Heritage/Service Boots

[Star_Wahl_Clipper_Treker]

Those look barely used! Just a good horsehair brush for now SWCT. When you do need it the stuff I use for cleaning is Fiebing's saddle soap, lather it up, quick scrub with a dauber, and quickly dry off with a towel. What I see is people using too much conditioner and too often.

That was a picture I took of the boots, when they were brand new lol. They look much darker then that now, because they have been used for a couple years doing lawncare. Well, I haven't cleaned or conditioned my boots at all since I got them. Which is why I am concerned a bit about longevity, since I haven't done much to take care of them, other then maybe a quick brush off with a horse hair brush, spray the inside with a deodorizer, and put them on a boot dryer after every use. I suppose thats better care then some do, some put their boots away wet, I am not about that here, no sir. lol

 

[Multum in parvo]

Found a pair of boots today hiding in the wardrobe over summer.
They are made by Pike Brothers Germany and modeled after an US Dress Boot (50s? Korea?) I’m not sure anymore. Comfy to wear with quite a roomy toebox. Now I have to shine them up

 

[johnniegold]

Those boots look awesome and they have the patented “Never-Slip” Pike Bros. sole.

They look very comfortable, especially with that rounded, perfed, cap-toe.

Let’s see them after you spruce them up.

 

[Multum in parvo]

Those boots look awesome and they have the patented “Never-Slip” Pike Bros. sole.

They look very comfortable, especially with that rounded, perfed, cap-toe.

Let’s see them after you spruce them up.

It seems that they are out of production. The homepage shows now these in 3 colors:

After a quick shine

 

[johnniegold]

It seems that they are out of production. The homepage shows now these in 3 colors:

View attachment 1933718

After a quick shine

View attachment 1933719

I can’t tell you how happy it makes me that they are no longer in production.

They look great all spiffed-up. Great, stylish, boot.

AND…

The Captain Boot exchange arrived from Thursday Boot Company in the 10 Wide

The wide width is definitely the fit for me in Captain boot. The snugness in the toe box from the previous pair in the standard width is now roomier, but not as roomy as the Alden Indy boot or the Higgins Mill boot by Allen Edmonds.

 

[johnniegold]

Although the Captain is in a Wide (EE) width, it is a “closer” fit (not snug) then the Indy or Higgins Mill. I still have plenty of wiggle room but there is more of subtle taper on the Captain boot. However, a (EEE) would be out of the question.

If you look across the widest point of each boot, the Captain is slightly narrower.

The Captain looks and feels like a well-constructed boot. My initial reaction upon putting them on was not that they were uncomfortable but that they would get better after a short break-in period, similar to the experience with the Iron Ranger although the IR leather was thicker.

Unlike the “comfortable right out of the box” experience of the Indy or the Higgins Mill but it is not really a fair comparison to compare boots that cost 2-3 times more than the Captain boot.

For the price point, you are getting a lot of boot.

So…. What’s the final decision?

 

[Multum in parvo]

I can’t tell you how happy it makes me that they are no longer in production.

They look great all spiffed-up. Great, stylish, boot.

AND…

The Captain Boot exchange arrived from Thursday Boot Company in the 10 Wide

View attachment 1933747
View attachment 1933748

View attachment 1933750View attachment 1933749View attachment 1933751View attachment 1933752View attachment 1933753View attachment 1933754

The wide width is definitely the fit for me in Captain boot. The snugness in the toe box from the previous pair in the standard width is now roomier (but not as roomy as the Alden Indy boot or the Higgins Mill boot by Allen Edmonds.

When will your Solovair Chelsea Boots show up Bob?

 

[johnniegold]

I like these boots.

They fall a little towards the dressier side of a heritage/service-tyoe boot and that’s ok.

But…. I’m going to return them.

Actually… I’m going to exchange them (… again).

Why?

Because the Brandy color is quite close to the Higgins Mill

Since Thursday Boot will allow (within reason) several free exchanges, I’ve sent back the Brandy color in exchange for the Arizona Adobe color (in the same 10 EE size) to add a bit more color variety to the boot collection.

The Arizona Adobe was one of my first choices because I thought it would be a nice replacement for the Iron Rangers but for some reason I went with the Brandy.

I think the Arizona Adobe will do it for the Thursday Boot Company.

When I get ‘em… you’ll see ‘em.

 

[johnniegold]

And I haven’t given up on a natural chromexcel boot.

At some point, I think the Grant Stone Diesel boot in natural chromexcel could end up being delivered to my doorstep.

I saw them at Boot Camp and they looked really nice.

 

[dojpros]

JG- congrats on cracking the code for Thurs boots.

I bought a pair of 13s off of ebay. A little big but wearable with a thicker sock.

As they make a 12.5, I STRONGLY they will be spot on.

As I have said before, by the accounts of many, THURS Boots are the choice in the sub 300.00 space. Mexico made in 199.00-285.00.

USA made Vanguards are 265-285.

My son loves the exact boot you are pivoting to. I bought it new for him this past Xmas.

Indeed, if buying new, the ability to buy of of Amazon in most 199 selections/sizes makes it the easy button.

 

[La Malice]

I hope you enjoy those boots. I do have to say that the exchange process is simple and fairly fast especially if you are on the east coast as they appears to be doing some shipping from NJ.

As a point of reference, some Arizona Adobe before and after 10 month. They are in need of a solid clean and conditioning but I do like where they are going to. Those are go anywhere boots, trail / work / fair / hog hunting last Wednesday morning. With the return of the cooler weather they will see more action on the week end for sure.

 

[Edgelord]

I just ordered the Thursday Vanguards in French Roast.

Now, I am looking at Chukkas and Desert Boots.

 

[johnniegold]

3rd (and final) round with Thursday Boot Company.

The Arizona Adobe Captain boot (that I exchanged to replace the Brandy Captain Boot, which replaced the Natural chromexcel pair that I originally ordered ), arrived today.

Initially, I noticed that the box was different. Instead of the black boot box, it was a brown box. The distinction could be due to the fact that the Arizona Adobe leather is from there “Rugged & Resilient” line, while the other two pair are from their “Classic” line of boots.

The very first thing I noticed is that the leather on this Rugged & Resilient boot is much softer and has a more matted-finish as opposed to the glossier Brandy-colored boot, which felt a bit stiffer and not as pliable.

Next… the fit and the look.

 

[johnniegold]

As I suspected (hoped), this boot closely resembles the Iron Ranger.

With some subtle differences like a more tapered toe box, the leather not as thick as the IR and a somewhat dressier silhouette than the all-out ruggedness of the IR, the Arizona Adobe is a very decent looking, well-made boot that comes in at just $200. Their customer service is also outstanding.

Whereas, I knew the previous pairs would require some break-in time, this pair, although not the “comfortable right out of the box” experience of the Higgins Mill, will be an easier break-in period.

All in all, a very good experience with Thursday Boot and I wouldn’t be surprised if another one of their shoes/boots ended up being delivered to my doorstep.

For now, let’s break these bad boys in.

 

[johnniegold]

So until next year’s Boot Camp, this will be the line-up for this Boot season.

 

[Edgelord]

Vanguards came today (French roast). These are much more monotone than the pictures. I would have to use lighting to make them look like the pictures.

They are very nice, though. I am, definitely, keeping them. I hope that it doesn’t snow for a month or so. I like to put Obenauf’s and Snow-seal on boots before the snow… but I like to wear them about 20 times before I do.

 

[dojpros]

265USD for made in the USA is tough to beat. A pair in Color#8 is on my short list.

 

[johnniegold]

Vanguards came today (French roast). These are much more monotone than the pictures. I would have to use lighting to make them look like the pictures. View attachment 1936463

Interesting. The pictures I’ve seen of the Vanguard seem to show some reddish tones in the French Roast leather.

Your boots don’t seem to show that reddish hue and would (at least in your picture) fall squarely in the brown category.

I wonder if perhaps it is a result of the batch of leather used at the time of production of your Vanguards.

Like this picture of the Higgins Mill boot from Allen-Edmonds. The two boots in the picture shown below were being sold as the same color.

Regardless, the Vanguard is a great looking boot. Enjoy them.

 

[Edgelord]

Interesting. The pictures I’ve seen of the Vanguard seem to show some reddish tones in the French Roast leather.

View attachment 1936691View attachment 1936692

Your boots don’t seem to show that reddish hue and would (at least in your picture) fall squarely in the brown category.

I wonder if perhaps it is a result of the batch of leather used at the time of production of your Vanguards.

Like this picture of the Higgins Mill boot from Allen-Edmonds. The two boots in the picture shown below were being sold as the same color.

View attachment 1936700


Regardless, the Vanguard a great looking boot. Enjoy them.

I was hoping that they would look more like the pictures.

The pictures of the Vanguard French roast looked like the Higgins Mill on the left side of your picture… but I got a brownish color that looks like the Higgins Mill on the right side of your picture. No red tones… no highlights… just monotone brown.

 

[johnniegold]

I was hoping that they would look more like the pictures.

The pictures of the Vanguard French roast looked like the Higgins Mill on the left side of your picture… but I got a brownish color that looks like the Higgins Mill on the right side of your picture. No red tones… no highlights… just monotone brown.

Thursday’s customer service is top-notch, perhaps you could ask if there is a pair with more reddish tones in stock that they could exchange with you.

Worth a shot if you not entirely thrilled.