tod

Triumph Bobber. The Chippewas have a hard rubber sole actually. Grippy enough for traction, but not so soft that they are going to wear too quickly. I think I'd miss having a heel if I wore the Vibram squishy soles...

And while I am at it, here are two pics of my Rolling Dub Trio coupen boots (aka work shoes). I like these a lot, but I have to say that I am slightly disappointed on the workmanship for expensive Japanese bench built boots. You can only see a hint of it, but there is some loose stitching on the left boot, where the top quarter/eyelets are stitched to the vamp. And I know creasing is hard to predict, but I don't like the way the CXL on these has worn compared with other CXL boots I've had. Ah well, not perfect, but still glad I have them..

Very pleased with these cheap Chippewas I got off ebay a couple of months ago. They are not made of the highest quality materials (eg, there is a plastic fake leather welt of sorts at the back of the boot), and while they say made in the US that is apparently debatable. Acc to another site a guy cut a pair open and it said made in the China in the toebox. So maybe "partly assembled" in the US is more likely. Nevertheless, I am pleased with them. I bought a similar pair about 15 years ago (which interestingly said made in China at the time), and I wore them regularly for over 10 years. We'll how long these go. They make good motorcycle boots, but also everyday wear.

Current line-up: Rolling Dub Trio / Chippewa / White's

Rolling Dub Trios, new and a few years old (with Vibram resoles).

It's White's standard lowered block heel. About 1.25" rather than 1.5".

Bounty Hunters.

Motorcycle damage to my White's heels: oops, couldn't get photo to load...

Rolling Dub Trios, at about 2 years. Resoled from the original triple thick neo-cork soles to these Vibrams about a year ago. Very comfy!

As those lasts show, the SJ looks a bit "stubbier" in the toe box, which I like. But my experience trying both on is that the SJ ends up feeling tighter than the SD, which surprised me. (It also messed up my sizing because Baker's sent me an SJ in 9.5E as a try-on and it felt tight, but when I ordered 9.5EE in SD it ended up being huge... Though to be fair, it seems that White's sizing can be a bit upredictable.)

Yes, definitely lighter. Feels a bit weird, cause I am used to heavier boots, but it's nice for a change. I see now what people mean by "sneaker boots."

And here is the current boot lineup: White's, 3 yrs / Aldens 2.5 yrs / RDTs 1 yr

Just got my Rolling Dub Trios back from a resole by Brian the Bootmaker. I admit that the original neocork sole with the leather toe tap was very cool, but it just never quite worked for me -- the triple midsole with the added heel was too high, and the whole thing was a bit slippery. So, decided to get a Vibram wedge sole put on. (Or as my daughter says, a "squishy" sole.) Pretty pleased with how it turned out, and it's VERY comfy: