Shoes that look better with age...

[MJF9]

Nice collection @BrownMetallic. 

Them's monster Whites @ecsong187 - hardcore workwear.

[Brenjay]

Just picked up several pairs of these, looking forward to having my cobbler put them on something.

[Iron Horse]

Very nice.

[shredwin_206]

[dondurian]

On 5/27/2018 at 4:59 AM, ecsong187 said:

 

What boot is that beside Redwing?

 

[SLAB]

looks like Mr Freedom trooper boots

[mlwdp]

I was about to say the same thing.

[shredwin_206]

Correct they’re Mister Freedom Trooper Boots V2

[i_denim]

Pretty stoked about ordering my first pair of Iron Rangers. They should be here in a week or two. If it works out, I plan to move out of my sneakers into Boots for good. 

[itsbenhere]

Thanks for the rep on my boots @Foxy2 rep is back!!!!

 

[Aries]

Brass Tokyo 18 months later.

Edited June 6, 2018 by Aries

[i_denim]

I know this may be over simplifying it, but from the look of it; is that too much room in a pair of Red Wing Iron Rangers? 

Don't have the luxury of trying them in-store. Sized down from 12 Vans to 11 in these. I feel I should go down to 10.5 as they don't feel snug at all. Any suggestions are welcome. Size exchange is free of cost.

 

[julian-wolf]

^ Yes, that's much too much room. For what it's worth, though, it also looks like you're wearing pretty thin socks. Most folks wear boots with boot socks, which'll help some.

It's been a while since I've worn Vans, but I think I remember fitting a size 12 well, whereas I'm an 11 Brannock. I guess they wanna make the skater kids feel like they have big feet. It's common to size down 0.5–1 from Brannock for Red Wing's Heritage line, so that'd be 1.5–2 sizes down from Vans's vanity sizing.

[i_denim]

54 minutes ago, julian-wolf said:

^ Yes, that's much too much room. For what it's worth, though, it also looks like you're wearing pretty thin socks. Most folks wear boots with boot socks, which'll help some.

It's been a while since I've worn Vans, but I think I remember fitting a size 12 well, whereas I'm an 11 Brannock. I guess they wanna make the skater kids feel like they have big feet. It's common to size down 0.5–1 from Brannock for Red Wing's Heritage line, so that'd be 1.5–2 sizes down from Vans's vanity sizing.

Thanks @julian-wolf. Editing as I believe I spoke too soon. I tried them again with thick tennis socks now and they feel alright. They are comfortable in length and width. I guess what's worrying me is that almost everybody mentioned here is a break in period and they should be a little uncomfortable/snug out of the box. If that's the case, I do need to size down by a half size.

For all helpful souls, here's some pics of the point where my foot seems to flex. It seems to be at the right place. 

The only thing worrying me is if it's normal to have so much room in the toe box. I have tried to point out in this photo where my toes reach.

I am always afraid of asking any sizing questions on this forum though.

Edited June 8, 2018 by i_denim

[Maynard Friedman]

They look too big to me, you appear to have 2 fingers room in the toe. When I bought my Red Wing mocc toes, they felt snug (I have wide feet) but have loosened considerably and now fit very well.

[Aries]

Yep. Go down a whole size and wear boot socks.

[Geeman]

I'll second that. I got sized on a brannock in the redwing store as an 8 and bought 7. 

I'm a seven in 3 different pairs of redwing boots. My postman shoes are a bit to snug though I should have sized up half.  

[mlwdp]

I bought the Saphir Renovatuer today instead of Blackrock  rich n leather for my Bullhide smokejumpers as I have read great things about its usage on this type of leather.  I won't have to worry about it darkening the leather as its already pitch black.  I'm looking forward to using this on my chromexcel Unmarked boots as well.

Cant wait to give my boots and shoes a nice shine!

[i_denim]

13 hours ago, Geeman said:

I'll second that. I got sized on a brannock in the redwing store as an 8 and bought 7. 

I'm a seven in 3 different pairs of redwing boots. My postman shoes are a bit to snug though I should have sized up half.  

Returned them and ordered half size down to 10.5D. Thanks everybody for the help.

[tod]

Rolling Dub Trios, new and a few years old (with Vibram resoles).

[volvo240thebest]

Just took delivery of a new mto pair of boots.

made by a brand called Winson, from Indonesia. Much better quality compared to the other Indonesian brand, I've tried. Santalum. There is no comparison in fairness.
They're all stitched by hand, and peep the stitching itself. The owner, Emil, is a pleasure to deal with, and clearly very enthusiast about his work.

Lace to toe design, the maker modified his last to accomodate my needs (higher and wider toebox).

leather: rough out
sole: brown midsole + Dr Sole outsole and heel

peep how clean the stitching is

boots were sent with two different kilties, longer (as on here) and shorter (last pics).

And here how the rough out looks after two coats of sno seal, two coats of mid brown polish, leather laces and shorter kilties/no kilties. A darker polish would have been nice, too.

nicely done, subtle woodmans heel

Very well made boots, I dare to say they hold their own against well known makers.

They're ready to be hybernated til the next winter now haha!

Edited June 11, 2018 by volvo240thebest

[BrownMetallic]

•Viberg Latigo Derbyshoes on 1035 partially structured toes 

Edited June 11, 2018 by BrownMetallic

[mlwdp]

@volvo240thebestThey look great.  I'm getting a Lofgren vibe from them.

[Geeman]

Very nice @volvo240thebest, they look great without the kiltie. 

[dudewuttheheck]

The stitching does indeed look quite clean on those @volvo240thebest ! Very nice

[beautiful_FrEaK]

@volvo240thebest the master in the small obscure brands
They look very nice, how much do they cost (roughly)?

[volvo240thebest]

About 200 USD plus shipping, the Dr Sole soles doesn't come stock so I had to buy them separately. All in all 280 USD EMS shipping and soles included.

[dudewuttheheck]

That's quite a deal. Lower price for what appears to be better quality than their fellow Indonesian competitors. 

 

[bartlebyyphonics]

great page of footwear going on here...

esp.  love the rolling dub trio, and fwiw volvo: shorter kiltie or none gets my vote: love how to rough-out has responded to the sealing / polish...

[volvo240thebest]

4 hours ago, dudewuttheheck said:

That's quite a deal. Lower price for what appears to be better quality than their fellow Indonesian competitors. 

 

I've ordered these Winson boots after a suggestion of a fellow boot lover from Indonesia. He told me he reckons Winson, Sagara and Jalan Sriwijaya to be the only Indonesian brands that churn out stuff at the same quality level of good western bootmakers. They're surely extremely well made and the design and last are well considered and thought.

They surely are a lot of value for the money.

Edited June 12, 2018 by volvo240thebest