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Harness Boots that goes well with jackets - I need your candid opinion

high-maintenance

One of the Regulars
Messages
214
Hi guys

I was thinking of buying a Harness Boots to wear with my jackets.

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Am really fond of the Harness toe profile. (rectangular chisel toe)
I did some research online and found out that Harness toe has rather strong tie to Gay community. (Especially European gay community)
Now, I have nothing against gay community, but by no means I want to send a false signal.
Then the idea of modifying the toe shape of Wesco Jobmaster to Harness toe shape occurred.
Wesco Jobmaster is such a nice and sturdy boots that will last forever, and harness toe shaped Jobmaster seemed like a great idea, So I placed an order.

Do you guys think I made a right choice? (I can still change my order to Harness boots as it is pre-production as of this moment)
Will harness toe Jobmaster go well with leather jackets?
Do you think wearing Harness boots will give false signal to others?

Waiting for your candid opinion.

Thanks
 
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Bfd70

I'll Lock Up
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4,282
Location
Traverse city
I prefer regular engineer boots to the harness style but that’s just my opinion. In my experience while certainly cool looking both engineers and harness are less versatile than lace ups useage wise. If i’m headed out for a day of heavy walk around i’d never pick engineers. However, there are certainly people with more experience here who could prove otherwise. I recommends going into “general attire and accoutraments” and reading 150 or so pages of the “engineer harness boots” thread.

Regarding your concern about “signals” i suggest you take all propositions as flattering and respond with a “no thank you” if not interested.
 

high-maintenance

One of the Regulars
Messages
214
I prefer regular engineer boots to the harness style but that’s just my opinion. In my experience while certainly cool looking both engineers and harness are less versatile than lace ups useage wise. If i’m headed out for a day of heavy walk around i’d never pick engineers. However, there are certainly people with more experience here who could prove otherwise. I recommends going into “general attire and accoutraments” and reading 150 or so pages of the “engineer harness boots” thread.

Regarding your concern about “signals” i suggest you take all propositions as flattering and respond with a “no thank you” if not interested.
Thanks for your advice.
Can I ask why not wearing pull-on boots for a long walk? Are they somehow a burden to your feet? Maybe I was right about sticking to Jobmaster.
 

high-maintenance

One of the Regulars
Messages
214
I like the harness part much better than engineer buckle, but not at all liking the toe shape, I rather like the more "fashion" modern approach for the style with slimmer shaft with zipper and sleeker toe.
Just like the ones offered by Lewis Leathers? Those are gorgeous loooking boots
 

high-maintenance

One of the Regulars
Messages
214
By design there is a little bit of slippage. Also i prefer some ankle support, but i tend to overpronate. Ymmv. There are certainly people who do high mileage days in them but i think they may be the minority.
Thanks!
 
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El Marro

My Mail is Forwarded Here
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3,591
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California
If you like the look of harness boots with the chiseled toe then by all means you should order them that way. When I see this style of boot I think “1970s”, I don’t think that they identify the wearer as either straight or gay.
I think life is too short to worry about these considerations when buying clothes, just trying to figure out if something looks good on you or not is hard enough.
 

high-maintenance

One of the Regulars
Messages
214
If you like the look of harness boots with the chiseled toe then by all means you should order them that way. When I see this style of boot I think “1970s”, I don’t think that they identify the wearer as either straight or gay.
I think life is too short to worry about these considerations when buying clothes, just trying to figure out if something looks good on you or not is hard enough.
words of wisdom. Thank you sir.
 
Messages
16,803
As much as I love Engineer boots, I can't help being bored with them. Without the strap, they're just leather Wellington boots. Engineers are something I just assumed I'd automatically like the most but it just never really clicked, even though I've spent years in them.

So I've switched completely to classic Harness boots and I don't intend to ever go back. Got three pairs right now and I'm looking for more. They look cool, they're comfortable to wear and they look cool. Like 100x cooler than Engineer boots. IMO, of course.

As for the connotations, same could be said about pretty much any piece of clothing. I personally couldn't care less.

 

Dav

One Too Many
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Somerset, England
I'm sure there's many subtle differences but the main one is the type of strap, one has a ring to protect the ankle one doesn't protect anything, not sure if they wear differently, I suspect not but I haven't worn harness boot
 

Seb Lucas

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7,562
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Okay - I see- I hadn't noticed the strap/s. What is the strap for and how can it make any difference to the comfort? To me the Engineer boots look so close to a Harness boot I struggle to see the reason for the difference. I can't imagine needing boots that high for anything- is this a cold weather item? Told you I was a philistine.
 

Bushman

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Joliet
Okay - I see- I hadn't noticed the strap/s. What is the strap for and how can it make any difference to the comfort? To me the Engineer boots look so close to a Harness boot I struggle to see the reason for the difference. I can't imagine needing boots that high for anything- is this a cold weather item? Told you I was a philistine.

I believe they were invented to protect train engineers from burning their feet on hot coals. They can be am any type of weather boot, really, and are especially popular among bikers.

As said, the main difference is the strap. The harness boot has a three way strap that connects with a ring around the ankle. The engineer boot has just one strap around ankle that ha an adjustable buckle. Hope this helps. :)
 
Messages
16,803
Okay - I see- I hadn't noticed the strap/s. What is the strap for and how can it make any difference to the comfort? To me the Engineer boots look so close to a Harness boot I struggle to see the reason for the difference. I can't imagine needing boots that high for anything- is this a cold weather item? Told you I was a philistine.

In addition to what @Dav said, proper Harness boot will have a square toe, as well, apparently modeled after the Civil War army boots and a higher, angled heel. Cuban heel? Anyway, the straps on each side are supposedly there to protect the wearer from the heat of the exhaust pipe on the bike or something but I'm not so sure about that one. I just think it looks really cool.
Harness boots look more like a cowboy boot. It's more shaped that way. At least the most classic model though you've got all sorts, same as with Engineers.

But in short, the most obvious difference is; Squared toe, leather straps, heel, two pullstraps on each side. That's about it.
 

navetsea

I'll Lock Up
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6,845
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East Java
I like how the harness basically function as pants bumper, if your pants not overly big around the boots and long enough, it will break at the harness and stacks a bit
 

red devil

My Mail is Forwarded Here
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3,948
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London
Nothing stops you from mixing and matching, I have a pair of engineer boots with a harness ring
 
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17,490
Location
Chicago
Regardless of the boot, it will be uncomfortable for any extended amount of time. The high stepped heel is not designed with the human foots comfort in mind. I like the way boots look but will never wear them based on the God awful discomfort they inflict on my feet. Maybe some wedge sole desert boots...maybe...
 
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16,803
Regardless of the boot, it will be uncomfortable for any extended amount of time. The high stepped heel is not designed with the human foots comfort in mind. I like the way boots look but will never wear them based on the God awful discomfort they inflict on my feet. Maybe some wedge sole desert boots...maybe...

I never owned a pair of Engineer boots that could be described as wearable but those few pairs of Harness boots I now have aren't significantly less comfortable than Chucks. When I got back to wearing sneakers this summer, for two days I felt like I was leaning forward.

Though for me leather boots are simply unwearable during the summer for the same reason leather jackets are. Heat.
 

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