Shoes that look better with age...

[LFC4ever]

William Lennon Dundas fit true to size - I am a UK 11, a US 11.5 in Alden Barrie last US 11 in Wolverine 1000 mile (I actually quite like em particularly for comfort out of the box) and a US 12 usually in other US makes. Got a UK 11 in the WL Dundas.

[garden gnomes in space]

I´m patiently awaiting my White's SD. Been about 4 weeks since ordering, so getting closer at least...

Damn the wait! But when there´s something great awaiting...

once you get them, you will miss the waiting. Sometimes, that painful wait is euphoric...

[adventuretime]

I got this pair of dark brown Veronica Slouch Frye boots from the boy for Christmas...here they are in the California sun getting some sand/salt wear a couple of days after a hike in Joshua Tree. They are already changing color and getting some usage marks, especially the insides of my heels where I always kick myself when I walk. I know Fryes tend to run large but I actually sized up from my usual size 6.5 to a 7.5. I seriously want to live in these boots.

[HGS]

some beautiful boots and great photography in this thread...many have me beat on both counts, but here are my Red Wing 202, purchased October 2011.

I treated them with mink oil last winter and again more recently. I need to give them a quick cleaning after some bad weather + a basement show that left me covered in basement dust, but here they are in their current state

Edited January 10, 2013 by HGS

[happinessknox]

x-post from the small questions thread, but I thought I might get a more rapid answer here.

Just want to know, if I fit comfortably in a 10 b/d in Alden's Plaza last do you think a 10.5 c/e in the Aberdeen last would be do-able or is it going to be too large? I know it's slightly more narrow than the Plaza to begin with which is why I ask this question. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Edited January 10, 2013 by happinessknox

[danisdead]

x-post from the small questions thread, but I thought I might get a more rapid answer here.

Just want to know, if I fit comfortably in a 10 b/d in Alden's Plaza last do you think a 10.5 c/e in the Aberdeen last would be do-able or is it going to be too large? I know it's slightly more narrow than the Plaza to begin with which is why I ask this question. Any help is greatly appreciated.

I wear the same in both.

[happinessknox]

Damn, are the Aberdeen noticeably more narrow or not really?

[patrick_b]

No age yet but just want to share some pics of a new acquisition. I really think Oak Street got it right with their new Trench Boot. Natural CXL is a particularly fitting canvas to showcase the aging process. On the more subjective side, the last fits me damn near perfectly and they hit a home run aesthetically. They provide ample room in the forefoot while my heel is planted snugly.

Workmanship appears fantastic at first glance though I've only owned them for a few days now. They appear to be as well made as my US Made RW's, 1K's and Alden boots in my rotation. The leather laces are a preference of mine so I think it was a solid choice. I've never owned a natural boot and I like pull up leathers like CXL. The sole is like the waterloc sole found on some Alden boots, it seems to be treated to increase water resistance and improve wear over time.

It was seeing images like these that pushed me towards trying a boot made from natural leather.

Before:

I don't know the maker or the owner of the image so please chime in if they are yours and I'll happily credit the owner.

Per George Vlagos at Oak Street Bootmakers, the fit is much like Alden's Trubalance last in terms of shape. Unlike Alden's Trubalance last, these fit TTS rather than 1/2 size large. I found that particularly useful as I was ordering online. He recommends going with your true brannock/measured size.

They are a lighterweight boot, more like an Indy or Wolverine 1K than a Whites SD or even RW GT.I've been considering the SD for a long while now but after careful consideration, I thought a lighter weight boot would get more wear. I think I like the idea of an SD with a lugged sole more than I'd actually wear it.

I own a well worn pair of Wolverine 1K's but have found them to be less appealing aesthetically over time now that I've seen so many different pair of workboots in the last few years. I found the 1K's to look just fine...until I saw what a boot *should* look like (JMHO of course).

I look forward to posting some images of how these age this winter. If you made it this far through my rambling thoughts, thanks for reading.

Edited January 11, 2013 by patrick_b

[big truck]

That Trench boot has a really nice profile.

[Maynard Friedman]

^ But will it give you trench foot?

[exaptavist]

.

Edited October 8, 2015 by hoggreaser

[hollowsleather]

Really clean finishing on the Trench Boots as well, seems very consistent. Better than my Bounty Hunters. WTB photos of captoes in the wild.

[patrick_b]

Great photo's!

Having taken your normal sizing how do you find the Elston last feels? Roomy in the toe or snug?

Roomy. Definitely roomy. I have slightly wide feet but still measure a D but also a slightly high volume/high instep foot. For this reason, the last works great for me. That's not to say that it won't work for another shaped foot but I think they were trying to make a last that would work with the largest segment of the population. That roomyness that I need can easily be reduced by simply lacing tighter (just a guess).

[garden gnomes in space]

that boot looks so much better than the Wolverine 1000. In fact, (my opinion) I think the Wolverine boot is one of the most unattractive boots in existence. And I owned a pair for about a week before they blew up on my feet, so yea, I do have a slight chip on my shoulder. I think they are shit, and their QC continues to prove that

one question though. Oak Street says these are true goodyear welt construction , but I dont see the welt. They seem to be constructed just the same as their trail oxfords (of which I own and love) and I was under the impression that wasnt a welted shoe, but a Blake style of construction (faux goodyear)

Edited January 11, 2013 by garden gnomes in space

[rayw44]

It looks to me like the welt is there. It's the thin strip of almost orange colored leather right above the sole. Looks like it's a full welt as well, as opposed to 3/4 like you see on a lot of boots.

[garden gnomes in space]

you might be right Rayw44.

[BC3]

^360 degree flat welt

[SwedeAlex]

once you get them, you will miss the waiting. Sometimes, that painful wait is euphoric...

I hear ya! And maybe the wait makes this all the merrier when they arrive. I'll be sure to post pics of these once I get them.

[Dave_SFU]

I don't know the maker or the owner of the image so please chime in if they are yours and I'll happily credit the owner.

Those are MOTOR boots. That pair is the owners personal pair with about a year and a half of wear and is on display in their shop in Aoyama Tokyo. I bought a natural CXL pair of Engineers while there.

http://www.motostyle.jp/motor/boots/lace-up.html

[scmah174]

Really clean finishing on the Trench Boots as well, seems very consistent. Better than my Bounty Hunters. WTB photos of captoes in the wild.

but they cost twice as much as bounty hunters....in the end they step on the same dirty sidewalks

[heinrich BCN]

but they cost twice as much as bounty hunters....in the end they step on the same dirty sidewalks

where doyou buy bounty hunters for 200 bucks? please share. pm welcome

[CrashTestBrummie]

Some English boot porn for the weekend...

Shearling Galways, starting to show some subtle colour variation in the walnut country calf. You can just about see the 'waterline' where the lower parts of the suede have been exposed to rain and snow:

An old pair of Lotus veldtschoen boots probably from the '60s or '70s, with an interesting later addition of a Vibram sole:

And my Skye by Crockett & Jones:

Edited January 12, 2013 by CrashTestBrummie

[bestie]

Trenches up there are sick. Definitely seen that photo before (I want to say on the crazy Japanese cobbler's website / blog?) CTB with the standard CTB insanity...

I just wanted to post a little self-centered post for you guys. You may recall (probably not) that I picked up a pair of White's SD about a month and a half ago. I loved them intensely right out of the box, and they only got better and better with every passing day. About three weeks in, my left boot started squeaking. I ignored it at first, but upon closer inspection, I realized the arch in the left boot was actually shifting, which has worsened with time. I can now rock the whole arch back and forth by shifting my weight, and I also believe the arch has actually shifted, which is KILLING my feet haha.

White's, of course, has been super easy to deal with and are giving me no hassle with returning them and assured me they would push my replacement boots through the assembly process as soon as they determine that there is indeed a flaw with the boots... I'll keep you updated on how they handle this pretty serious fuck up.

I JUST DONT WANT TO SEND THEM BACK! Can't go back to sneakers... must by replacement boots in the meantime.

Suggestions that aren't 1000K or redwings? I tried on McNairys and didn't really love them (~$500). And I can get my hands on Tricker's but they're sitting at $650 (marked up I believe?) ... is such an expensive "replacement" worth it? Wat do?

[Crat]

I'm sorry to hear that, bestie. Nice to hear that white' s is helpful though.

Are you looking for a work/outdoor boot? I dunno what Crocketts cost in the states buy you could have a look the Coniston model which I quite like. Cheaper than the Islay and probably easier to find (post skyfall).

Though I have no experience with them you could also have a look at the Indonesian Sagara boots which were posted here a while ago. They seemed nice for their price.

In case any sagara owners read this; please post updates! : )

[exaptavist]

.

Edited October 8, 2015 by hoggreaser

[CrashTestBrummie]

Suggestions that aren't 1000K or redwings? I tried on McNairys and didn't really love them (~$500). And I can get my hands on Tricker's but they're sitting at $650 (marked up I believe?) ... is such an expensive "replacement" worth it? Wat do?

Tricker's seconds from the factory shop (retricker1829 on eBay) are around 25% less than full retail, plus they always have some interesting make-ups due to the fact that they were last heard simultaneously managing to produce collaborations with both Lucifer and the Angel Gabriel, such is the interest in them at the moment.

A lot of the McNairy stuff is a little meh in the flesh, from my experience. And I bought a pair of Sanders suede brogues on crepe soles a while ago and they lasted two wears before the sole started to separate and they went back.

A Fine Pair of Shoes have a whole heap of stock reduced at the moment, including a number of Alfred Sargent models. The quality of those should be at a higher point than McNairy, and I'm tempted myself by a couple of pairs on there

I'm sorry to hear that, bestie. Nice to hear that white' s is helpful though.

Are you looking for a work/outdoor boot? I dunno what Crocketts cost in the states buy you could have a look the Coniston model which I quite like. Cheaper than the Islay and probably easier to find (post skyfall).

Though I have no experience with them you could also have a look at the Indonesian Sagara boots which were posted here a while ago. They seemed nice for their price.

In case any sagara owners read this; please post updates! : )

I have to say that I've been unimpressed by what I've seen of Sagara so far, due to their over-use of corrected grain and heavy reliance of shill posts on various forums to try and drum up interest...

[Crat]

Ah, ok. I've only seen a few new pairs posted here which, from the pictures, seemed to be decent. Shame if they arent.

[CrashTestBrummie]

Ah, ok. I've only seen a few new pairs posted here which, from the pictures, seemed to be decent. Shame if they arent.

There's a recent thread on SF on them that turned into something of a carnival of tedium, if I remember rightly...

Anyhow, some more pics as it's the weekend and I've finally got a camera that captures colour accurately

Finished the job on the Church's Masterclass chukka, just haven't got around to working out what I could wear them with yet:

An older C&J model, the Hastings, priced on the box at the princely sum of £220...they were pretty neglected when I got them but the leather is superbly responsive on this pair:

[demonator]

[Kwaker]

Suggestions that aren't 1000K or redwings? I tried on McNairys and didn't really love them (~$500). And I can get my hands on Tricker's but they're sitting at $650 (marked up I believe?) ... is such an expensive "replacement" worth it? Wat do?

i would recommend dayton boots ... in the $400 range direct from the manufacturer