Footwear to go with our jackets

[Jin431]

Thanks, I went decided to go regular for the first pair - I can see how I could end up wth more orders lol - to see how everything feels.

Specs are finalised, just waiting for the invoice. Lead time is 4 - 5 months

They are pretty good keeping up with production times. Yes, it's so easy to order from them lol the fact that you only pay 50% off at first makes it easier on the wallet too.

 

[dannyk]

Hey everyone. So I just happened to stumble across this episode of the Stitchdown Podcast. I’ve never listened before honestly. Have read articles from them but never this. It’s a history of Pacific Northwest boot makers. And southwest of Canada because they included Viberg. It’s Whites, Wesco, Viberg and Nicks. It’s just Over an hour long. My favorite part was learning about Nicks. All I ever heard was that it was founded by a guy who once worked at Whites. His story is so much cooler. He was born of Russian parents in the Ukraine. They were cobblers and farmers where he first learned the trade. WW2 happens and he’s drafted into the Soviet Army. His unit gets overrun and they all die or get captured but he manages to escape by himself. He spends 7 months traveling alone by night. Hiding in barns and garages and relying on the help of citizens. 7 months alone on a March home. He gets home only to find the Germans by this point have taken his home and he’s captured anyway. Eventually he’s liberated by the US army. From there he develops an appreciation of America and moves there. He hears about whites and says hey I know how to make boots. Works there for 15 years saving up money to open Nicks. Named after him Nikolai. Works there for 25ish years and then retires. What a story !
Some other cool stories along the way of all these brands, that one was just amazing. Happy listening if you’ve got the time.
https://www.stitchdown.com/stitchdo...SndVokMbU1sp6JBVhoMX3pVMga04mOTMz7YLoCsjMWBrk

 

[Mrfrown]

Hey everyone. So I just happened to stumble across this episode of the Stitchdown Podcast. I’ve never listened before honestly. Have read articles from them but never this. It’s a history of Pacific Northwest boot makers. And southwest of Canada because they included Viberg. It’s Whites, Wesco, Viberg and Nicks. It’s just Over an hour long. My favorite part was learning about Nicks. All I ever heard was that it was founded by a guy who once worked at Whites. His story is so much cooler. He was born of Russian parents in the Ukraine. They were cobblers and farmers where he first learned the trade. WW2 happens and he’s drafted into the Soviet Army. His unit gets overrun and they all die or get captured but he manages to escape by himself. He spends 7 months traveling alone by night. Hiding in barns and garages and relying on the help of citizens. 7 months alone on a March home. He gets home only to find the Germans by this point have taken his home and he’s captured anyway. Eventually he’s liberated by the US army. From there he develops an appreciation of America and moves there. He hears about whites and says hey I know how to make boots. Works there for 15 years saving up money to open Nicks. Named after him Nikolai. Works there for 25ish years and then retires. What a story !
Some other cool stories along the way of all these brands, that one was just amazing. Happy listening if you’ve got the time.
https://www.stitchdown.com/stitchdo...SndVokMbU1sp6JBVhoMX3pVMga04mOTMz7YLoCsjMWBrk

thank you for sharing this. My knowledge was likewise limited sounds like a very interesting listen

 

[dannyk]

thank you for sharing this. My knowledge was likewise limited sounds like a very interesting listen

Very interesting stuff. I figured TFL people would love. We buy what we buy not just for the quality but also the history, stories and folklore. It was good stuff. Still can’t believe Nikolais life either.

 

[Kalmer]

Hey everyone. So I just happened to stumble across this episode of the Stitchdown Podcast. I’ve never listened before honestly. Have read articles from them but never this. It’s a history of Pacific Northwest boot makers. And southwest of Canada because they included Viberg. It’s Whites, Wesco, Viberg and Nicks. It’s just Over an hour long. My favorite part was learning about Nicks. All I ever heard was that it was founded by a guy who once worked at Whites. His story is so much cooler. He was born of Russian parents in the Ukraine. They were cobblers and farmers where he first learned the trade. WW2 happens and he’s drafted into the Soviet Army. His unit gets overrun and they all die or get captured but he manages to escape by himself. He spends 7 months traveling alone by night. Hiding in barns and garages and relying on the help of citizens. 7 months alone on a March home. He gets home only to find the Germans by this point have taken his home and he’s captured anyway. Eventually he’s liberated by the US army. From there he develops an appreciation of America and moves there. He hears about whites and says hey I know how to make boots. Works there for 15 years saving up money to open Nicks. Named after him Nikolai. Works there for 25ish years and then retires. What a story !
Some other cool stories along the way of all these brands, that one was just amazing. Happy listening if you’ve got the time.
https://www.stitchdown.com/stitchdo...SndVokMbU1sp6JBVhoMX3pVMga04mOTMz7YLoCsjMWBrk

Something seems off here. The US army didn’t liberate Ukraine, the Soviet Union themselves did.
Unless he was captured in his hometown, then sent to fight/work in the Western Front.

 

[dannyk]

Something seems off here. The US army didn’t liberate Ukraine, the Soviet Union themselves did.
Unless he was captured in his hometown, then sent to fight/work in the Western Front.

They didn’t specify where he fought. Just born in the Ukraine. No idea where he fought or what years nor where he was sent to pow camp etc.... didn’t touch on it. Just spoke to the people at nicks and read an old newspaper article that mentioned it as well. That’s about the detail of it.

Or where exactly home was at that point in his life. Like he could have been born in the Ukraine and moved somewhere else in later years. I would love to know more of that story. His whole war experience sounds fascinating. But they didn’t really talk much about it.

 

[Jin431]

Truman Auburn Kudu Service Boots

 

[roadking04]

It’s Whites, Wesco, Viberg and Nicks.

I have a pair of Wesco harness boots and love them to death. I was recently thinking about getting a good lace up boot. I thought it was a no-brainer to go with the Wesco job masters. Until I found out about Nicks............. Been flip flopping since about October.

 

[Psant25]

I have a pair of Wesco harness boots and love them to death. I was recently thinking about getting a good lace up boot. I thought it was a no-brainer to go with the Wesco job masters. Until I found out about Nicks............. Been flip flopping since about October.

Check out franks boots too. He used to manage nicks.

https://franksboots.com/

 

[roadking04]

Check out franks boots too. He used to manage nicks.

Very nice also.

 

[Psant25]

Very nice also.

I think you really cannot go wrong with nicks, whites, wesco, etc

i have been on a cowboy boot kick so have not been buying pnw boots. Did wear my whites mp service boots today though. Solid boots. Little narrow though

 

[roadking04]

I think you really cannot go wrong with nicks, whites, wesco, etc

For sure. I kinda have it narrowed down between Wesco and Nicks. Only need one pair, I am sure they will last until I don't need them anymore.

 

[dannyk]

Keystone is made to order by Hukurokuju, a pretty well known cobbler in Tokyo specialising in repairing and refurbishing western boots.
https://mydenimlife.com/fukurokuju/
http://hukurokuju.com/blog/
I was told to contact mydenimlife by hukurokuju but never received any reply to my email to mydenimlife. I was going to visit the shop in Tokyo so have not sent a chaser. Hope you have better luck.
https://mydenimlife.com/key-stone-shoe-co/

I got an email back. It just told me the little I already could find by looking on the site and was also told to contact my denim life. Because they don’t speak much English and the denim life guy does and can coordinate. Which makes sense if they don’t speak English so well. But if you never heard back that’s not promising. And also begs the question @andyone do you maybe speak Japanese? If so that could explain how you managed to deal directly with the owner or head builder without needing to go through a 3rd party.

 

[andyone]

I got an email back. It just told me the little I already could find by looking on the site and was also told to contact my denim life. Because they don’t speak much English and the denim life guy does and can coordinate. Which makes sense if they don’t speak English so well. But if you never heard back that’s not promising. And also begs the question @andyone do you maybe speak Japanese? If so that could explain how you managed to deal directly with the owner or head builder without needing to go through a 3rd party.

Hi
No, I don't speak Japanese. I wrote in English to him and we wrote some emails to find the right sizing. Maybe it worked thanks to my poor English . His English was basic but it worked to place an order. At the end I sent him a picture of the outlines of my feet to find the right size.
If you don't hear back from "my denim life" I would write again and tell him that you didn't manage to get in contact...

Good luck

 

[Monitor]

Best part about these is that there's no crazy high-end, top-shelf horse **** tea core whatever version of 'em! Well, yet.

My day to day boots, made by Buffalo.

 

[Turnip]

Just some filigrane Aero Town Boots to go with the HWM today...

 

[Jin431]

Truman Black Horse Rump. Been loving the horse rump/**** boots, hefty but comfy. They also don't crease much which I think is cool, I have 3 and only boot is showing creasing on the vamp. I'm wondering if horse **** would be a good leather for an engineer? But it might not show the crease/rolls that worn engineers will have

(Boot with 5 wears, 3 of which was hikes that averages 6 miles)

 

[Psant25]

Truman Black Horse Rump. Been loving the horse rump/**** boots, hefty but comfy. They also don't crease much which I think is cool, I have 3 and only boot is showing creasing on the vamp. I'm wondering if horse **** would be a good leather for an engineer? But it might not show the crease/rolls that worn engineers will have


View attachment 303554

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(Boot with 5 wears, 3 of which was hikes that averages 6 miles)

They look great! My honcho western boots are what they call horse ****. It is horween horsehide. They are starting to get some nice grain in areas. Have two more pair in horse **** coming sometime. The factory has closed multiple times due to covid.

 

[Jin431]

They look great! My honcho western boots are what they call horse ****. It is horween horsehide. They are starting to get some nice grain in areas. Have two more pair in horse **** coming sometime. The factory has closed multiple times due to covid.

I remember they are the brown one that you paired with your brown JL, correct? How does it feel to wear? They sure look great and looked mighty comfy too. Does that company only make western boots?

 

[Psant25]

I remember they are the brown one that you paired with your brown JL, correct? How does it feel to wear? They sure look great and looked mighty comfy too. Does that company only make western boots?

Very comfortable. Yeah just western. But you can spec a round toe, low block roper heel or any heel really, any height, no scallop and have a non western looking boot like an engineer sans straps

and in horween horse for like 375 bucks made in el paso tx