Double 0 Soul

Take a deep breath and step away from the internet, We are all here for the love of boots.

Different strokes for different folks, Thats all.

Its a good thread lets not shit it up.

thank you all for the compliments amid the discussion.

comparing an english boot with an american workwear styled boot is probably akin to comparing watermelons to pomegrenates. i like them for different reasons and am not partial to either one. white's are special because they look great both beat up (naturally from wear) or on a SD with some nicely polished leather. i've seen a pair on this thread a long way back but can't remember to whom it belonged to. the english boot ages beautifully in a different sense. almost like in a slow mellowing way. a large part of CTB's old veldtschoen collection (which are pretty much more worn in) is a fine example of english boots that look great with age.

it's really very much like how some men like their women aged gracefully and how some like their's moulded and rugged. (i might be wrong, i really don't know that much about women. but then again i guess none of us do.)

My hot wife is in bed while i type shit into the internet about boots.... and you say I know nothing about women.

Dont like the sound of that "moulded rugged woman" you speak of,

"I like my wife to age gracefully unlike my work boots"

Going to write that in the dirt on the back of a white van tomorrow.

Been digging for a while with no joy,

I love the thrill of the chase, Choosing a new pair of boots is a mini research project for me.

HJL pop up all the time in Lightning magazine, Boots Bible ect Cant find anyone who has actually taken the hit and purchased from the web catalogue.

Some of the boots are a little eccentric even a little agricultural they look like they have been made with a loving hand, build quality and materials are second to none.

If it was easy i would not be interested.

http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&ei=stCvUOi3EeXb0QWDtoGoCg&hl=en&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhorseman%2Bjoe%2Bleathers%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3DOjf%26tbo%3Dd%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official&rurl=translate.google.co.uk&sl=ja&u=http://horseman-joe.com/shoesboots.html&usg=ALkJrhjp1na3nWsH4tZHZs1YKVDKY8WBqQ

Lets play nicely,

This just comes down to the environment that you wear your boots in, I dont wear dress boots because they dont suit my lifestyle, My work boots get hammered i look after them the best i can without babying them because they have a job to do.

Weather they look better with age is just a matter of opinion. I felt the pain of every scuff (especially the first) and didnt feel that a scuff added anything positive the way they look. You can compare high quality work boots and high quality dress boots as far as construction but they are going to have a different patina because of the environment they were worn in. If your daily business means your dress boots are getting battered maybe you made the wrong choice of footwear.

Anyone got any experience buying from the Horseman Joe Leathers web shop?

Or visited the store and can pass on any info?

Online order form looks pretty user friendly.

Checked all the usual suspects and apart from the odd line at Full Count, Cant find a Japanese retailer who holds stock.

Choice of leathers looks superb.

If Cats Paw are being reproduced it would not be too much of a bad thing, Rubber manufacture has come a long way since the 40,s Just look at the technology in car tyres. If you could have the charm of a Cats Paw sole with a modern high grade rubber why not?

Rubber tends to brake down over time and loose its proporties, Old car and bike tyres are allways cracked. Elastic bands are fucked in a year or two. The soles on the L/W,s took some abuse and after 4 years not one sign of a crack. Strange No?

True thats the only way I've found them. BTW, what size are your heels? If your boots are 7.5 US, you always have to go with a size 8 or 9 heel. Which I happen to have a pair… (9-10, that is)

Your Cherry Red Railmans are one of the reasons i ordered the black Beauties!, Gleaned a bit of sizing advice from you on the quiet too.

Dont know what happened to Cats Paw, Did it go bankrupt or was it just mothballed? The license to use the name has obviously been sold.

I agree Vibram would last longer and have better grip and look good, But for authenticity i would rather go with the Cats Paw. The decision is out of my hands because the Cats Paw sole is unobtainable.

These Mechanic,s really need a resole. Im usually as sure footed as a mountain goat but they dont mix well with wet leaves or snow.

I have been on an eternal quest since last winter for Cats paw half sole,s and heels. Heels are an easy pick up on ebay just waiting for the right size.

The half soles are a different story altogether. They seem readily available to the Japanese boot industry even though they are apparently dead stock?

I have never actually seen these Cats Paw half soles for sale. Anywhere.

Are they the greatest secret never told or what?

Might have to settle for a cats heel and a Vibram half sole.

People on here who know there shit could enlighten me.

What's your (general) UK size if you don't mind my asking? I'm guessing 7.5 UK?

Spot On!

Too right! I'd be the same. And wary of that first scuff.

Loving that heavy triple sole.

Stood next to each other the Railman seem to have a higher shaft hight, is that right or just an allusion? 'Cos on its side it looks lower, more ankle boot.

What I like about these kind of work boots and the White's stuff etc is that the toe box suggests it's got that bit more room to wiggle in, I can't do with too streamlined a toe box, too chiselled or sleek and it just jams the toes together meaning you have to size up to accomodate. I mean who really has pointy feet. Even some of the English brogue boots which are supposed to be country working boots can be a bit too 'almond' shaped ...it's not the width, it's the toe space ...

They are exactly the same height 7eyelets, Think what happens is when you crank up the laces over time it pulls the boot to the shape of your foot giving it that shape. Less like an ankle boot.

I like the wide toe box they are both a size US8E when i first got the mechanics they felt cavernous. Stuck a Taco in there and the fit was fine. Toe box is shallower on the Railman and very slightly narrower the fit is perfect straight out the box. I am US 8.5E on most size charts.

I think Coleslawyum had some Cats Paws heels for sale. Might hit him up to see if they are still available.

Checked a month ago they all seem big sizes.

Why put them out to stud now? They dont look half finished. Its right now they start looking their best. Just give them a good buff with cream, is all. They deserve it

Marvelousssss.

In the bad weather in this condition the Cats Paw is super skiddy, We live on a hill and i end up on my arse daily. Not a good luck. When some cats paw heels turn up on ebay in a US8-9 i will get then to the Shoe Healer. They do deserve it.

Until that time "out to stud"

I've moved my reply up to my earlier post, crossed with Double O Souls superb post which ought really to take presedence...

Just look at them bad boys! How you gonna wear those? Daily work like the lone Wolf's?

Im in a transitional period at the mo. Just like staring at them.

Great! I love the buzz of getting a new pair of boots, it never seems to fade. And who cares if it isn't anything new, I still like checking people's White's choices anyway.. Of course, better beaten but gotta start somewhere eh.

A pair of US boots is still on my list at some point, whether WESCO, White's or if I can get them, Nick's.

Sizing is pretty scary tho, find it hard enough getting it right in UK size nevermind the conversion. Nice one anyway mate.

Agreed.

Some US size charts are +half size on UK sizes and Some are a whole size up. Then some boots are half size over marked size. Whats a boy supposed to do.

Think you will all agree... A worthy replacement.

After 2 weeks waiting for Proxy and Customs Finally got my hands on these boots. Fit is perfect, Blood pressure now returning to normal.

Lone Wolf Mechanic Boots,

4years of hard graft, Just received Toys McCoy Ironclad Railman.

So i am putting these out to stud.