tod

My RDT left boot after one day on the motorcycle.  It took a beating from the shifter peg.  Party just CXL stuff, but also the high toe means it's a bit difficult to get it under the pedal for upshifting.  Not planning to make them regular motorcycle boots.

In other news, if anyone is interested in lightening their wallet a bit by getting in on a GMTO for a pair of Viberg 310s, there is one going on now at Styleforum:

http://www.styleforum.net/t/224463/viberg-boots/18600_20

A couple of builds being considered at this point, but the most germane to this board I think is the "Millwright Boot."  It will look like this pic, but with lighter "Crust" CXL leather (tanned, but not dyed or finished, so fairly matte in appearance):

@redragon I think your creasing is different and better than mine. Could be fit and gait, etc, or perhaps the luck of the draw in leather batches.  Actually the shoe I included in my pic is a bit better than the other one even.  Oh well.

@oomslokop Yours look fabulous, no weird creasing at all.  Perhaps because of the cap toe..?  Or again, just luck of the draw.

Anyway I'd be happier with either of these than my own, though i am mostly happy with my own too.

As far as fit and feel, the fit to me is at least a half size more than TTS, which is okay cause i anticipated that and wear them with insoles.  My only complaint with feel is that the heel is just a bit too tall for me. I know some guys like that, but I am a real heel-striker and ideally would want it about 1/4" lower. Ah well, perfection is always elusive..

Here are some pics of my RDTs after maybe 30 wears, along with Aldens with probably 4 or 5 times as many wears.

thanks for that tod. if you don't mind, could you please upload pics of the cxl creases on your coupens? i'd love to see them now, the last time i saw your coupens they were pristine. in comparo with your white's and aldens would be even better. thanks for that, mate.

Will do, when I have a chance to take pics, probably tomorrow. Though my White's are off getting resoled..

what are those?

[Rolling Dub Trio Coupen boots}:

Mainly two things:  First I am just a bit disappointed in the way the CXL has ended up creasing. I have two other pairs of CXL boots (White's and Aldens) and really like the leather, but the RDTs creased up in a different way, which is less to my liking.  (Just a preference no doubt, not a flaw of any sort.)  Secondly, I am not convinced that the leather toe w/ metal cap on the front of the sole is a good idea.  It looks very cool when new.  The leather of course is very vulnerable to wear, which is why they have the metal caps of course. But the metal caps make for some slippery walking I've found!  Fine on grass, not bad on blacktop, pretty dicey on brick, downright life-threatening on tile!  Then too, after about 30 wears or so I've noticed that the metal caps have themselves begun to wear down. I had ordered replacements, but didn't expect them to wear so quickly, and I am a liittle leery of replacing them, thinking that the new screws in the old holes might not hold very tight.  Overall, I don't quite think the cool look of the toes and caps is quite worth the impracticality of them.

But otherwise, great boots/shoes of course, and made very well.  Every stitch and angle is tight and just right, unlike virtually every other boot I've worn.

The Coupen review is here!

(as usual, photo heavy~)

 

https://indigoshrimp.wordpress.com/2016/10/10/rolling-dub-trio-x-mushmans-collaboration-coupen-boots-review/

 

 

Enjoyed the review!  I've got a pair of RDT Coupens with black CXL, a year's worth of fairly light wear, and have been thinking of doing a review. This one gives me some impetus. Though I won't have nearly as many nice pics as these.  Overall, I agree with your assessment, though sizing seems bigger than TTS to me, and after some wear there may be a few things to point out.

Rolling Dub Trio x Mushman's, the Coupen low work boot.

Have been wanting a pair of RDT's for some time but didn't really want another CXL shoe.

Unlike the regular RDT boots these are made with Badalassi Carlo veg tanned leather (cognac) instead of Horween's CXL.

 

love the contrasting stitching on these.

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RRL Bowery Boots

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The tip is kinda fucked up after a wear though

Yeah, I've never understood leather soles... You could put a toe tip on, but I'd probably do a topy instead.  But otherwise, really nice boots!

 

 

CXL cattlehide creases kinda funny.

Are these for sure CXL..?  They look like the standard calfskin.  In any case, my CXL Indys have creased much differently than this. But CXL is an unpredictable beast.

Nice single cylinder thumper there too!

Depends on the boot, I suppose.

 

Attractions look pretty good with wider leg jeans, IMO. 

 

I remember at the time that Viberg didn't want to admit it, but it seemed clear that they had gotten a bad batch of Itshides.  Lots of chipping like this and even some of the cleats breaking off.  I think they replaced some soles at no charge, but the boots might be too old now for that. You could check.

Yes, indeed, the Half Japanese was my baby, my attempt to get a pair of Japanese style work oxfords.  I ended up selling them not long after I got them I am afraid.  Partly the fit was just not quite right. But also to be honest they did not turn out exactly as I hoped they would.  The original vision was for Icy Mocha CXL but that was no longer available so we went with Ebony Latigo, which didn't quite do it for me in real life.  And the shape didn't quite have the chunky Japanese work oxford look that I wanted.

But then, I finally had a chance to get a Full Japanese pair, with these RDTs!  And even  though I didn't really need another pair of black boots/shoes, cause i have the White's, I decided to pull the trigger. Sizewise, the Aldens are 9.5E and the RDTs 9.5.  Both fit me pretty well, with insoles in each. The Aldens might be slightly wider around the little toe, but generally feel a tiny bit smaller all around otherwise.  Of course, the Aldens have a very low profile whereas the RDTs have more volume there.

My only complaint about the RDTs is that the heel is a bit too high for my taste (and feel when walking).  All told, including the triple midsole, the heel height is 1.5", whereas both the White's and the Aldens are 1.25.  I know some guys wouldn't really notice that, but I am something of a heel striker I guess, and the extra height affects my gate and sore heels more then you might think. Still, a great pair of shoes, and very high quality craftsmanship..

Two questions Tod: firstly, how do you size the RDT compared to your Indys? Secondly, what happened to the Viberg Half Japanese? That was a fantastic shoe and it was instigated by you on SF if memory serves...

Current boot lineup:

White's, 2 years, worn 3-5 times per week.

Alden, 1.5 years, worn 2 or so times per week.

Rollling Dub Trio, 2 weeks, worn a handful of times.

Just sent my Alden Indy's to be bastardised with a 2021 sole. Intrigued by the results, will post when I get them back.

Yes, please post, I'd be very interested to see the results. Where did you send them..?

Love the Coupen. Where did you pick them up?

Ordered from the Japanese store Masuya:

https://masuya1997.com/category/item/brand/rollingdubtrio/

Hiroyoshi there is fluent in English and very helpful.  Shipped to the US in about 4 or 5 days, for a total cost of $565 USD (much cheaper apparently than a store in London is currently offering them for...)

Brand new Rolling Dub Trio's:

Curious if anyone has had experience with Rolling Dub Trio boots.  I am thinking of ordering (from Japan, I am in the US) a pair of mid-cut Coupen boots.  I love the way they look, but am wondering about sizing.  Non-returnable, so am reluctant to take the hit if I can avoid it.

These are pretty badass.  I've always admired them from a distance, but don't think I am quite cool enough to pull them off...  Plus, a little too much heel for me. But really cool nevertheless.

Remind me what TOW boots are..?

Evo Update: Dayton "Milkman" Driver 5y/o+ :: I know steeze is not for every1 :: Corded Biltrite Neoprene soles & heels :: Recently got its very 1st re-heel__ too bad cudnt find Biltrites to replace.







The Drivers & TOWs are like hard-wearing, hardcore PunkSoleBrothers__ they give my other boots the stiff middle finger
 

Absolutely, just saying what I did because they make an unbelievable number of boots on the 2030 last, unstructured, cap toe, mini-ripple sole and all that shit

I hear ya..

Hard to deny that Viberg's 310 is pretty badass..

I think of all the boot manufacturers wouldn't whites be the best to avoid a tapered last? I'm sure you can get something nice and chunky. Unlike viberg who only fucking makes lame pretty-boy lasted boots...

 

 

 

I wouldn't call White's Swing Last a Munson.  It's consistently wide across the whole vamp, whereas the Munson has more of a pronounced curve on the outside of the boot (around the little toe).

^^ Really love the stitching on those Jobmasters..

Nice.  The standard trim on the White's (double rows of stitching) really make them stand out..

My boots collection.
Top (Left to right) - RW 213, Warehouse x Thorogood, White's SD Burgundy calf
Bottom (Left to right) - Alden Indy x J Crew, White's SD Burgundy CXL, RW 1907

With regard to pricing, it's worth noting that Aldens are all not only made in the US but also in a unionized shop.  I do think made in US or north America generally results in higher quality in boots than those made in China (not probably those made in Japan, but then the pricing is comparable). But the labor costs are of course MUCH more than made in China boots, which helps explain pricing.  Red Wing has its made in the US heritage line (quality seems good but not great), but it also has a very large made in China production that no doubt helps to subsidize the company.  Alden does not.  Nor does Viberg or White's (though of course White's is now owned by a Japanese co).   Whether or not unions matter, or wages more generally, is up to each of us to decide; but cost is not just a question of quality.