RM Williams Boots - Everything You Wanted to Know

[Sator]

Originally Posted by thinman

The insole gives extra padding and I think it may be responsible for their superior comfort, although I don't own a mainline Craftsman for comparison.

I bought the boots intending to wear them in icy, slushy conditions (but not deep snow), but I won't have a chance to test their suitability until January when I return to Oklahoma. However, www.bootsonline.com.au states that they are "Suitable for harsh weather conditions or where salt is used for melting snow".

I noticed one model made with storm welting in the RMW catalogue. If I really needed serious wet weather boots I would be asking about custom ordering a pair of comfort Craftman with storm welting to help keep you nice and dry.

 

[edmorel]

Just got mine today. Size 9F ( I wear a 10 D in AE Westgates and a 10 D in Tramezzas, 9.5D Zegna)

The fit is nice and snug. The boots are a pain to put on. I need to grap the straps and pull like my life depends on it. Part of it might be that my feet swell by the end of the day due to medication. Once they are on though, they are like heaven. I will probably get a boot horn. The sole is roughly finished so if you are a sole guy, these will disappoint on that front. What these won't disappoint on is fit, leather, construction and style. They look wonderful on, nice and sleek and are very comfortable. I can definitely see how Soph wore these with a suit. All in all, a pleasant experience with Steve at Nungar and the boots are a great value, you would need to go up significantly in price to get something similar. Mr. Sator, a spot has been reserved for you on my Christmas list

 

[Sator]

Originally Posted by edmorel

Just got mine today. Size 9F ( I wear a 10 D in AE Westgates and a 10 D in Tramezzas, 9.5D Zegna)

The fit is nice and snug. The boots are a pain to put on. I need to grap the straps and pull like my life depends on it. Part of it might be that my feet swell by the end of the day due to medication. Once they are on though, they are like heaven. I will probably get a boot horn. The sole is roughly finished so if you are a sole guy, these will disappoint on that front. What these won't disappoint on is fit, leather, construction and style. They look wonderful on, nice and sleek and are very comfortable. I can definitely see how Soph wore these with a suit. All in all, a pleasant experience with Steve at Nungar and the boots are a great value, you would need to go up significantly in price to get something similar.

Bingo! That's exactly how a pair of good boots should fit - hard to get into but heavenly once you do. The snugness around the ankle makes them a struggle to put on when new but it gives exceptional orthotic ankle support. The elastic and leather around the shaft will stretch as they are broken in. If there's plenty of room in the toebox - as there should be - then you'll find that boots like this are about as comfortable as footwear gets. You notice after a long day that there's much less fatigue compared to shoes. In fact shoes are rather uncomfortable to wear once you get the taste of a proper boot.

 

[edmorel]

Originally Posted by Sator

Bingo! That's exactly how a pair of good boots should fit - hard to get into but heavenly once you do. The snugness around the ankle makes them a struggle to put on when new but it gives exceptional orthotic ankle support. The elastic and leather around the shaft will stretch as they are broken in. If there's plenty of room in the toebox - as there should be - then you'll find that boots like this are about as comfortable as footwear gets. You notice after a long day that there's much less fatigue compared to shoes. In fact shoes are rather uncomfortable to wear once you get the taste of a proper boot.

Unfortunately, now i need contact Nungar again and find the same boots in another leather/suede as I can tell these will become addictive

 

[Borky]

Sator, can you help me with my sizing dilemma? I don't really have anything to go by so I want to know what I should get to find out my correct sizing. Has to be something from zappos or someplace else with easy returns.

 

[Sator]

Originally Posted by Borky

Sator, can you help me with my sizing dilemma? I don't really have anything to go by so I want to know what I should get to find out my correct sizing. Has to be something from zappos or someplace else with easy returns.

My best advice is go try on a pair of Allen Edmond Park Avenues and work out your RMW size from there. AE PAs have rapidly become the yard stick against which everyone compares sizes.

If you are based in the UK or Europe try on some Loakes and order whatever UK size you do in Loakes.

 

[Sator]

Originally Posted by edmorel

Size 9F ( I wear a 10 D in AE Westgates and a 10 D in Tramezzas, 9.5D Zegna)


Right. That's it - I'm rewriting the sizing guide tonight. I am really glad you had enough confidence in my recommendations with sizings and widths to drop down to an F fit. I will recommend this up front now to everyone. I'll also emphasise using AE PAs as the universal yard stick.

 

[william]

Originally Posted by Sator

Right. That's it - I'm rewriting the sizing guide tonight. I am really glad you had enough confidence in my recommendations with sizings and widths to drop down to an F fit. I will recommend this up front now to everyone. I'll also emphasise using AE PAs as the universal yard stick.

I've just done it myself as well. I wear a 9.5D in AE Byrons and ordered 8.5F Yearling Craftsman tonight from Nungar.

 

[grimslade]

Originally Posted by thinman

The insole gives extra padding and I think it may be responsible for their superior comfort, although I don't own a mainline Craftsman for comparison.

I bought the boots intending to wear them in icy, slushy conditions (but not deep snow), but I won't have a chance to test their suitability until January when I return to Oklahoma. However, www.bootsonline.com.au states that they are "Suitable for harsh weather conditions or where salt is used for melting snow".

Thinman, did you get yours from bootsonline, or somewhere else?

 

[Sator]

I have taken heed of everyones' experiences posted here along with my own and made a major revision to the sizing guide. It is now a lot simpler. First up I just recommend basing your size on the AE PA. This will become the future yard stick for forumites. Next, I have clearly acknowledged that RMWs run wide. I measured them out and compared my RMWs with AEs, Loakes, C&Js and JLs - and they definitely run wide. This explains the complaint that they run large even though the lengths are pretty standard UK lengths. It's just they are wide and this is made worse by the use of thinner, stretchier leathers. The new sizing guide takes all of this into account. Plus there is more! I have introduced what I am going to call the forum special model. This one is based on the round nose B529 last, but using a different size conversion formula to create a boot on an elongated last. There is more to the model. You should ask for French veal calf and a nailed construction. The nailed boots look quite considerably sleeker than the Goodyear ones. And French veal calf just looks more polished and dressier. This one should be ideal for wearing with a suit and can be ordered in your choice of chestnut or black. It should be a killer!

Photos coming soon....

 

[grimslade]

I know you said pictures coming soon, but what do the soles look like in the nailed construction?

 

[Sator]

Originally Posted by grimslade

I know you said pictures coming soon, but what do the soles look like in the nailed construction?
Like the Goodyear welted boots except you see lots of little nails where you usually see welting. I have heard one shoemaker say it is just as good or better as a construction method compared to Goodyear welting. It is more of a classical bootmaking technique. The added sleekness is considerable. Nailed construction is a technique rarely offered in RTW shoes and is more commonly found in bespoke shoes - especially from Viennese and Hungarian shoemakers.

 

[AlexP415]

This may be a strange question, but this is my first time wearing boots. Is it acceptable to tuck in the "tugs" at the top of the boots? I've noticed that if I'm wearing a suit, when I stand up, my pant leg sometimes catches on one or both of the tugs. Maybe this is normal, but I was considering trying to tuck them into the boots...

 

[Earthmover]

After much deliberation caused by the fact that there's no 'roo boot in 9F, I've ordered the 9G. Crossing my fingers that it works out well. Thanks Sator!

 

[skalogre]

Originally Posted by Earthmover

After much deliberation caused by the fact that there's no 'roo boot in 9F, I've ordered the 9G. Crossing my fingers that it works out well. Thanks Sator!

I put in my order last night with Steve at Nungar for the Stockman strap & buckle roo arse boots (I just love saying that for some reason

) and after telling him how the fit was he actually suggested I go with a G rather than an F. I think it may work fine. Either way it seems the difference is almost insignificant.