New Badalassi_Cowhide A-2 from Good Wear

[handymike]

Ishmael, this phenomenon of the Badalassi leather darkening over time is very intriguing to me. Do you know if it's the same with their whole line, or only the mid-tone leathers? the Lofgren boots seem to age / tone down so beautifully. I'm wondering if I chose a darker color if it would stay the same or end up eventually being black (otensia/ Petrolio to be specific).
Thanks, and nice boots by the way!

 

[Ishmael]

I don't really know, and was actually wondering the same thing myself.

I suspect that it's not really possible for the Tobacco, the color in Butte's original post, to change as much as the Cognac or Ortensia.

Here is a pic of the Grigio after a few months wear (before, right / after, left). Perhaps the Tobacco would age in a similar manner?

 

[ButteMT61]

Ish. Great boots!
I have a pair of RRL boots I'll show before and after pics of.
Started similarly to your boots and aging great. Not as dark as yours but getting there v

 

[Ishmael]

Looking forward to the pics Butte!

 

[Highwaymanman]

Color change with those orangey cognac leathers can be quite dramatic. I have a pair of Frye Arkansas in cognac that darkened significantly.

 

[ButteMT61]

Looking forward to the pics Butte!

When new:

After 7 months:

 

[wdw]

Nice boots, Butte. Definitely better aged, though.

 

[ButteMT61]

Nice boots, Butte. Definitely better aged, though.

They're just like a baseball glove or a belt in the same leather. They look pretty boring new, but then they come alive with age/wear. They're also very thick but soft and I can wear them for 12 hours of walking with no trouble. They're RRL and every bit as good as any top boot out there. I was shocked really when I got them. They match my Gustin wallet and my belt perfectly now.

 

[wdw]

I was in the RRL store in Greenwich Village last month and I'm sure they were selling second hand loggers at about $600 or more. They have some nice stuff there, but very pricey and I don't think the leather jackets are comparable to the much cheaper usual suspects.

 

[ButteMT61]

I was in the RRL store in Greenwich Village last month and I'm sure they were selling second hand loggers at about $600 or more. They have some nice stuff there, but very pricey and I don't think the leather jackets are comparable to the much cheaper usual suspects.

Haha. Yeah, I got those for $150! In box. Never pay retail

 

[seabass]

Damm nice boots Butte & Ishmael
Im referring to the after pics.
please bump & repost in another 6/7 months.
good info shared

 

[ButteMT61]

Damm nice boots Butte & Ishmael
Im referring to the after pics.
please bump & repost in another 6/7 months.
good info shared

Will do. I like to do that too. This leather is fantastic but takes some patience. End results are priceless though.

 

[Ishmael]

Great looking boots Butte. Aging very well.

I see your pic and raise you a fit pic.

 

[ButteMT61]

Couple more pics on GW's site:

 

[Edward]

I have to chuckle at how time changes things: it doesn't seem five minutes ago that steer was widely sneered at for A2s. Eastman have certainly changed the game a bit there with their research! That Goodwear looks great, really nice hide. Interesting to see it being talked about almost as much as Horween now.

Not a jacket, but I thought there might be some interest here in how the Badalassi ages, so here are some before and after pics of my Badalassi boots.

These are John Lofgren engineers in Badalassi cognac.

Before



After (8 months, 4 months wear)

That's quite a change in colour. Do you use a slightly darker polish, or is that just how it goes?

 

[handymike]

Not quite as much, Edward...
They are at 17 pages to our 4.

 

[ButteMT61]

I have to chuckle at how time changes things: it doesn't seem five minutes ago that steer was widely sneered at for A2s. Eastman have certainly changed the game a bit there with their research! That Goodwear looks great, really nice hide. Interesting to see it being talked about almost as much as Horween now.

That's quite a change in colour. Do you use a slightly darker polish, or is that just how it goes?

No, that's not totally correct. Steer was snubbed for not being "authentic" to the A-2 reproductions world. I don't think I ever hear a general "cows suck" in the jacket world. Certainly horse is more "exotic" if in myth only, but I for one have never veered far from the lovely cow on my back.

 

[Jeff M]

.... I for one have never veered far from the lovely cow on my back.

The leather jacket addicts variation of "monkey on my back".

 

[Ishmael]

@ Edward, I haven't applied anything to the boots, well except for rain and sun.

 

[Sloan1874]

Those Lofgrens are a fantastic colour.