[imaref]

I did a pair of Converse Running Refs about 6 years ago with Leather Luster. When preparing the shoes...it's best to clean the leather completely! You will need to buy a quart of lacquer thinner because what Leather Luster provides you will not be enough to properly clean the leather before you treat the shoes with the gloss coating. You've got to pretty much clean the black coloring of the leather off till it's almost gray. It's a lot of work.....results are GREAT! Shoes won't crack. The finish will last and last. Touch up with Pledge really gets them gleaming. Careful you don't get any Pledge on the bottom. You'll have slippery conditions for a bit until you get the soles roughed up!

I since have gone the route of the Converse Running Ref Patent Leathers, but most recently purchased a pair of the OfficialsChoice patent leathers. I really like the OC's better. Padding in the right spots. Good heel support and a fairly stable shoe. The higher profile provides good support for ankle and achilles. There seems to be a bit more support in the arches than what came in the Converses.

My vote is the patent leather. Most important is fit & comfort over style and glitz! Get what works for you! I'm lucky the OC's fit well and are comfortable. Tip: If you go the patent leather route....be sure your partners wear 'em too. They do draw attention, and it's better the crew is all on the same page or odd guy gets the ribbing. I keep a standard leather pair of Converse Running Refs when working with crews that just dress their shoes with a good polish job. Collonil liquid shoe polish (Honig's) does a nice job on these.

Good Luck... and protect your feet!

wl