Feet Up! The Work Boot Thread

[Bunyip]

Hi all, I've just purchased 2 pairs of Wolverine 1000 mile boots from the US and they should land this coming week. I was looking for a hand made Goodyear welted boot that can be re-soled to replace a couple of pairs of RM WIlliams Craftsmen boots that I have. Predominently to give an alternative look with the lace ups.

The almost only purpose will be with jeans on weekends and heading out to the pub etc, so a casual boot was what I was looking for & these seem to do the trick.

The question that I have is about attaching half soles (Topy, Vibram etc) to the forefoot of the leather sole - and I wonder are they even necessary?
Given that the Wolverine's have a butyl leather sole, one cobbler informed me that the half soles would not glue properly & probably peel off, whilst another informed me that there'd be no problem.

I am not looking for additional grip, just interested in extending the life of the leather sole, given that any future replacement sole done in Sydney may, or may not replicate the original look of the boot.
Are there any thoughts on this?

Should be fine Dan. I used to get leather sole RMs when I lived in Central QLD. Wear them for a week,try not to break your neck, rough them up, go and get a thin rubber half sole put on.

 

[Bunyip]

Has anyone bought William Lennon boots? I'm looking at the derby boots. They look great. Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

[Bunyip]

PSA- Baker's is having a Cyber Monday deal for 10% off (including MTO makeups). Code "cyber2015"

Monday Only

I didn't know that. I've bought 5 pair of boots off them, I would have thought I would have gotten an email?

 

[Davy Crockett]

I have a pair of the 107F Zug grain boots, they are very solid boots took a while to break in and they are made as boots were 100 years ago, they are great value for money!

D

 

[Bunyip]

Cheers! Any pics?

 

[bretron]

I didn't know that. I've bought 5 pair of boots off them, I would have thought I would have gotten an email?

They don't send out any mailers or spam emails that I know of. Only reason I knew was because I keep in pretty close contact with Kyle. Hope it helped some dudes out! I decided to pass. My heard is up to 10 pairs (I think), and I don't think my marriage could handle another pair right now lol

 

[Mercer]

Having sold my Chippewa Arroyos and Red Wing 2231s on eBay, this afternoon I went to the Red Wing store and bought the 2 boots I said I was gonna get!

First, the 1155s:



Then the 875s, which I even wore out of the store:





Pardon the dog hair that I only just now noticed on one of the boots (1st 875 photo)!

 

[dan_t]

Well, they have arrived and I have had Topy half soles fitted to both pairs. One black and one Brown pair.
Really lovely Horween hides & I do love the more rugged look, compared to the RMW Craftsman boots which they replace.
Have to say though, that for this pricepoint, the RMW's are a much better made product.
These are really nice boots, they jsut feel as though they are made with less care and finese.
Keep in mind that both styles are essentially designed as work boots, so I think it's a fair comparison.

 

[casechopper]

New White's Hathorn Open Road Engineer Boots

 

[Harrifer]

Has anyone bought William Lennon boots? I'm looking at the derby boots. They look great. Any feedback would be appreciated.

I have a pair of the Traditional Work Boots with a thick lug sole. A bitch to break in, but comfy once you do. They're incredibly strong, and can be waterproofed with some dubbin. I've worn mine hiking across the bogs of Dartmoor and the jungles of Nepal. 2 years in and my boots barely look used, that's the quality you will get.

I strongly recommend gluing in some wool felt insoles, it's the perfect level of friction, since the leather insole can be slippery. I understand using felt insoles was standard practise amongst soldiers in WW2, and these are boots of the same type (although more resembling an officer's private purchase). I discovered another downside of the leather insole last year in October, when I got up one morning camping in a forest, put my boots on to discover the insole was freezing cold. My feet were numb for the next 2 hours of walking! Always insoles.

Pics below:

 

[Bunyip]

Great info. Thanks for that.

 

[Sheepdog149]

Breakin' em' in!

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[tropicalbob]

Hey, Sheepdog! Pardon my ignorance, but what are those?

 

[Bunyip]

They look great Sheep.

 

[Sheepdog149]

Hey, Sheepdog! Pardon my ignorance, but what are those?

Hi sir! They're Japan made PHIGVEL horsehide engineer boots -- black w/brown core.

But, they're actually more like a dark chocolate brown...

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[Sheepdog149]

They look great Sheep.

Thanks sir!

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[casechopper]

Just got some new Red Wing 8840's. I believe these were originally intended for the Asian market and weren't sold in the USA. I couldn't find much info on them other than a couple Korean sites that called them police boots. They're a bit like an Iron Ranger on a Christy style sole with a perforated cap toe. They fit like Iron Rangers but with a bit more width in the toe box which is perfect for me. The leather finish is similar to Doc Martens smooth leather but is much thicker (probably at least twice as thick). Overall very happy with these.

 

[RJR]

Just got some new Red Wing 8840's. I believe these were originally intended for the Asian market and weren't sold in the USA. I couldn't find much info on them other than a couple Korean sites that called them police boots. They're a bit like an Iron Ranger on a Christy style sole with a perforated cap toe. They fit like Iron Rangers but with a bit more width in the toe box which is perfect for me. The leather finish is similar to Doc Martens smooth leather but is much thicker (probably at least twice as thick). Overall very happy with these.

Good looking.

 

[casechopper]

Red Wing 2971 Engineer Boots in Copper Rough and Tough

I picked these up in the same sale that I got the 8840's above from. The copper rough and tough leather is really cool. It's similar to the amber harness leather in thickness and texture and has a lot of variation in color.

 

[galopede]

Has anyone bought William Lennon boots? I'm looking at the derby boots. They look great. Any feedback would be appreciated.

I have three pairs of Lennons!

Like Harrifer I have the trad work boot with the Vibram lug sole which I bought brand new from Lennon and also a pair of black Ammo boots with the lug sole and a pair of the Tug of War leather soled boots, both bought on ebay. The Ammo boots are excellent and were brand new.

The work boot and the Ammo boot are the most comfortable. The leather soled Tug of War are very stiff soled. They are all extremely stong and built like battleships! Not as pretty as some other boots but solid. They are sold as work boots and that's what they are. They are all quite wide fitting with plenty of room for thick socks. I have an insole in the Ammo boots but the work boots are fine as they came.

I will never wear them out in my lifetime! At the price they sell them I doubt you'll find better value.