Footwear to go with our jackets

[Jin431]

the break in continues

 

[Ayeteael]

So these John Lofgren Engineers were a bit of a gamble for me, in both style (first Engineer boot order) and size (sized down from the recommendation as it was the last one left and I wanted to try to avoid heel slip), not to mention the high price. I was nervous as hell today opening up the box to see if they fit. Upon initial inspection, they appeared smaller (and lighter, less bulky) than I was anticipating as I was holding them and sort of eyeballing the size comparing it to my foot before I even tried to slip them on. I got even more nervous.

First foot in was my smaller left, trying them on with my normal Chup socks and I got stuck right away in the shaft. Uh oh . Ok, I guess there is a bit of “wiggling” back and forth one must do with engineers. With some back and forth effort, they slid on finally, foot in bed. Ok, this one fits pretty well and snug, cautiously optimistic here, not a lot of room though inside.

Next foot. The dominant right, the bigger of the two. Let’s give this a whirl. Nope. Nope. And nope.

Yikes, no bueno. Felt like their was absolutely zero chance I could get my foot past the shaft, let alone see if the footbed fit. I grabbed a different sock, a lighter dress sock this time, and a plastic bag. Let’s see if that does the trick. Plastic did not help. ****.

But what’s this? Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle…..wiggle, wiggle, wiggle? It’s…it’s going. Must. Get past. Heel counterrrrrr…. Success!!!! I’m in. Foot in bed. It’s snug, but it fits! Can I walk though? Yes. Not bad. Gets better with more walking and wearing. Actually, they feel great! Awesome even!

This leather is pretty stretchy being deerskin so I was actually eventually able to get in with the Chup socks as well the next time I put them back on and I feel the more I wear them, the better they will fit and be easier to get into.

I guess I made the right call on these after all. Phew! I do want to order another pair now is horse, but I wonder if the size would still be the correct one to go with or I should size up because since these are deerskin, they are just easier to stretch into. If they were horse, I might not be so lucky…not sure! Thoughts?

Burnt burgundy ezo deerskin.

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Fantastic boots and writeup. So I've got a pair of engineers in super thick horsebutt from Flame Panda. They are incredibly difficult to put on. My feet keep getting stuck in the area where the shaft meets the counter. I took them to a cobbler to stretch but it didn't really provide me any relief. I tried wearing them with only dress socks, but the leather is so thick I barely made a dent in the break-in.

Faced with the dilemma of selling a very unique pair of boots or suffering through an untold breakin-in period, I took drastic measures. My cobbler is installing side zips along the inside of each boot. I hope I don't come to regret this decision, but given the thick horsebutt Peng used, I didn't see any other pain-free solution. I'll post pics when they're done.

 

[marker2037]

Fantastic boots and writeup. So I've got a pair of engineers in super thick horsebutt from Flame Panda. They are incredibly difficult to put on. My feet keep getting stuck in the area where the shaft meets the counter. I took them to a cobbler to stretch but it didn't really provide me any relief. I tried wearing them with only dress socks, but the leather is so thick I barely made a dent in the break-in.

Faced with the dilemma of selling a very unique pair of boots or suffering through an untold breakin-in period, I took drastic measures. My cobbler is installing side zips along the inside of each boot. I hope I don't come to regret this decision, but given the thick horsebutt Peng used, I didn't see any other pain-free solution. I'll post pics when they're done.

Thanks!

That's a choice I never hope to have to make, which is actually why I chose deerskin as my first engineer. I knew they would be more flexible and stretchy. The shaft to heel counter area is the problem I assume everyone faces, so yea good luck with your solution!

For my next pair, I'm choosing either black CXL or the Havana horsehide. Maybe both eventually. I really like these so far.

I should have added in my original post, that I would KILL for a leather jacket in this Ezo Shika deerskin. It's incredible.

 

[Ayeteael]

Engineers just may not be for me, given my wide feet. If I try another pair, I will certainly pick a softer, more pliable leather. Thick horsebutt was a miscalculation on my part. I got wiped up in the current horsebutt frenzy.

 

[red devil]

I would KILL for a leather jacket in this Ezo Shika deerskin. It's incredible.

It is very nice! I have the IH shirt in Ezo Deer.

Four speed makes jackets from this leather, I am planning to order one next time I am in Tokyo

 

[belfastboy]

Security really is the biggest pain with flying now - one of several reasons I much prefer the train where practical. I'm just not a sneaker guy. Long haul in warmer weather I find penny loafers great - easily kicked off and on at security and on the plane, but not so ideal in Winter! Still, with the way the latest element of the 'rona is going, it looks like I might well have at least another year to track down alternatives, ha...

The best trick I discovered with a belt is to get one where you can unfasten a stud and remove the buckle from the belt - the leather strap doesn't set off alarms, and it's an awful lot less hassle than having to remove a belt fully. Mad we still have to do all that caper now they have those full body scanners where they can check us all out entirely, but hey ho.

I made the mistake of flying and wearing slip on shoes. When we landed the shoes I had taken off no longer fit my swollen feet and I had to walk off the plane in my socks! Only tie ups that don't leave my feet from now on.

 

[Psant25]

Got my new whites mp boots plain toe cinnamon wax flesh these are pretty nice. Leather is thick i was a little worried thought it was thinner than plain cxl. Heels look tight and symmetric thank god. Stitching ok as usual not great

 

[Bfd70]

So these John Lofgren Engineers were a bit of a gamble for me, in both style (first Engineer boot order) and size (sized down from the recommendation as it was the last one left and I wanted to try to avoid heel slip), not to mention the high price. I was nervous as hell today opening up the box to see if they fit. Upon initial inspection, they appeared smaller (and lighter, less bulky) than I was anticipating as I was holding them and sort of eyeballing the size comparing it to my foot before I even tried to slip them on. I got even more nervous.

First foot in was my smaller left, trying them on with my normal Chup socks and I got stuck right away in the shaft. Uh oh . Ok, I guess there is a bit of “wiggling” back and forth one must do with engineers. With some back and forth effort, they slid on finally, foot in bed. Ok, this one fits pretty well and snug, cautiously optimistic here, not a lot of room though inside.

Next foot. The dominant right, the bigger of the two. Let’s give this a whirl. Nope. Nope. And nope.

Yikes, no bueno. Felt like their was absolutely zero chance I could get my foot past the shaft, let alone see if the footbed fit. I grabbed a different sock, a lighter dress sock this time, and a plastic bag. Let’s see if that does the trick. Plastic did not help. ****.

But what’s this? Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle…..wiggle, wiggle, wiggle? It’s…it’s going. Must. Get past. Heel counterrrrrr…. Success!!!! I’m in. Foot in bed. It’s snug, but it fits! Can I walk though? Yes. Not bad. Gets better with more walking and wearing. Actually, they feel great! Awesome even!

This leather is pretty stretchy being deerskin so I was actually eventually able to get in with the Chup socks as well the next time I put them back on and I feel the more I wear them, the better they will fit and be easier to get into.

I guess I made the right call on these after all. Phew! I do want to order another pair now is horse, but I wonder if the size would still be the correct one to go with or I should size up because since these are deerskin, they are just easier to stretch into. If they were horse, I might not be so lucky…not sure! Thoughts?

Burnt burgundy ezo deerskin.

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Beautiful boots, but how can you stand them without taller socks?

 

[Jin431]

Onderhoud Engineers (black Maryam horse ****)

 

[marker2037]

Beautiful boots, but how can you stand them without taller socks?

My socks actually come up higher than the boots do, so no worries there. Plus, this leather is super soft anyway and the shafts of these are lined due to the soft nature of the deerskin.

 

[Jin431]

Truman Java waxed flesh, brown rough out is starting to peak through the waxed layer

 

[Will Zach]

Got my new whites mp boots plain toe cinnamon wax flesh these are pretty nice. Leather is thick i was a little worried thought it was thinner than plain cxl. Heels look tight and symmetric thank god. Stitching ok as usual not great
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These are pretty sweet. I am partial to service boots. Any fit pics? Thx.

 

[Edward]

I made the mistake of flying and wearing slip on shoes. When we landed the shoes I had taken off no longer fit my swollen feet and I had to walk off the plane in my socks! Only tie ups that don't leave my feet from now on.

Not a problem I've encountered - though certainly they are tighter. Funnily enough, though, I did once have a pair I loved but that in the end were just too loose (what they sold as a UK 8 was really close a UK9 / US10), even with an insole. They always, with the insole, fit just right when I got off the plane, but never again much more than an hour later. Just enough in it that a pair of bootsocks made them viable with an insole, but...

 

[Psant25]

Here ya go @Will Zach

 

[Jin431]

Benzein Chelsea (Cloe Cigar horse ****)

 

[marker2037]

Benzein Chelsea (Cloe Cigar horse ****)

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Nice. How was the ordering process with Benzein? They definitely peak my interest.

 

[Jin431]

Nice. How was the ordering process with Benzein? They definitely peak my interest.

very easy. adi (owner) is very responsive and they would send you a template that you can edit to your own specs. the Chelsea they make is really good, it's pretty ****** proof for a first order.

 

[marker2037]

very easy. adi (owner) is very responsive and they would send you a template that you can edit to your own specs. the Chelsea they make is really good, it's pretty ****** proof for a first order.

Cool, good to know. I'm already above my quota for the year though so any new order will need to wait until sometime next year. I've really gone hunting lately with the Lofgren engineers and Alden longwings already received and now I have just in this past week pre-ordered Wesco Mister Lou's in Toscanello horse rump, Wesco x Standard and Strange Axe Breakers in black horsehide, White's Nomads in black waxed flesh, and another Lofgren engineer in SHF Havana.

 

[Ayeteael]

Cool, good to know. I'm already above my quota for the year though so any new order will need to wait until sometime next year. I've really gone hunting lately with the Lofgren engineers and Alden longwings already received and now I have just in this past week pre-ordered Wesco Mister Lou's in Toscanello horse rump, Wesco x Standard and Strange Axe Breakers in black horsehide, White's Nomads in black waxed flesh, and another Lofgren engineer in SHF Havana.

What a week! Solid choices all round.

 

[Jin431]

Cool, good to know. I'm already above my quota for the year though so any new order will need to wait until sometime next year. I've really gone hunting lately with the Lofgren engineers and Alden longwings already received and now I have just in this past week pre-ordered Wesco Mister Lou's in Toscanello horse rump, Wesco x Standard and Strange Axe Breakers in black horsehide, White's Nomads in black waxed flesh, and another Lofgren engineer in SHF Havana.

daaaaamn! what a bevy of assorted goodies indeed! love how you roll brother!