Footwear to go with our jackets

[MrProper]

I found video about training your engineer boots to make it creases in certain way, japanese people are very thorough with everything

I'm not really a fan of zips on shoes, but the zipped boots in the video look cool.
Apart from that, they don't do anything different to what happens when you wear them normally. It just doesn't work if you only wear them once a fortnight.
I just take my new boots for a walk around the forest (5 km), ideally when it's moist, and then they don't look new any more

 

[navetsea]

I'm not really a fan of zips on shoes, but the zipped boots in the video look cool.
Apart from that, they don't do anything different to what happens when you wear them normally. It just doesn't work if you only wear them once a fortnight.
I just take my new boots for a walk around the forest (5 km), ideally when it's moist, and then they don't look new any more

I get what he is trying to do, but it's harder on old already heavily creased leather like in the video, if the boots was pristine, I think it is more achievable to guide the creasing to be more balanced, and it also has to do with the way we walk too, the more symmetrical our gait the more balanced looking the creases on our jeans and boots.

 

[Bart666]

yeah, Tricker's are really sturdy boots. The only brand that I have used that is sturdier (seriously built as tanks and totally indestructible) is William Lennon.
View attachment 627857

And the couple in the photo are the Trickers or the Lennons?

 

[Harris HTM]

And the couple in the photo are the Trickers or the Lennons?

the Lennons

 

[jrkirkwo]

Just picked up these Skoob “Wander” engineer boots in Italian black horsebutt.

Jamie at East West Apparel was super patient and helpful with a handful of back and forth emails to nail the sizing and we got it just right!

His sizing guides are great on the website and luckily, I own some of the boots he uses as points of comparison. These generally run a half down from brannock but most shops also recommend that for Lofgren engineers which I found didn’t really work for me. I sold those and am giving these a go.

In comparison to Lofgren engineers in the same size, I’d say that the Skoobs are more roomy in the toe box, tighter in the waist, similar in the heel, and maybe the same to slightly more roomy in the instep. They are a true D width where Lofgren is an E. I think had I sized up a half size, the Lofgren would have worked lengthwise but been floppy otherwise since I have borderline C/D width feet.

The construction is great and quite similar in fit and feel to the attractions lot 444 boots I have and love. The Skoobs do however have a bit more space in the toe box, and are described as having a Munson-like last.

The packaging is just a simple, thin cardboard box, stamped with the boot info, with the boots wrapped in tissue paper. All good with me, but you won’t get the fancy boot bags and heavy duty box that you get with Lofgren. These are however around 300 USD cheaper and totally worth it for what I really value in a boot. They cost 670 pounds which with shipping to the US came to right around $900.

 

[Edward]

Gonna go stomping at a peaceful protest.

Briselblack Keeper 2 Engineers

View attachment 679320
View attachment 679321

Nice! My engineers are all round-toed; eventually, I'd like to get a pair with this lower toe style.

I'm not really a fan of zips on shoes, but the zipped boots in the video look cool.
Apart from that, they don't do anything different to what happens when you wear them normally. It just doesn't work if you only wear them once a fortnight.
I just take my new boots for a walk around the forest (5 km), ideally when it's moist, and then they don't look new any more

I don't like them when they're accompanied by laces or other fasteners that them become to an extent about decoration (I also hate those fake buckles on bags which just cover a clip or a magnet). With boots like the ones in the video, I don't mind as much. On a bike boot I prefer them up the back, Lewis style, but I'm eying a pair of budget engineers now with a zip up the inside like those. The attraction for me is to have a pair of boots for when I fly in Winter. Loafers or canvas slip ons are grand in hot weather - so much faster than laces or buckles at security - but this style of boot would be a nice compromise between a regular engineer (which is, from experience, a right pain at security check) I can wear at destination, and the convenience of zip in / zip out during the travel process.

The ones I'm looking at (by Kochmann - actual bike boots, though not the most expensive - https://www.fc-moto.de/epages/fcm.s...-Boots/SubProducts/Kochmann-Ranger-Boots-0006 ) lose marks for me by having blacked out zips, like they're trying to hide them: I prefer 'em loud and proud as on the ones in that video. When I pick these up, though, I'll most likely stick with the zip as is, unless or until a zip goes - then I'll have them both replaced with a chrome number 10.

I get what he is trying to do, but it's harder on old already heavily creased leather like in the video, if the boots was pristine, I think it is more achievable to guide the creasing to be more balanced, and it also has to do with the way we walk too, the more symmetrical our gait the more balanced looking the creases on our jeans and boots.

Ah, that's what it's about (I fear I have no Japanese language skills at all). I confess I find the whole notion very odd. Of course a lot of folks like the 'wear and tear' look, and it's a valid aesthetic choice, but I really don't get the idea of trying to simulate wear and tear yet deliberately make it obviously unnatural looking by making it symmetrical?

 

[Behemott]

Stormy weather in the UK this weekend, and what better footwear for this than my Buco engineers.

Late to the show... but man those Buco look awesome!

D

 

[navetsea]

Nice! My engineers are all round-toed; eventually, I'd like to get a pair with this lower toe style.




I don't like them when they're accompanied by laces or other fasteners that them become to an extent about decoration (I also hate those fake buckles on bags which just cover a clip or a magnet). With boots like the ones in the video, I don't mind as much. On a bike boot I prefer them up the back, Lewis style, but I'm eying a pair of budget engineers now with a zip up the inside like those. The attraction for me is to have a pair of boots for when I fly in Winter. Loafers or canvas slip ons are grand in hot weather - so much faster than laces or buckles at security - but this style of boot would be a nice compromise between a regular engineer (which is, from experience, a right pain at security check) I can wear at destination, and the convenience of zip in / zip out during the travel process.

The ones I'm looking at (by Kochmann - actual bike boots, though not the most expensive - https://www.fc-moto.de/epages/fcm.s...-Boots/SubProducts/Kochmann-Ranger-Boots-0006 ) lose marks for me by having blacked out zips, like they're trying to hide them: I prefer 'em loud and proud as on the ones in that video. When I pick these up, though, I'll most likely stick with the zip as is, unless or until a zip goes - then I'll have them both replaced with a chrome number 10.



Ah, that's what it's about (I fear I have no Japanese language skills at all). I confess I find the whole notion very odd. Of course a lot of folks like the 'wear and tear' look, and it's a valid aesthetic choice, but I really don't get the idea of trying to simulate wear and tear yet deliberately make it obviously unnatural looking by making it symmetrical?

I don't speak japanese too, I just turned on the auto translation and still it came with some gibberish maybe due to slang or some nickname perhaps that I don't understand similar to perhaps whiskering or honeycomb maybe, I kind of doing the same to a brand new boots or jeans, I pinch some area and then bend my knee, or poke some area to trigger a new crease, and train it a bit, nothing too detailed, but when I see something to wildly different going on the ankle on one bootshaft to the other one on the other leg it triggers me a little, natural little variation is good and something too artificially symmetrical is also bad, but at least there must be some similarity to create some balanced look to me I mean if on one boot the creases is going inward, but on the other boot it is bulging outward at the same spot it would trigger me, sometime when the clicking of the leather is bad, this thing is unavoidable, when brand new they look fine but when worn on the leg they would drape and crease differently thankfully it only happened to my old dirt cheap combat boots.

Btw here is crease development on mine after a week of frequent wearing indoor or walking on asphalt just cameback from grocery shopping on foot to a nearby minimarket under light drizzle on the way back , not perfectly symmetrical but nothing to wildly lopsided. Btw it is lined with thin goatskin on the shaft only i figured that out today lol.

 

[Herrvallmo]

Råland + Field, Sweden meets Scotland in a glorious symphony of leather

Cheers ya'll!

 

[Herrvallmo]

A picture I took a while ago while trying to get better at this whole photo thing haha.

- Y'2 Leather
- Bright Shoemakers
- Japan Blue Jeans
- Samsøe Samsøe

 

[Edward]

I don't speak japanese too, I just turned on the auto translation and still it came with some gibberish maybe due to slang or some nickname perhaps that I don't understand similar to perhaps whiskering or honeycomb maybe, I kind of doing the same to a brand new boots or jeans, I pinch some area and then bend my knee, or poke some area to trigger a new crease, and train it a bit, nothing too detailed, but when I see something to wildly different going on the ankle on one bootshaft to the other one on the other leg it triggers me a little, natural little variation is good and something too artificially symmetrical is also bad, but at least there must be some similarity to create some balanced look to me I mean if on one boot the creases is going inward, but on the other boot it is bulging outward at the same spot it would trigger me, sometime when the clicking of the leather is bad, this thing is unavoidable, when brand new they look fine but when worn on the leg they would drape and crease differently thankfully it only happened to my old dirt cheap combat boots.

Btw here is crease development on mine after a week of frequent wearing indoor or walking on asphalt just cameback from grocery shopping on foot to a nearby minimarket under light drizzle on the way back , not perfectly symmetrical but nothing to wildly lopsided. Btw it is lined with thin goatskin on the shaft only i figured that out today lol.
View attachment 679675

Looks like they're breaking in nicely.

A picture I took a while ago while trying to get better at this whole photo thing haha.

- Y'2 Leather
- Bright Shoemakers
- Japan Blue Jeans
- Samsøe Samsøe

View attachment 679702

Nice shot of the toeshape on those Brights. I love how they've made an engineer boot with just that subtle hint of Western in the toe shape. I'm also really keen on a pair of their derby shoes with the western stitch pattern on the toe.

 

[Herrvallmo]

Nice shot of the toeshape on those Brights. I love how they've made an engineer boot with just that subtle hint of Western in the toe shape. I'm also really keen on a pair of their derby shoes with the western stitch pattern on the toe.

Thanks mate, and I agree, that western-style crown was a big reason why I went with the Brights, love that design choice!

 

[BloodEagle]

@jrkirkwo Nice! I've got some Skoob Wander Engineers too - I got them in the brown - and I absolutely love them. The profile and last shape is my absolute favourite at the moment - yours look great. I did read somewhere that these, the Attractions and the Black Sign Aviators are all made at the same place - this would make sense as there are a lot of similarities between them in terms of construction and materials used. Enjoy your boots ! Here's mine -

 

[navetsea]

A picture I took a while ago while trying to get better at this whole photo thing haha.

- Y'2 Leather
- Bright Shoemakers
- Japan Blue Jeans
- Samsøe Samsøe

View attachment 679702

very nice toe shape profile from above

 

[Herrvallmo]

very nice toe shape profile from above

Right? they look great in my eyes

But the ones you had made have a similar-ish shape right? nice to have something a bit different from the rest of the engineers out there(while still not going 100% cowboy hehe).

Cheers mate!

 

[TartuWolf]

Just picked up these Skoob “Wander” engineer boots in Italian black horsebutt.

Jamie at East West Apparel was super patient and helpful with a handful of back and forth emails to nail the sizing and we got it just right!

His sizing guides are great on the website and luckily, I own some of the boots he uses as points of comparison. These generally run a half down from brannock but most shops also recommend that for Lofgren engineers which I found didn’t really work for me. I sold those and am giving these a go.

In comparison to Lofgren engineers in the same size, I’d say that the Skoobs are more roomy in the toe box, tighter in the waist, similar in the heel, and maybe the same to slightly more roomy in the instep. They are a true D width where Lofgren is an E. I think had I sized up a half size, the Lofgren would have worked lengthwise but been floppy otherwise since I have borderline C/D width feet.

The construction is great and quite similar in fit and feel to the attractions lot 444 boots I have and love. The Skoobs do however have a bit more space in the toe box, and are described as having a Munson-like last.

The packaging is just a simple, thin cardboard box, stamped with the boot info, with the boots wrapped in tissue paper. All good with me, but you won’t get the fancy boot bags and heavy duty box that you get with Lofgren. These are however around 300 USD cheaper and totally worth it for what I really value in a boot. They cost 670 pounds which with shipping to the US came to right around $900.

You're really intriguing me with the "more roomy in the toe box, tighter in the waist" and "described as having a Munson-like last" parts! I directly from JP they are ~500usd + ~50usd Juno tax + ~50usd shipping to EU would end up roughly ~600-650usd.
Not a fan of the nickel hardware and black edge finish on the black version, but otherwise these seem like a great contender for a black engineer pair.
I'll wait for my Willie's pair - if those turn out great I might just get a black pair from him instead, as the price (at least with black CXL) is ~500usd including shipping and it's fully customizable. And he also does a Munson last (which I chose for current build).

 

[navetsea]

Right? they look great in my eyes

But the ones you had made have a similar-ish shape right? nice to have something a bit different from the rest of the engineers out there(while still not going 100% cowboy hehe).

Cheers mate!

yes, I like the more narrow toes, not necessarily pointy but from 1st person perspective looking down I like the tapering nose
this is my previous boots I have drawn some 9 years ago in 2016

 

[Herrvallmo]

yes, I like the more narrow toes, not necessarily pointy but from 1st person perspective looking down I like the tapering nose View attachment 679987
this is my previous boots I have drawn some 9 years ago in 2016 View attachment 679988 View attachment 679993

Awesome! while I do like both narrow and bulbous toes depending on the boot(and have a mix of both), the last year(s) I've been more and more drawn to the former

Cheers!

 

[jrkirkwo]

@jrkirkwo Nice! I've got some Skoob Wander Engineers too - I got them in the brown - and I absolutely love them. The profile and last shape is my absolute favourite at the moment - yours look great. I did read somewhere that these, the Attractions and the Black Sign Aviators are all made at the same place - this would make sense as there are a lot of similarities between them in terms of construction and materials used. Enjoy your boots ! Here's mine - View attachment 679893

​

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Not a fan of the nickel hardware and black edge finish on the black version, but otherwise these seem like a great contender for a black engineer pair.

​

I'll wait for my Willie's pair - if those turn out great I might just get a black pair from him instead, as the price (at least with black CXL) is ~500usd including shipping and it's fully customizable. And he also does a Munson last (which I chose for current build).

When they say Munson like on the Skoobs, you can see pretty clearly in the pic here how the line goes pretty straight up along the big toe rather than cutting in to form the classic almond shape or pointier toe you see on the new Bright Vulture boots. I have some other boots made in Munson lasts where the toe box is even bigger than these.

The only engineers I’ve seen that had a Munson last were Nicks and the Rolling Dub Trio Roots engineers. The RDT’s look pretty bulky and even maybe a little ugly in photos but I have a friend that has them and they look great on foot.

So far, I think the Skoobs are striking a great balance between providing a little more room for the toes(which is why I bought them) without going full on bulky.

Im excited to see what the Willie’s Munson engineer will look and fit like! Please share them here when they come in!

 

[TartuWolf]

When they say Munson like on the Skoobs, you can see pretty clearly in the pic here how the line goes pretty straight up along the big toe rather than cutting in to form the classic almond shape or pointier toe you see on the new Bright Vulture boots. I have some other boots made in Munson lasts where the toe box is even bigger than these.

The only engineers I’ve seen that had a Munson last were Nicks and the Rolling Dub Trio Roots engineers. The RDT’s look pretty bulky and even maybe a little ugly in photos but I have a friend that has them and they look great on foot.

So far, I think the Skoobs are striking a great balance between providing a little more room for the toes(which is why I bought them) without going full on bulky.

Im excited to see what the Willie’s Munson engineer will look and fit like! Please share them here when they come in!

Getting a pair of Nicks in their Thurman55 last is a dream of mine, but highly unlikely since I live in the EU.
The RDT ones look pretty nice but the mismatching brown outsole is a big no-no for me.
Skoob is on the list but, like I mentioned, the nickel hardware and black edge paint is rather meh, although the price is rather attractive.
Let's see how the Willie's turn out, I'm already prepared for disappointment as engineer fit/sizing is notoriously hard to get right! Should be ready this month. I'll report on them. At least one or two other members on TFL have on order or have a pair of Willie's boots.