Luc Punksblood
New in Town
- Messages
- 7
I think they're good bang for buck but find their pattern rather lackluster. Hard to explain but it's like the shaft is too wide front-to-back as if the upper ought to be longer so the curve at the instep could be closer to the shin. Their standard D width (in their engineers anyways) fits fairly wide which isn't inherently a bad thing. The leather is decently stuff but almost dry - the straps curled up really quick but I gave them a condition before laying some Obenauf's Heavy LP on them as I inted to put them through their paces on the bike.
I'm not optimistic about the them resisting water since I opted for leather insoles which happened to squeak so I powdered them and out them back in to find that when I step down into them the powder spits out of the stitching around the toe. Finally, if I were to order again I would reach out and request a sole upgrade as I know they have Dr. Sole's as an upgrade option and I'm not fond of their in-house sole pattern/feel but am in no rush to resole them now.
But they are genuinely handmade, goodyear welted or stitchdown construction, made to order in a timely fashion, and ultimately more affordable than even many better options on the used market. I would just hate for any of the potential downsides aforementioned to dissuade anyone from upgrading from these or end up giving up on engineers altogether.
As for the original poster, I constantly see short Chippewa's on Ebay for sub $500, at least in my size. Some Red Wings but substantially higher prices with the occasional great deal.
