Shoes that look better with age...

[JDelage]

12 hours ago, propellerbeanie said:

I was wondering if anyone could help me out with some suggestions for shoes. I'm not very knowledgeable in leather shoes, but I know the general shape and colour that I'm interested in. I'm looking to eventually pick up a pair of shoes that are similar to the Red Wing Postman Oxfords or the Lonewolf Mailmans in black. I'm not really certain on what type of leather I like most, and I'm probably not willing to get a custom pair done at this stage.

What other brands should I be looking into? I'll leave price out of the equation for now, but would like to point out that I'm still a student. Sorry for being so general - it's difficult for me to go out and try on things, so I thought I might hit up you folks first and then go from there.

Take a look at Paraboot (French makers). They have a wide range of shoes and their quality is top notch: http://en.paraboot.com/mens-collections-of-shoes-Paraboot

Also very good is the Spanish maker Carmina: https://www.carminashoemaker.com/mens-derby-shoes

Edited March 30, 2017 by JDelage

[SuperJackle]

Can anyone speak to astorflex quality and sizing? How's the width? I need something with a bit of room. 

[JDelage]

What would people recommend for boots that (1) one can do some long walks in, (2) appropriate for garden chores, etc, without freaking out about minor scuffs, (3) have speed hooks, (4) are of good quality overall?

(For what it's worth, I happen to have feet that are narrower than average and have a low instep, but any generalist shoe should fit me fine.)

 

Edited March 30, 2017 by JDelage

[mrman]

I would not freak over scuffs if you're wearing any work / service style boots and not real dress boots (Carmina, Crockett&Jones etc). They're going to get scuffed anyway, so the sooner the better. It just adds to the patina, imho. And most scuffs will not be as obvious after vigorous brushing and some conditioner.

Probably not the best for garden work but Paraboot Avoriaz would otherwise fit the bill.

Edited March 30, 2017 by mrman

[JDelage]

The Avoriaz are too typed "mountain hiking boots" for my taste. I actually am asking this question to replace some Paraboot Chenonceau in nubuck which are one size too small. 

Edited March 30, 2017 by JDelage

[Mojique]

I've had my Gaziano and Girling black Oxford brogues since 2008, and they've been refurbished and I think will last forever!(same with my boots!)

[Coolguyzack]

3 hours ago, SuperJackle said:

Can anyone speak to astorflex quality and sizing? How's the width? I need something with a bit of room. 

 My Clark's are a US 11 and my Astorflex are EU 44

The quality is great, I haven't had a problem yet in the months I've owned it. They're much more comfortable than the Clarks too and they both fit my wide-ish feet pretty well.

If anyone knows where they're selling a full grain leather version please let me know!

[Maynard Friedman]

5 hours ago, SuperJackle said:

Can anyone speak to astorflex quality and sizing? How's the width? I need something with a bit of room. 

 

On 16/03/2017 at 4:08 PM, Maynard Friedman said:

Astorflex whisky suede desert boot.

 

 

On 16/03/2017 at 4:36 PM, mpukas said:

@Maynard Friedman - I've been eyeing Astroflex, but I don't know much about them. What can you tell us about them? How is the fit of the forefoot - standard/narrow, or wide? Cheers! mpp

 

On 16/03/2017 at 4:57 PM, Maynard Friedman said:

Volvo is your man, he put me onto them a couple of years ago (when I bought these). They come up big, I had to size down a whole UK size. I have wide feet and they fit comfortably so I would say they are a wide fitting, standard/wide at the least.

 

On 16/03/2017 at 5:52 PM, volvo240thebest said:

Actually Volvo's wife is your man for these! I had worn desert boots only for all my teenage years and I had enough of it to be honest. My wife wears still now desert boots only except on summers. Once she discovered Astor flex she never bought Clark's again. They are a far superior product as far as leather and workmanship are concerned, they're ethically made in Italy and they last much longer than Clark's. She wears the same size as in Clark's but indeed they're a touch wider. The cognac leather ones are particularly nice and the leather ages well.

 

[SuperJackle]

Thanks Maynard. Quite embarrassing having missed such recent posts 

[Mr.Su]

Just got my made to order Imperials from Sagara. Looks fresh with my new momotaros. Can't wait for these to be worn in

[JDelage]

Nice boots.

[harls]

I was unboxing my Indy's earlier and it occurred to me how mediocre the stock laces are. I proceeded to put the first boot on and lo and behold, the lace snapped. Any recommendations on replacements? I'll probably buy the Alden waxed laces from Frans Boone but I'm open to suggestions. I have two pairs so I'll buy replacements for both.

[mlwdp]

My Danners haven't been worn much this year and last year due to hot weather.  I mostly broke these out when the weather is crappy.

I was able to clean off that red clay dirt.  Nasty stuff.

Edited March 31, 2017 by mlwdp

[mpukas]

3 hours ago, harls said:

I was unboxing my Indy's earlier and it occurred to me how mediocre the stock laces are. I proceeded to put the first boot on and lo and behold, the lace snapped. Any recommendations on replacements? I'll probably buy the Alden waxed laces from Frans Boone but I'm open to suggestions. I have two pairs so I'll buy replacements for both.

I've recommended shoeslacesexpress.com several times. Their waxed boot laces (round, 5/32" dia) are excellent, and I use them in several pairs of boots & shoes. They also have a flat waxed, but stocked only in short lengths. You can order custom lengths. Redwing sells their flat waxed laces on-line, but they may be a bit wider the Alden's. 

[mrman]

On 30. maaliskuuta 2017 at 9:06 PM, JDelage said:

The Avoriaz are too typed "mountain hiking boots" for my taste. I actually am asking this question to replace some Paraboot Chenonceau in nubuck which are one size too small. 

Yup, I know, those are of acquired taste. Qualitywise I haven't seen a better hiking boot, re: Danner and Fracap. Haven't handled OSB or Viberg hikers.

Are you looking for a specific type of boot, service boots, engineers, loggers?

[edmond]

[mrman]

^ Alden ptbs, one of the most beautiful shoes ever made

[mlwdp]

On 2/26/2017 at 4:04 PM, mpukas said:

For reference (for guys that haven't seen these before), here are my SJ's I had rebuilt in early 05/2014. Originally purchased in early 2003. I wore them for many years as "causal" boots, before they got to be too unbearable for every day wear. The original build was full-on black Smoke Jumper spec. The rebuild was 1/4" lowered curved heel, half sole, Quabag heel cap, brown Domain leather, toe cap w/ broguing. 

 

When I first got them back, one of the boot's heels was not compressed evenly, and it was angled very noticeably from outside to inside. Sent them back and they re-did the one boot's heel. Who ever ground the sole edge did a terrible job, and nearly ground off the entire second row of stitching. The top edge of the leather sole was also very rough and uneven. Since Domain leather is very thick and tough, the stitch-down construction produces a very bulbous edge. I wore them walking the dog in the snow a lot, and that abraded off the edge finish. I then hit the with Obenauf's leather oil, which darkened the brown leather significantly. 

 

If I ever get these rebuilt again, I'd have them made 1/2 size longer (currently an 8), at least one size wider wider (currently EE - I'd prefer 3E or 4E), and made with a square lowered heel, close trim (if White's will do it; I've heard they won't do square heel with close trim, but if you order through Baker's they will do it for you afterwards), low or even flat arch, no toe cap, change to all eyelets with no hooks - antique brass no bright brass, and built as a semi-dress boot with either CXL or White's dress leather. AND I'd make sure the outsole stitching and edge grinding is done extra carefully. White's has the ability to do incredible work, my pair wasn't up to par, IMO. Maybe on their semi-dress and finer leather boots they take more care in the work. 

 Celestic toe in yours? Is it worth getting in a smokejumper?

[mpukas]

Yes, celastic toe. It's really personal preference, and whether or not you really need it for protection at work. I like it so the toe keeps it's shape. I'm not really a fan of unstructured toe, especially on a boot this rugged. 

[cameosis]

right, so now i've found further info on my russet colored boots. they're dutch m-1957 jumper boots, modelled after the u.s. boots, of 1963 vintage.

after i returned from my trip, i've repaired stitching that was loose, and lubed them up with a generous amount of (elbow) grease, and let it soak in overnight. today, i brushed them thoroughly and wiped them with a damp cloth -- very serviceable now. the only thing left is a planned rebuild of the soles and heels, and then another restoration/polishing project is done.

what's interesting is that the leather of the right boot's shaft is considerably softer and feels thinner than the left boot's, which is sturdier. anyway, pics below.

Edited April 5, 2017 by cameosis

[cameosis]

received my flat waxed shoe laces yesterday -- the longer i look at them, the more i like the combination of purple and roughout leather.
 

[mlwdp]

Can anybody here tell if this is a double sole or single sole Nomad?

Also, is black smooth leather close to cowhide? 

[Max Power]

I'm pretty sure it's a double sole.

[mikecch]

^^ That's a double for sure.

 

My review of Nick's Boots' Manito shoes are up!

https://indigoshrimp.wordpress.com/2017/04/11/nicks-boots-manito-oxford-shoes-review/

 

[rellik]

Trickers Log Logger boots with Dainite sole rather than combat lug. They last basically 3-4 years of everyday use.

[marcusV2]

Been very sick the last couple days, so I guess I'll be contributing to SuFu instead of just my usual lurking. Ha. 

Every year (I think) Red Wing offers factory seconds to it's employees on a first-come, first-serve payroll deduction basis. Each pair is $75 (yes, all of them) plus $5 shipping. The neat thing is that you can get stuff that might actually not be available in your market, Euro, Japanese, etc. These are the two I grabbed: The 8271 steel toe engineer in oro-russet and the 8050 "oxford" (really more of a derby) in chocolate chrome. 

Also added a couple pics of my whole RW stable. 

[mpukas]

That 8050 oxford/derby is a really good looking shoe. Nice score. I assume that's from the Euro/JP market, not available in USA? 

[marcusV2]

56 minutes ago, mpukas said:

That 8050 oxford/derby is a really good looking shoe. Nice score. I assume that's from the Euro/JP market, not available in USA? 

Thank you- and yes. I found it on Rakuten but it was very limited in size and 300+ US. I actually found one on Nordstrom Rack's website called the 8053 that looks very similar if you're trying to hunt it down =)

[cameosis]

working for rw does have its perks.
very nice and versatile setup, it appears that my personal favorites, the moc-toe 8146 have got the most wear -- i remember when i first saw red wings @ their local store here in frankfurt, which was the only authorized rw shop selling them in all of continental europe in the 1980s. way beyond a teenager's budget back then, but i always wanted to grab at least a pair.
praise the lord for the web and online shopping, i snatched the j. crew version in 2009 for € 80 including shipping from the states, and they still hold up wonderfully. awesome color on the 8271!

[marcusV2]

@cameosis Amen to that! 

You know what's funny? The 8146 is actually the 8138! Yes! When I first got them, it had the traction tread sole- whe  it was time to replace them, and kind of as a store experiment, I had them put on the Beckman or roccia sole. I affectionately refer to them as my "Poor Man's Roughnecks"