Footwear to go with our jackets

[red devil]

Agreed, that should not have left the workshop in this state.

 

[Jon Crow]

Russell Moccasin
The good the ugly and the bad

Background
After my last several boot purchases which were either engineers or western boots i was looking for a more practical daily driver. Boots for when i would spend the entire day on my feet walking. I was familiar with RM and intrigued by the idea of true moccasin construction. They seemed to have pretty solid bonafides. I hesitated for a little while because their i age is pretty solidly wrapped up in hunting culture. In theory i suppose i support that but it’s not really my thing. Then back in July a youtube influencer (?) (reviewer) who goes by the Iron Snail announced he was doing a collab with RM. I found his videos both informative and amusing so when I saw and liked the design i clicked buy it now.

Good
When the box arrived i couldn’t believe their were boots inside. It was too light. I own several pairs of PNW boots. The support on them is great but they’re absolute bricks. I think the overall lower weight of these boots will reduce fatigue and also make them more practical for warmer months. RM has a sizing tool on their site. I used this and my boots fit perfectly. The leather in the build is a burgundy cxl. It is beautiful. Deep red brown with the slightest hint of dark orange. As far as initial comfortability they are a 10/10. Snow has been deep here and i haven’t had the chance to give them a proper test run. I’m hoping their lack of firmness isn’t a problem for my lousy flat over pronating feet.

Ugly
There is no other way to describe the QC other than very bad. There is a huge wobble in the top stitch. The stitching on one of the counters drop noticeably. There is a tab of leather that seems like it should have been cut but wasn’t. They smelled strongly of glue for the first 3 days. These boots were $750. At that price I would expect these to be kicked to factory seconds.

Bad
I have reached out to RM and Iron snail both on social media. Due to the holidays i have waited to hear back from them for 12 days prior to posting this. I have been completely ghosted. Therefore customer service 0/10.

I hope these boots stay comfortable and last me a long time and many miles. I think they will. But, I wouldn’t support RM or IS with one hot penny. I really wanted these to work out great. There are several other models that I’m interested in. I love the idea of supporting a small outfit in the midwest. Unfortunately i wouldn’t deal with them again unless they were giving boots away for free.

They've absolutely seen you coming and fleeced you as well as ghosted you, I've had better for a 100 bucks, complete amateurs

 

[Pandemic]

I’m dreading heading back to the office tomorrow after a two week vacation, but the pain is softened a bit knowing that there is a package on my desk from Indonesia waiting for me …

 

[DweezilMac]

Russell Moccasin
The good the ugly and the bad

Background
After my last several boot purchases which were either engineers or western boots i was looking for a more practical daily driver. Boots for when i would spend the entire day on my feet walking. I was familiar with RM and intrigued by the idea of true moccasin construction. They seemed to have pretty solid bonafides. I hesitated for a little while because their i age is pretty solidly wrapped up in hunting culture. In theory i suppose i support that but it’s not really my thing. Then back in July a youtube influencer (?) (reviewer) who goes by the Iron Snail announced he was doing a collab with RM. I found his videos both informative and amusing so when I saw and liked the design i clicked buy it now.

Good
When the box arrived i couldn’t believe their were boots inside. It was too light. I own several pairs of PNW boots. The support on them is great but they’re absolute bricks. I think the overall lower weight of these boots will reduce fatigue and also make them more practical for warmer months. RM has a sizing tool on their site. I used this and my boots fit perfectly. The leather in the build is a burgundy cxl. It is beautiful. Deep red brown with the slightest hint of dark orange. As far as initial comfortability they are a 10/10. Snow has been deep here and i haven’t had the chance to give them a proper test run. I’m hoping their lack of firmness isn’t a problem for my lousy flat over pronating feet.

Ugly
There is no other way to describe the QC other than very bad. There is a huge wobble in the top stitch. The stitching on one of the counters drop noticeably. There is a tab of leather that seems like it should have been cut but wasn’t. They smelled strongly of glue for the first 3 days. These boots were $750. At that price I would expect these to be kicked to factory seconds.

Bad
I have reached out to RM and Iron snail both on social media. Due to the holidays i have waited to hear back from them for 12 days prior to posting this. I have been completely ghosted. Therefore customer service 0/10.

I hope these boots stay comfortable and last me a long time and many miles. I think they will. But, I wouldn’t support RM or IS with one hot penny. I really wanted these to work out great. There are several other models that I’m interested in. I love the idea of supporting a small outfit in the midwest. Unfortunately i wouldn’t deal with them again unless they were giving boots away for free.

For what its worth I bought a pair of RM “Big Cambo’s” last summer, coincidentally just before the latest price rise, and received them in October-ish. Been using them on hikes in the hills hereabouts (pre-Alps, Switzerland) most recently in snowy conditions. So far so good! Quality seems good, though I’m going to do a closer inspection now (!) and I’ve enjoyed using them and they’ve done a good job in terms of warmth, water-proofing, grip & comfort. Last hike was moonlit night walk, snowy/icy so I was wearing mini-crampons (spikes).

Value for money? Given boots are as much of a hobby for me as jackets, I don’t have a real measure of value, but I would be disappointed if these don’t last for many years (with resoles etc.). Without the hobby enthusiasm, they’re ridiculously expensive, no way you’re going to get better lifetime value vs other decent walking boots, so “horses for courses”!

Thanks for the review, hope you get a decent resolution one way or another.

 

[Zoro]

Given boots are as much of a hobby for me as jackets, I don’t have a real measure of value

I couldn't disagree more with this, lol. Even as a hobby, you put things into perspective and scale them. It's impossible to detach oneself from how much things cost and compare. Is item A, with X value, better than item B, with Y value in which X>Y? If so, is the difference worthy for what I get? In what direction (favorable to A or B)? Would I recommend any of these two items for the price they cost or would I recommend something else?

I don't like going by cheap or expensive cause that's where we lose perspective. For starters, I find all goodyear welted footwear is expensive, but that doesn't automatically mean it is not worth its value.

 

[DweezilMac]

I couldn't disagree more with this, lol. Even as a hobby, you put things into perspective and scale them. It's impossible to detach oneself from how much things cost and compare. Is item A, with X value, better than item B, with Y value in which X>Y? If so, is the difference worthy for what I get? In what direction (favorable to A or B)? Would I recommend any of these two items for the price they cost or would I recommend something else?

I don't like going by cheap or expensive cause that's where we lose perspective. For starters, I find all goodyear welted footwear is expensive, but that doesn't automatically mean it is not worth its value.

Maybe the clearer phrase would have been "I don't have an objective measure of value". They're worth what i paid for them in the context of my hobby-enthusiasm, but I hope that was relatively evident in light of the full context of what I said.

 

[Turnip]

Some Solovair Brogue Boots today.

 

[Turnip]

View attachment 759321

Wow, 750,- bucks? Rediculous!

I would have returned such a package of **** immediately to the sender!

 

[Tom71]

I thought @Bfd70 did a thorough and well measured review.

I am quite astonished by the strong language used by some viewers.

Aldens and Vibergs are around EUR 1.000 around here (duties and VAT paid), and they are not without QC issues as well. Still, they have a lot of fans around here and by and large for good reasons.

The reviewed boots have some obvious flaws that are irritating at this price point, but if the buyer can keep the language at bay, so could the spectators.

 

[Jon Crow]

Wow, 750,- bucks? Rediculous!

I would have returned such a package of **** immediately to the sender!

Those heels welts, left side, outrageous

 

[Bfd70]

Russell Moccasin
The good the ugly and the bad

Background
After my last several boot purchases which were either engineers or western boots i was looking for a more practical daily driver. Boots for when i would spend the entire day on my feet walking. I was familiar with RM and intrigued by the idea of true moccasin construction. They seemed to have pretty solid bonafides. I hesitated for a little while because their i age is pretty solidly wrapped up in hunting culture. In theory i suppose i support that but it’s not really my thing. Then back in July a youtube influencer (?) (reviewer) who goes by the Iron Snail announced he was doing a collab with RM. I found his videos both informative and amusing so when I saw and liked the design i clicked buy it now.

Good
When the box arrived i couldn’t believe their were boots inside. It was too light. I own several pairs of PNW boots. The support on them is great but they’re absolute bricks. I think the overall lower weight of these boots will reduce fatigue and also make them more practical for warmer months. RM has a sizing tool on their site. I used this and my boots fit perfectly. The leather in the build is a burgundy cxl. It is beautiful. Deep red brown with the slightest hint of dark orange. As far as initial comfortability they are a 10/10. Snow has been deep here and i haven’t had the chance to give them a proper test run. I’m hoping their lack of firmness isn’t a problem for my lousy flat over pronating feet.

Ugly
There is no other way to describe the QC other than very bad. There is a huge wobble in the top stitch. The stitching on one of the counters drop noticeably. There is a tab of leather that seems like it should have been cut but wasn’t. They smelled strongly of glue for the first 3 days. These boots were $750. At that price I would expect these to be kicked to factory seconds.

Bad
I have reached out to RM and Iron snail both on social media. Due to the holidays i have waited to hear back from them for 12 days prior to posting this. I have been completely ghosted. Therefore customer service 0/10.

I hope these boots stay comfortable and last me a long time and many miles. I think they will. But, I wouldn’t support RM or IS with one hot penny. I really wanted these to work out great. There are several other models that I’m interested in. I love the idea of supporting a small outfit in the midwest. Unfortunately i wouldn’t deal with them again unless they were giving boots away for free.

Update
Spoke to RM on the phone. They said that my initial email went to spam.
They agreed that they could be done better.
I was offered two options:
1. Rebuild. Approx 3 month wait.
2. 20% discount considering these seconds.

I’m not sure what i want to do.

 

[MrProper]

Update
Spoke to RM on the phone. They said that my initial email went to spam.
They agreed that they could be done better.
I was offered two options:
1. Rebuild. Approx 3 month wait.
2. 20% discount considering these seconds.

I’m not sure what i want to do.

Rebuild

 

[red devil]

Rebuild

That's what I'd go for as well

 

[Tom71]

Update
Spoke to RM on the phone. They said that my initial email went to spam.
They agreed that they could be done better.
I was offered two options:
1. Rebuild. Approx 3 month wait.
2. 20% discount considering these seconds.

I’m not sure what i want to do.

I am glad that they reacted.

Food for thought:

I would take the discount if you can unsee the flaws. Personally, I wouldn’t mind the botched stitching as it’s purely cosmetic, and a functional boot gets sone personal leeway in that regard.
I‘d certainly take more issue with the heel. It just looks sloppy and is arguably a functional issue in that it could become a tripping hazard when you hike off-piste and the upper side of the sole gets caught under rocks, twigs etc.

If you opt for the remake, I would strongly try to resist the three months wait. They messed up the original building AND the QC, so you should expect to at least jump the queue. It’s not that you would get anything you not already paid for, and it’s a nuisance in any respect even with just a few weeks wait.

Just a remark as to the notion that the boots “could have been made better”. Boots costing half the price or even less usually at least look better made.

All in all, the reaction seems appropriate to me. They own their mistake, and that usually mellows my mood.

 

[Boyo]

Sorry these didn't work out.. you spent real money on a pair of boots that should've been perfect. they weren't .. that *****. ( $750 is expensive for boots/shoes)

I would go for the re-build as well, with the 3 month wait you should be wearing the new pair in the later half of March after the snow melts, which is when youd most likely be wearing them anyway

 

[Bfd70]

I am glad that they reacted.

Food for thought:

I would take the discount if you can unsee the flaws. Personally, I wouldn’t mind the botched stitching as it’s purely cosmetic, and a functional boot gets sone personal leeway in that regard.
I‘d certainly take more issue with the heel. It just looks sloppy and is arguably a functional issue in that it could become a tripping hazard when you hike off-piste and the upper side of the sole gets caught under rocks, twigs etc.

If you opt for the remake, I would strongly try to resist the three months wait. They messed up the original building AND the QC, so you should expect to at least jump the queue. It’s not that you would get anything you not already paid for, and it’s a nuisance in any respect even with just a few weeks wait.

Just a remark as to the notion that the boots “could have been made better”. Boots costing half the price or even less usually at least look better made.

All in all, the reaction seems appropriate to me. They own their mistake, and that usually mellows my mood.

Yes, i feel much better having spoken to them. I also agree about jumping the que. i had a mtm pair from another maker that initially had a 6 month wait. They showed up and there was an obvious sizing issue. I had new boots in 14 days

 

[AeroFan_07]

Glad they are at least trying to help. I agree - rebuild would be my choice as well.

Hope they do better the next time around.

 

[Herrvallmo]

Been searching a pair of brown chelsea boots for a while and recently found these beauties from a brand called Gold Rush(new to me)

I love the western-style stitching, the color of the suede and the sleek design of the boots, and from my very limited time with them the quality seems rather nice.

Here are some bad pictures

Cheers!

 

[Trouser Bark]

2. 20% discount considering these seconds.

No way. A $600 pair of shoes ($750 x .8) is built to a higher standard than the pair provided.

If you keep them they'll be a daily reminder of a transaction you wished you'd never made. A rebuild or a return for credit and a rethink.

 

[Bfd70]

No way. A $600 pair of shoes ($750 x .8) is built to a higher standard than the pair provided.

If you keep them they'll be a daily reminder of a transaction you wished you'd never made. A rebuild or a return for credit and a rethink.

That is the way i’m leaning.