ADDICT BOOTS Japan
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For what it’s worth when it comes to sizing, in my experience, and from several other people I know who wear these, not only the side zips but the engineers as well, I’d definitely do some crowdsourcing before automatically sizing down like you typically would do with most quality footwear.
I know everybody’s feet are different, but I’m an 11.5D Brannock and I wear their side zip boots(ST last) true to size without the insert. Of course Brannock doesn’t really give you a three dimensional measurement of your foot. My heel to ball and heel to toe are both right at 11.5.
I’d just be really careful about automatically going half a size down. I tried an 11 at Boot Camp in Chicago last year before ordering my Stitchdown collab pair. I could barely get my foot into them and there was absolutely no way I was zipping them up, so I ordered true to size.
Even true to size I still can’t use the insert right now. Maybe once they’re fully broken in I’ll be able to, but if you have a higher instep or just a meatier, higher volume foot for lack of a better term, these could be tough.
At the very least you may need to go true to size and plan on wearing them without the insert.
But take all of this with a grain of salt. If you’re one of those people who can go a full size down in a Viberg 2030 and still feel like you have room, then yeah, maybe half down in Addict works for you. Feet are weird and everybody seems to tolerate fit differently.
I will say, Addict boots are absolutely amazing. The lasts they use give you this really dialed-in, almost made-to-measure feel when you get the sizing right. They just seem to wrap your foot in a way a lot of other boots don’t.
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@northsouthdenimguy - really helpful thanks. So those with high arches need to size up?
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I’m an 11.5D Brannock, so I don’t really have a wide foot. I do have a decent arch and instep though, and probably a little more volume through the midfoot than your average D width. My feet are pretty muscular too from a lot of calf raises, backwards walking, etc.
I just tried the boots on again(11.5) since I hadn’t worn them in a few weeks. True to size with a medium weight full cushion Darn Tough boot sock they’re pretty damn snug, to the point I wouldn’t want my feet swelling much. Switched to a thinner cushion Darn Tough and they fit just right.
So at least for me it seems less about width and more about overall foot volume and instep.
Edit: without included insert
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@caithangkhanh The teacore really is stunning in person, the photos don't do it justice. I wasn't too sure how I'd like the teacore as I've never had a pair before but I'm enjoying the process and the depth of colour and patina so far. I think I'll have to add a pure black pair in the future...
@crispy-heron I did quite a bit of research before deciding on Addict. I reached out to them with my foot measurements (taken via franks youtube guide) as well as the size of my other boots and we had a back and forth about fit and size recommendations. Their customer service and help in this regard was fantastic. From what I was told, without talking to them/sending your measurements in, the general advice is to take half a size down from brannock on the Engineers UNLESS you have an above average instep in which case you can go TTS and use their insert later in time. Regarding the service boots I do not know if the same advice applies.
@northsouthdenimguy I have also heard and was told that their zip boots do fit differently and going TTS is recommended, but there are always exceptions, and from experience I would advise just reaching out as they were super helpful. I would agree, at least in regards to my engineers, that overall foot volume and instep is going to be a greater determining factor in fit than brannock. Are the Zip boots horsehide?
I have definitely noticed stretch in the horsebutt engineers during the first 6 weeks; I'm pushing around 10 weeks of almost daily wear now. I wear very thin wool socks and have a very low instep, thus I'm very confident I could avoid the supplied insert and go another half size down from brannock for a firm and very snug fit (which I personally like) although I imagine the break-in would be quite painful. My current pair was very easy and only had minor discomfort for the first week, I believe that to be because both myself and person from Addict I was talking to were playing it on the safe side with sizing.
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The Stitchdown collab side zip is horsebutt. I believe the regular Addict side zips are horsehide, although I’m not sure which version Iron Heart is carrying
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Zip Western and Service boots
buzzing for these to land@AskAxel @northsouthdenimguy the zip westerns we have on our first order are horsehide
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@northsouthdenimguy interesting, I'd be curious to see if they give over time like the engineers seem to be doing.
@AdamC Awesome news, thanks! -
@SourPower we're yet to finalise RRP but we will let you know once we've got in locked in for all models
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@SourPower Addict dont have fixed overseas RRPs - we have a rough idea of margin, but the JPY/GBP/USD will dictate the ultimate price at the time of launch.
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once had a pair of engineers from Addict and I can say that they are very well made , comfortable to wear out of the box. Just sold them because of sizing issues. they run pretty long , at least the ST model I had.
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AB-05SS-CL Steersuede Zip Western Boots
I bit the bullet and scored the last pair of these in my size direct from Addict.
Extremely impressed right out of the box, absolutely impeccable construction and the steersuede aromas are mouth watering. I went true to size with my other handmade boots and the 12 is spot on, I think sizing down too aggressively would make the pull-on impossible for those of us with large feet.
The CL last is definitely low volume, but fit perfectly without the insoles for my initial try on. With some wear time and stretch I may decide to use the insoles.
Highly recommend Addict for fellow forum members who are interested in their products. So stoked to see IHUK picking up Satoshi Ishijima’s incredible brand!
Excess In Moderation
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@SourPower These look great !
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I've ben collecting heritage boots for almost 5yrs. For the first few years I started out with TBC and then I found out about Grant Stone. I was solely buying GS footwear for 4+years. Not until recently did I venture out.
Earlier this year, I got into side zip boots and I bought all 4 Elias's and they fit well. They are a combo between engineer boots and western cowboy boots. They all have an 8" shaft.
Then I got into Rolling Dub Trio Caspers and Addict Boots Jodhpurs and Western side zips.
I would like a pair of Addict Engineers however I don't know what size I should go with and exchanging when the merchant is in Japan will be tough because I'm in the USA.
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@SourPower I just got a pair of these. My first Addict Boots were the Jodhpurs in Black HH and then recently got these same exact ones. I went 1/2 from brannock and to be honest, the instep was a killer. I'm Asian so I didn't think I would have a high instep but apparently I do. The instep on both were extremely rough in that they pinched like hell but I was hell bent on making them work. I would imagine taking my tts brannock size would have possibly been better however, I prefer my boots to fit snug without a lot of room in the toe box length/width wise.
I had to buy a professional grade instep stretcher. It's made of steel and robust. I stretched them for 2 days. My left foot doesn't have as high of an instep like my right foot.
To be honest, I prefer suede over any smooth leather outside of shell cordovan. I have a ton of boots that are CXL and I would prefer suede over CXL. It hides scuffs really well and there's just something about suede that is really appealing to me.
How did these fit you?
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Update! The AB-01H-ST Standard Horsehide Engineer boots have arrived!
Relatively quick postage from Japan to Australia, no issues with the packaging. For fellow Australians, Addict now ships internationally in USD only and these were listed as $830USD for me at the time of purchase, shipping was $53USD and i paid customs/duties/tax of around $305AUD bringing the total price to $1,560-ish AUD. Previously Addict's international store used local currency so when I purchased my Horsebutt engineers first (the more expensive of the two versions) I paid in AUD and they actually cost about the same as this pair now that they have swapped to selling in USD. That doesn't bother me particularly, but it's something to consider.
First impressions; the leather is just as thick as the Horsebutt engineers although the shaft and top strap are noticeably softer and more supple. The Shaft has much more flex than the horsebutt versions, although I would definitely say it is still quite firm but the break-in will be much quicker. There is (at least on my pair) a subtle lasting line down the center of the boot, something that I did not notice in the stock photos. This surprised me, I actually have found this quite unappealing in photos of engineers boots (looking at you clinch) but in person I'm really surprised that I actually like it. perhaps it's because its subtle and a point of difference to my horsebutt pair.
Clicking looks wonderful to me, there is some visible grain in the shaft but the vamp and heel look perfect, there is a little spot on vamp of the left boot in the photos but this just rubbed away just using my finger. The black has a nice lustre to it in person and is deep without being shiny, so excuse my poor photos.
This version is a structured toe, and although not quite a full heritage bump toe, it is noticeably rounder and higher than the unstructured horsebutt. I wanted a pair with the structured toe, although I do prefer a rolled and collapsed toe. I bought this black pair with intention of it being my engineer boot for dressier occasions compared to the abuse my teacore pair live up to.
For photo comparison purposes, the teacore now have about 3 months of almost daily wear including some rough yard work like fencing and landscaping. Yesterday, before I took these photos, I gave them their first real clean and touch up with some conditioner and they have come up much better than expected, a lot of the scratches have disappeared.Sizing
I took a risk and did go a full size down on the brannock with these. I decided to do that because of the structured toe and to have a very tight fit, these are a 10.5D. As stated in my other posts above, I do have a very low instep and while the 11D Horsebutt fit me very well after break in and using the insert from Addict, i found there is still a little bit of wiggle room in the instep for me even now that I have them on the third hole and I just don't want to tighten them more. With the collapsing of the toebox in the horsebutt I also do not have room in the toes to go down to a 10.5 like I could with these. I plan on getting another pair of the horsebutt in the brown in an 11D and I would still recommend to others going only a half size down unless youve spoken to Addict and are really, really, confident with your foot measurements.I've put them on and walked around the house for a bit now, they are definitely very tight but in a good way. I do expected a longer and slightly painful break-in period compared to the horsebutt, which I would say while there was some initial break-in discomfort, they were not painful. I can already tell that I will not be needing these inserts and these are going to form so well to my feet.
Other things of note
I can happily say that the sole thickness between the two is the same, for some reason on the standard versions Addict have a full rubber outer-sole instead of the half-cut version on the horsebut, the heelstack is also the same height so i assume there is a little less leather in this heelstack to make up for the additional rubber.
As you can see in the photos, I did add additional stitching to both straps on the shaft. I did this mostly as a precaution and because these cost me so much I wanted to be safe. In hindsight, on the horsebutt versions I dont think this is necessary, and on the bottom strap of the Horsehide I also would say I don't think it's necessary, but the top strap is feels very soft to me so it could be considered. Personal preference I guess, but I will be taking these to my cobbler and getting additional stitching to both straps anyway.I'll post some more photos in the future, I intend on alternating between these two now and easing up on the abuse my horsebutt pair have copped these past three months. Hopefully around Christmas/January I'll have the funds to buy a third pair in Brown if they are still available. I've considered trying an alternative brand like JL or Wesco, but here in Australia getting a pair of Wesco's costs just as much as Addict, Attractions or JL and I just can't justify it, especially given the mixed advice on sizing for Wesco's I've received. Other brands like JL, Attractions, and Skoob (from what I've been told) have much higher insteps and we all know that for Engineers fit is king; the Addicts are 2 for 2 for me in terms of amazing fit so I think one more pair should do it and I can go back to just buying more IH jeans and jackets haha
