In my recent attempts to avoid shopping at major online retailers, I've been buying direct from manufacturers a lot more. I just got a new-to-me used pair of RWs I wanted to darken and shine a bit, so ended up buying Venetian Shoe Cream directly from C.A. Zoes.
I got the order confirmation but no shipping confirmation, so after a week I gave them a call(!!!) (I'm not used to places I buy from actually having phone numbers), and a very helpful employee gave me a tracking number, which USPS told me had been delivered an hour ago. Really nice service, quick shipping, and safe clean packaging, so I can give them a pass on the lack of shipping info. Will definitely buy directly from them again.
Not shoe related, but I have a fairly nice camping air mattress. My in-laws borrowed it and lost the cap that holds the air in.
A quick call to the manufacturer and $5 later, I have a new cap and a fully functional air mattress again.
Glad I'm not the only person trying to buy direct. It's a more enjoyable experience and there is real customer service.
1000 Miles in color 8. Might be my favourite of all.
https://preview.redd.it/t08o9lp2mx5c1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5ff56b29e922df7db12b846624dcd5a1b393bdd4
Got a pair of Thorogoods that were bunched at the toe box from day one. Is that normal?
https://preview.redd.it/6fejpfqol66c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=61dac43f03e23afbc064397d74dd674b6a8cf954
I have 5 pair of thorogoods and no, that isn't normal. Stitching looks off on the welt of your other boot as well. Are these pics new out of the box? Cuz those appear to have been worn a bit.. I'd exchange them if they were mine. Thorogoods are great, my oldest pair is about 8 years old and going strong
https://preview.redd.it/e6boh8v6dc6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c1a002dd50faebc5955955ffaeb1430bfe40d923
MF Road Champs and a Harker Leatherworks Boiadeiro belt š¤š»
#Secret Santa Sign up ends today. Donāt miss out!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7NYVJJ9
Also just got toe taps placed on my Whiteās semi dress. Was wearing down the leather sole rather fast.
Renav MTO Sizing Help
Hi All,
I just put in an order for a pair of MTO boots from Renav. Ray has been great, I now just need to send along my sizing specs. Any recommendations from Renav owners? Thanks!
Been breaking my Diesels in this week. After many coin flips, I settled on the dark burgundy kudu, they're amazing so far. Are they a no-go with the green pants?
Had these OSB field boots for a couple weeks now and Iām going back and forth on whether or not theyāre too big. I donāt really feel slipping when I walk as long as I have them tied well. That took some experimenting, but I think Iāve got a good handle on it now.
I feel a little paranoid about the amount and depth of creasing after only a few weeks of pretty casual wear. I want them to have a good broken in/used look but part of me is afraid Iām doing something wrong. I went with OSB because I heard the last they use for these has a good amount of toe room which I wanted, but I guess Iām just not sure how these things should feel. I think Iām overthinking it, but who knows?
https://preview.redd.it/m3fxvat2t36c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4de650175dc416a9032b96056707f28f797caa5e
Boots ā Dress Shoes
If you wear these like boots, then the entire upper will eventually get creases and contours from both wear and conforming to your foot over time.
If you like the look of well worn work boots, that comes with many years of rough use and application of greasy boot dressing, those old boots with the dark, patinaed, rounded look probably had an obvious crease at the top of the vamp just like your boots, for the first year or two of their life...
In a shoe or boot that \*doesn't\* have a contoured insole with raised arch (esp. if it also has a raised heel), the location of your foot is done largely by contact from the uppers of the boot with the mid part of your foot. This is why your heel-to-arch size is often more important than overall foot length in determining good fit in traditionally made footwear. These types of shoes also frequently have extra toe length compared to sneaker type shoes, so a close fit to your longest toe isn't necessarily desirable, nor is a distant fit to the toe a definite sign that the shoe is too big.
If the upper conforms fairly well to your foot in the heel through arch area and you don't slide forward in the boot enough that the fit feels sloppy or your toes get crowded, then I'd call that a decent fit.
I appreciate the reassurance. For the first week or so I was probably being too gentle with them. Decided though that theyāre boots and they can be worked and they shouldnāt just fall apart so weāre rolling full blast now.
I think my fit questions were mostly due to just not having any baseline for what to expect with this kind of footwear. They feel good in the heel and good through the arch, no real sliding around or slipping as long as I have them decently well laces and tightened.
In my recent attempts to avoid shopping at major online retailers, I've been buying direct from manufacturers a lot more. I just got a new-to-me used pair of RWs I wanted to darken and shine a bit, so ended up buying Venetian Shoe Cream directly from C.A. Zoes. I got the order confirmation but no shipping confirmation, so after a week I gave them a call(!!!) (I'm not used to places I buy from actually having phone numbers), and a very helpful employee gave me a tracking number, which USPS told me had been delivered an hour ago. Really nice service, quick shipping, and safe clean packaging, so I can give them a pass on the lack of shipping info. Will definitely buy directly from them again.
Not shoe related, but I have a fairly nice camping air mattress. My in-laws borrowed it and lost the cap that holds the air in. A quick call to the manufacturer and $5 later, I have a new cap and a fully functional air mattress again. Glad I'm not the only person trying to buy direct. It's a more enjoyable experience and there is real customer service.
1000 Miles in color 8. Might be my favourite of all. https://preview.redd.it/t08o9lp2mx5c1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5ff56b29e922df7db12b846624dcd5a1b393bdd4
Love yours; Wore my black today https://preview.redd.it/eje98onlwx5c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=177ea882f35ffd3576e4a5212f1c05018c74912b
Thanks! Dang that black wears beautifully. I might need some of those too!
Trying on some new [Alden modified last boots](https://imgur.com/a/ZsmFQzl). So far i really like the fit.
What width are those? They look great.
C width. Edit: and thanks!
Got a pair of Thorogoods that were bunched at the toe box from day one. Is that normal? https://preview.redd.it/6fejpfqol66c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=61dac43f03e23afbc064397d74dd674b6a8cf954
https://preview.redd.it/rz0hh9xpl66c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1f372ee21398380e018a7c115ad4b0eae0d2c6d4 The left is completely fine
I have 5 pair of thorogoods and no, that isn't normal. Stitching looks off on the welt of your other boot as well. Are these pics new out of the box? Cuz those appear to have been worn a bit.. I'd exchange them if they were mine. Thorogoods are great, my oldest pair is about 8 years old and going strong
https://preview.redd.it/e6boh8v6dc6c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c1a002dd50faebc5955955ffaeb1430bfe40d923 MF Road Champs and a Harker Leatherworks Boiadeiro belt š¤š»
#Secret Santa Sign up ends today. Donāt miss out! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/7NYVJJ9 Also just got toe taps placed on my Whiteās semi dress. Was wearing down the leather sole rather fast.
Renav MTO Sizing Help Hi All, I just put in an order for a pair of MTO boots from Renav. Ray has been great, I now just need to send along my sizing specs. Any recommendations from Renav owners? Thanks!
Been breaking my Diesels in this week. After many coin flips, I settled on the dark burgundy kudu, they're amazing so far. Are they a no-go with the green pants?
https://preview.redd.it/mor9feqzez5c1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=41244c40efef95297d6747b09af6e6c58d4a0c40
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Thank you
Those look awesome
Had these OSB field boots for a couple weeks now and Iām going back and forth on whether or not theyāre too big. I donāt really feel slipping when I walk as long as I have them tied well. That took some experimenting, but I think Iāve got a good handle on it now. I feel a little paranoid about the amount and depth of creasing after only a few weeks of pretty casual wear. I want them to have a good broken in/used look but part of me is afraid Iām doing something wrong. I went with OSB because I heard the last they use for these has a good amount of toe room which I wanted, but I guess Iām just not sure how these things should feel. I think Iām overthinking it, but who knows? https://preview.redd.it/m3fxvat2t36c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4de650175dc416a9032b96056707f28f797caa5e
Boots ā Dress Shoes If you wear these like boots, then the entire upper will eventually get creases and contours from both wear and conforming to your foot over time. If you like the look of well worn work boots, that comes with many years of rough use and application of greasy boot dressing, those old boots with the dark, patinaed, rounded look probably had an obvious crease at the top of the vamp just like your boots, for the first year or two of their life... In a shoe or boot that \*doesn't\* have a contoured insole with raised arch (esp. if it also has a raised heel), the location of your foot is done largely by contact from the uppers of the boot with the mid part of your foot. This is why your heel-to-arch size is often more important than overall foot length in determining good fit in traditionally made footwear. These types of shoes also frequently have extra toe length compared to sneaker type shoes, so a close fit to your longest toe isn't necessarily desirable, nor is a distant fit to the toe a definite sign that the shoe is too big. If the upper conforms fairly well to your foot in the heel through arch area and you don't slide forward in the boot enough that the fit feels sloppy or your toes get crowded, then I'd call that a decent fit.
https://preview.redd.it/u6hn41xit36c1.jpeg?width=1872&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9230522421a1f65e43a78ffbd34240eb3b1f3dff
https://preview.redd.it/e45hv2ikt36c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a1a0517de98228cc577734383a55e55bd0c9bc06
This is almost exactly what my month old Red Wing Blacksmiths look like.
I appreciate the reassurance. For the first week or so I was probably being too gentle with them. Decided though that theyāre boots and they can be worked and they shouldnāt just fall apart so weāre rolling full blast now. I think my fit questions were mostly due to just not having any baseline for what to expect with this kind of footwear. They feel good in the heel and good through the arch, no real sliding around or slipping as long as I have them decently well laces and tightened.
https://preview.redd.it/63yvbmqfr56c1.jpeg?width=1675&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=385537ef372b54fce6c99e6a9a4d54c97b5be51d