Footwear to go with our jackets

[Bfd70]

Agree. Very sharp. Whole new look

 

[Fonzie]

So he replaced the midsole too? Was that a pricey operation? They look terrific. The contrast from the midsole makes it look like a totally different boot. Really great.

Thanks. He stripped them down to the their welts, then added fresh cork filler, full leather soles, stacked leather heels and Jade Dr.Sole half soles and heels. They look and feel completely different.

 

[Schambach]

Does anyone have experience with Nick's "Max Wedge" soles? They claim high durability, but I don't see how. I have yet to handle them in person, so perhaps I'm missing something.

Not with the Nicks, but the company making them for Nicks is the same company that makes the "raptor" wedges Wesco uses. They are great, long wearing, and not slippery on wet surfaces. Not like the Vibram wedges at all. Only drawback is they are heavy.

 

[AeroFan_07]

Just picked up my trusty old RW Iron Rangers from an upgrade re-sole with Dr. Sole and I couldn’t be happier with how they’ve turned out.

My cobbler John is a true craftsman and his job is outstanding, and very fairly priced too.
I totally recommend him if you’re in Australia. His shop is in Blackwood, Adelaide.

Great upgrade to the old IR's. I would think that just makes them even one step better.

My black IR's (actually very similar to your first picture) will be 12 years old later this month. I continue to say if they had just a small amount of arch support in them, I would have never gone after the PNW booth path. However I do not know how you would incorporate such an arch in those IR's while keeping them so basic, simple and sleek of design. Still very comfortable. Mine got a killer break-in at a trade show in Seattle starting the day after I bought them (at Filson, in Seattle). They have new heel pads, but that's it, even the laces are original.

 

[BloodEagle]

Buco 'Buttock' Engineers continuing to get a lot of wear at this time of year

 

[Edward]

Just picked up my trusty old RW Iron Rangers from an upgrade re-sole with Dr. Sole and I couldn’t be happier with how they’ve turned out.

My cobbler John is a true craftsman and his job is outstanding, and very fairly priced too.
I totally recommend him if you’re in Australia. His shop is in Blackwood, Adelaide.

Nice! Did you manage to shine them, or is that just the shine of wear?

 

[TheOldFashioned]

Allen Edmonds Alpine chukka in kudu, a short run production in the mid-80s.

 

[Monte.C]

Thank you! Yes, the looks of the black commando sole is what pushed me over the edge.

The Moc Toe is very popular in the urban centres of my region, and somehow I didn’t want to completely blend into the crowd (middle-aged, middle-fit, middle-class guys, supporting the local football club, believing life gets more meaningful if you don’t wash your selvedge denims…).

+1. Being average is so... average. Being yourself is so much more fun.
Unless you're average, I suppose.

 

[Fonzie]

Nice! Did you manage to shine them, or is that just the shine of wear?

I think the cobbler oiled them and shined them himself, the leather feels softer and richer now.

 

[TLW '90]

Just reach out to Nick's directly with this sort of question. I am not a fan generally speaking of "wedge" sole designs for boots. That said, I have never known a Nick's product to be designed or built for light duty, short term usage. I see there are many Wedge-type soles used on various models of their boots.

They're probably made by Meramec.
The Thorogood maxwear wedge soles are Meramec, and they also make the wedges for Carolina and Danner.
They're the best wedges available, pretty long lasting.

 

[Gone]

Not with the Nicks, but the company making them for Nicks is the same company that makes the "raptor" wedges Wesco uses. They are great, long wearing, and not slippery on wet surfaces. Not like the Vibram wedges at all. Only drawback is they are heavy.

Reassuring, thank you!

 

[bigmanbigtruck]

More of a question.
I came across Gallun tannery that makes a nice grainy horse rump. I've only come across Truman making boots with these. Have not dealt with either Gallun or Truman - has anyone here purchased anything from them? Decent quality?

I'm open to other suggestions, just really like the visual appearance of the grain.

 

[Khilij]

More of a question.
I came across Gallun tannery that makes a nice grainy horse rump. I've only come across Truman making boots with these. Have not dealt with either Gallun or Truman - has anyone here purchased anything from them? Decent quality?

I'm open to other suggestions, just really like the visual appearance of the grain.

View attachment 653554 View attachment 653555

I have two pairs of Truman boots and I quite like them, in their Java waxed Flesh and Black Oil Roughout. Boots are of good quality, stitching has no issues and I can't find any real defects on either of my pairs. All in all I'd say you're good to go construction-wise if you like the look of the boots. Personally, I brannock at a 10.5D with an average instep, and I find going true to your brannock size to be the ideal move. Half size down for their 79 last, which Truman recommends, was way too small for me.

 

[MrProper]

The second pair of three Vivobarefoots.
I know, absolutely atypical boots for this target group and admittedly there are cooler looking boots. But I need boots that I can put on at 6 in the morning, wear all day and are still comfortable at 8 in the evening. I can do that with my Nike's, but not with Red Wing, Timberland, Meindl, ... (I can wear them, but they're not really comfortable at the end of the day). It's different with these (and the other two) here. Unbelievable. I don't think I've ever had such comfortable shoes. Not even my beloved Nike's come close.

 

[Tom71]

I have two pairs of Truman boots and I quite like them, in their Java waxed Flesh and Black Oil Roughout. Boots are of good quality, stitching has no issues and I can't find any real defects on either of my pairs. All in all I'd say you're good to go construction-wise if you like the look of the boots. Personally, I brannock at a 10.5D with an average instep, and I find going true to your brannock size to be the ideal move. Half size down for their 79 last, which Truman recommends, was way too small for me.

I second this.

I also have to pairs in the 79 last (Java waxed flesh and shrunken bison). Quality is good for the price. You will find criticism on their QC, but that’s always, “heard it from a friend”.
Sizing is maybe half a size more generous than RW Iron Ranger/Blacksmith. I picked the same size, and it works for me.

 

[Tom71]

Black Bear Brand/Rios of Mercedes Roper.

What can I say? The top-notch quality is typical RoM, the bold design is typical BBB. Ordered last year.

Weird last on them: narrow and elongated at the same time. Good thing, the higher powers have equipped me with pretty forgiving feet.

 

[Hoanglong]

Rolling Dub Trio Griffin Jodhpur
I was lucky enough to buy it on thebootshop website.
They look quite similar to jodhpur Clinch but I don't have a pair of Clinch yet so I don't know how the quality compares.

 

[TartuWolf]

Black Bear Brand/Rios of Mercedes Roper.

What can I say? The top-notch quality is typical RoM, the bold design is typical BBB. Ordered last year.

Weird last on them: narrow and elongated at the same time. Good thing, the higher powers have equipped me with pretty forgiving feet.

Big fan of BBB, especially their marketing / IG feed

 

[TartuWolf]

The second pair of three Vivobarefoots.
I know, absolutely atypical boots for this target group and admittedly there are cooler looking boots. But I need boots that I can put on at 6 in the morning, wear all day and are still comfortable at 8 in the evening. I can do that with my Nike's, but not with Red Wing, Timberland, Meindl, ... (I can wear them, but they're not really comfortable at the end of the day). It's different with these (and the other two) here. Unbelievable. I don't think I've ever had such comfortable shoes. Not even my beloved Nike's come close.

My whole family are big fans of barefoot footwear, it's simply objectively more healthy and comfortable than any other footwear.
Sure there is an argument for PNW style boots with strong arch support, especially if you're extra heavy or are carrying a lot of gear. But for regular/casual/daily wear barefoot can't be beat in terms of long term foot health.
I still wear my RW style boots and engineers most of the year anyway, but I switched to light barefoot and sandals (yes they are different from normal sandals) shoes for summer.
There are some brands making stitched barefoot boots (Jim Green, Rose Anvil colabs, some others..) but they just look awful to me, haven't seen a good looking pair/model.
For sandals I'd recommend Bosky. For shoes I like what Koel does a lot.
Vivo is overpriced because they are famous, like many other famous barefoot brands.

 

[Tom71]

Big fan of BBB, especially their marketing / IG feed

Same here. Promised myself to go slow on them, though. Prices are high and going higher with the new pre-orders, and VAT/customs really add a hefty chunk!