cheap synthetic pair from Tesco and they kept my feet dry all day on a school day trip in the freezing teeming rain.

I sold two paid of clarks leather ankle boots on vinted and one had a Borg lining for £4 each. Also sold some duo boots on there too. They were well loved but had loads of were in them I just had fallen out of love with them as I never chose to wear them. I got a leather pair of per una boots (M&S) and they just aren't as stolid as the clarks ones ones.

I think from everyone's replies I will try and hold on till I can get a leather pair I can afford.

My local shoe maker who is independent and a lovely guy, I've used him for decades quoted me £30 to resole them, but because of the style of sole and the angles of the heels he said it wouldn't look the same as it did originally. I was more concerned that as they are already so old I could spend £30 getting them resoled, but then the zip or something might break on them.

I will check out amazon warehouse.

Forgot to add as someone asked, these boots have to be my everything boots. Worn everyday rain or shine from October to May. I would probably wear them for anything up to 8 hours a day and do quite a bit of walking in them.