Shoes that look better with age...

[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... 

[beautiful_FrEaK]

While we had the controversy of "mirror shine", what's everybody's take on Jodhpur boots? 

[Maynard Friedman]

^ Do you mean the ones Hitler used to wear?! Not my style 

[beautiful_FrEaK]

He did? Doesn't sound like an 'Aryan' style though  

[Broark]

Not a fan of Jodhpur boots at all, a little too pointy for my tastes.
Whenever I see pointy boots / shoes it makes my feet hurt!

[Talan]

3 hours ago, beautiful_FrEaK said:

While we had the controversy of "mirror shine", what's everybody's take on Jodhpur boots? 

I have traveled several times in Rajasthan (Jodhpur is a city in Rajasthan) but I have never seen any special local boots... Everyone seems to wear sandals or basic flip-flops in India. At least that's what I've always worn in India, the cheaper the better. Also, there are quite a few places to be barefoot in India - temples, ashrams, pretty much all indoor areas. No much use for boots...))

By the way, the word "Aryan" itself is of Indian or Iranian origin. Hitler seem to be known in India, at least in any airport you can see Mein Kampf in a bookstore, probably considered appropriate reading on the plane .
 

[mlwdp]

My grail is Clinch jodhpurs.  The owner of Anemoscope rides his Harley in his boots.

[AlientoyWorkmachine]

Not a fan of mirror shines or Jodhpurs. I can understand a mirror shine but in general if it's in the context of trying to somehow "dress up" blue jeans it's a hard sell for me, and when it comes to boots with similar silhouettes - which I don't love with jeans - I will always prefer laces. 

Edited December 19, 2022 by AlientoyWorkmachine

[AlientoyWorkmachine]

I’d been eyeing the black (Tender) sidings boots for too long. Finally took the plunge and a 5 mile walk to break them in some. Aside from the inclement days where my blundstones will be taken out I think these will be my go to until summer and even then they’ll get wear. 

[beautiful_FrEaK]

I have a soft spot for Japanese jeans...

...and English shoemakers

Paul Sargent Cambridge (left) and Joseph Cheaney Tweed

Edited December 22, 2022 by beautiful_FrEaK

[Thanks_M8]

^If it were french shoes you would be rocking the almost full hayashi-san look

Edited December 22, 2022 by Thanks_M8

[l13902733261]

Clinch boots mast trainer 

I am a us9.5 D width in petty much all heritage boots brands, initially plan to go up haft size but the shop sold their only pair of 10d,

fortunately 9.5 work out just fine.

snug fit on the front feet and heel,can still be lace up tight for the “curve” look without any instep discomfort.

 

[mlwdp]

Anybody here use Tapir creams etc for leather care on footwear?

[Talan]

White's Semi-Dress in classic Brown Dress finish arrived a couple of days ago. The shipping to Ukraine is currently quite time-consuming, and yet it took about a month from UK, very fast as for me, and right to the New-Year's Eve. The main difficulty occurred on the day of local delivery -- the city was plunged into a total blackout in the morning due to a Russian missile attack, and the post office was closed. Nevertheless, I managed to pick up the parcel in the afternoon. 

[mlwdp]

Just gave them a condition and clean.  This Collonil 1909 stuff is amazing! The Chromexcel leather really ate it up.  The Bick5 is for inside cleaning of the boot. Collonil goat hair brush.

 

Edited January 10, 2023 by mlwdp

[cheapmuthafukr]

Just picked these up secondhand… should look like beat up a bit. RLPL, made in England.

[Broark]

These might not be everyone's cup of tea but I think the project seems pretty cool: https://andrewturriff.com/
Small operation making some functional outdoor shoes, I like the style but would prefer the finished product to be monotone as opposed to having multiple leathers.
If you're interested sign up for the newsletter, he doesn't send out too many updates (so it's not spammy at all) but when he does it's detailed and actually informative.

[julian-wolf]

I’ve been looking forward to these. As of the last update, it looked like he was in the process of trying to find the right factory for a first production run. If they end up being made in NA, I’ll probably try a pair. Personally, I like the two-tone look.

[Broark]

The two tone has grown on me over time, I downright hated it at first!

[Duke Mantee]

I think I like these - they have a kinda vintage vibe.

Maybe a wee bit of sales patter by calling them functional (and rugged) tho …

 

[AlientoyWorkmachine]

Those are interesting and I sort of like them on aesthetics, but I can’t place where they’d actually be used. They seem a little in between it all and I can’t see them supplanting anything functional I use.
 

But I always struggle with attempts to dress up casual - for instance, I’m not one for the sport coat and jeans look. I feel if you’re going to dress up it’s best to commit and if not then often there are more practical options. 

[Broark]

I think they're just intended to be casual knock around shoes that hold up well.
Right now I wear Blundstones for that kind of stuff in the fall / winter here, but I'd like a low cut option and something more durable / well made.
I haven't done much research, but similar shoes seem to be plastered with ugly branding or are not made particularly well.

[julian-wolf]

That hasn’t really been my read at all. The way he’s described them has seemed more centered around the desire for shoes made from good materials w/ traditional construction processes that are lighter and more flexible than a standard welted, shanked boot or shoe. I’ve gotten the impression that they’re designed with walking / hiking in mind: clearly they’re not the best optimized for it overall, but for folks interested in leather shoes with a nice aesthetic and the ability to be resoled, they might well be in the running. If you want casual knock-around shoes, you’ve already got plenty of good options.

[julian-wolf]

5 hours ago, Duke Mantee said:

Maybe a wee bit of sales patter by calling them functional (and rugged) tho …

 

Maybe so—but if you compare them to the sorts of heavy old-school boots that many here (myself included) walk around in, they’re certainly functional, and if you compare them to sneakers or trail runners they begin to look pretty rugged—and I think that’s the middle-ground they seem to be aiming for

[Broark]

Maybe my definition for a "casual knock around shoe" is just different. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I think you more eloquently laid out what I was intending to.

[Duke Mantee]

46 minutes ago, julian-wolf said:

Maybe so—but if you compare them to the sorts of heavy old-school boots that many here (myself included) walk around in, they’re certainly functional, and if you compare them to sneakers or trail runners they begin to look pretty rugged—and I think that’s the middle-ground they seem to be aiming for

That’s what I meant about sales patter … if you compare them to something else then you’ll find an answer.

He calls them functional outdoor footwear - then he goes on to describe them as rugged without telling you specifically the materials and creates a design that has more panels than a Georgian drawing room … every stitch is a waterway … but fortunately they have a gusseted tongue to compensate that

I jest - like I said I quite like the style and I’m sure they can be used outdoors … I tend to wear my approach shoes if I want ‘functionality’ without the weight of boots or the flimsy nature of sneakers. These remind me of a 70s approach shoe - if there ever was such a thing.

 

[julian-wolf]

Yeah, I think you’re right that approach shoes seem like the closest comparison (if only someone made reasonable leather approach shoes)

[AlientoyWorkmachine]

My main uses and main shoes:

Contemporary hiking boots (for challenging hikes)

Minimalist trail running shoes (for easier hikes or better weather, for running of all sorts, for training of all sorts, and old ones for gardening/outdoor work)

Skate shoes (used to be for skateboarding and everything else, now just general walking/beater shoes - also will use them for outdoor work)

Leather boots (any time I want to the jeans to look a little nicer/on the job footwear) 

Blundstones (inclement weather/winter walking/outdoor stuff - I do not like the look of them but these are purely functional)

Birks - when I am lazy/kicking around the house/can't tie shoes because running after toddler

Actual dress shoes - obvious use - when I need to, and nothing else suffices

I guess the aforementioned shoe falls somewhere in between the skate shoe (not that they'd work for skating - just that they're generally casual like a pair of standard cons or nike blazers etc) and the leather boots for me, but they it sort of looks like an attempt to get a skate shoe in a country club - that mix is what I'm struggling with. Can't see where I'd prefer these over the skate shoe or the leather boot - definitely would not hike in them given the other options...unless I were cast in a Wes Anderson flick. I am sure they do okayish on the trail but the likely cost for that sort of use is probably pushing it for me personally. Again I do sort of like the look, and I hope it's a success. 

Edited January 20, 2023 by AlientoyWorkmachine