Japanese Boot / Shoe Appreciation Thread (White Cloud, Rolling Dub Trio, John Lofgren, Clinch, etc.

[JibranK]

if you live in a place with below zero temps in the winter and above 30 temps in the summer. You are never going to be able to find the one boot that does it all.

I have boots that cover that whole range quite well, only requiring a change of socks if anything.

 

[Gonzogonzo]

Has anybody seen or have before-after pictures of a "nice" pair of untreated boots that were soaked all the way?

 

[JibranK]

Has anybody seen or have before-after pictures of a "nice" pair of untreated boots that were soaked all the way?

CLARIFICATION: I misread this comment as referring to soaking a pair of boots with leather treatment, not water.

CXL is already hot soaked, but roughout WWII boots would go from a sand color to brown after the dubbin was rubbed in.

You can see a before/after at this site that sells repro service boots.

 

[Numbernine]

Has anybody seen or have before-after pictures of a "nice" pair of untreated boots that were soaked all the way?

If I wore boots I considered "nice" I would avoid soaking them through. There are a number of threads here that discuss exactly this issue at length though. I'm retired now. I generally wear Lofgren engineers for pretty much anything I do outside the house but I don't consider them "nice" boots.
These have been soaked through a few times

 

[Gonzogonzo]

If I wore boots I considered "nice" I would avoid soaking them through. There are a number of threads here that discuss exactly this issue at length though. I'm retired now. I generally wear Lofgren engineers for pretty much anything I do outside the house but I don't consider them "nice" boots.
These have been soaked through a few times
View attachment 1738458

These look great. Did they stretch out much?

As for the "nice" boots discussion; I'm not there yet. Maybe one day I'll look at Viberg's, Lofgren's, RDT, and the like with embarrassment thinking to myself, "what was I thinking?", but I don't know how that would happen.

 

[peachfuzzmcgee]

I have boots that cover that whole range quite well, only requiring a change of socks if anything.

I don't know man, I know we are workwear apologists here and all that but for most conditions there are ideal boots and shoes. When it's 35 plus with 80 humidity, you are not going to catch me wearing full leather boots, same goes with wearing some welted boots through the rain or extreme snow.

Is it possible? definitely! Is it ideal? no not at all. There is a reason we keep trying to advance the technology in footwear. If we are going purely on a fashion standpoint then waterproof performance is irrelevant, water resistance and ducking in and out of home/garage/office/shops will suffice.

 

[JibranK]

If I wore boots I considered "nice" I would avoid soaking them through. There are a number of threads here that discuss exactly this issue at length though. I'm retired now. I generally wear Lofgren engineers for pretty much anything I do outside the house but I don't consider them "nice" boots.
These have been soaked through a few times

Idk, I started with the English country boot mindset where these boots are made for use, and I'm not going to abandon that.

Having "work boots" and making sure they don't get wet seems really silly to me. And going for some plastic boots that are useless once they tear is useless.

I don't know man, I know we are workwear apologists here and all that but for most conditions there are ideal boots and shoes. When it's 35 plus with 80 humidity, you are not going to catch me wearing full leather boots, same goes with wearing some welted boots through the rain or extreme snow.

Is it possible? definitely! Is it ideal? no not at all. There is a reason we keep trying to advance the technology in footwear. If we are going purely on a fashion standpoint then waterproof performance is irrelevant, water resistance and ducking in and out of home/garage/office/shops will suffice.

I've been perfectly comfortable wearing roughout chukkas and other boots during hot summer conditions. There wasn't a compromise there. Likewise, in rain and snow, I'm either in welted country boots or LL Bean Maine Hunting Shoes. Again, no compromise.

I far prefer that to wearing sneakers or sandals or something. And again, with the right shoes it's not a compromise at all. I've lived by the North Sea, on the equator, etc.

 

[peachfuzzmcgee]

An LL bean is still a plastic boot made for a particular condition, and everyone knows how slippery they can be. Mind you I love them for the casual stroll on a rainy day, but I would never take them on a hike in wet conditions. Same goes for these country boots or heritage work boots. They are fashion items, so worrying about their waterproof-ness is still irrelevant. Maybe in the past they were the most functional for that particular case but now a days they aren't. Use em how you like em, the same way somebody might absolutely tear through sneakers or baby them to death.

 

[JibranK]

I brought up the LL Bean boots as an example of the alternative to welted boots I'll wear in snowy/rainy conditions, not as an example of them. But the main reason I wear them is the height. They're not for hiking anyway. They're for wearing in snow and walking in the woods.

Boots are still functional, despite the sneaker kool aid pushed by the Ultralight crowd.

 

[peachfuzzmcgee]

I brought up the LL Bean boots as an example of the alternative to welted boots I'll wear in snowy/rainy conditions, not as an example of them. But the main reason I wear them is the height. They're not for hiking anyway. They're for wearing in snow and walking in the woods.

Boots are still functional, despite the sneaker kool aid pushed by the Ultralight crowd.

I didn't say they were not functional, they just aren't the most functional anymore so why worry about them being the best in any condition or worry about waterproofing em? Just wear them in whatever conditions you are comfortable with, which is exactly what you are saying too in a way.

If we needed the most functional then we would wear ultralight, breathable sneakers and rain ponchos.

 

[Numbernine]

These look great. Did they stretch out much?

About a quarter size. Compared to the black version the leather is noticeably heavier with a bit more stretch. Lofgrens are probably the most comfortable boot, out of the box, I've ever owned with the possible exception of the Alden Indy boot.

 

[whorishconsumer]

I didn't say they were not functional, they just aren't the most functional anymore so why worry about them being the best in any condition or worry about waterproofing em? Just wear them in whatever conditions you are comfortable with, which is exactly what you are saying too in a way.

If we needed the most functional then we would wear ultralight, breathable sneakers and rain ponchos.

Come help me install curtains

 

[Numbernine]

If I'm going to be on my feet all day within a reasonably confined area I wear leather boots but if putting on mileage is a factor I wear Hokas.

 

[Gonzogonzo]

If I'm going to be on my feet all day within a reasonably confined area I wear leather boots but if putting on mileage is a factor I wear Hokas.

The Hoka's with the big heel?

 

[Numbernine]

The Hoka's with the big heel?

Yup All running and walking shoes are butt ugly IMO it's all about function and comfort.