Brand Showcase: Barker

Brand Showcase: Barker
Another brand showcase where i'm on my first pair. It's always difficult to add the value you're looking for in a brand when i only have one. This is part of the process however of deciding the brands I'll acquire three shoes in.
So far the brands with only one are:
Mezlan
Löf and Tung
Barbanera
Cru Non Pareil
Paraboot
CNES (another arriving shortly)
Fugashin
Barker
Gordon JimJun
Acme
Bruno Magli
Cobbler Union
Cheaney
Michael Darren (another arriving shortly)
Vass (though i have an Ascot Kaan also lasted and welted by Vass)
Yeossal (i have three, but one is a Meccariello and the other unknown Italian brand vs Yeossal's handwelted line)
Heinrich Dinkelacker (though i've had another that i sold)
J Fitzpatrick (though I've had 2 others that i sold)
Just arrived or coming shortly with no Brand Showcase Videos:
Corthay
Aubercy
Vahtia
Norman Vilalta
Ichigo Ichie
Francis Waplinger
Here is my overall sizing guide, inspired by the Skoaktiebolaget sizing guide.
@wishoeguy Sizing Chart
Cru NonPareil 10.5EE per feetszr app.
The Armoury Haijime 9.5UK
Altan Senzo 10.5
Altan summer loafer with strap 9 (yes really)
Skolyx Adelaide Hector 10
Skolyx LWB Ben 9.5
Hephaestus L25 46
Hephaestus A1 45
Fugashin 9.5UK
CNES 44
John Lobb 10UK
Stefano Bemer TX 44.5 PdP
Bontoni 202 44 PdP
Vass new Peter 44 PdP
Vass u 44 PdP
Meermin Rui UK10
Meermin Hiro UK10
Meermin HOK UK9.5
Meermin Elton UK10
Allen Edmonds 65 US11D
Allen Edmonds 511 US11D
Allen Edmonds 108 US11D
Allen Edmonds 64 US11D
Allen Edmonds 606 US11D
Allen Edmonds 1757 US11D
Allen Edmonds 1943 US11D
Allen Edmonds 97 US11D
Alden Barrie 11D US
Alden Aberdeen 11E US
Crockett and Jones 336 UK 10E
Crockett and Jones 325 UK10E
Crockett and Jones 378 UK10E
Crockett and Jones 348 UK10E
Crockett and Jones 341 UK10E
Loake Capital UK9.5F
Loake Tower UK9.5F
Loake River UK9.5F
Loake Bullet UK9.5F
Vass U UK10 / 44 (a little tight)
Vass New Peter UK10 / 44
Heinrich Dinkelacker Buda UK9.5G
Heinrich Dinkelacker Luzern UK9.5G
TLB Mallorca Picasso UK10
TLB Mallorca Goya UK10
TLB Oliver UK10
TLB Bryan UK10
Carmina Rain UK10
Carmina Oscar UK10
Carmina Forest UK10
Carmina Simpson UK10.5
Löf and Tung T UK10
Enzo Bonafe 74945 UK10
Enzo Bonafe 946 UK 10
Alden Barrie US11D
Alden Aberdeen US11E
Barker 464 UK9.5F
Alfred Sargent 109 UK10
Alfred Sargent 724 UK9.5
Carlos Santos 57 UK9.5
Carlos Santos 234 UK9.5
Carlos Santos CS2 UK9.5
Amblier AM18 UK10
Paolo Scafora R UK10
Paolo Scafora Door UK10
Yeossal Branca UK10
Yeossal BX7 UK10
Cobbler Union 312 9.5UK
TLB Picasso 10UK
TLB Bryan 10UK
TLB Goya 10UK
TLB Oliver 10UK
Edward Green 389 10UK
Edward Green 202 10UK
Gaziano & Girling TG73 10 UK
Gaziano & Girling MH71 10 UK
Foster &Son ALM 10FUK
Foster & Son 83 10EUK
George Cleverley 348 10UK
Oct Tenth Huang 10UK (has high instep. Asked for thicker sole which wasn’t enough).
Paraboot Griff UK10
Mezlan 110 US11M
Church’s Natural UK10G
Church’s Castoro UK10F
J Fitzpatrick NGT UK10.5E (will size down to 10 in future)
J Fitzpatrick LPB UK9.5E
Barbanerra Gaucho UK10 too loose
Sons of Henrey Contemporary Almond 10F
Trickers 2298 UK10F
Trickers 6143 UK9.5F
Bruno Magli 92B UK10/44/US11
Eve’s and Gray UK10 (no last listed)
A Meccariellio Hawksbill UK10.5 / 44.5 roomy
A Meccariello B 03 UK9.5 too tight
Herring Lakenhurst 10F

[@TheRushMethod]

The Barker Bedale Hi Shine Chelsea boots are a beautiful boot. Fit perfectly, wear well. Good solid leather. Many compliments every time I wear them.

[@scottlalonde2878]

Good info, thanks.

[@neohshoes2409]

A lot of Grenson shoes are made in India, nothing against that fact, just harder to find shoes made in the UK by Grenson. Whatever I have seen are priced closed to Trickers level and hence not worth it. It’s nice to see all of these brands distinguish themselves and market to different consumer groups. Barker is clearly more fashion forward while being budget conscious, while Grenson seem more sneaker oriented-currently the direction taken by AE management. Cheaney wants to give you CJ type shoes at AE prices while CJ wants to give you EG type quality at CJ prices. Trickers focuses on the country brogue lifestyle but their town shoes also aim for CJ or CJ Handgrade quality that’s relatively cheaper. Alfred Sargent got lost in all of this market segmentation, and hence focused more on doing shoes for store brands like Brooks Brothers or French brands. I wish we had half of all of the UK brands in the US.

[@guythat1185]

Good summary and educational. Is AE Allen Edmonds? And is EG Edward Green?

[@neohshoes2409]

@@guythat1185 yes, you’re correct. I stated these assumptions based on my own purchases and the way different brands are priced and the models they sell.

[@tomconnor7786]

Barker, at least if purchasing in the UK are the cheapest of the English made brands so you don't necessarily expect the same quality as Cheaney but I've found them excellent and they do plenty of classic styles along with the more innovative ones.

[@wishoeguy]

I don’t mean to downgrade the brand. Only as a form of comparison.

[@wayneelliott7011]

Loake are cheaper than Barker. Barker are generally a better shoe.

[@wishoeguy]

Barker and Loake have a number of quality lines and not are all made in England. It’s important to note which line we are referring to. Solo air and Sanders are also made in England and should be competitive price wise to much of the less pricey end of Loake and Barker. In the end, I look at the styles I like best (I don’t care much for many Barker styles, but they’re not making shoes for me, they’re making them for everyone) as that differentiation is also important.

[@tomconnor7786]

@@wayneelliott7011 I've found them quite similar if you ignore the Indian made Loake's that seem much poorer.

[@jeffreygoss8109]

I bought Barkers after I bought a pair of Trickers acorn stow. I loved them, the look, the leather, but the right shoe squeaked. The factory told me it was moisture and would away.so I wore them but the squeak never went away. So I contacted Trickers again. They told me there was nothing they could do because I had worn them. Apparently I was supposed to put them in a dehumidifier. The Barkers are “stiffer” leather but same sole and insole (I think) but they don’t squeak.

[@wishoeguy]

I’m glad you like them.

[@alexsmith4155]

I have always been underwhelmed by Barker sadly. They have some good shoes but they are very inconsistent. I also find their soles and general feel to be inferior to similar shoes at that price point (Loake 1880 being the main competitor). They’re certainly not bad quality shoes, but I have experienced and heard of some issues regarding their longevity and comfort.

[@wishoeguy]

Mine were very stiff and even though I loved the concept of Clayton Brothers shell, I let them go to make room for a more comfy shoe.

[@Judge_RR]

Hey Wi Shoeguy, I am not a 'proper' Barker fan per say, but I do like their shoes for when you need something when you are just stepping into the wonderful world of GYW shoes. They have nice, classic designs and I have / had around 4 pairs which serve / served me well. I would stay away from their cemented options (especially the Jefferson loafer), but other than that, the leather is fine, the construction (of GYW) is fine; a pair of my Mirfield brogues survived 4!! torrential downpours (with proper care) and had never shown any leather stains.
Despite all of the above, I would choose Cheaney. However , the older I get, the less 'picky' I become and focus on just what I like. I mean a shoe is a shoe, at the end of the day, right?
Cheers,
-J. V

[@wishoeguy]

Totally. A shoe is just a shoe and it all depends on what you like.