Shoes that look better with age...

[mlwdp]

White’s has a sale on the Max engineer boots:

https://shop.whitesboots.com/collaborations/max-schaaf-4q-x-whites-engineer/?fbclid=PAAaYXCtOSf192EIv8mBjpG7Fi5OtoLb0xGwpLa4S3pPlHEimPMd5fpRjZl3o

[vIGGiou riou]

mlwdp, I already did order during weekend. Waiting time is 2-3 months.....

Edited November 24, 2022 by vIGGiou riou

[mlwdp]

@vIGGiou riouOther than Max himself, haven’t seen them in the wild on feet yet.

Edited November 25, 2022 by mlwdp

[vIGGiou riou]

mlwdp, it's true. even me I didn't  find other pictures of real life of them. only on Max. But they are White's and I didn't read here some negative review on White's boots. They look superb... If not, all community here will know it .... :o(

[mlwdp]

Remember when RRL ran a sale on their engineer boots?

https://www.ralphlauren.com/men-footwear-shoes/leather-engineer-boot/101318.html

[julian-wolf]

Hoggs of Fife have been putting in a lot of work, last few months

Probably around 40–50 days of wear, at this point

[Talan]

General question after looking on @julian-wolf post pictures above. What do you guys think about glacage/mirror polishing for work or engineer boots? I've never done it, but sometimes the thought of trying it using fine products from Saphir or alike comes to mind. And what are the thoughts about mirror polishing in general, for dress shoes, etc.?

[scooby]

White's Nomad natural cxl

[Duke Mantee]

On 12/5/2022 at 6:16 AM, Talan said:

General question after looking on @julian-wolf post pictures above. What do you guys think about glacage/mirror polishing for work or engineer boots? I've never done it, but sometimes the thought of trying it using fine products from Saphir or alike comes to mind. And what are the thoughts about mirror polishing in general, for dress shoes, etc.?

Why do you want a mirror polish?

Lot of work to maintain it

[scooby]

It's not only a lot of work but it's kind of unrealistic in practice, depending on the leather.. and unless you're in an office setting and want to walk like a penguin

I think it's more distracting when a freshly polished shoe gets a ding than a regularly brushed or conditioned shoe looks at the end of a long week

[mlwdp]

Military comes to mind.

[Talan]

On 12/10/2022 at 12:18 AM, Duke Mantee said:

Why do you want a mirror polish?

Lot of work to maintain it

For a shoes like this, for example (pic from JLB site):

[Maynard Friedman]

Reflecting on this question, I’m not keen on a mirror polish.

[Duke Mantee]

6 hours ago, Talan said:

For a shoes like this, for example (pic from JLB site):

I think others have said it buddy - but for me it’s a very specific type of shoes that it works with and I’d be thinking of a lot more finesse it’s than John Lofgren (or a pairs of military No.1s being bulled). If the shoe lacks structure, especially at the toe box then it’ll be difficult to create and maintain a mirror shine. Every fold and crease will break down the finish.

On a slightly different aspect, for me mirror finish is really just about filling up the leather pores until they become smooth and so lack character and eventually just hiding the leather entirely. This is even worse than cordovan (probably the most man made finish you’ll ever see in leather) since at least cordovan will eventually patina

Edited December 11, 2022 by Duke Mantee

[indigoeagle]

A few years ago I tried a mirror polish on my Black Cherry Beckmans and it worked surprisingly well. Looked neat.

 

I had read that Hayashi-san of Resolute likes to polish his PB Chambords. If done properly the nubuck leather can look like shell cordovan.

 

[Duke Mantee]

12 hours ago, indigoeagle said:

A few years ago I tried a mirror polish on my Black Cherry Beckmans and it worked surprisingly well. Looked neat.

 

I had read that Hayashi-san of Resolute likes to polish his PB Chambords. If done properly the nubuck leather can look like shell cordovan.

 

Nice job - but I 100% stand by my comments re it’s a process of hiding leather 

[Talan]

1 hour ago, Duke Mantee said:

Nice job - but I 100% stand by my comments re it’s a process of hiding leather 

But on the other hand, it is so nice to baby a precious pair of shoes. I even bought a Saphir items on purpose…  

[Duke Mantee]

38 minutes ago, Talan said:

But on the other hand, it is so nice to baby a precious pair of shoes. I even bought a Saphir items on purpose…  

Enjoy yourself 

I did my time bulling boots and now I love to ‘see’ good leather

[Talan]

6 minutes ago, Duke Mantee said:

Enjoy yourself 

I did my time bulling boots and now I love to ‘see’ good leather

I am not sure I am able to do a proper 'mirror' polishing though... Too lazy for this. I just love to have it well-cared. If it will be possible, of course 

[JMS]

Breaking in some Alden NSTs. I had yet to give my patronage to Brick + Mortar in Seattle. Good people! 

[l13902733261]

Dr.Sole Oz Troopers

Funky side profile 

 

[CSL]

I like that sharp angle on the sole. Reminds me of those vintage shoes known as Philadelphia Spades. 

[bartlebyyphonics]

@Talan - back to attractions again: they seem to like a mirror polish on a worn in boot; not even hiding poor leather...

[Talan]

2 hours ago, bartlebyyphonics said:

@Talan - back to attractions again: they seem to like a mirror polish on a worn in boot; not even hiding poor leather...

Oh, poor me. Didn’t see the advantage of good leather with no care over bad leather with care… 

[bartlebyyphonics]

I see no advantages either way, just enjoying the shiny wrinkles...

[Talan]

1 hour ago, bartlebyyphonics said:

I see no advantages either way, just enjoying the shiny wrinkles...

I enjoy taking care of good shoes. I'm probably too blunt. 

[CSL]

I used to be an obsessive shoe polisher. Lots of spitting & rubbing tiny circles with a cloth wrapped finger. Sounds vaguely obscene, doesn't it?

Back then I had one good pair of shoes (wingtips/brogues) & a pair of engineer boots. I recall my chums taking the piss out of my shiny boots yet to me it felt right to keep them regularly polished.

I rarely have time for that routine anymore & save that approach for for leather that has somewhat of a natural shine.

[JMS]

@julian-wolf Favorite hiker boots to date? I know you've tested a good lot of them. 

[julian-wolf]

@JMS JK Superduty S and Hoggs of Fife Rannoch both have a lot going for them. They fit pretty differently, and, in particular, the JK have a lot more arch support (and the option for nonstandard widths, if you’re anything besides an E). For me, the fit’s better on the JK, but you can’t go wrong either way.

[bartlebyyphonics]

On 12/16/2022 at 8:07 PM, Talan said:

I enjoy taking care of good shoes. I'm probably too blunt. 

no problem! me too!

On 12/17/2022 at 1:28 AM, CSL said:

I used to be an obsessive shoe polisher. Lots of spitting & rubbing tiny circles with a cloth wrapped finger. Sounds vaguely obscene, doesn't it?

Back then I had one good pair of shoes (wingtips/brogues) & a pair of engineer boots. I recall my chums taking the piss out of my shiny boots yet to me it felt right to keep them regularly polished.

I rarely have time for that routine anymore & save that approach for for leather that has somewhat of a natural shine.

sounds good to me! never been into polish myself, always used dubbin so natural changes could be seen. sent a pair of boots to be resoled at cheaney factory; forgot to say no polish: they came back a very different boot... much flatter... 

these days I am enjoying what mink oil does to black leather; a sort of matt hum...