Footwear to go with our jackets

[Jin431]

How comfortable are monkey boots?

looking at the John Lofgren monkey boots and wonder are they worth it their price tag.
Anyone got some boots from John Lofgren? Are they so good?

Never tried the Lofgrens but I only heard good things about the last they use for it. I almost got them but wanted something else than CXL so I Didn't go for it at the end. The monkey boots I have are good for walking and has good support especially the ones from Sagara. It's a pain to lace up but it's not too bad

 

[Jin431]

Truman Java Horse ****. I always loved horse **** leather boots but now I truly adore them. This brown is so nice, my fave brown boots so far.

First wear

After a long weekend of wearing

Bonus photo in the wild

 

[dudewuttheheck]

Next up on my list is my pair of custom Clinch engineer boots by Brass Tokyo. Picking up these boots from Brass Tokyo in person was a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget. I will never forget holding them for the first time in the store, downstairs from the room they were made in and admiring how beautiful they were. I will never forget taking pictures with the staff and the owner Minoru Matsuura while wearing them and then walking out of the store in them. I also will never forget how I wore them while shopping around Tokyo the next day and made my shins bleed because the vegetable tanned cowhide was so stiff.


Despite that uncomfortable experience, these boots have been an absolute joy to own. I feel extremely fortunate to have been able to order custom pairs of these boots directly from the maker. The red stitching against the black leather is something that I still love and these boots have aged very nicely with the trademark rolling of the leather that Clinch has engineered into the brilliant classic narrow last. These were my first black boots and are still my favorite black boots that I own by a pretty comfortable margin and are my first choice when I wear either of my black Freewheelers leather jackets.

The leather also takes a shine really nicely from wax polish. The black leather really wakes up thanks to the polish. I don't even know if they offer this vegetable tanned cowhide at all anymore. They don't really do custom anymore from what I understand and I haven't seen this leather offered anymore so I'm glad that I was able to get it.

In my fairly experienced opinion, you cannot get better engineers than Brass Tokyo engineers in their original classic narrow last. The design is incredible and they are thought out so well even in terms of how the leather folds in the toes. The quality is also some of the best that I have ever experienced in boots. Only one maker is provably better and I'll get to them soon. For engineer boots, this is the ultimate.

This last image here is after I polished them. The lighting was not great, but I think you can still tell the difference:

 

[Monitor]

Low grade addition to this thread but just got my Chippewas fully restored & upgraded and... I dunno, these boots have served me so well for so long that I cannot help but really like them.

 

[dannyk]

Low grade addition to this thread but just got my Chippewas fully restored & upgraded and... I dunno, these boots have served me so well for so long that I cannot help but really like them.

Are these the 1930 Service boots in black CXL? I had these same boots or super similar ones. There was nothing special about them at all. Nothing that stood out. But they fit great, took a beating, looked good; they were just solid and good boots. Not one thing I could complain about.

 

[moktabe]

Currently away from home so had to 'borrow' an internet pic.

When home these are my go to boots. Trickers Burford.

 

[Monitor]

Are these the 1930 Service boots in black CXL? I had these same boots or super similar ones. There was nothing special about them at all. Nothing that stood out. But they fit great, took a beating, looked good; they were just solid and good boots. Not one thing I could complain about.

Agreed 100 percent and I know they're considered entry level boots in the "heritage ruggedwear" circles or whatever but any pair of boots that looks like that after years of constant, everday wear by someone who doesn't own any kind of transportation, is more than worth the investment of either time or money. They won't be seeing as much wear anymore as I've switched to harness' but it's good to have them around.

Anyway, these are just their regular Service boots in standard, black cowhide. My cobbler likes to work on them so he always shines & cleans them like that when I bring them in.

 

[dannyk]

Agreed 100 percent and I know they're considered entry level boots in the "heritage ruggedwear" circles or whatever but any pair of boots that looks like that after years of constant, everday wear by someone who doesn't own any kind of transportation, is more than worth the investment of either time or money. They won't be seeing as much wear anymore as I've switched to harness' but it's good to have them around.

Anyway, these are just their regular Service boots in standard, black cowhide. My cobbler likes to work on them so he always shines & cleans them like that when I bring them in.

Well they look great. I’m a fool and sold mine. Because that’s what we all do around here. Get incredible things wish we had something else, sell them, then realize what we had was perfect. I had them as an entry level boot then sold a bunch of boots cause I wanted to up my game. After having gone through 50 pairs of boots maybe....I realize they were a top 5 boot. Nothing special like I said; but they didn’t have a single flaw. Not even a frayed or snagged thread, they were super comfy, and the leather looked good worn in.

 

[Pandemic]

Those Chippewa service boots looks great. Having seen some recent picks of Brass Tokyo and Brian the Bootmaker doing resoles, I wish I’d hung on to my old pair of Wolverine 1000 mile boots and Redwing Gentleman’s Travelers.

I do look at some of the older Chippewa engineer boots that show up on eBay and think about getting a pair resoled and rejuvenated. Pretty sure that’s what James Dean wore in RWAC.

 

[AeroFan_07]

Well they look great. I’m a fool and sold mine. Because that’s what we all do around here. Get incredible things wish we had something else, sell them, then realize what we had was perfect. I had them as an entry level boot then sold a bunch of boots cause I wanted to up my game. After having gone through 50 pairs of boots maybe....I realize they were a top 5 boot. Nothing special like I said; but they didn’t have a single flaw. Not even a frayed or snagged thread, they were super comfy, and the leather looked good worn in.

From a long time ago, but in a galaxy farily close by, a wise individual I once read said: "A good pair of shoes is the pair you don't notice."

Right there, Danny and Monitor what you say about these Chippewa's makes them fit directly into this catagory. My pair of Red Wing Iron Rangers is close to this - other than the "flatness" internally and my foot arch protesting by the end of a long day walking in them on concrete - I really never notice the IR's.

 

[Bfd70]

^exact same

 

[dannyk]

 

[Blackadder]

Agreed 100 percent and I know they're considered entry level boots in the "heritage ruggedwear" circles or whatever but any pair of boots that looks like that after years of constant, everday wear by someone who doesn't own any kind of transportation, is more than worth the investment of either time or money. They won't be seeing as much wear anymore as I've switched to harness' but it's good to have them around.

Anyway, these are just their regular Service boots in standard, black cowhide. My cobbler likes to work on them so he always shines & cleans them like that when I bring them in.

I have a pair of those Chippewa steel toe lace up boots many years ago but I don't really like the oiled leather on those and I absolutely hate the profile with the steel toe. I only wear them in typhoon weather. I also have two pairs of Chippewa steel toe engineer boots that I rarely wear. Chippewa are great quality boots and absolute bargain in terms of materials and workmanship but the steel toe ones have pretty ugly profile.
Then I bought a pair of the Chippewa 1939 CXL a couple of months ago and they have become my go to lace up boots.
Another great bargain brand is the Thorogood.
I think Red Wing heritage line is overpriced compared to those 2 brands. However one can always count on fire sale and warehouse sale to get a pair of Red Wing. All my Red Wings were bought at warehouse sale held by the ex local dealer.

 

[Monitor]

I have a pair of those Chippewa steel toe lace up boots many years ago but I don't really like the oiled leather on those and I absolutely hate the profile with the steel toe. I only wear them in typhoon weather. I also have two pairs of Chippewa steel toe engineer boots that I rarely wear. Chippewa are great quality boots and absolute bargain in terms of materials and workmanship but the steel toe ones have pretty ugly profile.
Then I bought a pair of the Chippewa 1939 CXL a couple of months ago and they have become my go to lace up boots.
Another great bargain brand is the Thorogood.
I think Red Wing heritage line is overpriced compared to those 2 brands.

I strongly dislike steel toes, too and not just 'cause of reasons related to aesthetics, though I know what you mean. I owned a pair of two steel toe boots, Sendra and the other brand I can't recall at the moment. The sharp edges of the steel caps managed to cut through the leather from inside the boot on these.
Sendras were absolute pain to wear because until I took a hammer and dislodged the caps out of the boots. Should've done that right away. Anyway, turned the boots from downright unwearable to perfectly comfortable pair once the iron caps were out.

 

[dannyk]

I have a pair of those Chippewa steel toe lace up boots many years ago but I don't really like the oiled leather on those and I absolutely hate the profile with the steel toe. I only wear them in typhoon weather. I also have two pairs of Chippewa steel toe engineer boots that I rarely wear. Chippewa are great quality boots and absolute bargain in terms of materials and workmanship but the steel toe ones have pretty ugly profile.
Then I bought a pair of the Chippewa 1939 CXL a couple of months ago and they have become my go to lace up boots.
Another great bargain brand is the Thorogood.
I think Red Wing heritage line is overpriced compared to those 2 brands. However one can always count on fire sale and warehouse sale to get a pair of Red Wing. All my Red Wings were bought at warehouse sale held by the ex local dealer.

Right 1939 not 1930 ha. But yeah those were the best! Like you said for the money they are a steal and bargain. I hate myself for selling everything good I ever had ha. But yeah the 1939 black CXL are a hidden gem.

 

[Mich486]

New entry in my engineers line up and I think they are strong contenders against the Attractions.

Old Joe brown HH (believe from FW19 collection)

 

[Blackadder]

New entry in my engineers line up and I think they are strong contenders against the Attractions.

Old Joe brown HH (believe from FW19 collection)

View attachment 325195

These are IMO better looking than the old model that I have.

 

[jglf]

My Chippewa moc toe’s had pretty nice leather, but I wasn’t fond of their last shape, poron insole, and foam filler.

 

[Mich486]

These are IMO better looking than the old model that I have.

Yeah there are several different lasts they’ve used. I had a pair of one of their older model, the one with a somewhat pointy toe. But I know there are several others. These are their latest iteration that they released a couple of times over the last couple of years. First version of these is with a leather sole whereas these have half soles. Leather sole is cool but not practical in UK plus I always wear them out super fast.

 

[Blackadder]

Yeah there are several different lasts they’ve used. I had a pair of one of their older model, the one with a somewhat pointy toe. But I know there are several others. These are their latest iteration that they released a couple of times over the last couple of years. First version of these is with a leather sole whereas these have half soles. Leather sole is cool but not practical in UK plus I always wear them out super fast.

There wasn't a local dealer back when I bought mine at Yahoo auction. The boots came and surprise surprise, they have wool lined shafts therefore completely unsuitable for the local weather. I saw yours in black at the local dealer and the leather is very soft but has a rather matte finishing. These actually look more like the Clinch NPT than Attractions.