Freewheelers, Bootleggers Reunion, Bubo, etc.

[reubensangwich]

Don’t worry @Double 0 Soul, I’ve already dipped my toes in the pool… I had a pair of Chippewa’s resoled by Unsung House earlier this year (the job cost more than the boots were worth 😵‍💫) but if I fall any further down the rabbit hole I think my friends and family might have me institutionalized.

[okimoto]

7 minutes ago, reubensangwich said:

Don’t worry @Double 0 Soul, I’ve already dipped my toes in the pool… I had a pair of Chippewa’s resoled by Unsung House earlier this year (the job cost more than the boots were worth 😵‍💫) but if I fall any further down the rabbit hole I think my friends and family might have me institutionalized.

Just a resole job or did you have them relasted as well?

[ATWM]

39 minutes ago, reubensangwich said:

Don’t worry @Double 0 Soul, I’ve already dipped my toes in the pool… I had a pair of Chippewa’s resoled by Unsung House earlier this year (the job cost more than the boots were worth 😵‍💫) but if I fall any further down the rabbit hole I think my friends and family might have me institutionalized.

We’re here to tell them that this is all normal - they just need to come around. 

[reubensangwich]

Just a resole, so still not a hand lasted pair of boots. I considered a relast as well but they fit very well with an insole in them. 

[Double 0 Soul]

When my kid was little, he was obsessed with Adventure Time (truth be told, we both were) there was one episode called 'Dungeon Train' .. our protagonist Finn, finds a train in the woods.. he doesn't know it when he gets onboard that it's just an infinite loop.. he defeats characters on the train to power up.. before long he's adorned from head to toe with all the best shit.. but even when he has everything, he can't stop getting more and better stuff.. his partner tries numerous interventions which go unheeded until it finally gets out of hand.

I loved this episode, i always thought it was a mataphor for your first decade of sufu membership 

Edited November 7, 2025 by Double 0 Soul

[shredwin_206]

chopper builder pants getting that work abuse patina 

[PBTony]

Wondering how the VW601xx 51 handles the dryer? I'm liking the fit right now after doing my own wash but being in the UK this time of the year it takes a full 2 days to air dry. Would quite like to wash these regularly but don't want them to shrink any more.

[ATWM]

5 minutes ago, PrettyBoyTony said:

Wondering how the VW601xx 51 handles the dryer? I'm liking the fit right now after doing my own wash but being in the UK this time of the year it takes a full 2 days to air dry. Would quite like to wash these regularly but don't want them to shrink any more.

I'd give any jeans at all at least a touch of room to shrink in the dryer just in case on the first go, but I will say - and this has been mentioned before - that FW jeans seems to have one of the most thorough factory washings. My 51's never perceptibly shrank since I bought them (the immediate shrink and then stretch when worn cycle aside), though I never measured. Can't say that for any other one wash jean I've had.

My 51's have certainly been in the dryer a handful of times over the years, though I tend to try to avoid it. 

[Alec Leamas]

Sizeable Freewheelers drop on Marrkt if any UK heads are interested!

https://www.marrkt.com/collections/freewheelers

[beautiful_FrEaK]

Duke No.2?!

[indigoeagle]

Some good stuff there. And reasonable prices. 
But the many very special items already sold.

The trousers are mostly 36. I think, Duke is more 34 or 32.

[MJF9]

Yeah bigger than Duke's sizes.  Interesting this... 

pricing - a new Neal chambray is 25k Yen, approx £125, without shipping.  A used one here is £135.

from a quick look, it looks like some of the stuff is quite new e.g. the USAF trousers

[scooby]

Embracing the oversized fit of these 37 - i prefer to wear them a little lower (as pictured) rather than cinching


 

I personally don’t think they look bad, but they are at least 1 tagged size up

[Double 0 Soul]

Looks bang on!

An oversized fit works better if you get the length perfect.. which you have 👌

[Broark]

From my experience with FW special runs (see: non '47 and '51 jeans) the '37s run the largest.

[shredwin_206]

Perfect fit @scooby!! 

[shredwin_206]

wash day for the chopper pants 

[beautiful_FrEaK]

1944-45 

[Dr_Heech]

@beautiful_FrEaK are they yours? Did you get a popular pocket design put on at all?

😊

[scooby]

@Dr_Heech we've all gotten good at sewing and stenciling

we are that dedicated to the craft

[beautiful_FrEaK]

16 hours ago, Dr_Heech said:

@beautiful_FrEaK are they yours? Did you get a popular pocket design put on at all?

😊

Yes they are mine. And yes, we are all crafty people around here

[LazyS]

What about the front pockets? Are they the olive HBT?

[beautiful_FrEaK]

Yes, exactly those @LazyS Will take some proper fit pics tomorrow or so

[Broark]

Just some comparison shots between my original run S601xx's and the late '45s I'm holding out to wash and wear someday.

[Dr_Heech]

Crafty

[yochrisahn]

50 minutes ago, Dr_Heech said:

Crafty

i am convinced that the wwii denim from freewheelers may be the best denim of all time

[PBTony]

Would appreciate a fit check from you guys. I think the front looks good.

I'm on the fence about selling these 1951. The denim and construction really is awesome but I'm finding that on me, at least, they do seem to hip flare a lot which I'm not used to with regular and slimmer pairs. They also bag quite a bit after a little wear at the back which looks odd with the slimmer legs.

I think it could be a visual thing as well as the back pockets are quite far apart compared to other jeans I have.

Will the fit improve with wear and more washing? (I've washed once myself and an additional soak) or should I just embrace how they are if I decide to stick with them.

[Broark]

4 minutes ago, PrettyBoyTony said:

They also bag quite a bit after a little wear at the back

I'd say this is a hallmark feature of nearly all FW jeans, they seat seems to sag to varying degrees unless you wear them super high with a belt (that's my experience at least).
I think the jeans look good, I think that hip flare should settle. Just a snap from the Hoosier blog of a faded pair of '51s worn looser.

[ATWM]

The 51 has its quirks but for me it's definitely one of the most "gets better with time" jeans I've had, if not the most - that's largely due to the denim itself. That includes how it drapes. I didn't love mine for the first few weeks, fwiw. Would never sell them now. 

[Dr_Heech]

2 hours ago, yochrisahn said:

i am convinced that the wwii denim from freewheelers may be the best denim of all time

Good for you!

I've yet to dip my toe into that blue pool but it's going to happen at some point.

Edited November 17, 2025 by Dr_Heech