Time for some new boots

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by Wesley Crusher

EG Galway - the ultimate boots.

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by City74

Well it’s time to buy some new casual boots. I bought a pair of Fryes last year and like them but I’m not in love with them. They are a little too wide for my foot so they just never felt right. Quality and such is fine tho, just not in love. I’m now looking for some new ones since fall isn’t to far away and thought I would ask for some suggestions or first hand experience on what casual boots others here are wearing

I will say that the Alden Indy is leading the way for me. I have wanted to try a pair for awhile now but that pick isn’t set in stone yet

So how about some ideas....

Frankly if you find Frye boots quality decent I'm pretty sure you"ll find many of the others I mentioned better. Besides can you even resole your Frye Boots?


Just remember no matter what you choose fit is never guaranteed.

[City74]

Originally Posted by Wesley Crusher

EG Galway - the ultimate boots.

I’ll check em out

[City74]

Originally Posted by dddrees

Frankly if you find Frye boots quality decent I'm pretty sure you"ll find many of the others I mentioned better. Besides can you even resole your Frye Boots?


Just remember no matter what you choose fit is never guaranteed.

Oh I doubt it but honestly I wouldn’t anyways

[City74]

Originally Posted by dddrees

Yea I’m not paying that much. They look nice tho

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by City74

Yea I’m not paying that much. They look nice tho

Yeah, those are just a bit more.

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by City74

Oh I doubt it but honestly I wouldn’t anyways

Excatly, and that is typical of those kind of boots. However with something like the Aldens, Rancourt, Oakstreet Bootmakers, and Vibergs you would want too and could. The leather and the boots are worth it. That is as long as you get a good fit.

[dddrees]

Remember just a few things.

When it comes to good leather shoes or boots it's always best to rotate them or give them the day off after a wear. This gives the leather a chance to recover and dispel that perspiration.

Always best to use a pair of shoe trees to help with that and help to retain their shape.


These two things help with keeping your shoes and boots looking good and working good for a longer period of time.

Oh, and use Bick4 when necessary but never over use any shoe care product.

[City74]

Originally Posted by dddrees

Remember just a few things.

When it comes to good leather shoes or boots it's always best to rotate them or give them the day off after a wear. This gives the leather a chance to recover and dispel that perspiration.


Always best to use a pair of shoe trees to help with that and help to retain their shape.

Yea I rarely wear the same shoes 2 days in a row

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by City74

Yea I rarely wear the same shoes 2 days in a row

I added to the original comment.


Bick4, highly recommended. I use this on my all of my shoes and boots from Wolverines to my EG Galways.

[Redtele58]

Get yourself a good pair of Red Wing Heritage boots and never look back.

[City74]

Originally Posted by Redtele58

Get yourself a good pair of Red Wing Heritage boots and never look back.

Yea Red Wing is another brand I have a brain block against lol

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by Redtele58

Get yourself a good pair of Red Wing Heritage boots and never look back.

You could do that as I have but there are other great options as well. Redwing for it's price range would be my number one recommendation. But if you are willing to pay more in my opinion there are more compelling options out there.

[City74]

Originally Posted by dddrees

You could do that as I have but there are other great options as well. Redwing for it's price range would be my number one recommendation. But if you are willing to pay more in my opinion there are more compelling options out there.

Yea I just can’t spend $300 or so for RedWing or Wolverine etc.

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by City74

Yea I just can’t spend $300 or so for RedWing or Wolverine etc.

Actually Redwings are more than worth what they charge. They are really great boots. However when I decide to purchase something I am willing to pay more for something I really want. For me that also means the finer details on top of just something that is going to last and besides these other options are made to last as well. Better leather, a more refined Last, a more pleasing design, and other details matter to me as well.

[droptopman]

Dan knows his boots and has one of the nicest shoe and boot collections around. I love Rancourt as a company and shoe maker. Great people and made in USA. I do like my C&J boots quite a bit also. Alden was a little too boxy in most of their models for me. Like a touch more slender toe box.

[FTX I]

I love Caterpillar boots. You can get great ones for less than 100. Works for me.

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by City74

Yea I just can’t spend $300 or so for RedWing or Wolverine etc.

Your loss.

Red Wings are the best.

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by droptopman

Dan knows his boots and has one of the nicest shoe and boot collections around. I love Rancourt as a company and shoe maker. Great people and made in USA. I do like my C&J boots quite a bit also. Alden was a little too boxy in most of their models for me. Like a touch more slender toe box.

Thanks Mark, and you have a nice collection as well.


Mark makes a great point with regards to Crockett and Jones. They have two lines of footwear being Benchmade and Handgrade with Handgrade being the better and most expensive. They are considered to still be middle tier like Alden when it comes to footwear but still better than Alden. I didn't mention them but they really make some nice shoes and boots. Typically most of their footwear is a bit more on the dressy or casual dress side but their Snowdon is closer to what your looking for I think.

Of all of the boots that I have I have more Crockett and Jones boots than I do of any others with exception of Edward Green. Edward Green just happens to be my favorite. It was when I got a pair of Crockett and Jones boots that I realized how good boots and shoes could really be. My prior experience were with Allen Edmonds, Alden, Redwing and such. Snowdons are not one of their boots in their Handgrade line but it's still a real good boot. The boots in their Handgrade line aren't quite the style it seems your interested in.


In the past there have been some Group Made To Orders arranged for on StyleForum for Snowdons in Zug which is the heartiest leather I know of. It's really the most water repellant leather you can get.


Anyway part of the reason I didn't mention them was because I thought you were gravitating more towards Indy and Viberg boots.

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by FTX I

I love Caterpillar boots. You can get great ones for less than 100. Works for me.

These really are in a totally different category than any of the other boots mentioned here. An option but not nowhere the same as boots which can be resoled.

[City74]

Originally Posted by dddrees

Actually Redwings are more than worth what they charge. They are really great boots. However when I decide to purchase something I am willing to pay more for something I really want. For me that also means the finer details on top of just something that is going to last and besides these other options are made to last as well. Better leather, a more refined Last, a more pleasing design, and other details matter to me as well.

Where would you put Allen Edmonds?

[City74]

Originally Posted by droptopman

dan knows his boots and has one of the nicest shoe and boot collections around. I love rancourt as a company and shoe maker. Great people and made in usa. I do like my c&j boots quite a bit also. Alden was a little too boxy in most of their models for me. Like a touch more slender toe box.

c&j?

[.brian.]

Originally Posted by city74

c&j?

Originally Posted by dddrees

crockett and jones.

12345.

[City74]

Originally Posted by droptopman

Dan knows his boots and has one of the nicest shoe and boot collections around. I love Rancourt as a company and shoe maker. Great people and made in USA. I do like my C&J boots quite a bit also. Alden was a little too boxy in most of their models for me. Like a touch more slender toe box.

Rancourt seems to be nice just none of the styles speak to me.

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by City74

Where would you put Allen Edmonds?

They're not only in the lower tier of Goodyear Welted shoemakers just because of what they cost. They are in the lower tier for what they produce. The lower price you pay reflects very often what you get especially in countries where labor costs are more.

Don't get me wrong because if its a Good Year Welted shoe it's going to last. However their product is not on the same level with those in the Middle Tier.


With shoes and boots like everything else they call it the point of diminishing returns. If you believe aesthetics such as better leather, better patterns, more refined Lasts, better finishing, and more attention to detail is not worth the extra money then you"ll probably spend less and still get that fully functional shoe. However those shoes made from better leather will age better. If it's of Goodyear quality these makers will use better leathers than those which cannot be resoled. However better shoemakers will tend to even use better leather. What Edward Green would refuse to use Allen Edmonds would not. Hence this is part of the cost.


By the way where I put Allen Edmonds is not just this persons opinion. It doesn't take much especially if you have a few in front of you to recognize some of the differences. However if you can't then Allen Edmonds will work just fine.

[City74]

Originally Posted by .brian.

12345.

Yea I replied following reading the post with C&J in it and before I read threads posted after hence my reply and question. Thanks for your wonderful input into this thread tho

[City74]

Originally Posted by dddrees

They're not only in the lower tier of Goodyear Welted shoemakers just because of what they cost. They are in the lower tier for what they produce. The lower price you pay reflects very often what you get especially in countries where labor costs are more.

Don't get me wrong because if its a Good Year Welted shoe it's going to last. However their product is not on the same level with those in the Middle Tier.


With shoes and boots like everything else they call it the point of diminishing returns. If you believe aesthetics such as better leather, better patterns, more refined Lasts, better finishing, and more attention to detail is not worth the extra money then you"ll probably spend less and still get that fully functional shoe. However those shoes made from better leather will age better. If it's of Goodyear quality these makers will use better leathers than those which cannot be resoled. However better shoemakers will tend to even use better leather. What Edward Green would refuse to use Allen Edmonds would not. Hence this is part of the cost.


By the way where I put Allen Edmonds is not just this persons opinion. It doesn't take much especially if you have a few in front of you to recognize some of the differences. However if you can't then Allen Edmonds will work just fine.

I was curious. They really aren’t my style and to mainstream for me as well. Sort of like Cole Haan although I do like some of their shoes.

A big factor will also be companies that make a narrow show. The B/C widths aren’t easy to find for “off the shelf” shoes and really I’m not going to spend a few thousand for totally custom. I guess it’s a fine line, as some companies seem to make narrow sizes and some dont

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by City74

Rancourt seems to be nice just none of the styles speak to me.

They are great shoes and boots. For their style as far as I know they are at the top of what they do.

However Style does matter and if that's not your style keep looking because there's a lot out there. My problem generally when just starting is trying to determine what all is out there and how good they are.


For you based on what I've gathered I would strongly recommend Truman and Viberg. The only concern I have with Truman is whether they have gotten over their growing pains yet. It's been awhile but that and not being familiar with their Lasts would be my concerns. They really do use some very interesting leathers from time to time.

[Colin G]

Originally Posted by City74

I will say that the Alden Indy is leading the way for me. I have wanted to try a pair for awhile now but that pick isn’t set in stone yet

I just checked those Alden Indys out on line.

Very nice.

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by City74

I was curious. They really aren’t my style and to mainstream for me as well. Sort of like Cole Haan although I do like some of their shoes.

A big factor will also be companies that make a narrow show. The B/C widths aren’t easy to find for “off the shelf” shoes and really I’m not going to spend a few thousand for totally custom. I guess it’s a fine line, as some companies seem to make narrow sizes and some dont

Cole Hahn used to make a good shoe. Long past history, they just no longer do.

I'm extremely fortunate as I have a medium width foot. Most Lasts work even if they are not perfect fits. I can wear most Lasts without issue and it's easy for me to get them because the general public it seems tends to be the same. Or at least most shoemakers and retailers agree that's what sells. Just so happens my favorite shoemakers of Edward Green and Gaziano & Girling fit me best.

Here again I strongly suggest trying on before buying. However for those retail challenged locations such as mine I use the Styleforum to conduct my research and speak with those retailers who run men's footwear shops before purchasing. Blind guessing hardly ever works. The internet for researching and purchasing is such a marvelous tool.

It also helped that I established my Brannock size as well as sizes in certain common Lasts being used on Styleforum as well as trying on any and all Lasts whenever possible. If I visited an area whenever possible I tried on various Lasts. It's important to know what a Last is.

I think you will always face a challenge I never had to. However I would strongly recommend you have a look at Styleforum where the footwear geeks hang out. I'm a strong believer in hanging out with the geeks who share my passions. They have appreciation threads for most of the popular shoemakers from Redwing to John Lobb. They also have threads for narrow as well as wide footed people as well.

No matter that you only have interest in a one boot you may just find that particular thread extremely helpful.

Please let me know if you have any questions. I may not have the answer but I may just know where to get it.

Streetwear and Denim for Viberg.

https://www.styleforum.net/forums/st...-and-denim.13/

Classic Menswear for Crockett & Jones, and John Lobb.

https://www.styleforum.net/forums/classic-menswear.5/