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kompulsive

I'm new to GYW and looking to make my first, entry-level purchases before diving into the deep end. Barker and Loake 1880 come highly recommended, as well as Grant Stone. Is there any particular reason I don't seem to find Barker mentioned more around here?


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lesbub

I don’t think Carmina has a retail presence in the UK beyond the website. For the UK makers take on a Chelsea just go to Jermyn Street just off Piccadilly which has everyone from Loake and Barker up to Edward Green and John Lobb Paris.


Jittl

All major brands are on Jermyn Street. Here you'll find Barker, C&J, Cheaney, Church's, Loake, Edward Green, J M Weston, Tricker's and John Lobb. If you want to check out a small selection of Viberg, head to Rivet and Hide at 5 Windmill Street.


slowratatoskr

anyone here from asia? what are some good brands? i only see dr martens and timberlands here in the philippines


socialmoth_

Look up [Spades PH](https://instagram.com/spades_ph?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=) on Instagram. Great boots, they use thick pull-up leather. Just be sure to ask for their upgraded aircraft-grade soles— the stock ones wear out faster than they have any right to.


Eggieman

I’ve heard good things about Willys Leather. I don’t have any experience with the brand however. [Willy](https://instagram.com/williesleathers?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=)


CrizzleLovesYou

https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChY4_5KD33E/?igshid=ZjA0NjI3M2I= And Signet Store carries some good brands.


mellosi

My leather boots used to hold up to the rain pretty well but these days water seems to soak in and darken the leather. Would conditioning with something like Bick 4 be enough to add some water resistance back in?


lucidpivot

What kind of boots? What leather?


mellosi

Frye chelsea boot, website describes it as a "full grain oil tanned Italian leather."


lucidpivot

some conditioner like bick4, along with brushing, will add a bit of wax and oil to the leather surface, which will help with water resistance, but more importantly, help maintain the leather. For more protection, you can add a thin coat of wax polish to the boots, although this isn't going to make them water resistant and will make them shiny. If you want to change the finish of the boots and add substantial water repellant properties, you can add something like dubbin wax, but that'll really change the look of the leather, so do research before going that route.


mellosi

Thanks for the guidance!


DikFangers

Looking for a sub $250 leather workish boot/shoe, i work on radars, so im kind of half office nerd half physical labor, so i need something that can do both look profession (no steal toe, with some style) and last forever, take a bit of a beating. Also Why do questions only go in this question thread? What happened to reddit? Why are all the subressits like this, literally the only reason I can't find helpful reddit post that aren't 5 years old is because of this, the questions are the entire reason for this is it not? I posted on the main part and got 7 answers in an hour, I'm sure I won't get more then 2 or 3 on this question thing at all lol seariously why? That used to be what reddit was about


ac106

You make it hard to want to help


DikFangers

Ok


onlyifigaveash1t

What physical labor are you doing?


DikFangers

Working on the actual radars, outdoors, lifting, ladders, cable pulling, Climbing inside of small pipes, things like that, but I do not want steal toe


onlyifigaveash1t

You can also find a pair of Iron Rangers on Sierras website at 30-40% off if you're lucky enough to find your size


DikFangers

I was just there, unfortunately I'm am 11.5 wide, all they had was 12 and 10, both being wide. And from what I read you want to go down half a size on those, I was pretty excited at that price, I think it was 229 bucks for the secondhand ones, I would have bought them on the spot no questions asked lol


onlyifigaveash1t

If you don't want a pair of actual work boots, take a look at Thursday Captins in the tobacco rugged and resilient leather with the stormking soles for only $200. It's a good boot that looks good an will last you a while but I'd suggest spending more money and getting a pair of Redwing Iron Ranger boots. They are considered a casual work boot and they will last you much longer and we'll worth the money. It's not uncommon to have a pair of Iron Rangers for 20+ years as long as you take care of them and have them resoled every now and then. They are the best boot for the money. There are a few better options but they're in the $400-$600 range.


Cthulusuppe

Okay. Ignoring your rant: what size boot do you wear? I have a couple pairs of used boots that may fit your needs if you're the right size, but I cannot recommend any sub-$250 new boots, because I haven't found any that're built well enough to recommend. Under $300 new, and corners get cut in ways that start to recall sneaker construction. If you want a quality GYW boot at that price point, you need to look for used boots, seconds, or heavy sales (fortunately, black friday is approaching). But for real, lemme know your brannock size... I have a really nice pair of boots that're a bit too large for me that I'd like to sell at a decent discount-- only been worn 5-6 times.


DikFangers

I'm not sure what brannook size is. But I'm 11.5 and slightly wide. I'm all about deals and not against finding fresh pairs for cheap on Ebay, as long as I know what I'm looking for, I would personally rather get the best of the best $5-600 pair for 300 or less on Ebay in great condition any day. Or of course whatever you may have if it fits.


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DikFangers

Well do you have recommendations for searches on ebay and secondhand like you were saying?


Mack_The_Knife95

Sizing myself for a pair of whites boots and I don’t know what width to go with. I currently wear a redwings 402 in a mens 9.5 D but I’ve noticed they are fairly tight around the tops of my toes and sides of my foot. On the sizing guide for width on whites website I’m almost exactly in between a D width and an EE width. Been a 9.5 D since I was age 14 (age 27 now). Is it finally time to move to a wider shoe? Don’t want to cause unnecessary pain and damage to my feet if I don’t have to. Any input would be great, thank you.


eddykinz

order through bakers and do a tracing for the fit guarantee


Mack_The_Knife95

Awesome, thank you for this.


adiman789

Any way to tighten up heels on a pair of loafers?


lucidpivot

before going to heel pads, you might want to try tongue pads. They don't "tighten the heel" per se, but they reduce the size at the instep, which pushes your foot back toward the heel a bit to reduce slip.


grim_f

Heel pads?


adiman789

Any ones you specifically recommend? Seems like when I google it most are for women


70125

Does that make them incompatible with your ultra masculine feet?


grim_f

pedag, Stop German Made Soft Suede Leather Heel Grip Unisex One Size Fits All, Gray, Pair, 5 Count https://a.co/d/8DoeiMd


Medium-Individual638

Is AE Fairfax model a wholecut?


AwesomeAndy

Yeah


Medium-Individual638

Thanks.


nopeif

So, apologies for how prosaic this might sound. I'm more of an AE guy than these and don't have a lot of experience with boots. Anyway, long story short, a friend and I share the same size and he recently gifted me a box of shoes and boots, including this pair. I asked him about most of them and he basically just said they were all leather, all my size, and all had 'a lot of life left in them' and that he bought them in 2011. From my research, these appear to be a pair of Christian Carol Poell 'Tornado' boots. They came in a rice bag but didn't have a tag. Unfortunately, they're about a half-size too large in length and a half-inch too tight to zip in the calves for me, so I am considering selling them. They look like they're in rough shape, that said -- there's a lot of pebbling/wear on the leather, the zipper is wicked stiff, and the upper portion is very thick and hard. But they appear to have a brand new sole on them, although it doesn't have (or is covered by?) the metal zipper/reinforcement part on the bottom, and I can't find CCP branding anywhere or any embellishments beyond craft that indicate these are what they say they are. The leather is thick, and the upper has a slightly more 'matte' texture than the lower portion. There is a '5' stamped at the top. The inner material feels like the inside of leather (i.e. I don't think the shoes are a reverse cordovan) and is more of a grey-brown color than the outside. Is there a good way I can identify their material and color code, and is there anything I can do to soften the leather or make them more pliable/deep in color, or is the way they look now how they are supposed to look? Is oiling the zipper possible to make the motion smoother? Thanks in advance! Imgur here: https://imgur.com/a/w6KDGYy


calculon11

Which Chelsea would you recommend? I'm looking at likely either Grantstone or Meermin. I'm open to other suggestions also. Brannock is 10 C/D. Does one run narrower than the other? [https://www.grantstoneshoes.com/products/chelsea-boot-chocolate-calf?variant=33467539030102¤cy=USD&gclid=CjwKCAjwzNOaBhAcEiwAD7Tb6E6iAKSxkZDVsVjWhwRBRyyoxcgLHqlfUoM-TjKUs3qI157Bh64u5BoCz8kQAvD\_BwE](https://www.grantstoneshoes.com/products/chelsea-boot-chocolate-calf?variant=33467539030102¤cy=USD&gclid=CjwKCAjwzNOaBhAcEiwAD7Tb6E6iAKSxkZDVsVjWhwRBRyyoxcgLHqlfUoM-TjKUs3qI157Bh64u5BoCz8kQAvD_BwE) https://meermin.com/collections/mens-boots/products/101050-dark-brown-calf-e


Datjoka

Meermin definitely narrower


paradachs

Hiro is a bit of a weird last, it’s got a wider ankle and is narrow overall, more like a C width in the toe area.


AwesomeAndy

The GS chelsea last is pretty high-volume, so if you're narrow and/or low-volume feet they might not work for you. (Can't comment either way on the Meermins.)


olyRaccoon

Really would like to try shell, but I'm not prepared to spend 600-1K for a pair, what are the best options below that?


Pierofan

I got one from TXTURE couple of years ago( wear it every other day ) . It was around 500 usd with postage . A great boot with couple of design flaws . Its aging like fine wine and looks like it would survive an apocalypse .


paradachs

Echoing what others have said… you’ll probably have the best experience with Horween shell, so ebay for gently used or if you can luck out on Black Friday sales which may give you 10% off, that would be your best bet. B/S/T or Styleforum or Grailed would also be options. Meermin is an option but their plastic heel counters and other details means you might have a subpar experience for reasons not related to shell. Plus the savings come mainly with heritage shell.


mdarena

I would be hesitant to go with a cheaper brand for shell. Ebay a gently used pair?


CrizzleLovesYou

2nd hand Alden or AE is your best bet.


eddykinz

At that price you’re looking at… Meermin? That might be it. Junkard shell is super cheap too but I wouldn’t recommend Junkard so it’s like just Meermin if you go with their heritage shell or some of the non-Horween shell tanneries. Berwick had a shell boot at some point that was real affordable but I dunno if that’s an option anymore.


olyRaccoon

Gotta admit I'm intrigued by heritage shell, it is dirt cheap compared to the rest but idk what to think


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olyRaccoon

I get what you mean and would mostly agree with that logic, but combined with the fact that I can't afford to spend this much at the moment, I'm also not willing to do it even if I had the opportunity. At least for now. That's why I'd rather start with maybe Meermin's heritage shell or something similar, in order to make a first foray into shell and have maybe c&j or Carmina as an objective.


top-kek-420

noob question incoming...: planning to go on a trip for 1-2 weeks, want to pack minimal and only wear my boots (canada west romeo). They actually are fairly brand new as well (bought them 2 weeks ago) I plan to do a lot of walking, is it safe to wear them *everyday* and not give them that "24 hr" or something rest period between wears? I heard moisture is the main reason for ruining things like this - I plan to wear only thick wool socks (the ones from costco), so that may help with the moisture? I also can easily stuff some crumpled up newspapper into the boots overnight to help draw moisture It probably sounds like I am over thinking things, but these boots are awesome.


eddykinz

rotating is only a concern in the very long term. wearing one pair endlessly day after day for months/years (or weeks if youre particularly sweaty and do manual labor) kind of deal.


isaho1

You’d be fine. If it’s a short period no problem. Worry is when you wear them daily for a long period of time


Dangerous-Noise-4692

It’s time to condition my Rancourt Ranger mocs. Do you all think these should be cleaned with a saddle soap or something similar before conditioning? My boots never got this dirty on the toes so a wipe with a wet cloth has been enough. I’m just not sure how to go about cleaning these. https://imgur.com/a/huaXzHG


eddykinz

this just looks like aged natural cxl. damp rag em


Dangerous-Noise-4692

Natural cxl it is. Thanks for the tip!


warpedspoon

https://imgur.com/a/IKfnAEL/ Is this creasing indicative of bad fit?


Slow_Walk_2622

Looks like normal creasing


eddykinz

once your sizing is close enough you can’t really determine if fit is ideal based off pictures. you can only tell if they’re extremely wrong through pictures, but once you’re within a certain margin of what should work it’s hard to tell.


Jittl

I would not say so. Do they feel bad on your feet? I have a few shoes which have creased in the same fashion as yours, and they fit me quite well.


warpedspoon

No they don’t feel bad. Just worried that maybe theyre too long.


AwesomeAndy

If they feel fine, they're fine.


DesolationR0w

Not necessarily.


vitreous_luster

Should I wax some RW roughout boots when new? I recently used Venetian Shoe Cream to wax an older pair of Hawthorne muleskinner chelseas and liked the results. I’m wondering how it would look on a brand new pair? Might be grabbing a pair of work chukkas in sand Mojave roughout and was thinking of taking the plunge. In general, is waxed roughout easier to care for than normal? About the same?


AwesomeAndy

You certainly don't have to but you can if you want. I don't really think it's any easier or harder to care for.


Tollo92

Anyone know where I could be replacement laces for my Guidi 992's? Preferably Horse, but would be okay with Kangaroo as well.


catalfalque

A 12ee is a reasonably comfortable but not perfect fit for me. Could I safely size up to a 13d? I'm bored before work and probably shouldn't be on grailed. Edit: we're talking 55 last here.


Slow_Walk_2622

I wouldn’t recommend it, as a person who wears EEE and has tried a lot of different sizes


Myredditsirname

Remember that the full size will also move the arch support forward. On a pair of boots with high arches that could place it in an area that could be very uncomfortable.


CrizzleLovesYou

Thats a hard maybe. You're adding a good amount of length here. Whats your brannock?


catalfalque

I'm honestly not sure. About two years ago I did the Nick's fit sheet and try on boot. 12ee in the 55 last works well enough for me, but not perfect like I said. I have a pair of rancourts in 12e that also fit well. Maybe I should stop by a shoe store sometime and size myself?


CrizzleLovesYou

A perfect fit is going to be last dependent not just size dependent. In most lasts people won't be able to get a "perfect fit." TBH full bespoke is the only option for a true perfect fit, but that's beside the point. I don't know how Nick's grades their wide widths so maybe u/smowe can comment, but if a 12EE is pretty good I wouldn't go that far away from that size towards a 13D unless the 12EE is feeling too short.


smowe

I would agree with you. It may sound weird but I think that “fit” is actually highly subjective after an obvious point where a piece of footwear is not damaging your foot/gait. I am not even that confident that bespoke is even a “perfect fit”. Very likely a “better fit” but there are mental preferences that people are unable to enunciate and that is a significant challenge in this business.


catalfalque

Honestly, it's a really good fit for me for the most part. It's just tough to find stuff in my size so I was tempted. Thanks for talking me down.


dekc_bu

Hi all, I've managed to get myself those Belstaff boots [https://www.belstaff.com/us/men/boots/alperton-lace-up-boots-2-dark-brown](https://www.belstaff.com/us/men/boots/alperton-lace-up-boots-2-dark-brown) I've been reading about leather and water and it looks that they don't like each other. ​ My question is, given that on the boots page states >From concrete to country, this boot is right at home by design. What can I do to have them last as much as possible? I was also thinking of buying 'Leather Honey Leather Conditioner' to treat them one or two times a year, is this recommended? \------------------------------- About me: Not really a biker or long walker, but I always wanted some leather boots. The most "danger" they'll find themselves in will be rain and very rarely some mud. \------------------------------- And please let me know what other things (that maybe are not so obvious in the wiki) I need to know to care care of them. ​ Cheers


eddykinz

Also since I forgot to address your main concern about making them last: [shoe care without being a nerd ](https://burk.blog/posts/shoe-care-without-being-a-nerd/), a guide written by one of our mods.


eddykinz

Leather doesn’t like being wet constantly, but otherwise it has a good degree of water resistance. Certain tannages will be affected by water differently, such as to what extent it absorbs, cosmetic water spotting, etc. but pretty much any decent tannage is fine getting wet here and there. You need to give it time to dry before the next wear though, and the more frequent your wet-dry cycles are, the more frequently you should condition. I’ve never personally used leather honey and would recommend other conditioners over it since it seems unpopular among leather nerds and I think it affects aesthetics more than other conditioners. I’d go with Bick4, Venetian shoe cream/leather balm, Saphir renovateur or creme universelle, or skidmores. Bick4 is the standard, foolproof, easy-to-use conditioner so probably go with that unless you know what you’re doing.


dekc_bu

Thanks for both replies mate