Shoes that look better with age...

[devilish]

ctb must have an in-built radar for finding these boots and some kind of voodoo spell. it's a shame that a lot of them are on the small side though.

by the way paul, heard you on 6music 'good day, bad day' a couple weeks ago, nice job.

[almostnice]

Anybody feel like holding the hand of a noob?

I'm about to make my first foray into the world of leather boots. Exciting! Thinking about Red Wing 9016's.

I read everywhere that you should size down on Red Wings, but does that hold true if you measure them based on the cm's of your feet? My feet are 27.5 cm's, so that should be a 42.5 - should I go 42? 41.5? I always wear thin socks and don't plan on adding an insole.

Also, I'm confused about treatment application. Mink oil seems to be a favourite, but should it be used when the boots are brand new, or once they are wearing in? I'm sure both options are used - what are the pro's and cons?

Thanks in advance!

i am a us 9,5 / 27,5 cm in all my rw's and just for you i tried to measure my feet. they are about 26,5 so i suggest the 27,5 cm are the inside lenght of the boot, which gives you one cm room in the toebox. so you might be a us 10,5.

don't use mink oil with the featherstone / beckman leather, it will make it greasy and dull ( unless you want that finish ). rw neutral shoecream or any other good quality careproduct for fine shoeleathers will do it.

[CrashTestBrummie]

ctb must have an in-built radar for finding these boots and some kind of voodoo spell. it's a shame that a lot of them are on the small side though.

probably best for me that there aren't too many classic boots in larger sizes in circulation... (!)

[SLAB]

looking to trade my new pair of Julian made RRL black engineer boots (size 8) for pair of Alden cigar or Ravello cordovan boots size 8 or 8.5 depending on the last

ctb, do you have any veldtschoen boots in size 7.5UK available?

cheers

[CrashTestBrummie]

cheers

yeah, the ones just posted!

[Steve7]

There is looking better with age, and looking better with aged carefully:

Trickers Stow in Espresso - BEFORE (3 days ago):

Edited June 10, 2012 by Steve7

[Steve7]

After (all Saphir products):

Renomat to clean the dirt (no real polish to remove).

Renovateur cream to add some condition.

Dubbin on the creases and a VERY light smear on the vamps and dry areas. Smear on the welt.

2 days to dry - would normally wait 3/4

3 coats of marron fonce (dark brown) cream

1 coat neutral cream

1 smear black cream to finish the sole edges

Clear polish x 2 coats on the heel and toe cap (gentle dust over the rest)

Hey presto - another welcome addition to the fold. With Dainite soles, these will do for when it's wet (my espresso Burfords are double leather)

[gregornz]

i am a us 9,5 / 27,5 cm in all my rw's and just for you i tried to measure my feet. they are about 26,5 so i suggest the 27,5 cm are the inside lenght of the boot, which gives you one cm room in the toebox. so you might be a us 10,5.

don't use mink oil with the featherstone / beckman leather, it will make it greasy and dull ( unless you want that finish ). rw neutral shoecream or any other good quality careproduct for fine shoeleathers will do it.

Thanks for the reply almostnice!

I was lucky enough to try some pairs on today after I found a store that carries them. The 42 was too big and they didn't have a 41.5. I got my foot into the 41 by totally unlacing, and the length was great - no toe squeezing. But the width was a little tight in the area where my toes join my feet.

For those with Red Wing experience, is it better to get a small as you can manage, or is a reasonably loose fit when new desirable?

Thanks!

[almostnice]

for the lenght - your big toe must have a little room and shouldn't touch the front, that indicates that the size is too small. its ok if the width feels a little tight, it will stretch and mould to your foot. if they are comfortable when new you might end up with a pair that is too roomy after breaking them in.

[smittybat]

You will regret it if you get a shoe that is too tight in width. Sounds like you need the 1/2 size larger or a E width

[gregornz]

@Smittybat; Do you think that the width should be comfortable from day one and won't stretch at all?

[stingray1381]

Almostnice is right. I believe he works for a Red Wing store as well, Generally a shoe that is a bit tight in width is fine, actually ideal. If it is too short though, you need to size up.

[smittybat]

It's hard to give sizing advice over the internet but you'll know quickly if the boot is too tight.

[demonator]

how much does a pair of viberg engineers go for these days? around? 600? or more?

[smittybat]

^ Starts around 600, you can customize and order online now - http://www.workboot.com/custom/

BTW did anybody order custom White's Nomads yet?

[demonator]

fuck website is crap man! they should fix it !

[fre-co]

Edmond, I thought Brett was your buddy.

[demonator]

i am not edmond im sorry but you got the wrong person

[big truck]

Must be somebody who looks like edmond, takes poor photos like edmond, repeats the same post on IHUK that edmond puts there and words his posts here like edmond did. Resemblance is uncanny.

[big truck]

from demonator

sent today, 01:16 pm

shut up you big fuck!

how rude

[wgmds]

i got one of those too!

[fre-co]

oh eddie.

Edited June 11, 2012 by fre-co

[ranonranonarat]

i am edmond really.

in the process of adding a crashtestbrummie to my list of favourite sellers. oh do let me know if you happen to chance upon any of your stash in a UK7-ish or any tricker's in a UK7 fitting 5. i am currently in the market for something dressier without burning a hole in my pockets.

Edited June 11, 2012 by ranonranonarat

[knucks]

how much does a pair of viberg engineers go for these days? around? 600? or more?

when I contacted viberg about it, a pair with cat paws ran $705

[CrashTestBrummie]

in the process of adding a crashtestbrummie to my list of favourite sellers. oh do let me know if you happen to chance upon any of your stash in a UK7-ish or any tricker's in a UK7 fitting 5. i am currently in the market for something dressier without burning a hole in my pockets.

it'd be my pleasure...and speak to me on here if you see anything that you like

[Noodle36]

After (all Saphir products):

Renomat to clean the dirt (no real polish to remove).

Renovateur cream to add some condition.

Dubbin on the creases and a VERY light smear on the vamps and dry areas. Smear on the welt.

2 days to dry - would normally wait 3/4

3 coats of marron fonce (dark brown) cream

1 coat neutral cream

1 smear black cream to finish the sole edges

Clear polish x 2 coats on the heel and toe cap (gentle dust over the rest)

Hey presto - another welcome addition to the fold. With Dainite soles, these will do for when it's wet (my espresso Burfords are double leather)

Did you have a cobbler fix the heel of the right boot? I have a pair of Bostonian Brogues from 1988 that a girlfriend stepped on the toe and crushed it. My cobbler was able to bring the toe back to a nice shape. Same could be done with your right heel.

Love the Polish routine!!!

[Steve7]

No fixing...

Just some shoe trees for now and use of a shoe horn should coax it back to normal? If not, I'll save it until a resole unless it gets bad. As they are "new" to me they have yet to be worn in anger. If it is a problem I'll have a look, but I reckon the trees will sort it.

As for UK size 7 Trickers, my Stow chestnut are 7.5 / 5 if that is too big? Too tight on my instep as they aren't the 4444 I thought they were when I downsized to buy them!

Edited June 11, 2012 by Steve7

[gregornz]

Thanks for your advice about sizing guys. I pulled the trigger on a piar of 41.5 9016 red wings. I haven't tried them on but the 41's are to small and the 42's are too loose, so go figure.

I want to create a beat up look coz I'm not a 'dressy' kind of guy, but I still want to keep the leather in good condition... what's a good way to go about that?

Is it usually a good idea to apply shoecream right out of the box? How often should it be applied?

Cheers!

[fre-co]

Just wear them. You don't need to grease them straight away. They are not a dressy boot but if you want them beat up, don't polish them, just oil them when the leather dries out.

[gregornz]

^ Cheers. Mink Oil or Red Wing boot creme?