The Goral footwear (made in Sheffield, UK) thread...

[Moostyle]

Yes and yes!

Interesting thanks. My UK11 should arrive next week at some point so I will report back here with how they fit! If they end up like a 'practical' size UK10.75 then it may work out well for me.

I am comparing the shape with the only other pair of casual sneakers I currently have. They are made by Bohempia and are by default much wider, inspired by Converse (I guess). They are much more casual obviously.
Two months old Cheaney in leather vs years old sneakers with hemp upper. (but nowadays made in Romania)
I will post pictures of the brown ones when they arrive for comparison of Mellor ll vs Cheaney Gorals.
PS: I will write to Goral if I decide to purchase some other pair of their sneakers.

View attachment 2160299

Wow the top ones kind of look like barefoot style shoes, very wide at the toes.

 

[Hungry Otto]

Interesting thanks. My UK11 should arrive next week at some point so I will report back here with how they fit! If they end up like a 'practical' size UK10.75 then it may work out well for me.

Wow the top ones kind of look like barefoot style shoes, very wide at the toes.

They are totally barefoot. Their standard size already is wider than usual. They also have wide versions. I never tried the wide version but their standard option is true to size.
It´s a Czech company, materials sourced in EU, made in EU as well. Everything they do is hemp related. They used to do hemp clothes too but not anymore. I have been wearing their shoes for years. Also, they are obviously way cheaper than all leather shoes made in UK.
I consider these to be a great alternative to Converse = wider, slightly unusual and most likely more sustainable.

Men's barefoot shoes | Bohempia®

Bohempia® barefoot shoes represent the highest comfort for your feet, provide the most natural walking experience, strengthen the muscles in your feet and contribute to the improvement of your body posture. 100% vegan footwear, far more environmentally friendly than leather shoes. Made in the...

www.bohempia.eu

 

[Moostyle]

Morning all. Two bits of news...

1) Today I received my Gorals in size UK11 from Ebay and it's been interesting. At first when I tried them on I was like "wtf, they feel small for UK11" but then I took a look at the insoles and wow... they are crazy thick and take up a TON of inner space (see attached photo)! I replaced them with thinner leather insole and while of course now it has less cushioning, at least my foot fits in it without being squished! I would possible size up to 11 wide if I buy them again.

2) Goral told me they have "updated their website and shipping/VAT calculation" but, believe it or not, they are still charging UK VAT for international customers who live in countried with different tax rates. Their explanation was:

We have now changed our policy to DDP on our end, this means that all charges are paid by us thus we charge UK VAT on all our shoes.

Sigh, Goral.

While I am annoyed by this illogical explanation, it likely won't stop me buying as I can stomach an extra 10% if it gets me the more sustainable and higher quality footwear I want.

The shoes:

The Mellor II's I received look fantastic, well stitched with quality construction. The MASTROTTO ADRIA BIANCO leather is actually not white as in the website photos, but more of a cream colour which I really like. The gum sole contrasts perfectly and will of course unlike white soles be very resistant to dirt and staining.

I will try these for a few weeks and then if I am satisfied I will strongly consider ordering some Natural shell cordovan Mellor II's.

 

[Hungry Otto]

Hello gents, the comparison between The Mellor II - Horween Dark Brown (right after arrival and after one walk) and Cheaney X Goral = Kelham Trainer in White/Off White Leather (after months of regular use).
I asked Goral to not print their name on the brown sneakers but to keep the flag.
Made for Cheaney are not stitched, hence the info that Goral will not resole them.
The insole is same for both and very thick as Moostyle pointed out.
After the first and only walk I would say that Mellors are slightly less padded all around and they seem slightly less spingy = I suspect as a result of the blake (or whatever) stitch and perhaps slightly different composition on the inside.
I mentioned my buying gripes before. Mellors were 10% more expensive than Cheaneys when counting in all the charges. I was not chaged VAT to Czech Republic though. Prices I see on Goral website are ex VAT.
Czech VAT, customs charge and some other thing was charged by DHL on delivery.
Built quality is obviously great. They fit true to size for me. They were comfortable until about 5km, then I started to doubt my decision to go that far in new shoes and in very thin sock. They will be great after a bit more use.

 

[Moostyle]

Hello gents, the comparison between The Mellor II - Horween Dark Brown (right after arrival and after one walk) and Cheaney X Goral = Kelham Trainer in White/Off White Leather (after months of regular use).
I asked Goral to not print their name on the brown sneakers but to keep the flag.
Made for Cheaney are not stitched, hence the info that Goral will not resole them.
The insole is same for both and very thick as Moostyle pointed out.
After the first and only walk I would say that Mellors are slightly less padded all around and they seem slightly less spingy = I suspect as a result of the blake (or whatever) stitch and perhaps slightly different composition on the inside.
I mentioned my buying gripes before. Mellors were 10% more expensive than Cheaneys when counting in all the charges. I was not chaged VAT to Czech Republic though. Prices I see on Goral website are ex VAT.
Czech VAT, customs charge and some other thing was charged by DHL on delivery.
Built quality is obviously great. They fit true to size for me. They were comfortable until about 5km, then I started to doubt my decision to go that far in new shoes and in very thin sock. They will be great after a bit more use.

Thanks for posting that detailed information, it's much appreciated and the Horweens look really nice! I noticed that the inner of the Mellor II underneath the insole is very firm. I swapped the super thick insole that came with it for a thinner one and the shoes are now much more spacious and still comfortable enough to walk in. Firm, but not spongy. They feel good. I will give some feedback to Goral on the thickness of their insole as it really seems over the top vs any other sneaker of this type I have ever seen and may even make people think the sneakers are too small when in fact they are not!

I have some outstanding questions with Goral regarding price and configuraiton possibilities and then I am planning to order:

-Mellor II Mastratto Lion UK11 (possibly Wide which is an extra 1cm in the toe room area)
-Horween shell black with black sole
-Horween shell natural with gum sole
-Horween shell blue with dark blue sole