Footwear to go with our jackets

[lina]

Some Nick's Falcon's with cap toe for today. Mini-Vibram sole so a little more capable in snow.
Very comfortable boots once broken in.

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I’d be interested to see a straight on side shot of these if you have a chance. They look good!

 

[lina]

Santalum derby shoes in natural cxl with white stitching and Dr. Soles. I chose them because they are the only Indo maker I found that uses 5+oz leather for the uppers and don’t line the shafts.

Pros:
*Quality and stitching are comparable to other makers I’ve seen.

*Uses thick upper leathers that don’t need lining.


Cons:
*Midsole they use is pretty thin. Funny how they use thicker upper leathers than other makers but thinner bottom leathers.

*They skive the vamp leather all the way down to nothing where it meets the shaft on in the inside of the boot which I don’t like although it is quadruple stitched.

*Sizing is about 1 width too wide which is a common problem I have when I send in tracing and foot measurements.

*The tongue is way too thick 6+oz leather and is fully gusseted which prevented me from tightening the shoes and made them very uncomfortable where it folds. I had to cut the tongue to a half gusset.


Pricing and communication was all par for the course. Overall, not bad but I think I’m done with Indo makers and will stick with PNW makers as their lasts, materials, and styling are more to my liking even though their finishing sucks.

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Yeah, seems odd to have fully gusseted derby shoes..

 

[Walter Neff1940]

I looked at the Higgins Mill shoe, but who can afford the 445.00 price tag?

 

[AeroFan_07]

I’d be interested to see a straight on side shot of these if you have a chance. They look good!

Thanks Lina - it just so happens I had some photos of these when I first received them. I took quite a few detailed shots as they appear to have been "damaged" in the cap toe area - like someone had taken a small hammer to them and dented the surface of the leather a bit. I decided not to pursue an ebay case or ask for a refund - as they were only 50% of the original price and no waiting to receive them. Plus they fit me very well. So bear that in mind - this is not how Nick's boots typically look when new or even used.

 

[AeroFan_07]

Here is a close up couple shots of the toe caps and the "dented" appearance.
This is beginning to even out some with wear.

 

[Will Zach]

I looked at the Higgins Mill shoe, but who can afford the 445.00 price tag?

Yeah, the new Higgins Mill at $445 is not a great deal. I am on the lookout for used, near mint, for half that.

 

[marker2037]

I looked at the Higgins Mill shoe, but who can afford the 445.00 price tag?

Yeah, the new Higgins Mill at $445 is not a great deal. I am on the lookout for used, near mint, for half that.

Higgins Mill can be had for much less during any number of their sales, usually in the $325-360 range. They are well worth their price at that cost.

You can also look for a pair of seconds on the shoe bank www.shoebank.com which is where they list 2nds inventory for all AE stores. You can call up any of the stores to help you find what you’re looking for, the location doesn’t matter. I personally have used Ashley from Charleston a lot as she’s very active in the community.

Here are the nattys today glowing in the sun.

These were seconds purchased back in 2018. There was nothing wrong with them that I could tell when I bought them and I paid mid $200s for them. One of my better purchases.

 

[Finn Vigorous]

Great-looking boots and pair nicely with the olive pants (what brand are they btw? - the fabric looks fantastic).

200 bucks well spent!

 

[marker2037]

Thank you! The trousers are Bronson 1943 British Army Gurkhas. Awesome design, fabric, and fit.

 

[Finn Vigorous]

Thanks, I'll check them out!

 

[lina]

Thanks Lina - it just so happens I had some photos of these when I first received them. I took quite a few detailed shots as they appear to have been "damaged" in the cap toe area - like someone had taken a small hammer to them and dented the surface of the leather a bit. I decided not to pursue an ebay case or ask for a refund - as they were only 50% of the original price and no waiting to receive them. Plus they fit me very well. So bear that in mind - this is not how Nick's boots typically look when new or even used.

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They look great -- just the right classic boot look to my eyes. Obviously very similar to White's Bounty Hunter, but I think Nick's gets the proportions of the various parts of the boots slightly better. Also, White's did not used to have that Viberg-style heel counter available; they now do on their more dressy boots (the MP and Main street) but not on the Bounty Hunter/Smoke Jumper builds. And White's used to only do one line of stitching on the toe cap, but now have followed Nick's in having the four lines, which looks good. The one drawback on Nick's for me is that they do not seem to allow for a heel lowered to 1" as White's will; though it's been hard to get a firm answer on that question when I've asked them. Thanks for posting!

 

[AeroFan_07]

They look great -- just the right classic boot look to my eyes. Obviously very similar to White's Bounty Hunter, but I think Nick's gets the proportions of the various parts of the boots slightly better. Also, White's did not used to have that Viberg-style heel counter available; they now do on their more dressy boots (the MP and Main street) but not on the Bounty Hunter/Smoke Jumper builds. And White's used to only do one line of stitching on the toe cap, but now have followed Nick's in having the four lines, which looks good. The one drawback on Nick's for me is that they do not seem to allow for a heel lowered to 1" as White's will; though it's been hard to get a firm answer on that question when I've asked them. Thanks for posting!

Sure thing, no problem! I like the "block" style heels quite a bit in this, I do indeed use these for casual dressy occassions, I have some nicer White's for more formal "dressy" before I break out the actual dress shoes. That does not happen all that much. I like watching thier videos of details, leathers, fitting, etc. Great company and purpose!

 

[lina]

Sure thing, no problem! I like the "block" style heels quite a bit in this, I do indeed use these for casual dressy occassions, I have some nicer White's for more formal "dressy" before I break out the actual dress shoes. That does not happen all that much. I like watching thier videos of details, leathers, fitting, etc. Great company and purpose!

And the fit is the same as your White’s?

 

[AeroFan_07]

Pretty close! Maybe just a bit closer to the Brannock sizing.

 

[Aloysius]

Wore my RM Williams Comfort Craftsman (in tan kangaroo hide) out today and what a fantastic pair of boots. Between the tan shade and chisel toe, they almost look Western. The layered sole of the comfort model is supremely comfortable. Reminds me of the Alden Indy in that respect.

 

[andyone]

Ah yes, Masa. A really friendly guy - and I think he does really good work from what I've seen.
I have another boot he is working on for a "facelift" . But he is more expensive than Dr. Sole.

So, my boots are back from Masa.
This is how they look now:

The boots were made by Flamepanda. Masa re-lasted to the Graham last from Clinch with a soft toe (meaning no structured to box) and changed from fullsole to halfsole.

Before and after pictures (left before, right now)

 

[AeroFan_07]

^^ Wow, quite the change. Appears they re-dyed the uppers black, as well as completey new soles and bottoms there. I like the effect it made.

 

[Canuck Panda]

So, my boots are back from Masa.
This is how they look now:

The boots were made by Flamepanda. Masa re-lasted to the Graham last from Clinch with a soft toe (meaning no structured to box) and changed from fullsole to halfsole.

Before and after pictures (left before, right now)

That's a pair of brand new boots!
The new profiles are slimmer and sleeker. Well done.

 

[Mrfrown]

Truman Service Boots (Maryam Aubergine horse rump)

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Jin I love the color on these

@Marc mndt did you get the Silvano Sassetti chukkas? If so, how do you like them?

Trying to take better pics of everything...here is one of my Allen Edmonds Normandy boots.

My go-to for wet or dirty days, or to pair with military style garb if I'm in the mood

 

[BlueSteel]

Slight thread drift here, but I have had a bit of a tough time in the past matching a casual/jeans belt to my Color #8 shoes and boots, so was happy to just learn this...

FYI (and no affiliation...just a happy customer) Popov Leather in British Columbia is doing a preorder until the end of this weekend on Horween Color #8 Chromexcel belts at 40% off...so taking preorders at $77CDN (which I guess would be about $60-62USD). He anticipates completing and shipping the belts in May:

https://www.popovleather.com/products/belt-color-8