Engineer Boots, Harness Boots...

[regius]

and a shot of my Work America

 

[Bunyip]

Brilliant Regius...that's quite a stable you have built up.....I will be very interested in seeing some more shots down the track with wear and tear....

 

[dudewuttheheck]

Amazing collection Regius. How are you liking the Craft Rites? I'm seriously considering a pair.

 

[regius]

Amazing collection Regius. How are you liking the Craft Rites? I'm seriously considering a pair.

Craft Rites are nice shoes. The lightest so far and possibly going to be the lightest, even lighter than the RRL Murdock, considering the Murdock is smaller overall and has a flat heel. I have not had a chance to wear them too often, but I think they are very stylish and comfortable, there is definitely room to wiggle but your heel won't lift up to the extent of flip flopping, whereas the Wesco size 8 for me is a bit like flip flopping, thats' why I kept the 7.5.

You should consider getting the craft rite, wear it as along as you like, then send to Brian to get re-soled or modified. It's worth it.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

Craft Rites are nice shoes. The lightest so far and possibly going to be the lightest, even lighter than the RRL Murdock, considering the Murdock is smaller overall and has a flat heel. I have not had a chance to wear them too often, but I think they are very stylish and comfortable, there is definitely room to wiggle but your heel won't lift up to the extent of flip flopping, whereas the Wesco size 8 for me is a bit like flip flopping, thats' why I kept the 7.5.

You should consider getting the craft rite, wear it as along as you like, then send to Brian to get re-soled or modified. It's worth it.

Thanks for the answer! It seems like they are a great option. Like you said, they seem quite stylish. I considered the Attractions as well, but I prefer the aesthetic of the Craft Rites.

Out of pure curiosity, do you have a favorite pair of engineers?

 

[regius]

Thanks for the answer! It seems like they are a great option. Like you said, they seem quite stylish. I considered the Attractions as well, but I prefer the aesthetic of the Craft Rites.

Out of pure curiosity, do you have a favorite pair of engineers?

Hard question to answer!! The reason being my standard comes and goes. Sometimes I want a pair to look just like that in some movie, such as Rebel without cause, in which case the cherry Chippewa or the Wesco would do, they both have high woodman heels and a chizzeled front facia, tall shaft, however, the Wesco for example, is not the most comfortable fit for now. On the other hand, my RRL Julien fits snug and never slip, so I can walk with confidence although it doesn't look like the boots in the movies at all, it looks like some kind of warped cowboy boots/military combat boot hybrid. Then it's the Redwing, very high quality for a mall brand, steel toe but doens't hurt and looks tough, reminds me of the Terminator 2.

The Attractions are just beautiful on their own, although I haven't seend any movie boots that look like them. I think the upcoming RoleClub and the RoadChamp are going to be the best of both worlds, 50s look and fit (i know they actually mean to look like 30s, but some flat toe design continued into the 40s and 50s).

 

[kyboots]

Rebel Without a Cause is the movie I hold dear to the engineer boot and my Wesco's, but I do prefer the Roadchamp look. That however is just not possible due to my size. Chippewa is a decent look but I cant wear those due to rubbing the front of my ankle; the boot is just too small there. Got brand new pair in the garage worn twice. My RRL's are still too tight. You all have some impressive looking boots and as an old Wesco fan for years may have to look at the others you guys have introduced here. Still hoping for a size 13 Roadchamp.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

Hard question to answer!! The reason being my standard comes and goes. Sometimes I want a pair to look just like that in some movie, such as Rebel without cause, in which case the cherry Chippewa or the Wesco would do, they both have high woodman heels and a chizzeled front facia, tall shaft, however, the Wesco for example, is not the most comfortable fit for now. On the other hand, my RRL Julien fits snug and never slip, so I can walk with confidence although it doesn't look like the boots in the movies at all, it looks like some kind of warped cowboy boots/military combat boot hybrid. Then it's the Redwing, very high quality for a mall brand, steel toe but doens't hurt and looks tough, reminds me of the Terminator 2.

The Attractions are just beautiful on their own, although I haven't seend any movie boots that look like them. I think the upcoming RoleClub and the RoadChamp are going to be the best of both worlds, 50s look and fit (i know they actually mean to look like 30s, but some flat toe design continued into the 40s and 50s).

Thanks for the answer! I can understand you probably change your opinion depending on the time. I think with so many boots, that is probably inevitable. IMO the Role Clubs are the most beautiful looking boots I have ever seen in terms of the shape/silhouette. Are you getting/have a pair of Role Clubs? How do you compare the Attractions and Craft Rites?

Sorry for all the questions, you just have a wealth of information!

@kyboots: That is unfortunate that the Road Champ isn't available in your size. It seems especially weird considering it is designed and built in the US and finding 13s is usually a Japanese issue. Has anyone inquired as to weather they would ever make a 13?

 

[regius]

I'm waiting on a pair of black horsehide Role Club. The Road Champ is very uniquely retro also, the leather is just awesome, thick and supple, but not puffy, very dense and not too smooth like the chromexel.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

I'm waiting on a pair of black horsehide Role Club. The Road Champ is very uniquely retro also, the leather is just awesome, thick and supple, but not puffy, very dense and not too smooth like the chromexel.

NICE! Can't wait to see those. I'm getting my feet measured by Brian tomorrow for my brown Role Clubs. The Road Champ is a gorgeous boot, but I can't afford all the best boots. After the brown Role Clubs I will be getting a black pair and right now I am leaning toward the Craft Rites. The road champs are high on the list after that along with the beadles lofgrens.

 

[Bunyip]

OK! My Wesco Boss arrived today. Very nice indeed. Black domain, double midsole, MP toe, 705 soles, natural midsoles with a coat of lexicol(?) to seal them. Heel pinch. 2" longer instep strap.One reasonably decent concern, is that they forgot to put my brass japanese buckles on them. No idea why? I've sent them an email, obviously an oversight. Anyway. The boots themselves are lovely. I've never owned black boots, or black jeans. These boots really appeal to me...all wrapped up in a petite 13EE.

 

[regius]

Rebel Without a Cause is the movie I hold dear to the engineer boot and my Wesco's, but I do prefer the Roadchamp look. That however is just not possible due to my size. Chippewa is a decent look but I cant wear those due to rubbing the front of my ankle; the boot is just too small there. Got brand new pair in the garage worn twice. My RRL's are still too tight. You all have some impressive looking boots and as an old Wesco fan for years may have to look at the others you guys have introduced here. Still hoping for a size 13 Roadchamp.

Have you tried the all metal shaft stretcher and in-step stretcher? Two formidable pieces of torture devices! https://www.cavenders.com/brands/mf...h07hm1dajm9nKInieMEaoZgVbirLuMdP2YaAqBJ8P8HAQ

 

[dudewuttheheck]

great boots, Bunyip! Hope you get the buckles sorted out, but otherwise they look awesome.

 

[Bunyip]

Just for ****s and giggles I have taken a snap of the original Boss sent me with the incorrect heel etc, next to the stunners that arrived today. I think it's pretty self explanatory...

 

[Bunyip]

Makes the originals look even worse doesn't it?

 

[dudewuttheheck]

wow. That really is night and day there.

 

[Bunyip]

wow. That really is night and day there.

Bloody oath it is. I'm glad I stuck to my guns. I was so crushed when the first pair arrived, particularly after about 17 weeks wait.

 

[Edward]

Rebel Without a Cause is the movie I hold dear to the engineer boot and my Wesco's, but I do prefer the Roadchamp look. That however is just not possible due to my size. Chippewa is a decent look but I cant wear those due to rubbing the front of my ankle; the boot is just too small there. Got brand new pair in the garage worn twice. My RRL's are still too tight. You all have some impressive looking boots and as an old Wesco fan for years may have to look at the others you guys have introduced here. Still hoping for a size 13 Roadchamp.

I must confess, I've never noticed the engineer boots in Rebel. Who wears them - is it Jimmy Dean himself? I must look it over again. Although I've gotten into the idea of shades other than black in recent years (to complement different jackets), for me the first and last word in what attracted me to engineer boots to begin with is Strabler. If ever I could carry them offf half as well as a young Brando did, I'd be happy. Funnily enough, though, what actually got me around to buying my first pair was a friend's fancy dress thirtieth birthday party. I went as Sid Vicious in the My Way sequence from The Great Rock and Roll Swindle. Iconic Image. I like to think I pulled it off reasonably well; I was a lot thinner then, and only somee nine years older than Sid when he carked it....

FWIW.... those first boots were Grinders. Still have them, they look like this:

Nice boots, though I'm careful of where and when I wear 'em, as they're heavy. Steel toe cap, and that cartoonishly big sole. Only paid GBP80 for them, though. No match for the boots I was looking at in Ral McCoy's the other week, but a fraction of the price. I think I also posted my other pair, a pair of Brown Catrerpillars, earlier in this thread. No steel toe, much lighter boots, lovely to wear. A more traditional shape to them. The Grinders excell in extremes of weather, and comfort improved significantly when I added a thick insole. Now that I'm more interested in wearing that style of boot more regularly than in the past, I'm considering something else. Not sure how high a spend I could justify, and having made that mistake before, I'm not keen on buying an unknown boot in the mail, but I think in a few months' time when I have cleared out a few things I'll be looking for at least a decentg second pair in black, without the steel toecap, and with a flat profile sole. I've looked at Sendra, RedWings, and a couple of others, but I'm also planning to take the time to go and check out the Lewis Leathers engineer boot that was recently introduced. I think it's the first Lewis boot both in that more American style and with no back-zipper. Other than that, I could be tempted by a shorter pair. Sendra make one with a shaft of about six inches instead of the regular ten or eleven. That appeals to me for air travel in the Winter, minimising time and hassle at security. I fly quite a bit, so it could be worth it. Also long been tempted by the uidea of a cordovan / burgundy coloured pair, though I'm not sure that's realistic. They seem only to be available as expensive customs, and I'm not sure I'd get enough wear out of them for it to be worth pending that much. I think it's a shame Lennon don't add engineer boots to their line-up; if anybody could produce a stunning pair at a reltively low price, it's them. Or Aero.... I'm sure, given they've been working on a flight boot, it's not that much more hassle to work up a pattern for an engineer..... The role Clubs are stunning, maybe one day....

Saw a beautiful pair of engineers at the Real McCoy's London shop recently, stunning craftsmanship. Couldn't quite tell under artificial light whether they were black or that really deep brown that is almost black until the sun hits it. Lovely stuff, though. The Cat's Paw ruber layers on the heel and sole were almost too nice to imagine walking on and wearing off.... No price tag. Probably the same price as a nice jacket, I imagine.

Makes the originals look even worse doesn't it?

Confirms what seemed to be the problem to my eye, i.e. that there was a layer or two somehow missing from the heel. Good to see you got it sorted. Those new boots look amazing.

 

[dh66]

I like the chunky sole on the grinders, Edward. Reminds me of some made by skechers I had back in the 90s. I was dubious at first of what I'd considered more of a fashion brand, but they turned out to be fairly well made and stood up to almost 10 years of near daily wear. Engineer boots always were my favored footwear back in the day, and definately Brando had some part in it, as well as Sid.
Back to the grinders, I'm surprised they don't offer them in a burgundy/oxblood, all their other styles seem to be available in that color as well as black. In fact, I don't think I have ever seen any color other than those two. Do your grinders have the screwed on soles? Best I remember, that was the thing about those. Looking back, it seems grinders became popular here about the time DMs began to be readily available in the malls. I guess they just weren't punk enough anymore if just anybody could get them.

fwiw - I currently have a pair of Frye engineer boots that I'm pretty happy with, and they didn't break the bank. I got them on sale for
about $130USD, and about three years in they're still going strong. Chippewa or Carolina are also good options to consider without breaking the bank, but I'm not sure you could get any color besides black.

 

[Edward]

I like the chunky sole on the grinders, Edward. Reminds me of some made by skechers I had back in the 90s. I was dubious at first of what I'd considered more of a fashion brand, but they turned out to be fairly well made and stood up to almost 10 years of near daily wear. Engineer boots always were my favored footwear back in the day, and definately Brando had some part in it, as well as Sid.

Jings, I didn't know skechers had ever had a go at those. The strangest ones I've seen were by Ugg. Not a brand who'd ever made anything else I'd care to wear, but these didn't look too bad (and nicely lined for the Winter). Much more practical than their usual stuff. The sole is a nice feature on the Grinders. Not my aesthetic first choice these days, but unbeatable in wet/snow/ice...

Back to the grinders, I'm surprised they don't offer them in a burgundy/oxblood, all their other styles seem to be available in that color as well as black. In fact, I don't think I have ever seen any color other than those two.

Good point, I should drop them a line, they might well do that. They have another model I was also looking at in the black, which has a flatter sole profile and no steel toecap; that would be a goer in the burgundy, if they did it....

Do your grinders have the screwed on soles? Best I remember, that was the thing about those. Looking back, it seems grinders became popular here about the time DMs began to be readily available in the malls. I guess they just weren't punk enough anymore if just anybody could get them.

Yeah, screwed in soles, with a heavy double-line of stitching round the sides. Could be right re DMs..... As I recall, what killed DMs in the subculture was less that they were easy to get hold of, and more that they became fashionable. Round about the time that the fashionworld tried to glom onto grunge, claimed to have invented it, then discovered that you can't take something which is intrinsically anti-fashion and make it fashion, so declared it dead.... :eusa_doh:Weren't Griners also always markedly cheaper than the equivalent DMs? I seem to recall that, though the pair of shoes I bought in 2002 (still got 'em, too) were from the end of lines guy at the Camden Market Yard near Camden Town tube station. Twenty quid. Still got them somewhere too; I should start wearing them again. Great shoes.

fwiw - I currently have a pair of Frye engineer boots that I'm pretty happy with, and they didn't break the bank. I got them on sale for
about $130USD, and about three years in they're still going strong. Chippewa or Carolina are also good options to consider without breaking the bank, but I'm not sure you could get any color besides black.

Frye look nice.... they did that "Brando" one a few years ago that had a double buckle at the top, if memory serves. Both the brown and black were nice in those. How's the fit in a Frye?