Shoes that look better with age...

[Elmer.Richard]

On 7/1/2020 at 6:52 AM, Broark said:

@mlwdp very valid point. S&S has done me pretty solid with sizing recommendations for boots so far, but almost $2k for boots without being able to try them on might be my tipping point. Maybe I can get to Brass in Japan to try some on.  
Sounds like I have some thinking to do, good thing I'm not really planning on buying anything right this second.

I went to Brass last February to try a pair on. 

The pair that fit me well is Clinch size 10.5. It is equivalent to US size 9.5. Most of my boots are 9d or 8.5e. 

[Elmer.Richard]

Attractions Lot 444. I bought this last November. This was on rotation with my other boots but when the quarantine started I began using the Knuckle Draggers almost daily. 

[mlwdp]

17 hours ago, shredwin_206 said:

whites x 4q69

Beat those boots up!  Chromexcel can take it, shine them up later to give them “character” 

[Double 0 Soul]

Ive since sold these (like most of my boots) but here are my Clinch from back in 2014

I went with..
Last : Classic Narrow
Process : Hand Sewn Welted
Upper Leather : Horween LATIGO BLACK overdye
Sole : Leather +Triumph 150 Boulevard Plate +HRS
Heel : Biltrite

 

 

 

 

The sole follows some lovely conteurs..

 

 

Think i was one of the first westerners to order from Brass

 

Edited July 4, 2020 by Double 0 Soul

[mlwdp]

@Double 0 SoulWhy did you sell your Clinch?

 

Also, my mind blown on this Clinch resole for sale:

https://anemoscope.jp/en/collections/shoes/products/clinch-engineer-boots-npt-10us9-blackのコピー

[Double 0 Soul]

20 minutes ago, mlwdp said:

@Double 0 SoulWhy did you sell your Clinch?

 

I sold my Buco's, Lofgrens and Clinch..

I bought a pair of Lofgrens and wore them for work, it's not exactly backbreaking manual labour but still... within 3months they went from this

..to this

..so before they were completely fucked i sold them, i think Edwin ended up with them eventually..

I decided to save the Clinch for best.. i used to live on the edge of a woodland in the middle of nowhere, i didn't have much of a social life so 'best' rarely came, i spent most of my life ankle deep in mud wearing Dunlop wellies, i didn't want to trash them at work so after years in the box only seeing action probably once/month  i decided to sell them on.

Edited July 4, 2020 by Double 0 Soul

[volvo240thebest]

So what did you keep?
Recent discovery of Paraboots made me think I should sell most of my shoes and just wear those. They're highly practical and comfortable once broken in, they scuff up nice and clean again equally nice, keep feet dry in the rain, look good with boot loose and slim jeans, are lightweight. I could go on. I think I have worn my engineers once or twice in the last 12 months.

[Double 0 Soul]

90% of the time i just wear a pair of Vans, in the boots department i still have a pair of LW Mechanic which ive owned since 2004ish, they're fucked and desperately in need a resole but having priced it up.. it wouldn't be anymore expensive to buy a brand new pair.

Worn here in 2013ish with a beat up pair of SC-Oki's, check out the bike chain damage

I also have a pair of TMC Railmans which i love dearly, also c2013 with what i think is a pair of SC-47's

 

Edited July 4, 2020 by Double 0 Soul

[Cold Summer]

My Wesco 7500s are my go-to footwear in the cooler half of the year, I probably wore them every other day from about October-May. As nice as it'd be to have a pair of Clinch or whatever, the Wescos fit me good and have a great profile and leather, even if Lofgren or Clinch might have slightly cleaner finishing overall. It's hard to beat these Wescos for sheer value offered.

Really the only boots I'd really love to add to my collection would be something like the Viberg Boondocker or Lofgren M-43, a good rugged daily boot that I could wear instead of sneakers in the warmer months (at least that's the idea I have in my head, maybe it wouldn't be that comfortable.) 

[Duke Mantee]

Rolling Dub Trio ‘Boys’ in Weinheimer Box Calf

[Duke Mantee]

... and while I’m at it - Rolling Dub Trio ‘Sower’ in Crazy Italian ( @volvo240thebest  ?) Cowhide 

[roomtemplacroix]

just over a month owning my new favorite shit kickers. john lofgren m-43!! i’ve never owned anything cxl before and i’ve gotta say these have blown my red wings and wescos out of the water. i think the break in took less than 10 days of wear. 

[Double 0 Soul]

Here are my previously mentioned Buco's

The toe flattened out really nicely, after a clean and a McCoy's horse oil treatment, you can still see some paint splats

.

...and some worn Cat's Paws through the decade

 

Edited July 5, 2020 by Double 0 Soul

[mhmrzky]

From Left - Right:

Sagara Capital, Sagara Cordmaster (Monkey Boot), Sagara Combatant & Viberg 2030 Service Boot

[Elmer.Richard]

12 hours ago, Duke Mantee said:

... and while I’m at it - Rolling Dub Trio ‘Sower’ in Crazy Italian ( @volvo240thebest  ?) Cowhide 

Steerhide. Haha still cow. I really like that Sower. 

[Duke Mantee]

59 minutes ago, Elmer.Richard said:

Steerhide. Haha still cow. I really like that Sower. 

I think there’s a difference but I’m not sufficiently educated to recognise it

[Broark]

What’s the general consensus when it comes to penny loafers? I’ve never worn a pair, but I’m kind of into the Rancourt natural CXL ones that they’re running their crowdfunding campaign for. Here’s a photo of a pair worn for a year. I think they’d be a nice summer shoe, easy on and off. Also growing up my grandpa wore a beat up pair around the house so I remember them as being generally cool in a grandpa-chic kind of way.

Edited July 6, 2020 by Broark

[mpukas]

Penny loafers are cool, if all the pieces come together right - leather, details, over-all design

[darkstar73]

I love my Bass Weejuns, pretty classic look. 

[Broark]

I'm on the fence a little since I think they might be too preppy for my style.
I haven't seen many photos of guys rocking penny loafers with straight legged jeans.

[Spiraltoy]

@mhmrzky what do think of Sagara? I mean you have a lot of different pairs so I’m guessing you like em but then you also live in Indonesia so it’s kinda easy for you to get a hold of em, right? I’m especially interested in the combatant boots. A little mini review with a some photos would be great if you had the time!

[mlwdp]

28 minutes ago, Broark said:

I'm on the fence a little since I think they might be too preppy for my style.
I haven't seen many photos of guys rocking penny loafers with straight legged jeans.

It depends.  Are you as cool as Gentry to wear them?

FYI his loafers are made by Brian the Bootmaker.

 

[Broark]

Definitely not that cool...

[JohnM]

Broark, I have a pair of Rancourt CXL penny loafers.  They're a solid, easy on-off shoe.  Compared to more expensive preppy classics like the Alden shell cordovan or JM Weston 180, they're more casual, as you know.  However, if I'm going to wear a penny loafer (which isn't often), I prefer the latter two, as the Rancourt is neither here nor there to my eye.  But it is one of their most popular shoes.

There is a Rancourt shoe I wear all the time and would buy again.  It's the Classic Ranger Moc in natural CXL.  Unfortunately, the natural CXL/red sole combination isn't included in the crowdfunded offerings, but it's a great shoe in any layout -- fits like a slipper but has more support and stays on.  Runs true to size.

https://www.rancourtandcompany.com/men-s/ranger-moc/classic-ranger-moc-10675.html

 

 

[ReverendGlasseye]

@Broark Although this guy's style is more #menswear, he does incorporate classically ivy/preppy styles with milsurp and vintage styled repro clothing into his outfits.

[Broark]

22 minutes ago, JohnM said:

However, if I'm going to wear a penny loafer (which isn't often), I prefer the latter two, as the Rancourt is neither here nor there to my eye.  But it is one of their most popular shoes.

There is a Rancourt shoe I wear all the time and would buy again.  It's the Classic Ranger Moc in natural CXL.

Interesting, just not a fan of the style? Also funny you mention the ranger mocs in natural CXL, I already preordered a pair of the crowdfunded version.
Not the red sole variant obviously, but I prefer the brown sole actually.

14 minutes ago, ReverendGlasseye said:

@Broark Although this guy's style is more #menswear, he does incorporate classically ivy/preppy styles with milsurp and vintage styled repro clothing into his outfits.

Good eye, that's a nice fit on both guys. Maybe I can pull them off...

[mpukas]

For Rancourt slip-ons, I prefer their Venetian loafer. They used to offer it in a very thick natty leather. I don't care for the sole of this model, but you get the idea. 

 

[JohnM]

Rancourt sizing can be tricky because the lasts vary.  I find the Beefroll Penny Loafer and Baxter Ranger Moc to run bigger and wider, while the Classic Ranger Moc and Read Boat Shoe are on the same last -- a little smaller and trimmer.

[mlwdp]

Glad HandxRegal Shoes does a pretty good loafer.

 

[Duodequinquagesimus]

Lads, these beauties were perfect for meeting women at the library