Footwear to go with our jackets

[Psant25]

New stock mr lou pretty tempting. Anyone have this leather? Wondering if for the bike and wet weather I should get standard black oil tan or cxl. I think this is veg tan. Or $200 more get some Lofgren engineer boots in black cxl.

 

[Jin431]

New stock mr lou pretty tempting. Anyone have this leather? Wondering if for the bike and wet weather I should get standard black oil tan or cxl. I think this is veg tan. Or $200 more get some Lofgren engineer boots in black cxl.
View attachment 336402

I have it, it's my favorite black leather. @Ayeteael just got one too. This horse **** leather is pretty robust and can take a beating (took the service boots on hikes and they are pretty comfy and no real break in reqd), it doesn't rain much where i live so not sure how it will fair but I feel it can handle the abuse

 

[Psant25]

I have it, it's my favorite black leather. @Ayeteael just got one too. This horse **** leather is pretty robust and can take a beating (took the service boots on hikes and they are pretty comfy and no real break in reqd), it doesn't rain much where i live so not sure how it will fair but I feel it can handle the abuse

Ok thanks man

 

[dudewuttheheck]

Did a long term review of my Wesco x Standard and Strange Knuckle Draggers:

https://almostvintagestyle.com/2021/05/22/wesco-boots-long-term-review-after-3-5-years/

I also talked about how and why I dyed them.

 

[andyone]

New boots from Benzein in Badalassi Tobacco. Inspired by the Iron Ranger...

 

[Jin431]

@andyone you won the Tobacco badalassi grain lottery, that looks fantastic


@dudewuttheheck what is your take on how the Japanese boot maker ol shanks boot regarding their engineers?

 

[dudewuttheheck]

@andyone you won the Tobacco badalassi grain lottery, that looks fantastic


@dudewuttheheck what is your take on how the Japanese boot maker ol shanks boot regarding their engineers?

The boots are made by Brass so the quality should be good. I don't know if they do everything exactly the same way as with their own boots, however. Personally, I don't love the design. If it were me, I would just buy the classic narrow last engineers from Clinch which I think look vastly superior.

 

[Tusche]

Clinch horsebutt black overdye today.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

Beautiful boots @Tusche

 

[Pandemic]

Looking for a little advice, folks:

I got these Wesco's last year. They are comfortable and look pretty cool on. Even the cat approves. I'm aware that normal people see them looking straight down and see pretty much this:

But there are a couple of small complaints I have that keep nagging me from the back of my head - usually only really noticeable from ant's eye view. Firstly, the packer/woodsman heel curve is fairly slight - I think it would look nicer with a stronger curve Not full-on Cuban, but it about a half inch of heel removed from the back base would do it. Secondly, I ordered a Boss toe on advice from Baker's because I have wide feet (EEE). They said the MP and Morrison can't be made in that width. What I received are the old style 'bump toes'. Pretty bulbous when see from the passed-out drunk perspective of ground-level. Comfortable with the extra wiggle room though. I have thought about seeing if they could remove the celastic in the toe and make these natural.

So ... am I over thinking details and just need to stop seeing thinks from the ground perspective? I'm sure I could get a local cobbler to re-do the heel angle, but removing the toe celastic sounds like something I should get Bakers or Wesco to do, right?

With my wide-feet, I know I will never get the sleekness of Clinch or Loffgren boots.

What would you do?

 

[dudewuttheheck]

You're not overthinking it. I agree that the woodsman heel there is not curved enough. My favorite woodsman heels all have more curve than that.

In addition, I would think the toe would look better if it was lower so I would get the classic removed if I were in your position. It's up to you of course.

A quick correction though- a packer heel is straight angled in like a cuban heel, so saying woodsman/packer heel is inaccurate. I believe you are thinking of the term logger heel- woodsman and logger while cuban, packer, and cuban heels are similar to each other (though not identical. ) Sorry to be pedant, but these terms are a sticking point for me

 

[Pandemic]

You're not overthinking it. I agree that the woodsman heel there is not curved enough. My favorite woodsman heels all have more curve than that.

In addition, I would think the toe would look better if it was lower so I would get the classic removed if I were in your position. It's up to you of course.

A quick correction though- a packer heel is straight angled in like a cuban heel, so saying woodsman/packer heel is inaccurate. I believe you are thinking of the term logger heel- woodsman and logger while cuban, packer, and cuban heels are similar to each other (though not identical. ) Sorry to be pedant, but these terms are a sticking point for me

That's helpful, thanks. So woodsman and logger have a sweeping curve, while the packer is like a western/Cuban straight angle?

Do you think just removing the celastic cup would be enough or would some leather also have to come off the vamp before it is re-attached?

I'm not sure if I should ask Wesco/Bakers to do this, a local cobbler or mail it to someone like Brian the Bootmaker.

 

[Psant25]

That's helpful, thanks. So woodsman and logger have a sweeping curve, while the packer is like a western/Cuban straight angle?

Do you think just removing the celastic cup would be enough or would some leather also have to come off the vamp before it is re-attached?

I'm not sure if I should ask Wesco/Bakers to do this, a local cobbler or mail it to someone like Brian the Bootmaker.

I take all my boots to my local guy he finishes the heels a little nicer. They are always either off a little one compared to other or too much heel ledge for me. Charges me like 10 bucks a pair.

They cannot just take out the celastic. At least whites would not. Have a pair of boots at whites right now. I would assume wesco would say the same. Not sure if a different cobbler would try it. I dont think I would trust my local guy with that. Maybe brian or leathersniffer/bakers. You can do a full rebuild for like 235 or something. Little pricey but you can change the whole bottom. Bump toe is 9109 i think. Could do standard boss toe 9165 that has room. Then do whatever you want with heel. You get whole new bottom just shaft remains

my whites mp w cap toe were just too tight at the toes. They are rebuilding to 55 last and no cap toe. Same low block heel and commando half sole.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

That's helpful, thanks. So woodsman and logger have a sweeping curve, while the packer is like a western/Cuban straight angle?

Do you think just removing the celastic cup would be enough or would some leather also have to come off the vamp before it is re-attached?

I'm not sure if I should ask Wesco/Bakers to do this, a local cobbler or mail it to someone like Brian the Bootmaker.

Yes, woodsman and logger have the sweeping curve while the packer is more of a straight angle like a cuban heel.

I would probably have them relasted. I don't know if you can just take out the classic. If someone can do that affordable, then I might try that first and see how it worked out and then relast later if I needed to.

 

[Blackadder]

Looking for a little advice, folks:

I got these Wesco's last year. They are comfortable and look pretty cool on. Even the cat approves. I'm aware that normal people see them looking straight down and see pretty much this:

But there are a couple of small complaints I have that keep nagging me from the back of my head - usually only really noticeable from ant's eye view. Firstly, the packer/woodsman heel curve is fairly slight - I think it would look nicer with a stronger curve Not full-on Cuban, but it about a half inch of heel removed from the back base would do it. Secondly, I ordered a Boss toe on advice from Baker's because I have wide feet (EEE). They said the MP and Morrison can't be made in that width. What I received are the old style 'bump toes'. Pretty bulbous when see from the passed-out drunk perspective of ground-level. Comfortable with the extra wiggle room though. I have thought about seeing if they could remove the celastic in the toe and make these natural.

View attachment 337179 View attachment 337180

So ... am I over thinking details and just need to stop seeing thinks from the ground perspective? I'm sure I could get a local cobbler to re-do the heel angle, but removing the toe celastic sounds like something I should get Bakers or Wesco to do, right?

With my wide-feet, I know I will never get the sleekness of Clinch or Loffgren boots.

What would you do?

Agree that Clinch and Lofgren probably won't work for you but you may try the Viberg 2005 last soft toe, it has pointier tip but still fits wide.
Taking out the celastic in your Wesco may not work. With pointy toe boots, your toes will not reach the tip so the tip will collapse over time. If your toes reach the tip of your Wesco as that is how bulbous toe boots like munson last fit, removing the celastic is not gonna flatten the tip of your boots much.

 

[Mich486]

If I were in your position I’d try to sell them, recoup a little cash and just get a new pair in a sleeker last. I’m not a fan of bump toes.

I get that you need the width but do you also need the height? People also say that CXL stretches out a lot so maybe Lofgrens might work out?

As for the celastic toe imho is better to have it. Doesn’t have to be a bump toe. Without it you can end up with your big toes creating a small bump after break in which imho is unsightly. There are plenty of examples of that happening.

 

[Pandemic]

Thanks all. I’ll get my local cobbler to do the heel while I consider the toe.

 

[Jin431]

New to me from @JCSD Alden brown shell chukka

 

[yellowfever]

@JustinW FWIW my opinion is to leave them be. IMO they are awesome boots and look great from all angles, why mess with them? Trying to turn them into something they weren’t designed to be will not be that cheap and could very well end badly.

If you want a different toe profile and heel, keep these awesome boots as they are and a buy second pair with a different profile and look. Or if you really don’t like these boots, sell them and start again using what you’ve learned from this first purchase to dial in your perfect boot design and fit and order that instead.

But honestly these boots are great. Sure, I’d put their look at the more rugged end of things. But then they aren’t meant to be dress shoes - engineers are meant to be tough rugged work boots. Sure there is a fashion for sleeker dressier engineer boots and nothing wrong with that. If you like that style buy some instead/as well. But don’t butcher these fine boots. I’ve personally get a bump toe, tall shaft wesco boss engineers in the super heavy oil tan leather and another pair of Wesco’s engineers with the lower, sleeker MP last in lighter domain leather (essentially the Wesco mr Lou spec that I got made before the Mr Lou design even existed…). I love them both and they give me two contrasting options… no question the bump toe box is more comfortable/practical though and personally I love the look too.

The bump toe is the boss toe. You got what you ordered. I also think the straight heel is fine. A little tall for my taste, but still better for walking in than heels more designed for riding horses, climbing trees or poles - I presume you’re not planning on using the boots for those activities? And the boss toe is super comfortable and practical, you got good advice of getting boots that fit well and are comfortable. That’s a big win right there. Pull on boots fit is notoriously tricky to get right.

So my advice is to wear these fine boots and enjoy them and order another sleeker pair too if you want/can afford it.

Just my opinion! If you’re bored I did a mega long multiple post on my two wesco engineer orders (see link below), which may be of interest. Though personally I think you already nailed it with these rugged handsome boots!

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/engineer-boots-harness-boots.43530/page-241

 

[AeroFan_07]

I've had these John Lofgren boots about 7 years. Yes!! they need a polish

These look great! Just like they should - well loved!