Soles
People often ask us about the white and the silver Vibram soles. These are easily cleaned
with either a facecloth or a sponge with a bit of dish soap and water. Stubborn stains can
be cleaned with a lightly abrasive sponge pad such as you might use on a frying pan. The
soles are made from a non-porous material so dirt sits on the surface.
Samuel Hubbard shoes are constructed so that they can be nicely resoled. To find out more
about resoling, go to Resole Program.
Full Grain Leather
Hubbard uses the finest full grain soft leathers in our uppers. These can be kept like new
using any premium wax paste shoe polish. Saddle soap is also handy for cleaning the leather
occasionally. Small scuffs can be treated with liquid polishes. Some people like the
weathered look of some of our leathers, like the tan waxhide, just as they like the look of
an old, favorite pair of blue jeans. This is a matter of personal choice.
Nubuck and Suede Leathers
The difference between suede and nubuck is in the manufacturing process. Nubuck is created by
a process of brushing/sanding the outside of leather to roughen the surface; suede on the
other hand, is where the inside of the leather is brushed/sanded. The result is that nubuck
is tougher and more resilient to stains and scuffs.
We recommend that you spray your new shoes with ScotchguardTM to boost the stain repellants
that we apply in the factory. This will help to keep stains off the leather in the first
place. Spraying your shoes every three to four months is recommended.
Everyday dirt can be removed with a small brush, either a natural gum latex or a fine wire
brush. Another approach is to use simple hand soap and water on a facecloth or sponge and
wash the upper leather. After washing it is best to allow the shoes to dry in the air. It is
not ever recommended to use heat to dry leather as it tends to stiffen the leather. Oil
stains on nubuck and suede are stubborn and are difficult to remove.
If you happen to get a stain on your shoes (especially oil or grease), try to blot with
whatever absorbent material is handy. Sooner is better as the stain may sink in. DO NOT use
water as it may cause the stain to set.
Sprinkle the stain with baby powder or any kind of talcum or chalk. DO NOT rub it in, but
simply let it sit on the surface. Let it sit overnight and then lightly brush it off in the
morning. Then you can use a nubuck/suede brush, or any stiff brush such as a nail brush will
do.
If there is still a stain, you can try using a commercial degreaser. If this leaves the
stained area lighter, you might consider applying the baby powder and degreaser across the
entire shoe.
Another technique is to use an abrasive cleaning eraser, just as you would use a gum eraser
on paper. It is a good idea to finish the cleaning with the nubuck/suede stiff brush.
Navy Nubuck
The navy nubuck leather used in your Hubbard shoes is an unusual type of leather. It is a
doubly tanned leather that is first drum-dyed as a yellow leather and then has a blue
tanning dye applied to the surface. It is this special tanning that gives your shoes the
unique look with the yellow edges where the leather has been cut.
The navy blue can become somewhat faded and we have sourced a blue spray dye that can restore
the color of the leather. We will be happy to send this dye to you with our compliments if
you will email weborders@samuelhubbard.com with your mailing address. Please allow two to
three weeks for delivery.
Saddle Tax Waxhide
The leather in these shoes is called oil-tanned, pull-up leather. The leather is impregnated
with oils when it is tanned, producing a leather that is extremely strong and has certain
waterproof characteristics, although it is not technically waterproof.
Over time the oil in the leather will work its way to the surface and you will notice that
the shoes tend to get darker in color, except in the creases caused by flexing. Also, a
scratch on the surface will leave a lighter area. Some people call this a "distressed look",
others think of it as rugged and real looking. If you prefer to smooth out the coloration of
the shoe to a more uniform appearance, we suggest that a brush will work.
