Shoes that look better with age...

[CrashTestBrummie]

Just picked up a leather boat shoe. I was wondering what leather conditioner and cleaning solutions do you guys normally use ?

I just use water, Kiwi shoe cream and normal polish. There are a lot more exotic options available, though...

[glimmertwins]

i love the idea of cordovans' long life and toughness, but i have a hard time finding work boots or other styles in cordovan (besides dress) that really feel right for me.

In general I think your right but I think there are a couple of exceptions. Those LS cordovan pitt boots Arrow posted a week ago look legit to me.

Here was the photo if you missed it:

[Paul T]

THey look great - I think there's a tradition of officer's and 40s workboots in Cordovan, when they're sleek, like that pair, they're very attractive. The engineers, being chunkier and more blue-collar, don't.

Last night I finished a book on the Dieppe raid I picked up in a local used book store. The raid was a disaster, and taught them lots of lessons for D-Day.

THe last casualty was an Americna observer, Colonel Hissinger, who was injured when a Dornier, under attack, jettisoned a bomb. It hit his destroyer - and blew his foot off. He had been wearing, for the first time, a pair of made-to-order boots he's bought on Jermyn street. After he tourniquet'd the stump with a tie, he saw his foot floating away from the ship encased in brand new leather. HE was so disgusted at the loss of his expensive boot, he unlaced the other one, and threw it in the Channel after it.

[denimjunky]

My white's SD family. Left: Water buffalo sienna. Middle: Black chrome excel and leather sole. Right: Brown semi dress and cuban heel.

This is how the leather sole got worn after one wear in wet weather.

Im not overly happy about it.

[marineabilly]

Great family of Whites, DJ!! I wouldn't sweat it. Once it gets to a point to where it's super worn out, just have it capped by your local Cobler.

Thanks for the great pics!

[denimjunky]

Thanks man!

Yeah, Next time Ill take em out Im gonna be sure to have the sole well oiled so it sucks up a lot of dirt and dust so it gets that nice "grit".

[Shorty Long]

awesome whites...does the pair on the middle have a different last than the other two?

[denimjunky]

^Thanks!

Actually, the one on the left have the swing last funny enough.

I think the middle looks wider than the right one. Is it a thing of the cap toe?

[Rivet Head]

^same happened to the sole on my tricker's...sucks a bit imo!

Put some leather conditioner on the soles...Pecard's or Sno Seal....

[Rivet Head]

My Frye engineers.

Clean the salt off with white vinegar first....condition, condition, condition...use a cream polish too!

[cheapmuthafukr]

got some stuff for sale on ebay

http://shop.ebay.com/pikminone/m.html

[darkblack]

Hi alleyooptroop,re: your White's SD brown chrome excel, how low was your block heel compared to the standard block heel and what last was that?

[SLAB]

question for the engineer experts

looking to buy my first pair of (inexpensive) engineers; which one is advised?

- Red Wing 2268

- Chippewa 27899

the chippewas are a bit cheaper but both are made in US and have steel toes. I am actually looking for engineers with a low toe profile but cant seem to find any in that same price range. What struck me though on the Okuyama website, was that quite some of the resoled Red Wings had a low profile toe; is it the result of heavy wear (possible with steel toes)???

[Shorty Long]

Could be. The day I'm fortunate enough to score a pair of White's I'll go with the cap toe.

^Thanks!

Actually, the one on the left have the swing last funny enough.

I think the middle looks wider than the right one. Is it a thing of the cap toe?

[onehundy]

Go with the Chippewa.

[ThinFinn]

Put some leather conditioner on the soles...Pecard's or Sno Seal....

thanks for the advice mate...+!

[clayton]

Bought these Adidas x Ransom boots in tan but wanted them a little darker. Here's what they looked like originally

and now after two coats of Dark Brown Fiebings Leather Dye

[glimmertwins]

THe last casualty was an Americna observer, Colonel Hissinger, who was injured when a Dornier, under attack, jettisoned a bomb. It hit his destroyer - and blew his foot off. He had been wearing, for the first time, a pair of made-to-order boots he's bought on Jermyn street. After he tourniquet'd the stump with a tie, he saw his foot floating away from the ship encased in brand new leather. HE was so disgusted at the loss of his expensive boot, he unlaced the other one, and threw it in the Channel after it.

Sufu member #1

[critic]

[alleyooptroop]

Hi alleyooptroop,re: your White's SD brown chrome excel, how low was your block heel compared to the standard block heel and what last was that?

I sent the boots back already so I can't get an accurate measurement but I had requested a lower heel. The lowest they can go is 1/4" lower so maybe someone here who has a pair of sd's with a standard height heel could measure, you can get your number that way.

I was tempted to go with the swing last but after talking to the folks at whites I figured out that I only needed to go with the standard last.

[denimjunky]

^Its not just the heel. Its also the sole. If its a vibram 700, 269 or none changes the height considerably.

[mikedbt5]

For anyone who maybe interested I have just listed a pair of Loake Burford black brogue laceup boots in supermarket . Size UK 8F .

[marineabilly]

[not too tight]

Here are my Thorogood Horsehide No. 685 Boot after about 1 month of wear. They are really starting to break in nicely now.

[chrispy]

Where did you get those laces on your Thorogoods?

[devilish]

Crockett & Jones Islay.

[not too tight]

Epaulet hooked me up with some Alden laces when I was there but those broke on me so I took the laces from my Red Wing GTs. Any one know where to get good boot laces? Looking for ones similar to White's.

[CrashTestBrummie]

Crockett & Jones Islay.

I tried these on a couple of months ago, fantastic boots to share...

[devilish]

^ I will take some detail shots soon with a proper camera. I love them and will be putting a ton of wear in to them. They are easily the nicest shoes I own. The lining leather is butter soft and the workmanship is top notch.

[CrashTestBrummie]

I'm lucky enough to have a Crockett & Jones shop less than ten minutes walk away...tried them on but ended up getting the Arran for a couple of reasons.

Definitely one I'd keep in mind for the future though. A beautiful, waxy pair of C&J Skye recently went on eBay for a (relative) steal, they're the predecessor to the Islay as far as I know...