Leather Quality and Properties

[Grayland]

You can get RM Williams with the brass screwed soles. The sleekness is pretty impressive. Here's an RM Williams boot with a brass screwed sole (left) versus a John Lobb Goodyear Welted sole (right). Note the difference in lip jutting:

RM Williams are very sleek. I was talking about Blundstones.

 

[ykurtz]

RM Williams are very sleek. I was talking about Blundstones.

Sorry I wasn't referencing Blundstones. Never seen them. Just emphasizing the sleekness of the RM Williams, especially with the screwed on soles.

 

[mattp]

I personally see a lot of Australians wearing RM Williams boots, I've got 3 pairs and wear them every day to work. They need resoling and/or relasting every couple of years, but they are certainly built to last and I've put a lot of miles on mine over the years. Comparing Blundstones to RM Williams is like comparing Schott to Langlitz.

 

[Seb Lucas]

I personally see a lot of Australians wearing RM Williams boots, I've got 3 pairs and wear them every day to work. They need resoling and/or relasting every couple of years, but they are certainly built to last and I've put a lot of miles on mine over the years. Comparing Blundstones to RM Williams is like comparing Schott to Langlitz.

Blundstones are not as good as they used to be, that's true. But I prefer them to Williams, mainly because you don't need to care too much about them and will stand up much better to real wear. Same way I feel about Schott, so you've hit on the nub of things well. I prefer wearing my Schott to my Aero and other premium makes I've had. For me there's something more honest and functional about both products.

 

[technovox]

Blundstones are not as good as they used to be, that's true. But I prefer them to Williams, mainly because you don't need to care too much about them and will stand up much better to real wear. Same way I feel about Schott, so you've hit on the nub of things well. I prefer wearing my Schott to my Aero and other premium makes I've had. For me there's something more honest and functional about both products.

And to think all this time I've been wearing my Blundstones with my Aero. And even worse wearing brown boots with a black jacket. I can't help it- Blundstones are the most comfortable boots I've ever owned. Someday I hope my Aero looks as beat up and worn as my Blundstones do. (I ended up selling my Williams on EBAY- good quality boots, but just never wore them.)

 

[Tomasso]

For me there's something more honest and functional about both products.

How so? Just curious.

 

[Seb Lucas]

That's very amusing technovox - I never match my boots with my jacket I'm even worse than that - I use black shoe polish on brown boots. Glad you enjoy the Blunnies - I've been wearing them almost exclusively for 30 years. My R.M. Williams boots wore out in a few months. I remember when people used to stare at my Bliundstones and ask me why I was wearing work boots when I was just kicking around town. Then they became a trend and the design changed to look less industrial.

 

[Seb Lucas]

How so? Just curious.

I like good affordable production line products - like you used to get from Sears. Most of the vintage jackets we like were mass produced, like the beloved Hercules jackets - and they are still with us today, inspiring many other makers. The wartime A2 was mass produced and hastily put together and sometimes not all that well made but it didn't stop it becoming a classic. My favourite leather jacket of all time is the 1960's Brooks cafe racer - the one with two chest pockets. Mass produced, affordable but a design classic. I like items that way. But I realise that's personal taste.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Sorry, last point. I adore these Brooks jackets but they were mass produced in the thousands and made out of a thin, undistinguished steerhide that would never pass muster at Aero or wherever. But for me it's the best cafe pattern out there. And when it ages it looks fantastic.

 

[scrawlysteve]

You can get RM Williams with the brass screwed soles. The sleekness is pretty impressive. Here's an RM Williams boot with a brass screwed sole (left) versus a John Lobb Goodyear Welted sole (right). Note the difference in lip jutting:

Yes but--to be fair-- Lobb are known for making "clodhoppers"--at least that's what I'm told by a friend who will only have bespoke shoes from Cleverley.....

 

[Tomasso]

Lobb are known for making "clodhoppers"--at least that's what I'm told by a friend who will only have bespoke shoes from Cleverley.....

You should hear what Lobb devotees say about Cleverley shoes.

 

[Tomasso]

I like good affordable production line products - like you used to get from Sears. Most of the vintage jackets we like were mass produced, like the beloved Hercules jackets - and they are still with us today, inspiring many other makers. The wartime A2 was mass produced and hastily put together and sometimes not all that well made but it didn't stop it becoming a classic. My favourite leather jacket of all time is the 1960's Brooks cafe racer - the one with two chest pockets. Mass produced, affordable but a design classic. I like items that way. But I realise that's personal taste.

I think get what you're saying. Something along the lines of authentic versus fanciefied repro. I see it for the jackets but that wouldn't really apply to the boots would it? I mean, they're both heritage brands, one being a work boot and the other a riding boot.

 

[Seb Lucas]

I think get what you're saying. Something along the lines of authentic versus fanciefied repro. I see it for the jackets but that wouldn't really apply to the boots would it? I mean, they're both heritage brands, one being a work boot and the other a riding boot.

It applies to the boots too for me. But I wouldn't complain about the high end jackets as being fanciefied repos. I'm not trying to come over that strong. All I want to assert is the value of basic manufactured goods. I'm not trying to take away from the crafts people who make amazing custom spec jobs. I'm simply not a customer for that stuff.

 

[scrawlysteve]

You should hear what Lobb devotees say about Cleverley shoes.

Probably best if I don't--partly because I will never own a pair of bespoke shoes and partly because I don't want to see a footwear version of Aero vs AL.....

 

[Tomasso]

Probably best if I don't--partly because I will never own a pair of bespoke shoes and partly because I don't want to see a footwear version of Aero vs AL.....

Hey, you brought it up.

 

[Tomasso]

It applies to the boots too for me.

Production leaving OZ doesn't bother you with Blundstone? See, that would bug me. I've dropped quite a few American brands when took production offshore.

 

[mattp]

http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/fa...ot-disintegrates/story-fneszwgd-1226651268219

If I need work boots I find Redback are much better than Blundstone these days, and I haven't had a sole explode on me yet

 

[Tomasso]

http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/fa...ot-disintegrates/story-fneszwgd-1226651268219

:eeek:

 

[Fanch]

Several years ago, I had the soles of a pair of Ecco boots disintegrate, which was likely a manufacturing defect in the composition of the materials used for the polyurethane midsoles that was the part as, I recall, that disintegrated.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Production leaving OZ doesn't bother you with Blundstone? See, that would bug me. I've dropped quite a few American brands when took production offshore.

Yes it does bother me and I have started buying work boots from other sources that are still made here. But I'm afraid that in modern capitalism, it's almost impossible to remain pure. Everything has a price and soon goes off shore. As it happens lot of people gave up on RM Williams some years ago when the company was taken away from the original family to be run by marketing people.