Shoes that look better with age...

[themaster]

Russels true to your whites size exactly the same

[heinrich BCN]

I have no White's, how about Alden 403 and 405s? Thanks for the effort.

[volvo240thebest]

two tone lace to toe boots by Indonesian brand Santalum.

brand new at the moment, let's see how good/bad they will look after some use..

Edited March 31, 2014 by volvo240thebest

[jung]

Around 8 months with no care.

 

 

 

[themaster]

If your a 9d on alden barrie last uoir an 8.5e on russel moccassins

[fre-co]

Sorry but I have got to disagree, I wear 9.5e Barrie and 9.5e Russell. Send in your foot tracings to them.

[exaptavist]

.

Edited October 9, 2015 by hoggreaser

[volvo240thebest]

old trickers and new leather laces

[Cold Summer]

Here's an update on my Flat Head SKB-70 horsehide boots, after I cleaned and conditioned them today.  The color's changed to a really nice red-brown, I'm really happy with how these are coming along.

 

New, back in November last year:

 

 

And today:

 

 

 

Edited April 3, 2014 by Cold Summer

[Vulcan]

oh man, those are looking sexy! love the indigo that's rubbing off on the leather. is it sadistic that I want to see how those look after getting super beat up?

[JohnM]

Beautiful boots Kyle.  Perfect match with the long wallet!

 

John

[aho]

My CXL LTT's have broken in nicely but I'm always debating between lace/false tongue setups...I'm actually partial to the no tongue/yellow lace look:

Yes, I had all the time in the world to swap out the laces and take pictures today...The only other alternative was unpacking boxes as I just moved...

[Cucoo]

Quick question to the Red Wings experts, I pulled the trigger on a badly presented and thus very cheap pair of Red Wings Chukkas on eBay that look like this:

 

 

And not like the current models, e.g.:

 

 

 

There's no model number anywhere on them but I'm curious, when did the style change?

[Soks]

Deleted...simple search turned up evidence that I am just an idiot haha

Edited April 6, 2014 by Soks

[Noctilux]

Quick question to the Red Wings experts, I pulled the trigger on a badly presented and thus very cheap pair of Red Wings Chukkas on eBay that look like this:

 

 

And not like the current models, e.g.:

 

 

 

There's no model number anywhere on them but I'm curious, when did the style change?

That looks like the 595 which is their regular workboot.

 

http://www.redwingshoes.com/red-wing-shoe/595-red-wing-shoes/595-red-wing-mens-chukka-brown

[Cucoo]

That looks like the 595 which is their regular workboot.

 

http://www.redwingshoes.com/red-wing-shoe/595-red-wing-shoes/595-red-wing-mens-chukka-brown

 

Ah, you're right, thanks! It never occured to me to look outside the "heritage" stuff  

[erk]

my dad has the 595. they're pretty cool. they have that cushy poron insole, which I'm not a fan of, but other than that they're cool. 

Edited April 7, 2014 by erk

[JohnM]

My CXL LTT's have broken in nicely but I'm always debating between lace/false tongue setups...I'm actually partial to the no tongue/yellow lace look:

Yes, I had all the time in the world to swap out the laces and take pictures today...The only other alternative was unpacking boxes as I just moved...

Great looking shoes.  All the options are good, but I like the tongue and leather laces look best -- I think ;-)

 

John

[whozdrew?]

I have to agree, the look on the left is the way to go.

[freyeisen]

OK... these are looking better, not with age... but from being modded.

 

I just wasn't getting along with the rubber fore-sole on the rough out 1K boots.

This is what they looked like to begin with:



I had an additional rubber protective sole applied over the existing rubber to beef it up a bit... but I still wasn't happy. Then I went looking for, and managed to source, a range of different sole options including some great Cats Paw-like "Dr. Sole Original" composite rubber soles, but they are super heavy. In the end I decided I have so many heavy duty boots, and with summer coming, I'd go for a lighter option... so the Vibram.

I'm pretty happy with how these turned out... kind of the way that should be, I think. 














-freyeisen

 

[CrashTestBrummie]

^You should be happy with those as they look great. I'd wear those in a heartbeat.

[Noodle36]

1K boots stock soles are crap IMHO. I've got mine back at the cobbler to replace the heels and put on a vibram. They should reduce the price or offer a couple of sole options.

Great mod Frey!

Edited April 8, 2014 by Noodle36

[fre-co]

Yeah I agree that is a great improvement.

[Noodle36]

Sagara sent another photo.  Boots are ready for the second leather sole and micro rubber.

[freyeisen]

My CXL LTT's have broken in nicely but I'm always debating between lace/false tongue setups...I'm actually partial to the no tongue/yellow lace look:

I gotta go the other way... I have tonnes of leather laces but they are mostly impractical and make you look like a 'try hard'. Go with the yellow... ;-)

-freyeisen

[aho]

I gotta go the other way... I have tonnes of leather laces but they are mostly impractical and make you look like a 'try hard'. Go with the yellow... ;-)

-freyeisen

 

Ended up going with leather/no false tongue:

 

I do like the yellow laces but feel like it might cut into the boot more than the leather laces. Knowing Chromexcel's durability factor I'm playing it ultra safe...

[themaster]

Theose 1k boots who did the resole and how much?

[freyeisen]

Theose 1k boots who did the resole and how much?

I sourced the Vibram soles myself. Also got some Dianite and some "Dr. Sole" cord/rubber composite soles... but I decided to go with the Vibram because of the lighter weight and the change of pace.

 

The boots were expensive (its a joke in the EU), but the Vibram and resole job (done locally, Frankfurt Germany) were actually pretty reasonable. I just went to a local guy who was really good. I don't remember what I paid for the soles but the boot maker charged me €45.

 

Prices are relative, however, and I'm waaaay over capitalised in these boots. The problem was I didn't want to flip them and take a big hit on the price so I decided to pile more money in and at least end up a with boot that I was happy with...

 

...been wearing them for the three days straight, now! ;-)

[Soks]

Some shots of my one year old Red Wing 8113. Recently conditioned, rough-out has become pretty smooth. Just added new leather laces, too.

 

Bonus (poorly taken :/) family photo. Next to new Road Champs.

 

 

[JammySTB]

Damn, I regret not picking up a pair of Hawthorne IRs when I saw them on sale for £120 so much