Advice on Engineer boots

[JohanA2]

Hello!

I've been lurking around this forum for a 2 - 3 years so I thought maybe it's time for me to contribute a little bit. I have been interested on engineer boots for a while. Can't really remember what started it but anyway... I would like to learn more about engineer boots.
Because of my lack of knowledge I have not made the purchasing decision yet and propably won't make one in a while but I've been looking at Wesco's and John Lofgrens offerings. They seem to be decent although bit pricy.

Can you recommend other brands and other general things about engineer boots?

I am aware the how pull on boots fit like. I currently have Huckberry ropers in size 10 but they are bit too small. My feet size is about US 10 wide.




This post might have some typos and seem messy but at the moment of writing this I'm super tired so I'm not going to proof read it.

- Johan

 

[Pandemic]

How wide? If they are EE or EEE you might not have a choice but to go made-to-measure.

Do you know what sort of profile you are looking for? Sleek or chunky?

For mtm, Wesco are good (not so sleek, but bulletproof for sure), or you could look at Brissleblack or Willie’s. If you have a tonne of money to throw at them, then Unsung or Role Club - but that’s a lot to pay for a first pair of boots. Other options are Whites, Nicks or Dayton (all lean more practical than sleek).

If you can fit a standard size, there are a lot of other great options that I don’t have experience with (like Attractions and John Lofgrens).

 

[Faux59]

I really like John Lofgren and would buy those if you can swing it.

Nicks or White's if you want other PNW choices.

Zerrows or Attractions for Japanese. There's Clinch to but I would forget about them.

Brisleblack for Indonesian.

Crush on Retro or Cordobes or Craft and Glory for entry level but I would skip all these.

 

[AeroFan_07]

Hello!

I've been lurking around this forum for a 2 - 3 years so I thought maybe it's time for me to contribute a little bit. I have been interested on engineer boots for a while. Can't really remember what started it but anyway... I would like to learn more about engineer boots.
Because of my lack of knowledge I have not made the purchasing decision yet and propably won't make one in a while but I've been looking at Wesco's and John Lofgrens offerings. They seem to be decent although bit pricy.

Can you recommend other brands and other general things about engineer boots?

I am aware the how pull on boots fit like. I currently have Huckberry ropers in size 10 but they are bit too small. My feet size is about US 10 wide.




This post might have some typos and seem messy but at the moment of writing this I'm super tired so I'm not going to proof read it.

- Johan

Please consider doing a search instead of starting a new thread.
This topic is well covered here...
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/engineer-boots-harness-boots.43530/page-270#post-3177985

 

[El Marro]

Wesco are good (not so sleek, but bulletproof for sure)

I think Wesco’s are plenty sleek when you get a model that is made with their motor patrol toe, such as the Mister Lou series:
https://builder.wescoboots.com/StockBoot.aspx?id=Mister_Lou

 

[El Marro]

Please consider doing a search instead of starting a new thread.
This topic is well covered here...
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/engineer-boots-harness-boots.43530/page-270#post-3177985

Too late!

 

[Pandemic]

I think Wesco’s are plenty sleek when you get a model that is made with their motor patrol toe, such as the Mister Lou series:
https://builder.wescoboots.com/StockBoot.aspx?id=Mister_Lou

True, but not available for those of use with wide feet

 

[Pandemic]

Too late!

Aaaand this place will send me broke again. I’d missed the release of Nick’s Stationmaster until now. I’m already messing with builds and considering one more pair of engineers. Shoot me now, please!

 

[El Marro]

I just saw that


True, but not available for those of use with wide feet

I have wide feet (10.5 EEE in my Red Wing 2412 work boots) and I find the Mister Lou’s quite comfortable to wear in the E width, getting them on and off is a bit of a bear though.

 

[Pandemic]

I have wide feet (10.5 EEE in my Red Wing 2412 work boots) and I find the Mister Lou’s quite comfortable to wear in the E width, getting them on and off is a bit of a bear though.

That’s surprising! I’m a 10.5EEE on the Brannock, so didn’t even consider the Mr Lou after the Baker boys told me they’d be a no-go

 

[TartuWolf]

Some advice/tips from me:
1 . Engineers are an upgraded and better version of a pull on boot - the straps are not there for show/aesthetics - USE them to get a tight fit. Yes unbuckle every time you take the boots on and off, strap and cinch them up to lock in your foot.
2 . To get a good fit for engineers boots you should literally have to struggle to put them on when unbuckled. If they slip on too easily then no cinching will achieve a good lock in because too much extra material will need to tuck/bunch up when cinching. Obviously this is similar to all slip on boots. It's a very fine perfect line between it being TOO hard to slip them on and not hard enough. Although this does depend on your heel slip tolerance.
3 . Make sure you wear/have wide enough pants for engineers.
4 . Figure out how where do you want to land between chunky lugged sole structured toe engineers and dressy sleek leather sole or half sole soft toe engineers. Or somewhere in the middle.

There are quite a few brands offering engineers, some already mentioned. I'll add one more :
Willie's Leathers from Philippines
https://www.instagram.com/williesleathers/?hl=en
Main reason I'm mentioning them is that they have a Munson style (more) anatomical last with a wide toe box.
Also pretty damn good price for a custom boot in my opinion. I paid ~520$ for a CXL pair including shipping to EU.
I ordered a pair myself but had to send them back because they messed up the shaft sizing. Hoping to get them back soon after fixing/modifications.
Here's my pair that is currently back in Philippines:

 

[El Marro]

That’s surprising! I’m a 10.5EEE on the Brannock, so didn’t even consider the Mr Lou after the Baker boys told me they’d be a no-go

I would listen to the folks at Bakers Boots before me, nobody knows Wesco better except for Wesco themselves.
Now that I say that, it might be worth reaching out to Wesco directly to see what they say or if they are able to make you a pair that is a bit wider.

 

[Pandemic]

I would listen to the folks at Bakers Boots before me, nobody knows Wesco better except for Wesco themselves.
Now that I say that, it might be worth reaching out to Wesco directly to see what they say or if they are able to make you a pair that is a bit wider.

Thanks. I’m currently deep in the Nicks rabbit hole. The style, customisation levels, hides, build times and price are all very tempting.

Since being an impressionable 14yo seeing Rebel Without A Cause at the local cinema classics night, I’ve loved the look of a white tshirt, blue jeans and engineer boots.

But then I remind myself I’m a middle aged dad living in the sweaty armpit of America going back and forth to the office each day. Last time I tried stomping around in engineers I felt a little ridiculous

 

[El Marro]

Since being an impressionable 14yo seeing Rebel Without A Cause at the local cinema classics night, I’ve loved the look of a white tshirt, blue jeans and engineer boots.

But then I remind myself I’m a middle aged dad living in the sweaty armpit of America going back and forth to the office each day. Last time I tried stomping around in engineers I felt a little ridiculous

I think you should get a pair anyway, a good pair of engineers boots is about as comfortable as anything else and once you get into wearing them, you won’t think twice about it.
You reminded me of a time though when I showed up to pick up my ex-girlfriend’s kids for a Christmas party. I was wearing my Langlitz cross zip, a white T-shirt, jeans, and engineer boots. I felt very much like Brando in The Wild One. That illusion was put to rest, though when her daughter opened the door, took one look at me, and said why are you dressed like you’re in the movie Grease?

 

[cbez]

I would be very wary of buying engineers you couldn't try on.

They are sensitive to fit.

I finally found a pair that's pretty comfortable for me, but I still prefer the feel of a snugly laced up boot.

 

[cbez]

Also random observation but I have never felt like the instep strap really cinches the boot down on any of the pairs I've had. The fit is more based on the last relative to your foot so don't expect to just crank it down with the strap if its too big.

 

[Pandemic]

I would be very wary of buying engineers you couldn't try on.

They are sensitive to fit.

I finally found a pair that's pretty comfortable for me, but I still prefer the feel of a snugly laced up boot.

For wide feet, custom is usually the only option.

Also random observation but I have never felt like the instep strap really cinches the boot down on any of the pairs I've had. The fit is more based on the last relative to your foot so don't expect to just crank it down with the strap if its too big.

Agreed! The two pairs I had, the straps were purely decorative.

 

[TartuWolf]

Also random observation but I have never felt like the instep strap really cinches the boot down on any of the pairs I've had. The fit is more based on the last relative to your foot so don't expect to just crank it down with the strap if its too big.

The cinch/strap had a big effect on every single pair that I've had, but it is definitely limited, mainly in relation to how much leather you can bend over on the sides to actually get the strap in to work. Here's an example of the instep being way too high and the fabric folding extremely in order to get any kind of lock in. You can imagine the pressure points that this creates on the sides.

 

[JohanA2]

How wide? If they are EE or EEE you might not have a choice but to go made-to-measure.

Do you know what sort of profile you are looking for? Sleek or chunky?

For mtm, Wesco are good (not so sleek, but bulletproof for sure), or you could look at Brissleblack or Willie’s. If you have a tonne of money to throw at them, then Unsung or Role Club - but that’s a lot to pay for a first pair of boots. Other options are Whites, Nicks or Dayton (all lean more practical than sleek).

If you can fit a standard size, there are a lot of other great options that I don’t have experience with (like Attractions and John Lofgrens).

E width. Not super wide but wide enough that standard width is usually too tight.

I would prefer sleekier shoe but I think chunky would also be ok. I will look into those brands you recommended and like you said, I wouldn't want to spend big sum of money for my first engineers.

 

[JohanA2]

Please consider doing a search instead of starting a new thread.
This topic is well covered here...
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/engineer-boots-harness-boots.43530/page-270#post-3177985

I will! Thanks for linking that!