Footwear to go with our jackets

[Bfd70]

Just landed. Absurdly beautiful WESCO Morrison in natural HH.

Instep is generous (which is non-negotiable for me), heel-slip is moderate, even before breaking in the sole.
Only issue is the no-nonsense shaft that started eating away the skin on my shins within ten minutes of wear. Taped up now to tame that beast!

All in all a VERY similar wearing-experience to the MrLou (which is a good thing).

A bit on the pricey side, but man these are gorgeous!!

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Yes. Yes they are. What was your wait time?

 

[Tom71]

Yes. Yes they are. What was your wait time?

None. Picked them up from Iron Heart Germany. Wanted to try out their Duck Canvas pants and stumbled over the "NEW IN" page. Had them two days later.

 

[Tom71]

Those boots are amazing. Very nicely specced!

Thank you! The leather at the shaft will take some time to get comfortable. I taped my shins at the friction points (,much to the joy of my better half), and now it´s ok.

 

[Herrvallmo]

Just landed. Absurdly beautiful WESCO Morrison in natural HH.

Instep is generous (which is non-negotiable for me), heel-slip is moderate, even before breaking in the sole.
Only issue is the no-nonsense shaft that started eating away the skin on my shins within ten minutes of wear. Taped up now to tame that beast!

All in all a VERY similar wearing-experience to the MrLou (which is a good thing).

A bit on the pricey side, but man these are gorgeous!!

View attachment 722731 View attachment 722732

Amazing pair of boots Tom! please keep us updated how those beauties ages

Cheers!

 

[pillepalle123]

Wanted some summer canvas footwear but not the usual candidates.
Bought these two pairs and now I wait for their arrival:

Vintage french army canvas boots ("Pataugas") made by Wissart.


1943 made Canadian service shoes. NOS in need of a resole.

 

[codex]

Oak Street Storm boot in natural chromexcel. Overall happy with them even with the grain break. I did not win the chromexcel lottery to say the least lol. They were going for cheap recently due to some legal issues that I don't know enough about to comment on. I haven't experienced chromexcel before so jumped on them. I've always been the most impressed with the natural color out of the chromexcel options. The others being teacore, I am not impressed. And in person, I must say that this is an incredibly beautiful leather.

Very comfortable on my feet and I love the profile. Stitching and finishing is just okay, I've heard mixed reviews with the qc from this company. Price and quality is comparable to B grade Grant stone.

 

[Edward]

That's right. These are probably the most comfortable shoes I've ever had. They wear like thick woolen socks and not like boots. But they are also very special and certainly not to everyone's taste.

They resemble a hiking boot on the top - what are the soles like, are they chunky commando type or something more flexible for walking on desert sands?

Swedish Army winter boots from the 1940s.

They are lined with thick wool and have a 1,5cm thick wool/hair insole.

I will propably add some Vibram Artic Soles and heels to them. The leather sole is not that ideal for the winter we have here.
In Sweden they actually wore these with leather soles in winter times and sometimes they had crepe heels. The old rubber compounds they had at the time propably got hard like rock in -20 degrees celcius.



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I have a pair like these in all-leather somewhere. I love the shape - big, chunky, feel purposeful. If these are in such lovely original condition as they look in the photo, it would be a shame to rip out the sole, though I understand what you mean about wearing practicality. I myself have a pair of c1950s British Army hobnail boots that I could never wear to the office as I sound like half a dozen squaddies or an Es*** hen night coming up the corridor due to the hobnails.... What I do with all my leather soles is have the cobbler put a rubber overlayer on the heel and sole both. Never had a problem in the wet that way - at least none that a rubber sole would have saved me from.

The square-ish toe takes a couple double takes to get used to but otherwise these are some very cool looking boots.

If you can get Weston from Rose Anvil to get interested in these boots he will probably geek out over all of their unique details and become obsessed enough with them to collaborate on a new boot inspired by them.
These would be quite a cool style to see revived for the current enthusiasts boot market.

It'd be interesting to see a contemporary boot made in this style. I should have thought it would find a market - and the right bootmaker who popularised it first might have an edge with that.

Just landed. Absurdly beautiful WESCO Morrison in natural HH.

Instep is generous (which is non-negotiable for me), heel-slip is moderate, even before breaking in the sole.
Only issue is the no-nonsense shaft that started eating away the skin on my shins within ten minutes of wear. Taped up now to tame that beast!

All in all a VERY similar wearing-experience to the MrLou (which is a good thing).

A bit on the pricey side, but man these are gorgeous!!

View attachment 722731 View attachment 722732

Nice! Is that roughout or suede on the shaft? Maybe this Winter might be the one I'll finally crack and buy myself a pair of subtle Western boots like these. The convenience of a cowboy boot, with a subtler sole and more minimalist look. The unfussy vibe is a great one for interesting leathers like that, imo - really lets the leather itself take centre stage. Be interesting to see how these age. I'll always be an engineer boot guy, but there's a strong appeal for me to a boot that's just pull on and off with no buckles or fastening needed for those out of the house moments when not taking the extra time to deal with buckles or laces would be a benefit. I say that in particular now that these last eighteen months or so we've been living no longer with an elderly cockapoo, but a now two and a half year old jackhuahua. and when he wants outside at seven in the morning, and I need to get dressed and down three storeys to the garden... He's good at holding his bladder. So far. But I don't like to tempt fate....

Wanted some summer canvas footwear but not the usual candidates.
Bought these two pairs and now I wait for their arrival:

Vintage french army canvas boots ("Pataugas") made by Wissart.
View attachment 724026

1943 made Canadian service shoes. NOS in need of a resole.

View attachment 724027

Those canvas army boots are an interesting thing. Texturally they look like somebody took a canvas gaiter and said "wouldn't it be great for the Summer heat if, instead of having a boot under this, it just went all the way down and had a sole?" I could totally see wearing these with a kilt, casually, in the hot weather. Most of the time when I wear one of my kilts it's with full semi-formal rig at least, but occasionally when we have a heatwave a kilt is nicer than trews, keeps a chunk of cool air up there...

Love the design of the Canadian shoes. They'd go great with tweeds for a country look. I'd love to see them reproduced in other colours as well for a civilian co-respondent look. Ivory canvas and the russet toe, or perhaps an oxblood, or black toe. A lot like the 30s SJC Spectators of about a decade ago, but with less leather on the body here. Is there a leather stripe at the back of the heel, or just the toecap? REally nice pair of shoes. Enjoy!

 

[MrProper]

They resemble a hiking boot on the top - what are the soles like, are they chunky commando type or something more flexible for walking on desert sands?

The soles are lugged and very flexible. The rubber compound is from Michelin and has great grip. They work excellently on any terrain. Both boots have the same soles, only the colour is different.

 

[Edward]

The soles are lugged and very flexible. The rubber compound is from Michelin and has great grip. They work excellently on any terrain. Both boots have the same soles, only the colour is different.
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Those definitely look effective. Enjoy.

 

[pillepalle123]

I have a pair like these in all-leather somewhere. I love the shape - big, chunky, feel purposeful. If these are in such lovely original condition as they look in the photo, it would be a shame to rip out the sole, though I understand what you mean about wearing practicality. I myself have a pair of c1950s British Army hobnail boots that I could never wear to the office as I sound like half a dozen squaddies or an Es*** hen night coming up the corridor due to the hobnails.... What I do with all my leather soles is have the cobbler put a rubber overlayer on the heel and sole both. Never had a problem in the wet that way - at least none that a rubber sole would have saved me from.

Don´t worry no sole will be ripped off.
They are very imbalanced in their current state (heel to high) and will just get a new rubber toplift and a Vibram 1100 as a half sole. A friend had shoes with those arctic soles and said that it is not worth it and damages some floors.
Just some sanding on the boot required, the rest will stay in original shape, maybe some wood pegs here and there

Those canvas army boots are an interesting thing. Texturally they look like somebody took a canvas gaiter and said "wouldn't it be great for the Summer heat if, instead of having a boot under this, it just went all the way down and had a sole?" I could totally see wearing these with a kilt, casually, in the hot weather. Most of the time when I wear one of my kilts it's with full semi-formal rig at least, but occasionally when we have a heatwave a kilt is nicer than trews, keeps a chunk of cool air up there...

Love the design of the Canadian shoes. They'd go great with tweeds for a country look. I'd love to see them reproduced in other colours as well for a civilian co-respondent look. Ivory canvas and the russet toe, or perhaps an oxblood, or black toe. A lot like the 30s SJC Spectators of about a decade ago, but with less leather on the body here. Is there a leather stripe at the back of the heel, or just the toecap? REally nice pair of shoes. Enjoy!

The french army canvas boots have not arrived yet but I actually thought about removing the gaiter part. They are widely available so no big deal about destroying a historic piece.

These canadian shoes I actually already gave to a friend. They were size 12 and too big for me. I thought Canada used the US system, but these were more like UK size 12. (31cm insole)
There is a leather stripe in the back and a thick leather heel counter.

A real pity, I hate these other less structured summer shoes.

 

[Tom71]

They resemble a hiking boot on the top - what are the soles like, are they chunky commando type or something more flexible for walking on desert sands?



I have a pair like these in all-leather somewhere. I love the shape - big, chunky, feel purposeful. If these are in such lovely original condition as they look in the photo, it would be a shame to rip out the sole, though I understand what you mean about wearing practicality. I myself have a pair of c1950s British Army hobnail boots that I could never wear to the office as I sound like half a dozen squaddies or an Es*** hen night coming up the corridor due to the hobnails.... What I do with all my leather soles is have the cobbler put a rubber overlayer on the heel and sole both. Never had a problem in the wet that way - at least none that a rubber sole would have saved me from.



It'd be interesting to see a contemporary boot made in this style. I should have thought it would find a market - and the right bootmaker who popularised it first might have an edge with that.



Nice! Is that roughout or suede on the shaft? Maybe this Winter might be the one I'll finally crack and buy myself a pair of subtle Western boots like these. The convenience of a cowboy boot, with a subtler sole and more minimalist look. The unfussy vibe is a great one for interesting leathers like that, imo - really lets the leather itself take centre stage. Be interesting to see how these age. I'll always be an engineer boot guy, but there's a strong appeal for me to a boot that's just pull on and off with no buckles or fastening needed for those out of the house moments when not taking the extra time to deal with buckles or laces would be a benefit. I say that in particular now that these last eighteen months or so we've been living no longer with an elderly cockapoo, but a now two and a half year old jackhuahua. and when he wants outside at seven in the morning, and I need to get dressed and down three storeys to the garden... He's good at holding his bladder. So far. But I don't like to tempt fate....




Those canvas army boots are an interesting thing. Texturally they look like somebody took a canvas gaiter and said "wouldn't it be great for the Summer heat if, instead of having a boot under this, it just went all the way down and had a sole?" I could totally see wearing these with a kilt, casually, in the hot weather. Most of the time when I wear one of my kilts it's with full semi-formal rig at least, but occasionally when we have a heatwave a kilt is nicer than trews, keeps a chunk of cool air up there...

Love the design of the Canadian shoes. They'd go great with tweeds for a country look. I'd love to see them reproduced in other colours as well for a civilian co-respondent look. Ivory canvas and the russet toe, or perhaps an oxblood, or black toe. A lot like the 30s SJC Spectators of about a decade ago, but with less leather on the body here. Is there a leather stripe at the back of the heel, or just the toecap? REally nice pair of shoes. Enjoy!

Thanks, Edward. The shaft is roughout and very sturdy indeed. So far I have only managed to break in my shins while the shaft remains unyielding.

I am also a big fan of non-expressive Cowboy Boots.
Best value for money in that segment would be the RedWing Pecos, IMHO. I have a pair as well, and they are easily my most comfy pull-on boots.

 

[Edward]

Don´t worry no sole will be ripped off.
They are very imbalanced in their current state (heel to high) and will just get a new rubber toplift and a Vibram 1100 as a half sole. A friend had shoes with those arctic soles and said that it is not worth it and damages some floors.
Just some sanding on the boot required, the rest will stay in original shape, maybe some wood pegs here and there

Good call. I'm all in favour of subtle mods that make things wearable rather than having them lie unworn in a box til they rot! Pics when you've done those would be great. I've seen some great deals on a more modern issue (but a design that's been around since at least the 50s) of a British parade boot that I've been thinking of picking up and doing much the same with.

The french army canvas boots have not arrived yet but I actually thought about removing the gaiter part. They are widely available so no big deal about destroying a historic piece.

These canadian shoes I actually already gave to a friend. They were size 12 and too big for me. I thought Canada used the US system, but these were more like UK size 12. (31cm insole)
There is a leather stripe in the back and a thick leather heel counter.

A real pity, I hate these other less structured summer shoes.

That's a shame the size didn't work out. Pity nobody seems to reproduce these that I can find. I guess (based on what is available across the web) Canadian forces aren't much popular with reenactors?

 

[Edward]

Thanks, Edward. The shaft is roughout and very sturdy indeed. So far I have only managed to break in my shins while the shaft remains unyielding.

I am also a big fan of non-expressive Cowboy Boots.
Best value for money in that segment would be the RedWing Pecos, IMHO. I have a pair as well, and they are easily my most comfy pull-on boots.

View attachment 725681

Nice. Yes, those are the ones I've looked at. Nice shape, retain the unfussy elegance of an engineer without the buckles. I think the profile helps here; a lot of engineer boots look great, but if you were to remove the buckle it would throw the whole design off., make them look like leather wellies. The Pecos I think work nicely without a buckle (though I guess for the looks one could also be added, as per a lot of cowboy boots, as an 'extra'). I'm looking ta these from pov of something easy on/off for travelling when and where security can command they be removed. Flew in engineer boots once... the added time dealing with the buckles was a real pest once I'd been used to flying in penny loafers or slip-on plimsoles in warmer weather. The loafers aren't so great when you step out of the plane into a wet Belfast Winter, though!

 

[Monitor]

Just landed. Absurdly beautiful WESCO Morrison in natural HH.

Instep is generous (which is non-negotiable for me), heel-slip is moderate, even before breaking in the sole.
Only issue is the no-nonsense shaft that started eating away the skin on my shins within ten minutes of wear. Taped up now to tame that beast!

All in all a VERY similar wearing-experience to the MrLou (which is a good thing).

A bit on the pricey side, but man these are gorgeous!!

View attachment 722731 View attachment 722732

Lovely.

Why don't they add finish to the sides of the sole, though? Heel looks particularly exposed, like stuff could get in from the sides.

 

[Pandemic]

Is anyone familiar with this outfit? Currently 25% off and an interesting alternative to Sagara. Based in West Java and Southern California:

https://cruxdeluxe.com/products/monkey-baseball

 

[Bfd70]

Xpost from the engineer boot thread. Unsung house with 3 months of wear.

 

[Pandemic]

Monkey Boot fans - which Indo maker should I go with?

I’m in the market for a pair of monkey boots and looking for brand recommendations. I like Sagara because they have a website so I can play with different specs and how that affects cost. Junkard also look nice though

Size 44 EE to EEE Norwegian 360 chain-stitching would be nice, as would a soft toe Leaning to Horween, Maryam or Shinki tanneries.

terima kasih!

 

[AeroFan_07]

We do not yet have a "Finds & Deals" thread for boots yet, if anyone needing a Size 10D Wesco Mr Lou Engineer boots, here's a nice pair for $550 BIN. These were brown and have been overdyed black. No relation to the seller on my part.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/297411753867?

 

[Edward]

View attachment 728619
Xpost from the engineer boot thread. Unsung house with 3 months of wear.

Nice trews.

 

[Bfd70]

Nice trews.

Hmmmmm. Don’t know the term