Shoes that look better with age...

[Duke Mantee]

@mlwdp I do like a sprung sole 

[dudewuttheheck]

Interesting how the rubber sole tapers down in the back. I haven't seen that very much. I wonder what soles they are using.

[mlwdp]

1 hour ago, dudewuttheheck said:

Interesting how the rubber sole tapers down in the back. I haven't seen that very much. I wonder what soles they are using.

Just Vibram 269 on the Horsehide and steerhide models.  It’s the first time I’ve seen a brown version of the sole.
 

I personally like Addict’s leather jackets because their sizing is friendly i.e. they offer bigger sizes.  Butterscotch in Long Beach stocks their clothes.  

 

[Double 0 Soul]

I was a fan right up to the point i saw pink suede .. the cow hide engineers and lace ups do look nice tho.

Ive got a 20odd yr old flannel shirt at work by a company called 'Addict Clothing' i always thought that it was a British brand? it's gotta be a different company unless they sold the label as many do.

[Ar_thor]

My Coupens - still being broken in. It took me 2 secs to break the laces so now I'm rolling with some waxed ones from White's.

I've never really liked an Oxford type shoe before but these are really nice.

 

[Duke Mantee]

@Ar_thor they look really great ... but RDT laces are consistently shit, I don’t know what their problem is.

[UkeNo]

Felix Jouanneau has created a 'day in the life' on his insta stories. Great boot making details. 

see stories at top of page. 
 

 

[Ar_thor]

2 hours ago, Duke Mantee said:

@Ar_thor they look really great ... but RDT laces are consistently shit, I don’t know what their problem is.

It's a bit shite actually. I know this goes for a lot of higher end footwear but when you pay those kinds of prices for footwear the least you should expect is that they invest in a pair of decent laces.

That being said, the laces do look nice and its a great look for that particular shoe.

[Broark]

Same story for Lofgren's cotton laces, they start tearing up almost immediately. At least in my experience.

[redragon]

10 minutes ago, Ar_thor said:

It's a bit shite actually. I know this goes for a lot of higher end footwear but when you pay those kinds of prices for footwear the least you should expect is that they invest in a pair of decent laces.

That being said, the laces do look nice and its a great look for that particular shoe.

Interesting...

Don't have that experience with mine,

default laces held up well through ~a year or so of occasional wear.

[Ar_thor]

On 4/29/2020 at 1:44 PM, redragon said:

Interesting...

Don't have that experience with mine,

default laces held up well through ~a year or so of occasional wear.

Yeah, I dunno. Maybe I'm too rough with my laces but I just pulled on them and they snapped.

Continuing the POV shots of the boots I'm wearing. Red Wing X Indigofera Climber boot. These were a bitch to break in, especially on the outside of the foot where there's a lot of leather and a lot of seams coming together. I've worn them with the classic RW laces until now but recently switched to leather laces which is a huge improvement on the overall look. They're not super comfy yet but I think we'll get there in the end. It's nice to have some tall lace-up boots around for when the weather is shite - like today.

 

[Sympathy-For-The-Denim]

hi folks, has anyone succsessfully stretched a pair of Red Wing engineer 2966 klondike widewise at the instep, right where the bootleg part and the foot part of the leather are connected, just where the buckelbelt sits? My boots fit perfectly lengthwise and hurt after few minutes for the are too snug at this part. many thanks in advance for any comment

 

[Ar_thor]

20 minutes ago, Sympathy-For-The-Denim said:

hi folks, has anyone succsessfully stretched a pair of Red Wing engineer 2966 klondike widewise at the instep, right where the bootleg part and the foot part of the leather are connected, just where the buckelbelt sits? My boots fit perfectly lengthwise and hurt after few minutes for the are too snug at this part. many thanks in advance for any comment

 

I'd say there's a reasonably good chance this part will stretch but it's depending on where the seams are and so on. If the boot fits well otherwise I'd say go for it. If it doesn't mold to your foot as expected you can always have a cobbler give it a nudge with a stretching device. It's worth to remember that footwear that isn't made especially for your foot seldom will have a perfect fit. People tend to forget this and just size up, forgetting that the leather and sole will mold to your foot giving a better fit.

[bartlebyyphonics]

hey @Sympathy-For-The-Denim - my 2268 were tight as hell on top the instep (for one of the feet) - they stretched out eventually, but did get some minor cracks in the leather from the process... wished I'd used mink oil earlier to ease the leather... can't imagine the klondike is any stiffer than what is used on the 2268? a few uncomfortable weeks but now great fit; very happy with these boots... confirming @Ar_thor's proposition: a tight-ish boot loosens up into a nice firm hand[foot-]shake rather than a vice-like torture device

other topic; same boot; managed to drop something heavy and sharp (an axe no less) on my foot: toughness of the boot saved my foot; now a sharp indent, not quite a full puncture though - a few mm off, in the leather; any advice from you good people for leather cement or other processes to fix this? preferably sourcable within Europe?

 

Edited May 2, 2020 by bartlebyyphonics

[unders]

Pos rep for Red Wing saving your life. 
 

Same experience here, 2268 pinched like buggery for weeks. Now feel like slippers. 

[Sympathy-For-The-Denim]

thank you guys for encouraging me, so will try to break em in with some more effort and sacrifice

@bartlebyyphonics maybe "liquid leather" could  help out!? or just live with the patina

[not too tight]

On 5/1/2020 at 1:59 AM, Sympathy-For-The-Denim said:

hi folks, has anyone succsessfully stretched a pair of Red Wing engineer 2966 klondike widewise at the instep, right where the bootleg part and the foot part of the leather are connected, just where the buckelbelt sits? My boots fit perfectly lengthwise and hurt after few minutes for the are too snug at this part. many thanks in advance for any comment

 

I've been struggling with the same spot with my Wesco Mister Lous's. I tried just a regular shoe tree to but that wasn't enough so put a sock on it and wedged it in and then pulled the strap as tight as possible. I've only been able to wear them for a few hours at a time. Hopefully they hit that sweet spot soon.

[Ar_thor]

1 hour ago, not too tight said:

I've been struggling with the same spot with my Wesco Mister Lous's. I tried just a regular shoe tree to but that wasn't enough so put a sock on it and wedged it in and then pulled the strap as tight as possible. I've only been able to wear them for a few hours at a time. Hopefully they hit that sweet spot soon.

There are probably a lot of ways to break in boots and it's also very probable that my methods won't work for anyone else. However, if I have a snug boot I often start off by wearing it with double (or triple) dress socks. This will give you some extra volume and cushion while not being too harsh on the leather. The good thing about about the double socks is that it'll give less friction helping out with blisters until the heel is softened up a bit. It's actually an old hikers trick I learned back in the day where you have one thick and one thin wool sock.

You can also use some kind of product to help speed up the process (and spare the leather from too much strain) like mink oil or a leather softener - Saphir has one which is supposedly good and can be applied in specific places.

Otherwise there's always the cobbler that can help you stretch them a little. They have equipment to put an equal consistent pressure on and can add a softener to ease strain as well.

It's also important to actually keep wearing the boots pretty regularly as the sole slowly will mold allowing for a better and often roomier fit.

Edited May 2, 2020 by Ar_thor

[mlwdp]

1 hour ago, not too tight said:

I've been struggling with the same spot with my Wesco Mister Lous's. I tried just a regular shoe tree to but that wasn't enough so put a sock on it and wedged it in and then pulled the strap as tight as possible. I've only been able to wear them for a few hours at a time. Hopefully they hit that sweet spot soon.

You could’ve sent them a fit sheet and have them make the same thing fitted to your feet, cheaper. The fit sheet is the cheat code to a better fitting, cheaper price boot.  Whenever I see a brand or store collab with Wesco or White’s, I just make the same thing in the boot configuration site and it ends up being cheaper.  It’s worth it trust me.  Your feet might not even be made for MP toe tbh.  Remember that next time my friend when going for your next Wesco!  
 

Then again, my feet are funny so it works better for me to go this route instead of buying stock.  If you have similar fitting problems with your feet, it’s worth looking into custom fit.  

Edited May 2, 2020 by mlwdp

[mlwdp]

Made a updated change on Tuesday.  Went for a look of a work boot with the natural edge and raptor sole.

 

+Single-Tone:Black Horsehide
  +9" Height
  +Raptor Black
  +Waxed Edges
  +One Top Strap (standard)
  +Standard Length
  +Nickel Ox Roller Top Buckles
  +Buckled Instep Straps
  +Standard Length Instep Strap
  +Nickel Ox Roller Instep Buckles
  +Lightweight Black Vintage Upper Stitching
  +White Outsole Stitching 
  +Black Tie Domain Leather Insert

[tod]

Thinking about ordering a pair of Truman boots for the first time. They've got an MTO with some nice looking horsehide going.  I've seen both good and bad about them on the interweb; wondering if anyone here in the trusted group has had experience with them.  And especially if anyone has owned or handled their horsehide from Maryam tannery in Italy.

[Broark]

Alright y’all, tell me about your experience with the Russell Moccasin Clays Sporting chukka. I’ve seen these a lot lately and like the chunky look of them. 

 

[Geeman]

Been tempted by them for a while

[fre-co]

I’ve had Russell Mocs for years. They are super comfy. Highly recommended. 
 

 

[mlwdp]

@BroarkThis guy gets it

 

 

 

[Double 0 Soul]

I had a pair of  Arrow Mocs back in the early 2000's they're a lovely thick yet supple, traditional hand stitched Moc, with 100% rubber crepe

...i think the hair is burned from the hide which caused them to stink out my spare room... after a few months i just had to move them on, shame because they were lovely.

 

Edited May 3, 2020 by Double 0 Soul

[bartlebyyphonics]

On 5/2/2020 at 2:30 PM, Sympathy-For-The-Denim said:

thank you guys for encouraging me, so will try to break em in with some more effort and sacrifice

@bartlebyyphonics maybe "liquid leather" could  help out!? or just live with the patina

hey! thanks for response: def. don't mind patina - just wondering which is best product to stop the almost-puncture becoming something more...

@Broark - you know I love the lamarie chukka... got it off the shelf rather than full bespoke - half-size down as recommended by the seller (& as per red wing pecos and engineers - so for UK10.5 went US11): found a little snug in width but super for a summer shoe: like the clarks wallabee on ultimate superhero upgrade... [I mostly wear mine with more relatively more tapered hem; ie tender 130 / lvc '76 rather than monster hems... but that is no hard rule; here with tcb20s too] - unlike clarks mocs the vibram sole gives real weight - leather quality very good too - the suede feels like a quasi-roughout - very neppy and sturdy...

@mlwdp thanks for the ig share there: the knockabout is also a righteous looking boot! that would be my second pair...

[bartlebyyphonics]

plus I think you can get a sense of what the suede looks like beaten up on this page of this thread of a certain forum...

[the shivman]

I have 3 pairs of Russells and they are most comfortable footwear I've ever worn. I have flat wide feet, so I can't wear heels every day. I also really like the way the triple vamp looks.

[olmecasteve]

My Viberg Engineer boots I got at their sample sale