Shoes that look better with age...

[tod]

Chippewas.  Cheap boots that end up getting very interesting patina after a few years. 

[Duke Mantee]

Rolling Dub Trio Coupen Brogue in Black CXL ... marmite 

[MJF9]

^ I like them mate...

... and was sure I'd seen them somewhere before... here in the muted orange colourway 

 

Edited December 12, 2020 by MJF9

[Duke Mantee]

Me with a tan

[MJF9]

Haha a famous Scottish tan... the same tan I get...

I've noticed it's a similar shade when I get snow burn and wind chill 

[Maynard Friedman]

I like Billy Connolly’s explanation - that Scottish people are naturally pale blue and turn white in the sun!

[lee porter]

https://aldenmadison.com/collection/porter_indy/ I’m trying to get theses made I’m stuck on 50% I need another 3 people to get these beautiful boots made 

[Broark]

I know we've been piling on Lofgren lately (rightfully so after the comments that were made) but these new Chelsea boots look nice.
Funny, I mentioned to Jeremy from S&S that I'd like JL to develop a Chelsea boot months ago and here they are.
Available in timber, olive and black. I'm personally fond of the timber CXL like the Combat boots I have.

 

[Duke Mantee]

A storm in a teacup that was generated by a bit of thoughtlessness most likely didn’t disappoint me, but unfortunately these Chelsea Boots do, as did the Glover Brogues ... and as did the Moc Toes (because I’m not a fan of those). The Chelsea and Glovers are styles I’ve grown up with and sadly a lump of CXL on his standard midsole is all starting to look a bit regressive.

Probably as well finished and as comfortable as everything else he’s issued - but meh ...

[Broark]

3 minutes ago, Duke Mantee said:

...sadly a lump of CXL on his standard midsole is all starting to look a bit regressive.

I do agree with this point, I was hoping for some more interesting leather options.
I'm not a fan of duplicating leathers that I own, and since I already have the Combat boots in Timber I'll likely pass.

[Duke Mantee]

17 minutes ago, Broark said:

I do agree with this point, I was hoping for some more interesting leather options.
I'm not a fan of duplicating leathers that I own, and since I already have the Combat boots in Timber I'll likely pass.

Combat boots are nice

[Duke Mantee]

Church’s and Trickers both about £150-200 cheaper (and yes I remember what I said about exchange rates etc) and Rolling Dub Trio in CXL (and a better sole unit IMO) which again is cheaper

 

Edited December 13, 2020 by Duke Mantee

[Broark]

I've leaned toward the RDTs in the past and would likely go that way if I can find a size 12 (I think Tempo is offering them in size 12 and I prefer the more bulbous silhouette).
But I'm also happy with my recently purchased Arpenteur x Paraboot Chelsea boots, so it's likely that I won't be buying anything for awhile.

[Duke Mantee]

I forgot about those  ...  very nice, and probably close to the standard we’re discussing 

[Broark]

Been wearing them a lot lately now that the weather has cooled off. Just not posting many fit pics these days...

[shredwin_206]

Lofgren boots looks nice but I could never justify the prices. 
Whites are where I top out in my purchases. 

[Thanks_M8]

@Broark if you like paraboot, u should check out Heschung, pricewise same range, maybe 10-20 bucks more, all made in the alsace.

[mpukas]

On 12/13/2020 at 10:56 AM, Duke Mantee said:

... and sadly a lump of CXL on his standard midsole is all starting to look a bit regressive.

I don't agree with this. Every other footwear maker does exactly this. They have their standards for construction methods, details, and materials and apply them to different model offerings. Occasionally they'll offer special/unique leather options. Lofgren does have a limited number of leathers for his standard offerings. I don't care for the olive. 

If you don't care his his version of the Chelsea, fair enough. I don't like the moc-toe boots. At all. I like just about everything else, tho, especially the Engineer. 

Personally, I like his Chelsea, quite a lot. The more I look at them, the more I like them. The details have been modified to suit this style, including the toe profile and welt. I'd like to try a pair on before committing to them. Most conventional footwear isn't wide enough for me. 

[Geeman]

I like 'em!

[Duke Mantee]

1 hour ago, mpukas said:

I don't agree with this. Every other footwear maker does exactly this. They have their standards for construction methods, details, and materials and apply them to different model offerings. Occasionally they'll offer special/unique leather options. Lofgren does have a limited number of leathers for his standard offerings. I don't care for the olive. 

If you don't care his his version of the Chelsea, fair enough. I don't like the moc-toe boots. At all. I like just about everything else, tho, especially the Engineer. 

Personally, I like his Chelsea, quite a lot. The more I look at them, the more I like them. The details have been modified to suit this style, including the toe profile and welt. I'd like to try a pair on before committing to them. Most conventional footwear isn't wide enough for me. 

We’re here to give opinion and it’s a good thing we don’t all agree 

We do seem to agree on the limited leathers, the moc toes and the engineers (I’ve a couple of pairs of them and won’t hear a bad word about them) and I have the M-43s which are as comfortable a boot I’ve worn.

And I do agree every shoemaker has a standard - I just feel perhaps there’s now a lack of adventure or excitement in new offerings. Nearly always the same welt and the same sparse option in upper and sole that seems to dominate the style.

The Chelsea is clearly a nice boot and will probably do a nice trade, I just won’t be one of the buyers on this occasion is all ...

[dudewuttheheck]

I'm personally just against chunky chelsea boots in general. In my mind, Chelsea boots are fairly sleek. If I'm going to buy a more hefty laceless boot, I would just go with engineers, pecos/ropers, or a fairly subtle cowboy boot. I'm sure I'm in the minority here with my chelsea boot opinions, but I just would never go for those chelseas over his engineers.

[peter1]

3 hours ago, dudewuttheheck said:

I'm personally just against chunky chelsea boots in general. In my mind, Chelsea boots are fairly sleek. If I'm going to buy a more hefty laceless boot, I would just go with engineers, pecos/ropers, or a fairly subtle cowboy boot. I'm sure I'm in the minority here with my chelsea boot opinions, but I just would never go for those chelseas over his engineers.

I feel the same way about Chelsea boots. Some of the high-end workwear offerings from Viberg etc are more like Blundstones. But a true Chelsea to me is more like something that the Beatles might have worn in 1963. I have had a couple of different Chelseas from various brands, and they've all been sort of "dressy." i especially like Barker's higher-end Chelseas. 

[persco_]

On 12/12/2020 at 5:00 AM, Duke Mantee said:

Rolling Dub Trio Coupen Brogue in Black CXL ... marmite 

 

I've been looking at those Coupen Brogues for a couple of months, hoping to see them back in stock. But I decided instead on a pair of these... Heinrich Dinkelacker Buda full brogue in black cordovan:

 

 

Edited December 17, 2020 by persco_
typo

[julian-wolf]

That welt stitching is serious—what's the story there?

[persco_]

3 hours ago, julian-wolf said:

That welt stitching is serious—what's the story there?

HD is known for this type of handstitched welt called a braided welt. Three strands of leather cord is used in a braided pattern instead of the one strand used in a normal goodyear welt. It's a decorative flourish on a practical part of the construction. But it's spectacular in person. I like chunky footwear. And lately I've been drawn more to the lower cut shoes over boots -- which have been my default for years. With seemingly everyone and their neighbour making boots now, I find I prefer a clunky, boot-like shoe. I'm considering the RDT Hippo for this reason. I like the idea of a low-cut monkey boot.

[Thanks_M8]

How did u size those? 

[Duke Mantee]

8 hours ago, persco_ said:

I've been looking at those Coupen Brogues for a couple of months, hoping to see them back in stock. But I decided instead on a pair of these... Heinrich Dinkelacker Buda full brogue in black cordovan:

Dinkelacker shoes really are the business - I love the triple sole option and the finishing. Your choice, one one I’d looked at, is miles ahead of Rolling Dub Trio IMO and looks good with jeans. My decision rested on the fact it’s more of a shoe than a bootee and the the HD boot loses the grace of their shoe - but I’m still jealous.

 

Edited December 17, 2020 by Duke Mantee

[persco_]

7 hours ago, Thanks_M8 said:

How did u size those? 

I suppose it was an educated guess? I've had some experience sizing shoes online from UK and US makers. I'm technically a Brannock 9 US, but my feet are pretty low volume and a little narrow, so I think the toes make up some of the length. I've got Carminas in both 8UK and 7.5UK that each fit perfectly depending on the last. HDs are known to be quite wide, with the Buda a touch narrower than the Rio and a lot narrower than the Janosh which is super wide. So I went with a 7.5UK (8.5US). The fit is spot on.

[persco_]

6 hours ago, Duke Mantee said:

Dinkelacker shoes really are the business - I love the triple sole option and the finishing. Your choice, one one I’d looked at, is miles ahead of Rolling Dub Trio IMO and looks good with jeans. My decision rested on the fact it’s more of a shoe than a bootee and the the HD boot loses the grace of their shoe - but I’m still jealous.

 

Thanks Duke. I agree on the HD boots. I don't think they do those very well. I just couldn't get past the padding at the ankles. Looked too much like a Nordic ski boot or hiking boot to me. But the shoes are incredible.

[Thanks_M8]

^^Thanks lots!