RM Williams Boots - Everything You Wanted to Know

Well this is what confuses me in the opening post:

Kangaroos skin is much more coarse grained than other skins because they are left to roam around in the wild and accumulate small scars during the animal’s lifetime. It is suitable for casual wear. If choosing kangaroo leather it is advisable to choose a narrower fitting boot because the thin and supple leather makes the boot run a half width wider.

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and then he says:

My first recommendation for many forum members will be a pair of chestnut kangaroo Craftsman. Those wanting a sleeker look will be pleased with the Turnout in yearling leather (if you choose a narrow width). Those wanting a slightly more casual look should consider the Yearling.

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So which is actually more casual..? Or is the Chesnut kangaroo more dressy than the black yearling, and the black kangaroo more casual than the black yearling..?
Is there a side by side picture comparison somewhere?

Looking at the bootsonline.au site:
The Craftsman in black is a 10 week MTO if i'm not mistaken.. and they don't offer anything narrower than G width on it.. unless that is something you can specify directly.

Originally Posted by Tez Mulan

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......along with a Macquarie black in French veal with brass screwed sole, which will be the sleekest boot ever made.

Pics of this one will be appreciated by all of us, I'm sure.


Cheers

two questions for the experts here:

1. i bought a pair of macquaries a few months ago in size 10G. these are the ones with the narrow last. they are unwearable because my toes are too crammed. do you think that if i went up to a 10.5G in the same model i would be fine, or would going to a 10H be the best bet? or, are my feet perhaps just not designed for the narrow last?

2. i don't see much info in this thread concerning the wearability of the block heel. does anyone like these ones, or do they look ridiculous when worn casually? a bit of a subjective question, but i'd be curious to know what people thought.

The 10H will be significantly larger in both the toebox and heel. If the 10G fit well in the rear of the boot, you risk heel slippage by moving up to the H--even if the H fits your toes better.

In terms of the block heel, I'm in the 'ridiculous' camp. As you say, it's subjective.

Originally Posted by Sator

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If you like the Craftsman on the chisel toed last and due to its limited range of widths you can't use the AE size minus 0.5 formula, this is the alternative: AE PA size minus one - but drop down just one width AE PA size 11.5EE = RMW 10.5H AE PA size 11.5E = RMW 10.5G AE PA size 11.5D = RMW 10.5F If you wear AE C widths or AE EEE widths then: AE PA size 11.5EEE = RMW 11H (assumes you can also fit an AE PA 12EE) AE PA size 11.5C = RMW 10.5F (assumes you can also fit an AE PA 10D) The results are more satisfying if you use the first forumula of AE PA size minus 0.5 & drop 2 widths - but this is pretty good too. If you are happy with the rounded toe lasts where a wider range of widths are available then you can do this: AE PA size 11.5EEE = RMW 10.5I AE PA size 11.5C = RMW 10.5E
Does this formula apply for the craftsman in yearling or in kangaroo? ****.. looks like I'm gonna have to read all 100+ pages to figure this out. I fit pretty well in 8D Allen Edmond PAs, but in other Allen Edmonds I could even wear 7.5D. My feet are a bit on the wide side and measure exactly 8D on the measurement device.

Sator's formula, as awesome as it is, should only be a starting point in terms of fit. I have a fairly wide foot up front, and the problem that I've found with RMW is that sizing up width-wise, in an effort to accomodate the front of my foot, invariably leaves my heel practically floating in space when I flex. Even the rounder toe models like the yard boot leave me struggling between a boot that is slightly too tight at the widest part of my foot (9G) and one that leaves my heel slipping (9H).

I intend to try a 9.5G, but the last time I was at Australia Fair they didn't have any in stock. Which is a bummer, because I fell in love with the greasy kip on the yard boot. I'd like to have a pair made with leather soles if I can ever resolve my sizing issues.

I'm so damn confused now, because Sator wears the same size shoes in AE PAs as I do..
I'm 8D in AE PAs, though 7.5E is more snug.

Sator recommends sizing down 2 in the width

while other people in this thread have been recommending me to go with an 8G.. what the hell? I wanted to get these shoes like 3 months ago but it was too much of a nightmare

Originally Posted by Trapp

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Sator's formula, as awesome as it is, should only be a starting point in terms of fit. I have a fairly wide foot up front, and the problem that I've found with RMW is that sizing up width-wise, in an effort to accomodate the front of my foot, invariably leaves my heel practically floating in space when I flex. Even the rounder toe models like the yard boot leave me struggling between a boot that is slightly too tight at the widest part of my foot (9G) and one that leaves my heel slipping (9H).

I intend to try a 9.5G, but the last time I was at Australia Fair they didn't have any in stock. Which is a bummer, because I fell in love with the greasy kip on the yard boot. I'd like to have a pair made with leather soles if I can ever resolve my sizing issues.

I agree. Plus the sizes are not THAT consistent from shoe to shoe

The kangaroo leather definitely causes extra complications due to its elasticity.

Apologies to the forum but I'm not able to PM yet....

Mr Sancho, I may be interested in your 10G Macquaries. I have a pair of Craftsman Yearlings and am interested in a more narrow toe. What color, leather and sole type are they? Thanks.

Originally Posted by DECEMBER

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Or is the Chesnut kangaroo more dressy than the black yearling, and the black kangaroo more casual than the black yearling..?
Is there a side by side picture comparison somewhere?

Yes. Black kanga is definitely more casual than black yearling. It has quite a bit of grain, and sometimes has some imperfections (barbed wire scars usually). Chestnut is a different story, as for some reason the chestnut kanga really takes a shine, and is more fine grained than black kanga. It can however still have some imperfections on it.

Originally Posted by Sancho Panzo Christ

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two questions for the experts here:

1. i bought a pair of macquaries a few months ago in size 10G. these are the ones with the narrow last. they are unwearable because my toes are too crammed. do you think that if i went up to a 10.5G in the same model i would be fine, or would going to a 10H be the best bet? or, are my feet perhaps just not designed for the narrow last?

2. i don't see much info in this thread concerning the wearability of the block heel. does anyone like these ones, or do they look ridiculous when worn casually? a bit of a subjective question, but i'd be curious to know what people thought.


With a narrow toe box, I'd generally go up 1/2 in length, but that could lead to slippage. You'd really need to try it on. Otherwise just wear Craftsman or Turnout. I got a pair of "The Yearling" in Whiskey, they have the "narrow medium" toe of the Macquarie, and a block heel. I got them because they were only $80 in Whiskey yearling. I too have a wide square foot and get a bit of toe jam but not too bad. As for the block heel, I think it's quite out there, but they still get wear with jeans. They look better with boot cut or standard jeans draping a little long over the heel, rather than skinny jeans which show the whole heel.

Ged

thanks so much for the info, Ged and Trapp. i'll probably pick up a pair of the Turnouts, since i'm beginning to think that the narrow last just doesn't suit the shape of my foot. Just a real quick question Ged: are your yearlings 1/2 size up from your other rm's, or the same size?

NewcastleWA: you've been pm'd.

how do these RMW Simpson boots:

http://www.nungar.com.au/catalog/pro...roducts_id/163

compare with these Alden Chukka:

http://www.leathersoulhawaii.com/200...hukka-restock/


In terms of quality & fit, anyone know? OP said the simpsons were really wide but there are no decent pictures of them.


Hey GED, what leather are those craftsman, how come it has so much creasing?

Also, why is this thread so lacking in pictures? would be nice to see some what are you wearing right now style pics..

Originally Posted by DECEMBER

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Hey GED, what leather are those craftsman, how come it has so much creasing?

Also, why is this thread so lacking in pictures? would be nice to see some what are you wearing right now style pics..

The leather is French Veal Calf. I've actually worn these a lot (including Boston and NY winters) but cared for them well, so they are indeed creased, but otherwise look as good as new (maybe better?). I also believe wholecuts (both boots and oxfords) have a tendency to crease more than captoes and wingtips.

Originally Posted by Sancho Panzo Christ

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thanks so much for the info, Ged and Trapp. i'll probably pick up a pair of the Turnouts, since i'm beginning to think that the narrow last just doesn't suit the shape of my foot. Just a real quick question Ged: are your yearlings 1/2 size up from your other rm's, or the same size?

NewcastleWA: you've been pm'd.

My "The Yearling"s are 8G, as this was the size on sale for an irresistible price. My Black Craftsmans are 8H. My Chestnut Veal craftsman are 7.5H, and I wish they were 8s. I used to wear all my shoes in 7.5 and have now gone up to 8s as I believe a lot of my "width" problems were mainly getting a cramped toebox from having shoes which were too short (my foot is indeed wide across the ball, the main problem is that it is sqaure so it remains wide out to the toes). In spite of this, the narrow medium toe of the Yearling is still quite wearable because I have the extra length.

Steven at Leffot made me realise it doesn't really matter where your big toe sits in the shoe (like they used to push on your toe fitting school shoes) as long as the ball of your fit is in the right spot and your toes have plenty of room.

Ged

Originally Posted by DECEMBER

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how do these RMW Simpson boots:

http://www.nungar.com.au/catalog/pro...roducts_id/163

compare with these Alden Chukka:

http://www.leathersoulhawaii.com/200...hukka-restock/


In terms of quality & fit, anyone know? OP said the simpsons were really wide but there are no decent pictures of them.


Hey GED, what leather are those craftsman, how come it has so much creasing?

Also, why is this thread so lacking in pictures? would be nice to see some what are you wearing right now style pics..

i've seen the RM in the flesh and its not all that sleek, no word on fit though.

Originally Posted by DECEMBER

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how do these RMW Simpson boots:

http://www.nungar.com.au/catalog/pro...roducts_id/163

compare with these Alden Chukka:

http://www.leathersoulhawaii.com/200...hukka-restock/

they look much better.