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Brown or natty cxl enginner boots?

Bigbenbs

A-List Customer
Messages
339
I've half a dozen pairs of engineers, the White's are my least favorite, Wesco's are much better imo. I'd definitely get some to compare if you have the chance.
Interesting.

The challenge is that once one moves into the $600+ range a bunch of other options emerge (custom Wesco, standard and strange collaborations, attractions etc.).

What are your favorites engineers?
 

Gav

Practically Family
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528
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UK
I only have my attractions now. Had whites and wesco.

But from what you say, you will not like attractions. They are a sleek shape, low volume toebox etc.
 

Colin G

One Too Many
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1,202
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Canada
I've half a dozen pairs of engineers, the White's are my least favorite, Wesco's are much better imo. I'd definitely get some to compare if you have the chance.

Good to know. What are the reasons?

Regardless, I have been eyeing up Wesco 7400 engineers for years now. I have no way to try before I buy which is why I have not pulled the trigger yet. That and I am unsure if my jeans will fit over them. I wear pretty slim fitting jeans.
 

Dav

One Too Many
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Somerset, England
They're just not as well made in my opinion, especially the stitching on the half sole doesn't run back far enough allowing it to flap, no matter how often I reglue it. Plus as mentioned the shafts are wider than my others.
 
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Bigbenbs

A-List Customer
Messages
339
Any experience with real mccoy's Chippewa engineers? I've got an interesting opening for a pair.
 

El Marro

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California
Good to know. What are the reasons?

Regardless, I have been eyeing up Wesco 7400 engineers for years now. I have no way to try before I buy which is why I have not pulled the trigger yet. That and I am unsure if my jeans will fit over them. I wear pretty slim fitting jeans.
Colin,
I have two pairs of the 7400’s (brown and black) and they are great boots. I find they run narrow so I bought an “E” width instead of the “D” I normally wear. The shaft on these boots is narrower than my Nomads, but it still might be a bit wide for skinny jeans.
 

Bigbenbs

A-List Customer
Messages
339
So I ordered a pair of Whites nomads from bakers to give them a try. Liked them but it was clear that I wasn't going to stick with them.

Around the same time I found a pair of basically new Wesco - Iron heart collab brown 7400s in my size for a killer price. Got them off grailed and they are total keepers. Exactly what I was looking for in an engineer boot.

15451773412293.jpg 1545177342268467.jpg 1545177341774276.jpg
 

Bfd70

I'll Lock Up
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4,299
Location
Traverse city
Good to know. What are the reasons?

Regardless, I have been eyeing up Wesco 7400 engineers for years now. I have no way to try before I buy which is why I have not pulled the trigger yet. That and I am unsure if my jeans will fit over them. I wear pretty slim fitting jeans.

Colin,
I have two pairs of the 7400’s (brown and black) and they are great boots. I find they run narrow so I bought an “E” width instead of the “D” I normally wear. The shaft on these boots is narrower than my Nomads, but it still might be a bit wide for skinny jeans.

Engineer boots won’t work with slim or tapered jeans. The shaft of the RW i just bought is 1” less in circumference than my 7400. I find this comfortable when walking as i have really skinny calves. Still even the RW need a 15” hem. Wesco work with 15” but look more natural with the 16” IH 634 which are 100% straight from the knee.
 

Bfd70

I'll Lock Up
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4,299
Location
Traverse city
So I ordered a pair of Whites nomads from bakers to give them a try. Liked them but it was clear that I wasn't going to stick with them.

Around the same time I found a pair of basically new Wesco - Iron heart collab brown 7400s in my size for a killer price. Got them off grailed and they are total keepers. Exactly what I was looking for in an engineer boot.

View attachment 148966 View attachment 148967 View attachment 148965
I have a pair as well. I’d honestly rather stare at and enjoy the depth of color on those boots for an hour than stare at the TV
 

sweetfights

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Canada

Edward

Bartender
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London, UK
Engineer boots won’t work with slim or tapered jeans. The shaft of the RW i just bought is 1” less in circumference than my 7400. I find this comfortable when walking as i have really skinny calves. Still even the RW need a 15” hem. Wesco work with 15” but look more natural with the 16” IH 634 which are 100% straight from the knee.

Depends how you wear 'em. Years ago, I wore engineer boots with drainpipe jeans; a popular punk look, popularise (mostly) by Sid Vicious. A less extreme version would be to wear them over a less skintight, but still narrow, jean leg, rocker-style. Seaboot sock tucked over the top of the boot optional.

Absolutely, though, if you're going to wear engineer boots American-style with the trews out over the boot, you definitely need a jeans leg of a reasonable width in order to do it.

Thinking about it, neither of these is surprising: the authentic, American 30s/40s look came about at a time when trouser legs were wider as a norm. By the time the early 60s Brit rockers got going, trousers were narrower because changing fashions; also, the wetter climate in the UK (compared to the parts of the US where this particular motorcycling style was most popular) probably made being able to tuck yer jeans into yer boots more attractive. The fact that British boots always tended to be narrower was likely also an issue: the American style engineer boot had a totally different evolution than British boots (often, but not always, zipped-up the back). Whereas the US engineer boots were repurposed from the railroads, the British boots were by an large an evolution of horse-riding boots. Both of these then originated with different clothing styles too that likely influenced how they were worn.

However, I'm digressing....

Still hoping that Aero will get into this game sooner or later....
 

Colin G

One Too Many
Messages
1,202
Location
Canada
Engineer boots won’t work with slim or tapered jeans. The shaft of the RW i just bought is 1” less in circumference than my 7400. I find this comfortable when walking as i have really skinny calves. Still even the RW need a 15” hem. Wesco work with 15” but look more natural with the 16” IH 634 which are 100% straight from the knee.

You can get the Wesco boot shaft knocked down an inch on circumference. That may help a bit. I'll have to wait and try a pair anyway. I may not even like them.
 

Bigbenbs

A-List Customer
Messages
339
You can get the Wesco boot shaft knocked down an inch on circumference. That may help a bit. I'll have to wait and try a pair anyway. I may not even like them.
Significantly smaller shaft than whites. Probably fits a 7.5 to 8 inch hem well.
 

regius

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3,299
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New York
187228034d5eeb0b48966c05a2be80d1.jpg
posted these in the Engineer thread, but equally appropriate here. I think natural cxl is better, but they are all nice. In my opinion engineer boots should be coal black through and through, the only part not black be the buckles. Just my opinion (as they were coal shoveling boots)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

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