Some heels modified by Brass Tokyo
Great job. These are looking pretty close to perfect, IMO…
...actually, wait... I love everything about these.
-bornheim
Some heels modified by Brass Tokyo
Great job. These are looking pretty close to perfect, IMO…
...actually, wait... I love everything about these.
-bornheim
Great boot bornheim. Those waxed laces came with the boots?
Yep… standard laces that come on the 1000 Mile Boots.
-bornheim.
I posted these on the Wolverine thread… but thought I'd throw em up here, too...!
These came back from the boot maker a bit earlier than expected. I just wasn't getting along with the rubber fore-sole on the rough out 1K boots.
This is what they looked like to begin with:
I had an additional rubber protective sole applied over the existing rubber to beef it up a bit… but I still wasn't happy. Then I went looking for and managed to source a range of different sole options including a cats paw-like "Dr. Sole Original" cord composite rubber sole, but these things are super heavy… and well, you know... sometimes the idea of a boot is more comfortable than the actual boot on your foot--like lugging a slab of concrete around strapped to your foot.
In the end I decided I have so many heavy duty boots, and with summer coming, I'd go for a lighter option... so the Vibram.
I'm pretty happy with how these turned out... kind of the way that should be, I think.
Cheers,
-bornheim
So these came back from the boot maker today, a bit earlier than expected. As per my previous post (above) I just wasn't getting along with the half rubber fore-sole on the rough out 1K boots.
I had an additional rubber protective sole applied over the existing rubber to beef it up a bit… but I still wasn't happy. Then I went looking for and managed to source a range of different sole options including a cats paw-like "Dr. Sole Original" composite rubber sole, but they were super heavy. In the end I decided I have so many heavy duty boots, and with summer coming, I'd go for a lighter option... so the Vibram.
I'm pretty happy with how these turned out... kind of the way that should be, I think.
Cheers,
-bornheim
You can also make your own laces. That's what I did.
I tracked down an ebay seller who sells waxed cotton lace by the metre. He usually adds a metal tip for the length you want. The metal tips are crap so order them untipped, or remove the metal tip. Then buy yourself some heat shrink tubing, a tea light candle, and make your own lace-end tips. And that's it.
That's what I did on these boots. OK these tips are a little long, but you can do them any length you want and/or change them any time:
-bornheim
The Nordstrom customer service was top notch, as always. I shop at Nordstrom since 1990 or longer, never an issue with them.
That's good news, and I'm pleased to hear that you got a good resolution. Of course, the way that Nordstrom responded to the problem is exactly that way that Wolverine should have! Shame on them for not dealing with it.
I have to say, I've had three pairs of 1K boots and they've all been good. Well made and I like the cut on them… but I have been lucky too, and at the price which Wolverine are pitching these boots there is no excuse for not standing behind them and dealing with the occasional problem.
However, as much as I like the 1K boot... they're not a ca. 300-400 euro boot... not in any language, currency or place. They're a US$250-280 boot, which means... EUR 180-200.
-bornheim.
^^
Good answer.
You're right of course about the small local boot makers, and that goes for most styles, also.
I was having a chat with Jamie (EastWest) a while ago and touched on this issue in relation to cowboy/riding boots. When I was growing up (yep, in the countryside with horses and cows) the cowboy boots my dad wore, and a couple of my own pairs, were made by a small boot maker in the area. No one, at all, wore branded boots like Justin or Tony Lama. And, there weren't sizes for riding boots! Every pair was made to fit the individual because it was more or less understood that a riding boot (i.e. no laces and required to fit with your foot in a stirrup) had to be a very precise fit. It was only more recently and with the popularity of rodeo's and western "culture" not directly linked to working cowboys that mass produced riding boots became popular (a bit like work boots today). Back then, most guys would have expected their riding boots to last a good 20 years. But then again, like me, guys who ride horses don't like walking…
-bornheim
I still like the Chippewas, and when it comes time to buy some engineers I will likely go chippewa.
Yeah… I was thinking some Chippewa Engineers and then pimp them out with a new sole. By the way, didn't Chippewa produce the first Engineer boot... or do I have that wrong?
-bornheim
Hmm… really sorry to hear about this. I'm based on Germany too, so I really feel your pain in terms of the relative dollar value at stake here. But that aside... there's no excuse for crap customer service.
By the way... I though I should mention that your "cheaper option" being RW is not a cheaper option in Germany. Ridiculous prices...!
If I were you (apart from harassing and shaming Wolverine) I'd try to locate some better quality hooks yourself and get a boot maker to repair your 1K boots. Is the problem hooks and eyelets...?
I currently have my rough out 1K boots at the boot maker. I paid full euro price for them... but I just couldn't get along with the rubber half sole. I decided I had so much damn cash in the boots already that I might as well just plow some more in until I get something I'm happy with. I sourced 4 new sole options myself and took them all to the bootmaker. I'll post some pics mid next week went they come back...
-bornheim
Just noticed that these boots are reduced on the J Crew website. OK, they're only US$20 off. Note, that includes US domestic delivery but excludes tax.
PS. Don't want to plug another site… so I hope its OK to mention that here on the forum. I'm happy to delete this if its not appropriate.
-bornheim
Is that the JCrew colab? My brother has the Crew pair, which I think is the same boot and they are friggn nice.
Yep, this is (was?) the J Crew collaboration. I liked the colour option as well as the pull tab on the heel. As I said, I think Chippewa is underrated, in general.
-bornheim
I forgot to mention, that the details on the J Crew collab vary from the standard Chippewa only in a small way: the pull tab, the leather options, and the material for the lace hooks.
However, I suspect that the "Originals" line will be almost identical to the J Crew version… but I haven't looked closely enough at the line up.
These boots are cowhide with "cordovan" colour. They're not cordovan... but the colour is the main reason I went for the boot. I was happily surprised to find that the construction, fit and quality of the boots is better than I had expected.
-bornheim
Very nice. How much?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
If I recall correctly, I paid about US$260 (ex. tax) in the US… so there was tax and shipping on top of that.
There is a premium on the J Crew collab, and the straight Chippewa's can be had for less... Not sure if J Crew has had these on sale at any point, but I'm pretty sure they have.
-bornheim
Is that the JCrew colab? My brother has the Crew pair, which I think is the same boot and they are friggn nice.
Yep, this is (was?) the J Crew collaboration. I liked the colour option as well as the pull tab on the heel. As I said, I think Chippewa is underrated, in general.
-bornheim
OK… terrible pics (my apologies), but here you go:
Never cleaned, polished, conditioned or anything else... just taken out of the box and worn relentlessly for 3 months:
-bornheim
I was referring to 10% off all seconds plus free shipping…
;-)… yeah, I thought so. Still, there should be more love for cowboy boots, IMO.
-bornheim
I'm looking for a second pair of boots at a 'budget' price point. I'm not really sure what I want in terms of plain toe/moc toe or which vibram sole, but right now I'm mainly looking at Red Wing and Chippewa in terms of brands.
Chippewa seems to be about $50 less than RW on most styles….but do the two line up in terms of quality? Does one use better quality leather than the other? I'm not really seeing any consistent opinions on the internet...
I have several of each, here's one comparison:
http://www.ironheart.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=521.msg131591#msg131591
I can wear the Chippewa work boots longer, walk farther…at least the few models I have, even a thick oiled waterproofed/goretexed 8" one. My Redwings take more abuse, because I think they might be better harder wearing leather and can take it. I also have less heavy duty boots by each, Iron Rangers on one side and Chippewa capped toe similar to those new ones just above. I find them equal in terms of walking around all day, perhaps a nod to the IR.
I can tell you I've had dozens of pairs of Red Wings (no exaggeration… over 20 years) and I'll never buy another pair. They're simply overrated. I have a bunch of other boots including White's and some customs... but I recently bought a pair of the J Crew Chippewa boots. They are really great! I'm not kidding.
They get talked down on the forums, mostly by RW fan boys, but the only way you can decide is to put them on your feet. I have been wearing mine almost daily for about three months. They fit better than RW, the leather is better quality, the hooks and eyelets are much better quality, they don't blow out, go sloppy and look like you kicked the shit out of them after a couple of weeks. I'm finding it hard to wear my White's because I love the Chippewa boots so much.
I'll definitely be buying these again in the future. Don't get side tracked by the hype for other boots. Give them go...
I'll post some pics of mine later...
-bornheim
I realise this thread is dead… and I haven't been around for a while. Good idea, and these kind of initiatives should be praised. I guess if if been I'd had the chance to provide input earlier I would have opted for a bulk purchase of a very standard build. Maybe a small detail to call it an IH Forum boot (e.g. brass eyelets or something) but all other details need to readily available. Keeps the maker on side, and allows more members to get in on the action...
-bornheim.
Pretty cool! Not great as far as cowboy boots go (I'd never opt for Wesco for a proper riding boot)… but this particular last when translated onto a work boot I think is perfect.
Oh... it just occurred to me you are referring to the "free shipping" thing... not bad either...
-bornheim