Footwear to go with our jackets

[Herrvallmo]

Speed hooks on work/hike boots are a mystery to me. If I intend to spend hours in a boot, it needs to fit. I don’t much care if it takes 30 or 50 seconds to get them on and lace them.

^ this, very much agree

 

[Bfd70]

Oh, they are very comfortable to wear, all right. I mean, with Dr. Jones being able to do all his crazy adventure stuff in them. And as an elderly guy too…

Jokes aside, they wear well. It’s just having to readjust the laces every hour or two that I find intolerable.

Speed hooks on work/hike boots are a mystery to me. If I intend to spend hours in a boot, it needs to fit. I don’t much care if it takes 30 or 50 seconds to get them on and lace them.
If I just hop into the car for ten minutes to grab some bread, I don’t put on lace-ups at all. I just stick to sneakers, Chelsea boots or even Birkenstocks.

Anyway, I have boots where the top rows are speed-hooks, and they work well. I just find it odd that makers with a higher-end approach seem to have more of an issue with getting the stuff right than others.

seems odd given how long the boots have been around. Is this a common issue detailed elsewhere?

 

[Tom71]

seems odd given how long the boots have been around. Is this a common issue detailed elsewhere?

Not that I know. That’s really why I brought it up. Every foot is different, so I guess it’s fair to assume that such “issues” may be very individual too.

I have experienced the connection “speed hooks - tongue slip - loosening of the laces” with the Aldens and two pairs of Crockett&Jones, so I rally can’t call it a “pattern”.

 

[DweezilMac]

seems odd given how long the boots have been around. Is this a common issue detailed elsewhere?

Share the experience that it happens with the Indys, I think mine are the 405 CXLs (?) and have the same issue... if I'm being picky, the alignment of the speed-hooks isn't perfect either. I've got lots of other boots with speed hooks and only get the tongue slip on maybe one other pair? Not sure you can conclude much from a sample set of two pairs of Indy's but For What its Worth! Also have a pair I picked up second hand with the tongue cut and laced through, so can second the solution on your Whites!

 

[Edward]

View attachment 676938
please don't look at the stitching, it's very budget friendly engineer and hand lasted and hand welted, and finished within 10 days

Lovely looking pair of boots. With the right marketing they could sell a lot of those at that sort of price. Hide reminds me of the Horween steer (I think) on the small run of boots SJC did years ago. The deep gusset reminds me a bit of the Lewis Atlantic:

Alden Indy on a business-casual retreat. I love the looks, and I like the overall craftsmanship.

What I don’t like is the lacing system: the speed hooks never seem to align properly, creating friction on the laces and wriggling them loose every hour or so. Additionally, the tongue slips to the outer side of the feet.

Notably, I have the same issue with my Crocket&Jones Islay boots but never with a boot from the traditional work boot makers. I wonder if the higher end makers compromise on the utility factor of their footwear (or if it’s just my odd feet).

View attachment 677980

Nice socks! Alden Indys are on my "one day" list. Not realistic with how weak the pound has been this last nine years, but one day, probably on a visit to the Us to avoid import tax... For now, I have the Wested copy boot. Mine are from the early, Chinese made run. They're very nice - not, I'm sure, up to the standard of the Aldens, but for a much smaller outlay. I hear tell the new version is made elsewhere and is better again.

William Lennon's are a regular feature for me. I have the Chukkas in black rough out, boots in tan leather and some modified ones in brown. At the price (well under 300 GBP), I've yet to find anything better.

I love my WLs. On a par, qualitatively, with my Iron Rangers, and a smidge more affordable.

 

[DweezilMac]

Lovely looking pair of boots. With the right marketing they could sell a lot of those at that sort of price. Hide reminds me of the Horween steer (I think) on the small run of boots SJC did years ago. The deep gusset reminds me a bit of the Lewis Atlantic:

View attachment 678625




Nice socks! Alden Indys are on my "one day" list. Not realistic with how weak the pound has been this last nine years, but one day, probably on a visit to the Us to avoid import tax... For now, I have the Wested copy boot. Mine are from the early, Chinese made run. They're very nice - not, I'm sure, up to the standard of the Aldens, but for a much smaller outlay. I hear tell the new version is made elsewhere and is better again.





I love my WLs. On a par, qualitatively, with my Iron Rangers, and a smidge more affordable.

Not yet adept enough at the tricks of FDL to insert multiple quotes / replies (where can I find guidance?) - but the Grant Stones do some very nice affordable and quality moc-toe boots (a la Indy) and my view is they’re likely better quality then most Indy’s or Alden's generically. BTW - proxy shippers can give you options in buying from the US… if your heart is set on Original Alden Indy’s! DM me…

Also have some William Lennon’s branded Dundas, but made by WL. They’ve served me well.

I have to say I’ve also been eyeing @navetsea’s Engineer boots enviously, …would be up for an FDL GMTO if anyone else is so inclined?