Shoes that look better with age...

[rayw44]

If you can get them direct from redwing then great. My whole point was it's crazy paying the premium to import them at $450.

If you specifically like the look and want a better quality boot, speak with Kyle at bakershoes and he will be able to advise on copying the style with wesco or the new whites engineers.

Bear in mind the redwing is steel toe, which is heavy, uncomfortable often and pointless for most of us desk surfing work boot wearers.

Couldn't agree more with all of that, and even if you get them direct through Red Wing, it is likely to be closer to $350 which is only $100 or so away from a brand new pair of Wesco.

[rayw44]

Thought I'd post these while I'm at it. These used to be an 18" tall pair of Sears engineer boots with no instep straps. I never wore them, and they just sat in my closet.

I recently found a reliable local cobbler and decided to see if they could cut them down to a 9-10" height. They were able to, and they notched a new v-cut in the shafts, made instep straps from the excess shaft leather and used the buckles I gave them from you know who. They even reused the old gusset covers with the Sears label (a nice touch).

Picture 1308[/img]

This is the only new leather they had to add, since the old roll top leather basically gets destroyed once removed.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6185/6057549394_4712820680_z.jpg' alt='6057549394_4712820680_z.jpg'> Picture 1307 [/img]

[Happy Hooligan]

love those! Clever with the reuse of the top leather for the strap...

[SLAB]

attackwithstones, what's the retail price for the Mr Freedom Road Champs; i might go that route myself as well; not much movement with the Viberg group buy. I guess size down 1/2?

are you always required to pay the 99$ for the foot tracings with Wesco?

[rayw44]

attackwithstones, what's the retail price for the Mr Freedom Road Champs; i might go that route myself as well; not much movement with the Viberg group buy. I guess size down 1/2?

are you always required to pay the 99$ for the foot tracings with Wesco?

If you go with a custom fitting, it is a one time fee then they can keep it on file. Of course, if you have feet without sizing issues you can just pick a stock size and pay nothing extra.

As for the Road Champs, retail is $949, and from what I've heard a half size down is correct (haven't actually received mine yet so can't confirm from personal experience).

[attackwithstones]

I'm either a US 7 or 7.5 and when I tried on the Road Champs the 7 fit great. My Red Wings are a 7.5 but a slightly longer shoe than I need, but wide enough

Edit: how many of us are buying MF or Wecos now that the Viberg group buy is kinda dead?

[marineabilly]

^ I bought my RC's when I returned from Afghanistan as I had a gut feeling the group buy was either going to take a while or not materialize at all. I really tried to hold off as long as possible, but you gotta go with your gut. I'm glad I did.

My size 7 1/2 RC's fit perfect and I wear an 8D.

Hope this helps.

Cheers!

[TheNorthern]

[rungo]

Those are looking good, but also look like they could use some Obenaufs or the like.

[Joseph Hill]

^^The real patina that Mark Nason and that ilk are always failing to emulate.

[TheNorthern]

thanks

i work a lot in these boots & i do treat them often

but anytime i do treat the leater it ends up loking real worn sortly after

[not too tight]

[ThinFinn]

Anyone with the Alden 404 Kudu in here which has time to do a little review on it?

Somehow these suckers starting to grow on me so yeah...would be nice to let me know some info's/see some great pics

Thanks in advance!Rep will come your way

[ThinFinn]

shameless plug...

need these to move till the end of next week...size US9!

180$

[CrashTestBrummie]

Anyone with the Alden 404 Kudu in here which has time to do a little review on it?

Somehow these suckers starting to grow on me so yeah...would be nice to let me know some info's/see some great pics

Thanks in advance!Rep will come your way

I like the look of them too...can't help with info, though!

Some worn Cheaney 'Neath' veldtschoen shoes (like the first pair I dyed), Itshide commando soles, in UK 8 for a BiN of £30 here:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320745864290?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

[Tiro]

I was just glancing at my F&E boots issues and I think I'm in the market for a pair of Pecos boots, they look really comfy.

Anybody have a pair of Pecos boots, RW or another brand, I like the 60's-70's RW Pecos in the magazines, it could be sweet if I could order a custom pair from lets say Viberg...

Though it might be smarter to try a pair of RW Pecos first, to see how I like 'em.

[not too tight]

Those are my Thorogood Horsehide Service boots by the way...

[CrashTestBrummie]

Those are my Thorogood Horsehide Service boots by the way...

Cheers, I was wondering...handsome boots, any chance of some more pics please?

[milosz]

Just ordered my second pair of White's SDs - Brown Chromexcel, single midsole, Vibram 705, toe cap (I wear 13EEs - the toe cap makes them look less clownshow-esque).

With any luck, by the time they arrive it will be cool enough in Texas to wear jeans and boots most of the time.

[Happy Hooligan]

I've been debating selling my pair of Alden 405's since I already have the Ultimate Indy and now my new SD, which I've been wearing pretty much non-stop... Think I'd regret it? I think I just have too many boots...

[Maynard Friedman]

You most certainly would HH, just grow some more feet and warrant your footwear collection mandatory.

[roy6]

For CTB.

[attackwithstones]

Roy6

Are those Semi Dress or Bounty Hunters?

[rkusmant]

^^ that's a SD...

[roy6]

^Absolutely, SD.

[attackwithstones]

I just received a pair of Alden Roy boots in a 7E. I wear a 7 in Clarks, 7.5 in Vans, 7.5 in my Redwings.

The Roy Boots feel kind of big. A little long and a touch wide, although I have wide feet. Do these boots have a reputation of running big? Do they tend to stretch out a lot? Should I try to wear them with a Dr Scholls insole or something similar? I love the boots as I'm a huge fan of crepe soles and this is the style of boot I'm after. I don't want to wear them if they won't work for me/ put wear on them and ruin chances of getting my investment back. Thanks for any insight.

[rkusmant]

^Absolutely, SD.

does it have the cellastic toe? I wonder if they make one without cellastic toe, I guess if you put cap toe on, it should be stiff enough..

[DaveyB]

I was just glancing at my F&E boots issues and I think I'm in the market for a pair of Pecos boots, they look really comfy.

Anybody have a pair of Pecos boots, RW or another brand, I like the 60's-70's RW Pecos in the magazines, it could be sweet if I could order a custom pair from lets say Viberg...

Though it might be smarter to try a pair of RW Pecos first, to see how I like 'em.

I was just looking at some Pecos myself. Found some on the bay for about $120. The Red Wing 866 are the best looking imo.

[denimjunky]

Hey Roy6, where did you get those shoestrings?

Kinda reminds me of the ones on my Ironrangers.

I dig it!

[CrashTestBrummie]

For CTB.

Cheers, what are you using to impregnate the leather?

A little porn with yesterday's thrifted finds, an Alfred Sargent 'Oakley' longwing and a Loake 'Kelso' semi-brogue.

As they were:

And the Loake now:

Not sure if these are of the modern 'made in India but assembled in England' ilk, but they're an older style and the hand-written 'notes' inside the shoe differ from the printed ones seen these days. Been needing a pair of more formal shoes for some time, so these will fit the bill nicely. Pretty elegant, and although I'm not presently a fan of black shoes/boots, the shineability of these appeals to me.

And the AS, which are storm-welted battleships and well worth the few quid I paid for them:

Same kind of grain as C&J's 'Coniston' which I polished at the same time: