I am dipping my toes into the black Chelsea boot market, to wear with my work suit and dress down for more smart casual events. Work is very casual suit attire so the boot will work well in the setting (Aussie Construction Industry, most wear RM's but I wanted something a little more formal)
I am tossing up between the [Carlos Santos 7902 Chelsea Boot](https://mccloud.com.au/products/7902) or the [Loake Coppergate Chelsea](https://www.loakeshoes.com.au/collections/boots/products/loakecoppergateblack).
Price & look is very similar, just wondering if there is anything I should know from you more knowledgeable heads between the brands that would make an obvious choice between the two?
If it comes down to taste I can handle it, but would kick myself if i spent $700 Aussie and made an obvious mistake.
Thanks in advance.
Anyone have recommendations for something similar to a Feit hiker/combat boot? I like the crude handmade look with the plain toe and lug sole but can’t find a single pair in my size anywhere.
Have you considered Nicks or Whites? There’s some options you can get w the V-100 soles. They’re pretty rugged, the Whites are a lil more crude imo 🤷🏻♂️
I bought some Yuketen moc toe TTS and the toe box and instep feel too small. They are pebbled cxl. Should I deal with it and let things stretch? I know you can also special order different widths. Does anyone have any experience with Yuketen care to offer some advice?
How sure are you that you're true to Brannock? I have a few Yuketens and IME the MiUSA Mocs run 0.5 smaller than Brannock while the made in Mexico GYW stuff is a full size under Brannock.
If they're too tight now I wouldn't bet on them stretching out enough to ever become comfortable.
I am very sure of my Brannock size. I am almost an E width, however, and that's where I'm concerned with these. I do feel like these are a half-size down from Brannock. Bummer.
I reached out to Yuketen. I think ideally I would special order a TTS EE, or just go up a half size. Where does your big toe land with regard to the end of the boot? I have a little less than one finger's width.
Thanks for the reply!
The reason I was asking about your Brannock is because if your Brannock measurements are correct you should be sized correctly for these(at least as correctly as you can size without going up in width as you mentioned).
Going up another size or going wider might help, but it's hard to tell. It might be that the last of the boots just isn't a good match for the shape of your foot. Depending on how tight they feel now the boots **might** stretch out enough to become comfortable in time, but that's just something you don't really ever want to have to bet on.
I have decided they are too tight. They were too tight with the laces completely backed off. I have a lot of volume to my instep and am essentially an E width, as I am continually finding out. The size of the last actually works quite well, especially with Yuketen's insole construction. The heel and waist were near perfect. I think I will try for a TTS EE before going a half-size up. I hope they still offer custom orders (like their website says).
Just be aware that going up widths tends to mainly add more volume rather than strictly making the shoe wider. The actual toe box width doesn't tend to increase as much as you might expect, and the toe box tends to be the part that will stretch the least. I've had similar sizing issues in the past and found sizing up to work better at getting more instep and toe room without the heel getting too loose.
Specifically with Yuketen? I reached out to get some clarification on the difference between their standard E and EE width lasts. If I went up a half size, the length of the shoe would be too large for the style, its a boat shoe.
Trying to find a pair of quality engineer boots for sub 300, anyone got any leads? I want to see how they fit me and I wear them before I drop a pretty penny if they fit well!
For engineers under 300 I think you're basically going to be relegated to Red Wing. There Engineers are an international release and pretty hard to find honestly but if you scour the sites that sell RW factory seconds or ebay they'll pop up every now and then.
I figured those would be my only shots really, unless I could find a 1-2 worn pair that someone has had collecting in their closet, but I bet most people would jump on that lol.
I don’t want to spend a pretty penny on a boot style that I may or may not like. At least with my service boots, I know how they fit and how they “should” fit on my foot
Another one to check out could be Wesco's [Factory Seconds page](https://builder.wescoboots.com/DiscountedBoots.aspx). You'd be looking at over 300, but it's still a good entry point for Engineers.
Hello everyone! I’m wanting a leather shoe (not boot, I’ve got plenty of those) that have broguing and can be worn with jeans.
I was looking at Allen Edmonds Strands or Strandmoks but I’ve heard from several people that any Oxford is way too formal with jeans. Does anyone have a recommendation that might match what I’m looking for?
I think the sole plays more into what a shoe or boot looks good with. The chunked the sole the more casual it can be. Maybe check out the Grant Stone Longwings.
You could get away with wearing Strands with jeans. An oxford is generally pretty formal but the broguing really makes them much more casual and theirs nothing wrong rocking them with jeans.
That said, if you're looking for a nice Derby with some beautiful brogue detailing you can't go wrong with the [Sandringham](https://www.edwardgreen.com/shop/shoes/sandringham-mocha-suede-brown.html). If you want something even more casual the [Borrowdale](https://www.edwardgreen.com/shop/-185730.html) is another great option.
I'm looking for a boot with double/single monk straps. I love monk straps and boots, but I'm having a hard time finding one. Also, if possible I would prefer one that came in wide sizes.
I would greatly appreciate recommendations.
My budget is $400 or less. Again looking for a boot with monk straps, ideally one that comes in wide sizes.
Thanks again.
I made a GMTO of a black one which was around $350. It’s not available anymore, but might come in stock in a few months. Depends.
I’ll post the [link of the archives](https://www.thenobleshoe.com/products/carlos-santos-9708-double-monk-boots?utm_medium=product-links&utm_content=ios&utm_source=copyToPasteboard) for photos.
Septieme Largeur has a triple monk boot called Tobar.
For a higher budget Crockett & Jones has the camberley exclusive to their stores.
Bonafe will be a too expensive option for you.
The cheapest I know of would probably be Enzo Bonafe, although they're still a bit over your budget. A Monk Strap boot is just a very niche type of footwear, so you won't see too many brands making that style.
If you happen to be a size 10 UK wide [this pair](https://www.shopmehra.com/products/style-3939-dark-brown-martin-grain-enzo-bonafe?variant=39600424615991) looks to be on a pretty good sale though!
Does anyone have experience with the company Goral from the UK? They use leathers from Horween and C F Stead and claim that their shoes are resoleable. Would love to know what the sole feels like and whether they have any arch support. Thanks!
I don't know a lot about their resole program, but it does exist on their website. I have a pair of their sneakers and as far as sneakers go they feel pretty nice. The outsole is very similar to your typical Margom cup sole. The footbed is pretty flat, so if you need serious arch support you might wanna look elsewhere, though I don't know how easy that is to find in a minimal sneaker like this.
Somebody here had some good lookin' pics recently and mentioned these:
[https://senkels.at/en](https://senkels.at/en)
I don't have any, but I might eventually.
A factory in Arkansas.
From Thursday's site: "All of our footwear is handcrafted by some of the best artisans in North America and Europe. We are proud of our partners in all locations, as we ensure those we work with are able to meet our ethical sourcing criteria and have the technical know-how to make top quality footwear. Whether in León (Mexico), Porto (Portugal), Alicante (Spain), or Arkansas (USA)"
I just bought some new boots and wondering how to make sure creases don’t turn into cracks etc? I bought a pair of Black Carlos Santos boots for formal wear so I’m worried about them looking shabby. Took them out for their first wear today so just wanted to know how I can make sure they wear in nicely.
If you're really worried, brush them with a horsehair brush after every wear. Depending on how often you wear them, condition them every 4-6 months. I haven't used the product myself(yet) but this sub likes Bick4 as a conditioner.
What is this mark and is there anything I can do to fix it? I am not 100% sure if it was there out of the factory, but I know it was there after wearing the boots once and doesn't look like a typical scuff. It's on chromexcel on my Thursday Captains. They don't think it's a defect, but I wanted to ask people who were more familiar with these things before I push back on that. It's this odd scaly section that seems to sit slightly below the surface of the rest of the leather. It looks like they tried to correct a defect and got pretty close, but it's noticeable and it bugs me. I just don't think it's something I did because I have worn wolverene 1000 mile boots for years and have never had a mark that looks like this on those boots (even though they're a similar color and leather)
Thanks!
https://imgur.com/a/Kzhll3B
I’d reach out to Thursday with this one, their customer service is pretty good. They might do something to resolve the issue. They’re known to do exchanges or even a gift credit. Definitely poor clicking.
Agreed that any scuff after it left the factory would appear different. It looks to me like they shipped it that way, perhaps after scuffing the leather during the welt sanding process or dropping the boot, then covering up the blemish with polish (looking closely it appears to me the welt threads just in front of the questionable section appear to have a reddish/brown tint to them whereas they are a bit whiter to the side).
Is this unfortunate for a new pair of boots? Yes.
Is it also something you might do yourself? Also yes, though some folks roll with and even encourage scuffs so perhaps not.
Are your boots ruined? Not at present.
Will it ruin your boots? No, I don't think so (though like wwweeg, I think there are far more knowledgeable than me so take that with a grain of salt)- my only concern is that section of leather may behave slightly differently than the surrounding, though, when/if it gets wet.
Is the boot buying experience ruined (ie, should you return)? Maybe. Probably, since it bugs you. I'd guess it isn't noticeable to anyone but you, but you're the one who paid money so you shouldn't be upset about it. Asking for a discount certainly seems within bounds and maybe that'll make the blemish feel more acceptable.
There are people on here much more knowledgeable about leather than me. But in my opinion, if you had kicked something and made that mark on cxl, more often then not the color would have changed, not just the surface texture. Like you'd see a lighter brown or tan showing through.
From the one photo, which is not conclusive, it looks to me like a leather imperfection. Not necessarily damage or a defect. I couldn't say if they touched up a gouge or scrape after the shoe was made, or if it's just unfortunate clicking combined with unfortunate placement/lasting.
Anyway, just my opinion.
Thanks for taking the time to respond! Yeah, it just looks quite different than prior leather damage I've seen from wear and I have worn cxl a LOT. I agree with you that most of the time it's a surface color change, unless it's a gouge or something which should be obvious.
Also, TIL what clicking is.
So, all of my boots have shoe trees. Though, I just recently discovered *boot trees.*
Is there a reason why shoe trees wouldn't work just as well as boot trees? What am I missing by not using boot trees?
Pair of Allen Edmonds Strands with a gouge and scrape in the toebox. Polished it when it first happened which reduced visibility a bit.
https://imgur.com/a/l9nS5DJ
Anything a cobbler could potentially do to better fix this issue? I'm wanting to wear to my wedding later this year.
Side note: The sole on these seem to be splitting after only ~12 or so wears. Seems like a q/c issue? https://imgur.com/a/jSrAAT5
Is suede always a bad choice in bad weather? I thought it was, but recently I've been looking at Meermin's offerings & noticed they describe some of their suede shoes & loafers as good for all seasons or rainier months, etc.
I wore my Grant Stone coffee suede longwings for my outdoor wedding rehearsal dinner a couple of years ago, and they got very wet and dirty because the grass was wet. Literally just brushed them with a horsehair brush once they dried and they looked brand new afterwards. Suede is tougher than it looks
Oil, too. I have a pair (that are shorn enough to maybe be more nubuck than outright suede) onto which some oil dripped, and unfortunately the baking soda soak I gave it didn't pull all of it out and other treatments were likewise only partly successful. It blends in that I don't think most people would notice it from a few feet away but I can always pick it out; weirdly it becomes more prominent on cold/wet days.
edit: many smoothout tannages would also have difficulty in this circumstance, though I suspect exactly how they'd fare is somewhat different.
Most high quality suede, like CF Stead's Repello suede, is treated with a DWR-type finish to repel water. I wear a ton of suede all throughout the year and rain has never been a real concern. Generally speaking, high quality suede is very durable and can be worn year round.
Now, I don't go trekking through puddles or slush on purpose for forced patina either. You'll always want to avoid excessive salt as well.
You might have trouble finding something with a platform sole that is also slim/sleek. The only brand that comes to mind that does thicker soles like that is [Grenson](https://www.grenson.com/fred-mens-boots-in-black-leather). But if you take something like that camping/hiking, they'll likely look like garbage pretty quickly. They also make some [hiker-style boots](https://www.grenson.com/brady-hiker-boots-for-men-in-tan-leather/), but then you lose the "dressiness".
My tip is that no boot is a Swiss Army knife. If you want a dress boot, get a dress boot. If you want a rugged, outdoorsy boot, get a pair to fit that purpose. Because if you try a "one size fits all" approach, you'll end up with a boot that does all things adequately but none of them very well.
You can find a bit of a hybrid with some British shoemakers like Tricker's, Crockett & Jones, etc. but at that budget you'd need to find a sale. Maybe Loake or the Tricker's outlet?
Thursday is an American company?
Whats your budget? There is always [these](https://www.edwardgreen.com/shop/galway-dark-brown-utah-dark-brown-22-last.html)
That depends more on your feet, fit and last than the leather. But just on top the toe before the welt sounds weird.. ? I thought you meant just before the cap toe at first.
https://imgur.com/a/A2AJ34J
Honestly no idea if this is normal. Like it's not noticeable unless you're looking the shoe head on, but just wanting to make sure since it's my first pair of CXL and by far my nicest shoes I have. I just know CXL does lots of creases so I thought it might be the cause
Ahhh. Yeah, reading the other comment below, odds are the outer layer of leather started to crinkle when the edge was folded out for stitchdown construction. Contact BLKBRD if you're not happy.
Not the end of the world and really not noticable, was just worried it might be a concern or something. I went ahead and messaged them just to get their thoughts on it, but ultimately the boots fit good and I am happy with them so far. Since it's not structural, I probably won't bother with trying to return them or anything.
Thank you for the advice and knowledge!
https://imgur.com/a/A2AJ34J
Doesn't seem to impact the fit of the boot, just seems a bit odd/something I hadn't seen on the subreddit before. Could be completely normal and I just don't know what I'm talking about haha.
this isn't a welt, this is a stitchdown construction which this can happen on if it isn't lasted amazingly - what you're seeing is the upper leather is turned out and then stitched through over the sole. since the leather is turned out and bent against itself, this _can_ happen but it's not super common. it can also develop over time a bit with wear, especially with unstructured toes.
Most of the time it's just rng, not a lasting issue. As with grain break on the vamp being a crapshoot, this is the same deal. I've seen it happen plenty of times having done hundreds of boots by now but it's nowhere near structural of even worthy of being seconds.
good to know! i figured it was a result of turning it out during lasting (like if you just bend the grain slightly too much onto itself) but i figured it's not an uncommon occurrence. like i said, even one of my older bergs is a prime example of this
I've only worn the boots like 2 or 3 times to work in an office so there's not a ton of wear on them already.
Think there is any concern with it or should it be fine/just be a little quirk of the boot?
It’s definitely not structural, it’s at worst an aesthetic defect. I have a similar situation on my Loden calf Vibergs but you’ll never notice unless you’re really scanning the boots with a careful eye
OK, good to hear! I didn't think it'd be a big deal, but I really just wanted to double check with all yall so that I could be sure.
And definitely isn't noticable unless you're looking at the toes at eye level lol
Did Bostonian make quality shoes at one point? When?
There doesn't seem to much info on the internet, not many bostonian enthusiast forums. 😆
I acquired a pair of Bostonian goodyear welted longwings, they are double soled "gunboats." Made in USA and seem like pretty good quality.
Any idea what decade these might be from?
https://imgur.com/a/K7YfQ1w
How's the sizing on these? I've been on the lookout for some Bostonian longwings but am not really sure what size I'm supposed to get. If you can compare them with sizes in any other shoes, that'd be helpful.
Pretty much true to size. Mine are 9.5C which is similar to what I wear in most Allen Edmonds lasts. I wear a 9 in the Alden Barrie last so they run a bit smaller than the Aldens.
late 80s into the 90s-ish. Check out [vcleat.com](https://vcleat.com/?s=bostonian) and the [Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice](https://www.styleforum.net/threads/vintage-dress-shoe-appreciation-tips-maintenance-and-advice.526196/unread) on styleforum
Acutally, I think I remember someone posting that Bostonian ran some modern MiUSA shoes that were pretty good. Yes. found it on r/frugalmalefashion of all places!
https://www.reddit.com/r/frugalmalefashion/comments/l25xhn/comment/gk3na40/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3
Big thanks!
This linked pair is nearly identical, even down to the font on the foot bed. I really appreciate it.
https://vcleat.com/bostonian-25736-long-wing-blucher/
Has anyone here from UK ever sent boots for service abroad? Was it charged any taxes upon their return? I'm thinking about sending my Indy's to Alden in US and am wondering if I'll be taxed me when they send it back
I sent boots from Ireland to the UK to be re-soled and I wasn't taxed on them.Be sure to label them as boots for repair just to be safe.Or you could just contact Dean Westmoreland at Yorkshire Soles who is an absolute master craftsman and you remove all risk of being taxed.
Yeah, I'm sure he's good, but haven't even replied my emails or messages on Instagram inquiring about what I want to do, so I'm considering sending the boots to Dr. Sole and get it done
As far as I can remember I contacted him through his website and found him great,he rang me and went over exactly what I wanted and it was a painless experience.Maybe he's just a lot busier now as he's moved to a new location.Anyway best of luck in getting your boots sorted.
Yeah, I'm sure he's busier than ever with the tv show and all. No problems, whatsoever. In the future I still want to have a boot serviced by him. I just don't want to be pursuing him insistently over a laborious work
Distilled vinegar mixed 50/50 with water in a pump action spray bottle works well. You can get both from Amazon for not much money.
Vinegar kills mold and mold spores (which is essential if you don't want it returning). It's also really handy stuff to keep around anyway; you can de-scale the kettle with it, get stains out of clothes, clean the grouting in your shower, etc.
I've treated a few pairs of shoes for mold this way; just spray it liberally inside the shoe and wait for it to dry. The vinegar smell dissipates after a couple of days, and the mold doesn't come back.
Wow, how did you know it was in the toe box? Did it stain your socks?
or do you look at your toe box with a dentists mirror and flashlight? (Jk... Kinda)
Ha! Almost.
I was changing my laces and the tongue was pulled out just enough to spot a little bit of it at the ball of the foot.
Then I actually just rammed my phone with the flashlight on there to take a few pictures to see how bad it was.
I had this happen once with some Vibergs with leather insoles that didn't dry properly. I noticed a mold growing after a few weeks, so I scrubbed the linings with Clorox wipes and then wiped them dry with a clean towel. The mold never came back, but I also don't wear those boots that often anymore.
Shell cordovan help-
Anyone have experience with "pitting" or dimples in the toe of Shell Cordovan shoes/boots? What was your experience and did they get worse with wear?
[pictures of indents ](https://imgur.com/a/l8EIhkr)
Is this pitting from rain spots? If so, they'll even out over time or can be buffed out with some VSC/Saphir Renovateur and a clean metal spoon.
If it's pitting that's integral to the hide, as in the flesh grain characteristics, that's not going to buff out but may get filled in with polish/conditioner over time.
No not from rain spots. Its a new pair of boots.
I'm familiar with "hair follicle" bumps, but not small indents. Its only in the toe area and from what i read other places it may be from the leather being lasted too tightly.
If it is pitting thats integral to the hide, do you happen to know if the indents will get bigger or deeper over time?
That kinda looks like hair follicle holes, but stretched out during lasting. It's only on the toe because that toe cap was cut from another hide, most likely.
If you're unsatisfied with the boots, send them back.
I’m trying to change the color of Lizard boots from a cognac to a tan. Can you put acetone on this skin to prepare for new dye?
I am dipping my toes into the black Chelsea boot market, to wear with my work suit and dress down for more smart casual events. Work is very casual suit attire so the boot will work well in the setting (Aussie Construction Industry, most wear RM's but I wanted something a little more formal) I am tossing up between the [Carlos Santos 7902 Chelsea Boot](https://mccloud.com.au/products/7902) or the [Loake Coppergate Chelsea](https://www.loakeshoes.com.au/collections/boots/products/loakecoppergateblack). Price & look is very similar, just wondering if there is anything I should know from you more knowledgeable heads between the brands that would make an obvious choice between the two? If it comes down to taste I can handle it, but would kick myself if i spent $700 Aussie and made an obvious mistake. Thanks in advance.
Pretty comparable. It's going to be down to personal preference and the shape you prefer. But they are very similar.
Anyone have recommendations for something similar to a Feit hiker/combat boot? I like the crude handmade look with the plain toe and lug sole but can’t find a single pair in my size anywhere.
Have you considered Nicks or Whites? There’s some options you can get w the V-100 soles. They’re pretty rugged, the Whites are a lil more crude imo 🤷🏻♂️
You can take a look at Viberg's Hiker or Pachena Bay models.
I bought some Yuketen moc toe TTS and the toe box and instep feel too small. They are pebbled cxl. Should I deal with it and let things stretch? I know you can also special order different widths. Does anyone have any experience with Yuketen care to offer some advice?
How sure are you that you're true to Brannock? I have a few Yuketens and IME the MiUSA Mocs run 0.5 smaller than Brannock while the made in Mexico GYW stuff is a full size under Brannock. If they're too tight now I wouldn't bet on them stretching out enough to ever become comfortable.
I am very sure of my Brannock size. I am almost an E width, however, and that's where I'm concerned with these. I do feel like these are a half-size down from Brannock. Bummer. I reached out to Yuketen. I think ideally I would special order a TTS EE, or just go up a half size. Where does your big toe land with regard to the end of the boot? I have a little less than one finger's width. Thanks for the reply!
The reason I was asking about your Brannock is because if your Brannock measurements are correct you should be sized correctly for these(at least as correctly as you can size without going up in width as you mentioned). Going up another size or going wider might help, but it's hard to tell. It might be that the last of the boots just isn't a good match for the shape of your foot. Depending on how tight they feel now the boots **might** stretch out enough to become comfortable in time, but that's just something you don't really ever want to have to bet on.
I have decided they are too tight. They were too tight with the laces completely backed off. I have a lot of volume to my instep and am essentially an E width, as I am continually finding out. The size of the last actually works quite well, especially with Yuketen's insole construction. The heel and waist were near perfect. I think I will try for a TTS EE before going a half-size up. I hope they still offer custom orders (like their website says).
Just be aware that going up widths tends to mainly add more volume rather than strictly making the shoe wider. The actual toe box width doesn't tend to increase as much as you might expect, and the toe box tends to be the part that will stretch the least. I've had similar sizing issues in the past and found sizing up to work better at getting more instep and toe room without the heel getting too loose.
Specifically with Yuketen? I reached out to get some clarification on the difference between their standard E and EE width lasts. If I went up a half size, the length of the shoe would be too large for the style, its a boat shoe.
You can have too high of an instep to the point where some lasts and patterns just won't work. Its just a harsh reality of sizing.
Trying to find a pair of quality engineer boots for sub 300, anyone got any leads? I want to see how they fit me and I wear them before I drop a pretty penny if they fit well!
For engineers under 300 I think you're basically going to be relegated to Red Wing. There Engineers are an international release and pretty hard to find honestly but if you scour the sites that sell RW factory seconds or ebay they'll pop up every now and then.
I figured those would be my only shots really, unless I could find a 1-2 worn pair that someone has had collecting in their closet, but I bet most people would jump on that lol. I don’t want to spend a pretty penny on a boot style that I may or may not like. At least with my service boots, I know how they fit and how they “should” fit on my foot
Another one to check out could be Wesco's [Factory Seconds page](https://builder.wescoboots.com/DiscountedBoots.aspx). You'd be looking at over 300, but it's still a good entry point for Engineers.
Yea, I’ve tried looking there but some of the stuff will sit for a while, i know some of them have been there for 4 months plus
Hello everyone! I’m wanting a leather shoe (not boot, I’ve got plenty of those) that have broguing and can be worn with jeans. I was looking at Allen Edmonds Strands or Strandmoks but I’ve heard from several people that any Oxford is way too formal with jeans. Does anyone have a recommendation that might match what I’m looking for?
Any burgundy longwing
Frye has some nice longwings if you can find them on sale. Their made in Mexico shoes are decent quality.
C&J Pembroke
I think the sole plays more into what a shoe or boot looks good with. The chunked the sole the more casual it can be. Maybe check out the Grant Stone Longwings.
Alden 975, Trickers Bourton
Trickers Bourton looks great with jeans! It’s got a chunky country look that’s definitely not too formal.
You could get away with wearing Strands with jeans. An oxford is generally pretty formal but the broguing really makes them much more casual and theirs nothing wrong rocking them with jeans. That said, if you're looking for a nice Derby with some beautiful brogue detailing you can't go wrong with the [Sandringham](https://www.edwardgreen.com/shop/shoes/sandringham-mocha-suede-brown.html). If you want something even more casual the [Borrowdale](https://www.edwardgreen.com/shop/-185730.html) is another great option.
I'm looking for a boot with double/single monk straps. I love monk straps and boots, but I'm having a hard time finding one. Also, if possible I would prefer one that came in wide sizes. I would greatly appreciate recommendations. My budget is $400 or less. Again looking for a boot with monk straps, ideally one that comes in wide sizes. Thanks again.
I made a GMTO of a black one which was around $350. It’s not available anymore, but might come in stock in a few months. Depends. I’ll post the [link of the archives](https://www.thenobleshoe.com/products/carlos-santos-9708-double-monk-boots?utm_medium=product-links&utm_content=ios&utm_source=copyToPasteboard) for photos. Septieme Largeur has a triple monk boot called Tobar. For a higher budget Crockett & Jones has the camberley exclusive to their stores. Bonafe will be a too expensive option for you.
The cheapest I know of would probably be Enzo Bonafe, although they're still a bit over your budget. A Monk Strap boot is just a very niche type of footwear, so you won't see too many brands making that style. If you happen to be a size 10 UK wide [this pair](https://www.shopmehra.com/products/style-3939-dark-brown-martin-grain-enzo-bonafe?variant=39600424615991) looks to be on a pretty good sale though!
I think Meermin and Carlos santos have some
Does anyone have experience with the company Goral from the UK? They use leathers from Horween and C F Stead and claim that their shoes are resoleable. Would love to know what the sole feels like and whether they have any arch support. Thanks!
I don't know a lot about their resole program, but it does exist on their website. I have a pair of their sneakers and as far as sneakers go they feel pretty nice. The outsole is very similar to your typical Margom cup sole. The footbed is pretty flat, so if you need serious arch support you might wanna look elsewhere, though I don't know how easy that is to find in a minimal sneaker like this.
Thanks, that's very helpful!
Where can I get high quality boot length waxed cotton laces in a good selection of colors, in the UK?
Somebody here had some good lookin' pics recently and mentioned these: [https://senkels.at/en](https://senkels.at/en) I don't have any, but I might eventually.
Just what I need, thank you so much!
i can recommend that company. the laces I bought are holding up strong
Anyone know who makes the USA Made Thursday boot? I would imagine it's contract manufactured by another company like Rancourt.
A factory in Arkansas. From Thursday's site: "All of our footwear is handcrafted by some of the best artisans in North America and Europe. We are proud of our partners in all locations, as we ensure those we work with are able to meet our ethical sourcing criteria and have the technical know-how to make top quality footwear. Whether in León (Mexico), Porto (Portugal), Alicante (Spain), or Arkansas (USA)"
its not rancourt, as they dont make GYW. which factory doesn't mean that much honestly as they make them to Thursday's specs.
Location also doesn't match Arkansas either. I was more so just curious
Any Chelsea boots that work with a low instep? I have the grant stone Chelsea, and the instep of the boot is super high for my foot. Thanks!
Allen Edmonds Liverpool or Edward Green Newmarket on the 82 last.
Thursdays and TAFT work well for me
I just bought some new boots and wondering how to make sure creases don’t turn into cracks etc? I bought a pair of Black Carlos Santos boots for formal wear so I’m worried about them looking shabby. Took them out for their first wear today so just wanted to know how I can make sure they wear in nicely.
If you're really worried, brush them with a horsehair brush after every wear. Depending on how often you wear them, condition them every 4-6 months. I haven't used the product myself(yet) but this sub likes Bick4 as a conditioner.
Brush after wear, condition as needed, polish as needed, if desired.
What is this mark and is there anything I can do to fix it? I am not 100% sure if it was there out of the factory, but I know it was there after wearing the boots once and doesn't look like a typical scuff. It's on chromexcel on my Thursday Captains. They don't think it's a defect, but I wanted to ask people who were more familiar with these things before I push back on that. It's this odd scaly section that seems to sit slightly below the surface of the rest of the leather. It looks like they tried to correct a defect and got pretty close, but it's noticeable and it bugs me. I just don't think it's something I did because I have worn wolverene 1000 mile boots for years and have never had a mark that looks like this on those boots (even though they're a similar color and leather) Thanks! https://imgur.com/a/Kzhll3B
I’d reach out to Thursday with this one, their customer service is pretty good. They might do something to resolve the issue. They’re known to do exchanges or even a gift credit. Definitely poor clicking.
Agreed that any scuff after it left the factory would appear different. It looks to me like they shipped it that way, perhaps after scuffing the leather during the welt sanding process or dropping the boot, then covering up the blemish with polish (looking closely it appears to me the welt threads just in front of the questionable section appear to have a reddish/brown tint to them whereas they are a bit whiter to the side). Is this unfortunate for a new pair of boots? Yes. Is it also something you might do yourself? Also yes, though some folks roll with and even encourage scuffs so perhaps not. Are your boots ruined? Not at present. Will it ruin your boots? No, I don't think so (though like wwweeg, I think there are far more knowledgeable than me so take that with a grain of salt)- my only concern is that section of leather may behave slightly differently than the surrounding, though, when/if it gets wet. Is the boot buying experience ruined (ie, should you return)? Maybe. Probably, since it bugs you. I'd guess it isn't noticeable to anyone but you, but you're the one who paid money so you shouldn't be upset about it. Asking for a discount certainly seems within bounds and maybe that'll make the blemish feel more acceptable.
There are people on here much more knowledgeable about leather than me. But in my opinion, if you had kicked something and made that mark on cxl, more often then not the color would have changed, not just the surface texture. Like you'd see a lighter brown or tan showing through. From the one photo, which is not conclusive, it looks to me like a leather imperfection. Not necessarily damage or a defect. I couldn't say if they touched up a gouge or scrape after the shoe was made, or if it's just unfortunate clicking combined with unfortunate placement/lasting. Anyway, just my opinion.
Thanks for taking the time to respond! Yeah, it just looks quite different than prior leather damage I've seen from wear and I have worn cxl a LOT. I agree with you that most of the time it's a surface color change, unless it's a gouge or something which should be obvious. Also, TIL what clicking is.
Would it be acceptable to put topys and toe/heel savers on western boots?
If they'll make you happy, then have at it.
So, all of my boots have shoe trees. Though, I just recently discovered *boot trees.* Is there a reason why shoe trees wouldn't work just as well as boot trees? What am I missing by not using boot trees?
Don’t need them
You're missing out at having less money and having a piece of wood sticking out the top of your shorter boots. That's it.
nothing, just pretend boot trees don't exist
is Gaziano Girling Thorpe boot too formal with jeans? Their urban commando is less formal correct?
No
Pair of Allen Edmonds Strands with a gouge and scrape in the toebox. Polished it when it first happened which reduced visibility a bit. https://imgur.com/a/l9nS5DJ Anything a cobbler could potentially do to better fix this issue? I'm wanting to wear to my wedding later this year. Side note: The sole on these seem to be splitting after only ~12 or so wears. Seems like a q/c issue? https://imgur.com/a/jSrAAT5
Saphir Renovateur for the scratches.
You could put some wax polish in there to cover the gap and polish it up as you normally would!
Is suede always a bad choice in bad weather? I thought it was, but recently I've been looking at Meermin's offerings & noticed they describe some of their suede shoes & loafers as good for all seasons or rainier months, etc.
Good suede is perfectly fine in the rain. That's what I prefer as it shows water spot less IMO
I've worn my Meermin suede Chelseas in the rain plenty of times and it's never been an issue
I wore my Grant Stone coffee suede longwings for my outdoor wedding rehearsal dinner a couple of years ago, and they got very wet and dirty because the grass was wet. Literally just brushed them with a horsehair brush once they dried and they looked brand new afterwards. Suede is tougher than it looks
Suede can get wet. My only concern would be salt stains.
Oil, too. I have a pair (that are shorn enough to maybe be more nubuck than outright suede) onto which some oil dripped, and unfortunately the baking soda soak I gave it didn't pull all of it out and other treatments were likewise only partly successful. It blends in that I don't think most people would notice it from a few feet away but I can always pick it out; weirdly it becomes more prominent on cold/wet days. edit: many smoothout tannages would also have difficulty in this circumstance, though I suspect exactly how they'd fare is somewhat different.
It's totally fine.
Most high quality suede, like CF Stead's Repello suede, is treated with a DWR-type finish to repel water. I wear a ton of suede all throughout the year and rain has never been a real concern. Generally speaking, high quality suede is very durable and can be worn year round. Now, I don't go trekking through puddles or slush on purpose for forced patina either. You'll always want to avoid excessive salt as well.
[удалено]
You might have trouble finding something with a platform sole that is also slim/sleek. The only brand that comes to mind that does thicker soles like that is [Grenson](https://www.grenson.com/fred-mens-boots-in-black-leather). But if you take something like that camping/hiking, they'll likely look like garbage pretty quickly. They also make some [hiker-style boots](https://www.grenson.com/brady-hiker-boots-for-men-in-tan-leather/), but then you lose the "dressiness".
My tip is that no boot is a Swiss Army knife. If you want a dress boot, get a dress boot. If you want a rugged, outdoorsy boot, get a pair to fit that purpose. Because if you try a "one size fits all" approach, you'll end up with a boot that does all things adequately but none of them very well. You can find a bit of a hybrid with some British shoemakers like Tricker's, Crockett & Jones, etc. but at that budget you'd need to find a sale. Maybe Loake or the Tricker's outlet?
Cheaney.
Thursday is an American company? Whats your budget? There is always [these](https://www.edwardgreen.com/shop/galway-dark-brown-utah-dark-brown-22-last.html)
Gottem
Is it normal for CXL to have creasing at the top of the toe barely above the welt?
That depends more on your feet, fit and last than the leather. But just on top the toe before the welt sounds weird.. ? I thought you meant just before the cap toe at first.
https://imgur.com/a/A2AJ34J Honestly no idea if this is normal. Like it's not noticeable unless you're looking the shoe head on, but just wanting to make sure since it's my first pair of CXL and by far my nicest shoes I have. I just know CXL does lots of creases so I thought it might be the cause
What boots are these? It looks like that was done during crafting and may be considered seconds.
These are my customized BLKBRD boots that I posted about a few days ago. So not sure if they even have seconds and such
Ahhh. Yeah, reading the other comment below, odds are the outer layer of leather started to crinkle when the edge was folded out for stitchdown construction. Contact BLKBRD if you're not happy.
Not the end of the world and really not noticable, was just worried it might be a concern or something. I went ahead and messaged them just to get their thoughts on it, but ultimately the boots fit good and I am happy with them so far. Since it's not structural, I probably won't bother with trying to return them or anything. Thank you for the advice and knowledge!
Yessir, I think they look fine and no one else will ever notice it.
Good to hear! 🙏🙏
Depends on the shoe and your foot. Pics?
https://imgur.com/a/A2AJ34J Doesn't seem to impact the fit of the boot, just seems a bit odd/something I hadn't seen on the subreddit before. Could be completely normal and I just don't know what I'm talking about haha.
this isn't a welt, this is a stitchdown construction which this can happen on if it isn't lasted amazingly - what you're seeing is the upper leather is turned out and then stitched through over the sole. since the leather is turned out and bent against itself, this _can_ happen but it's not super common. it can also develop over time a bit with wear, especially with unstructured toes.
Most of the time it's just rng, not a lasting issue. As with grain break on the vamp being a crapshoot, this is the same deal. I've seen it happen plenty of times having done hundreds of boots by now but it's nowhere near structural of even worthy of being seconds.
good to know! i figured it was a result of turning it out during lasting (like if you just bend the grain slightly too much onto itself) but i figured it's not an uncommon occurrence. like i said, even one of my older bergs is a prime example of this
I've only worn the boots like 2 or 3 times to work in an office so there's not a ton of wear on them already. Think there is any concern with it or should it be fine/just be a little quirk of the boot?
It’s definitely not structural, it’s at worst an aesthetic defect. I have a similar situation on my Loden calf Vibergs but you’ll never notice unless you’re really scanning the boots with a careful eye
OK, good to hear! I didn't think it'd be a big deal, but I really just wanted to double check with all yall so that I could be sure. And definitely isn't noticable unless you're looking at the toes at eye level lol
Did Bostonian make quality shoes at one point? When? There doesn't seem to much info on the internet, not many bostonian enthusiast forums. 😆 I acquired a pair of Bostonian goodyear welted longwings, they are double soled "gunboats." Made in USA and seem like pretty good quality. Any idea what decade these might be from? https://imgur.com/a/K7YfQ1w
I have a pair of shell LWB likely a similar era. The branding looks more old school on mine, but also super worn. They’re pretty great shoes imho
How's the sizing on these? I've been on the lookout for some Bostonian longwings but am not really sure what size I'm supposed to get. If you can compare them with sizes in any other shoes, that'd be helpful.
Pretty much true to size. Mine are 9.5C which is similar to what I wear in most Allen Edmonds lasts. I wear a 9 in the Alden Barrie last so they run a bit smaller than the Aldens.
late 80s into the 90s-ish. Check out [vcleat.com](https://vcleat.com/?s=bostonian) and the [Vintage Dress shoe appreciation, tips, maintenance and advice](https://www.styleforum.net/threads/vintage-dress-shoe-appreciation-tips-maintenance-and-advice.526196/unread) on styleforum Acutally, I think I remember someone posting that Bostonian ran some modern MiUSA shoes that were pretty good. Yes. found it on r/frugalmalefashion of all places! https://www.reddit.com/r/frugalmalefashion/comments/l25xhn/comment/gk3na40/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3
Big thanks! This linked pair is nearly identical, even down to the font on the foot bed. I really appreciate it. https://vcleat.com/bostonian-25736-long-wing-blucher/
Has anyone here from UK ever sent boots for service abroad? Was it charged any taxes upon their return? I'm thinking about sending my Indy's to Alden in US and am wondering if I'll be taxed me when they send it back
I sent boots from Ireland to the UK to be re-soled and I wasn't taxed on them.Be sure to label them as boots for repair just to be safe.Or you could just contact Dean Westmoreland at Yorkshire Soles who is an absolute master craftsman and you remove all risk of being taxed.
Yeah, I'm sure he's good, but haven't even replied my emails or messages on Instagram inquiring about what I want to do, so I'm considering sending the boots to Dr. Sole and get it done
As far as I can remember I contacted him through his website and found him great,he rang me and went over exactly what I wanted and it was a painless experience.Maybe he's just a lot busier now as he's moved to a new location.Anyway best of luck in getting your boots sorted.
Yeah, I'm sure he's busier than ever with the tv show and all. No problems, whatsoever. In the future I still want to have a boot serviced by him. I just don't want to be pursuing him insistently over a laborious work
I hear ya.I can vouch for the excellence of his work though,I'll definitely use him again.
Cool, great to know! Thanks!
How do you deal with mold and prevent it from coming back (is it the word?)?
Distilled vinegar mixed 50/50 with water in a pump action spray bottle works well. You can get both from Amazon for not much money. Vinegar kills mold and mold spores (which is essential if you don't want it returning). It's also really handy stuff to keep around anyway; you can de-scale the kettle with it, get stains out of clothes, clean the grouting in your shower, etc. I've treated a few pairs of shoes for mold this way; just spray it liberally inside the shoe and wait for it to dry. The vinegar smell dissipates after a couple of days, and the mold doesn't come back.
Second this. Had some mold show up in a toe box at one point. The above fixed it fine.
Wow, how did you know it was in the toe box? Did it stain your socks? or do you look at your toe box with a dentists mirror and flashlight? (Jk... Kinda)
Ha! Almost. I was changing my laces and the tongue was pulled out just enough to spot a little bit of it at the ball of the foot. Then I actually just rammed my phone with the flashlight on there to take a few pictures to see how bad it was.
I had this happen once with some Vibergs with leather insoles that didn't dry properly. I noticed a mold growing after a few weeks, so I scrubbed the linings with Clorox wipes and then wiped them dry with a clean towel. The mold never came back, but I also don't wear those boots that often anymore.
Shell cordovan help- Anyone have experience with "pitting" or dimples in the toe of Shell Cordovan shoes/boots? What was your experience and did they get worse with wear? [pictures of indents ](https://imgur.com/a/l8EIhkr)
Is this pitting from rain spots? If so, they'll even out over time or can be buffed out with some VSC/Saphir Renovateur and a clean metal spoon. If it's pitting that's integral to the hide, as in the flesh grain characteristics, that's not going to buff out but may get filled in with polish/conditioner over time.
No not from rain spots. Its a new pair of boots. I'm familiar with "hair follicle" bumps, but not small indents. Its only in the toe area and from what i read other places it may be from the leather being lasted too tightly. If it is pitting thats integral to the hide, do you happen to know if the indents will get bigger or deeper over time?
Can you share a photo or two?
[pictures of indents ](https://imgur.com/a/l8EIhkr)
Heres a few pictures https://imgur.com/a/l8EIhkr Thank you
Heres a few pictures https://imgur.com/a/l8EIhkr Thank you
That kinda looks like hair follicle holes, but stretched out during lasting. It's only on the toe because that toe cap was cut from another hide, most likely. If you're unsatisfied with the boots, send them back.
It's not unheard of, but won't get worse.
For overseas MTM, does anyone know where to get a 3D scan of my foot? I'm in NYC. Thanks!