Shoes that look better with age...

[Megatron1505]

I have no idea on the how and where, but I have sent a series of questions to people who do know. This particular set of pics is from Wesco Japan.

[NNNN]

Wesco does some "custom" makeups for their Japan branch, such as the Flightmaster (the picture) and the Narrows engineer boot. They tend to have proprietary lasts and things like triple stitching, which you wouldn't be able to order in a custom makeup yourself, but you could get close. The two boots mentioned cost between 3 and 4 times what a regular Wesco boot would cost (so about $1600). The Flightmaster is basically a Packer boot on a last called "Narrows" (or 1339) which is a modified Motorcycle Patrol last with a taller heel. The Flightmaster came out several years ago, and at this point you can order custom boots with it, and the lower heel Motorcycle Patrol last, though they are not advertised on the site. You can basically customize that exact boot now for $450 or so. This info is as I understand it, and might have some inaccuracy. I don't own any Wesco boots.

ALSO, Garden Gnomes In Space: do you have any recent (or broken-in) pictures of your black cxl Bounty Hunters?? They are one of my favorite White's makeups, and I'm curious to see how they'e turned out.

[Megatron1505]

Thanks NNNN, I might see if I can get close with a Packer last if I can't get the 1339 last, which I'm assuming would be a pretty narrow last.

[NNNN]

nota bene: the boot you posted in a 7" height, which (along with the MP and 1339 lasts) is not an available option for the Packer boot on Wesco's site. You must add special request at the end. Or order through Bakers (b-ewing @ styleforum has a pair like this, he went through bakers. Much of this info is via his experience ordering.)
 

[edmond]

i just saw someone on ebay selling a pair of black lofgrens

they look exactly like my lonewolfs from sugarcae. except for the toe box everything is the same

even the small nail hole on the heel where they sew on the label the roller buckles the top shaft the way it collapse after use. i dont know why hes selling it more than sugarcane. volume maybe? more clarifications pls

[superfuzz]

nota bene: the boot you posted in a 7" height, which (along with the MP and 1339 lasts) is not an available option for the Packer boot on Wesco's site. You must add special request at the end. Or order through Bakers (b-ewing @ styleforum has a pair like this, he went through bakers. Much of this info is via his experience ordering.)

 

 

If you call Wesco and speak to someone they can do the 7" height and the MP toe on the Packer, so you'll get something pretty close to the Flightmaster. The customer service at Wesco is really great! I was thinking of ordering a boot like that recently because Wesco was having a sale, but I don't have the funds.

[Noodle36]

Just received word that these are done and being shipped by Sagara.

 

 

 

 

[cameosis]

looking very nice! but why don't they update their website?

[Megatron1505]

Sagara make beautiful and extremely well made boots by hand, but Bagus (the owner) is a bit of a mental hippy. Really nice guy, and extremely good at what he does, but organisation is not one of his strengths.

 

You will not be disappointed with the boots though, they are far better than their price suggests. Given the choice between Sagara or Red Wing (or a similar brand) I would take Sagara every time.

[garden gnomes in space]

Wesco does some "custom" makeups for their Japan branch, such as the Flightmaster (the picture) and the Narrows engineer boot. They tend to have proprietary lasts and things like triple stitching, which you wouldn't be able to order in a custom makeup yourself, but you could get close. The two boots mentioned cost between 3 and 4 times what a regular Wesco boot would cost (so about $1600). The Flightmaster is basically a Packer boot on a last called "Narrows" (or 1339) which is a modified Motorcycle Patrol last with a taller heel. The Flightmaster came out several years ago, and at this point you can order custom boots with it, and the lower heel Motorcycle Patrol last, though they are not advertised on the site. You can basically customize that exact boot now for $450 or so. This info is as I understand it, and might have some inaccuracy. I don't own any Wesco boots.

ALSO, Garden Gnomes In Space: do you have any recent (or broken-in) pictures of your black cxl Bounty Hunters?? They are one of my favorite White's makeups, and I'm curious to see how they'e turned out.

I will post some pics when I have a moment.  We have a 7 week old daughter thats running the show right now, so send me a PM as a reminder if I dont post in the next couple days.  

 

I have not worn them in a while since i have been wearing my Bakers Oxfords almost exclusively

[garden gnomes in space]

Sagara make beautiful and extremely well made boots by hand, but Bagus (the owner) is a bit of a mental hippy. Really nice guy, and extremely good at what he does, but organisation is not one of his strengths.

 

You will not be disappointed with the boots though, they are far better than their price suggests. Given the choice between Sagara or Red Wing (or a similar brand) I would take Sagara every time.

LOL, good description (Mental hippy).  Not directed at Sagara, or anyone really but in this day and age get your shit together and build a proper web site.  Im so sick of dealing with shitty sites that look like they were build for Netscape Navigator.  

 

edit* fuck it, Im calling out Whites Boots and History Preservation Associates.  

Edited August 18, 2014 by garden gnomes in space

[Maynard Friedman]

Build it and they will come...

[greathoudini]

Thinking about selling a lot of my sneakers and start buying leather shoes. Only shoes I've been wearing the last couple of months are visvim and redwing so I might as well clear some of my sneakers

[tod]

Sagara make beautiful and extremely well made boots by hand, but Bagus (the owner) is a bit of a mental hippy. Really nice guy, and extremely good at what he does, but organisation is not one of his strengths.

 

You will not be disappointed with the boots though, they are far better than their price suggests. Given the choice between Sagara or Red Wing (or a similar brand) I would take Sagara every time.

 

I feel like I've seen some pics of Sagaras where the leather and workmanship appears sub-par after some wear, but can't remember where now.  If not, they are definitely a nice price...

[Megatron1505]

Maybe some older stuff (I haven't seen any), but certainly not anything they've made in the last couple of years. The problem they used to have, which is common to all SE Asian leather brands, was getting quality leather. I know that most, if not all, of these brands now source better leathers from Europe, the USA and South America now.

[garden gnomes in space]

Wesco does some "custom" makeups for their Japan branch, such as the Flightmaster (the picture) and the Narrows engineer boot. They tend to have proprietary lasts and things like triple stitching, which you wouldn't be able to order in a custom makeup yourself, but you could get close. The two boots mentioned cost between 3 and 4 times what a regular Wesco boot would cost (so about $1600). The Flightmaster is basically a Packer boot on a last called "Narrows" (or 1339) which is a modified Motorcycle Patrol last with a taller heel. The Flightmaster came out several years ago, and at this point you can order custom boots with it, and the lower heel Motorcycle Patrol last, though they are not advertised on the site. You can basically customize that exact boot now for $450 or so. This info is as I understand it, and might have some inaccuracy. I don't own any Wesco boots.

ALSO, Garden Gnomes In Space: do you have any recent (or broken-in) pictures of your black cxl Bounty Hunters?? They are one of my favorite White's makeups, and I'm curious to see how they'e turned out.

Here's my Whites.  iPhone pics.  If I were to do it again, I would get a block heel (lowered, maybe) and a different leather. Also a full sole, not the half sole.   CXL is nice but its missing something, cant put my finger on it..

 

I might send them to Brian the Bootmaker and have the celastic toe removed, and try to get a more streamlined sole put on, similar to Viberg.  Not sure though.  

Edited August 19, 2014 by garden gnomes in space

[CrashTestBrummie]

Thinking about selling a lot of my sneakers and start buying leather shoes. Only shoes I've been wearing the last couple of months are visvim and redwing so I might as well clear some of my sneakers

Careful of what you sell as I did the same and now regret some of my choices. I only wear boots now in poor weather or when temperatures drop, wearing them in summer is just overkill with most of the pairs I own. I've now gotta decent split of boots, trainers and shoes with some top notch models in all formats!

Just around 50 pairs in total now...although trainers make up 60% of the collection.

[edmond]

cxl leather is just a hype really except for the natural cxl who i think

is a great leather aesthetically. i suggest use usr that pair first wear

it down to pulp before you send them to brian. i did the sAme to my smoke jumpers

( block heel lowered and all) regretted it , wanna go back to cuban standard heel

[aho]

I have pretty bad heel drag in my walk and prefer the feel of the standard heel's gait...Also prefer it aesthetically but just a personal thing!

[edmond]

yea personal thing but block heel can make your feet look like a size larger..

[garden gnomes in space]

well, I agree to a point.  I think Whites does a terrible job with their block heels.  They look huge. and are not flush with the heel itself.    If I were to do a block heel, it would have to be executed better than what Whites does.  

[edmond]

mine was done by okuyama

[okisan]

should i be concerned that the bottom layer of my Red Wing chukkas wore through in less than 6mths?

 

*off-topic

Edited August 20, 2014 by okisan

[edmond]

picture?

[okisan]

pardon the shit quality

 

[/url]

 

bought these about a year ago, but they've seen maybe six months of wear all up, so pretty pissed the outer sole has already worn through.

 

[edmond]

change em to real vibram ! dont do the 2021 sole get them on the armorthread1010 sole youll be good

[okisan]

didn't know there were different versions out there, this is just what the shop had. feel a bit ripped off to be honest.

[edmond]

what i meant was the vibram sole if youll get tjose resoled

[garden gnomes in space]

that happened to mine as well.  Red Wing uses garbage for soles in my opinion.  Get the Christy or armortred 

[JohnM]

I have Red Wing Chukkas with the same soles.  Is the consensus that the uppers are fine but the soles should be replaced (when necessary) with something more durable (Vibram, Christy, Armortred).  Is this the kind of thing a competent shoemaker can do?

Edited August 20, 2014 by JohnM