Mister Freedom
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What's everyone's thoughts on the Road Champs?
I've been more interested in engineer boots lately, and I really like what I've seen with the Road Champs.
Seems like they have the profile that I like and some really nice details.
Plus the brown leather looks really nice when broken in.
Assuming there's a waitlist for these I might throw my name onto it… -
I personally do not have a pair but everything I have seen, read, heard has been nothing but good things. The leather is not dyed all the way through so the fade and patina is more extreme than you'd get compared to some others. I thought I recall reading that the wait list is a solid year at least for the brown. If you're not in a hurry to get into the engineer game then it's probably worth it. Another interesting thing about the Road Champs is you can't necessarily expect to receive a boot that is the same color as the one you've been drooling over. The brown color palette is all over the map.
With all that said, if I was in the market for a $950 engineer my inclination would be to spend another couple hundred and have Brian the Bootmaker make me a pair that are custom fitted to my feet, with the Road Champs coming in a close second. They really are a beautiful boot. Some very good insight and pics on this board and over at Denimbro as well.
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Thanks for the feedback @BloodnThunder, I honestly don't mind waiting at all. Gives me some time to save up and also something to look forward to. I've seen what you're talking about with the variation in color, if they came in darker or lighter I wouldn't really mind. Both look very nice. I like the idea of them aging differently than other leathers too.
I guess a custom fitting boot for that kind of price would also be nice. I was looking into Role Club boots and they look very nice, the customization options are also enticing. I could essentially makeup a boot that looks very similar to the Road Champs with my own personal tweaks.
There's something about the way the strap on the Road Champs is constructed that I really like.
Right now I'm just more or less thinking out loud anyways! -
Totally agree, the Road Champs have a really great shape to each piece, and ultimately a well shaped boot. I'm not an engineer master, only have the IHxViberg, but the consensus seems to be that fit of each brands model is really great for some feet and unbearable for others. That's really the only reason why I would choose custom made Role Clubs over the Road Champs. It would be heart breaking to wait that long for a pair only to have them be unwearable.
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Yeah you've definitely got a point. I've never really had any issues with shoes or boots being unwearable. But having to wait that long and then have the possibility of them not being what I'm really after would definitely be a bummer.
I've never worn engineers before, so I'm thinking I should probably try some on and see if it's my kind of thing before committing to something like Road Champs or a pair of Role Clubs anyway. -
@Broark I'm a huge fan - I have the brown and the black. I mis-sized on the brown (too tight), and did not care for the slick leather sole, but I had Brian (the Bootmaker) resole and rework the sizing and now they are fine ($1300 later). Then I got on the wait list, and I was able to buy the black ones, which I got a full size larger, and they are like butter - they came with the rubber already on the soles. I just love them, the fit and the way they look. They are a totally different animal than my Viberg engineers or Wesco Boss - I hate say better just unique. If you really like the RCs but are thinking of options, I agree having some Role Clubs built for you might be a good tradeoff - or a 30's Boss with a soft toe from G/The Bootery - or Attractions or Bucos. But imho the RCs are classic and a grail item in a class of their own if you are really into engineer boots. They break in quickly, and the quality is as you'd expect, and the leather is stunning. If I didn't have so many boots, my next pair would be some olive steer Role Clubs - BtB is a cool cat.
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Does anyone have the shipyard chinos?
I know they are considered "old school" since they are from 2011/2012, but wondering if anyone still has any around…
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Any chance you have fit pics laying around?
The Japanese sites make them look huge and the size chart looks 1/2 size big, so I'm trying to see what would work best for me.
Thanks!
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@Bluegrass I appreciate your input! Thinking the brown or the blue would be a cool addition to have. I remember waiting for them to drop and was in between sizes then and I'm in between sizes now… just in between "larger" sizes these days haha.
Do you have a size 38? if so I'd love to see what the waist measures and if it stretches back out at all.
Cheers,
Adam
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Just got the wabash in, very happy with it!
The fabric has a nice heft to it, definitely not too hot to wear in the summer which is what I was hoping for.
Nice uniform. crunchy fabric pre-wash.
Gave it a cold wash and is now hanging to dry, this shirt sure did bleed a lot. Made my hands turn blue when I was hanging it up afterward!
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very nice @Broark - interested in seeing/hearing how it fits after it dries. Once thing I have learned… Christophe makes sure you don't get shorthanded in the indigo department with any of his gear! My midnight riders have been soaked 3 times and machine washed twice - they look brand new and still leave indigo over everything! My indigo gunslingers were the same way - they crocked for the entire time I had them.... speaking of... @FormulaPfaff have you given those another try at wearing them?
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@Broark congrats on that tabby - I am very jeaous!
More pics when you get a chance….@Appfaff I busted the shipyard chinos out today - here is a front and back (with my new IH flannel) and RCs. I would get your usual size - although the sizing seemed "generous" on the charts, after a soak they seem to fit like all my other MF pants. Also they are a bit high waisted, so if you have any belly (like me) you would appreciate the extra room. I had forgotten about the "dick rivet" - cool feature imo!
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Fantastic! Thanks so much!!! They look great BTW!
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Thanks guys, I will try to get some fit pics soon. Just got back home and the shirt is still drying, almost done though.
The fabric feels like it has a bit more texture now. Hoping it didn't shrink a whole lot because I liked the presoak fit but it was just a little bit big. One thing of note is that the sleeves on this one aren't very long, so if you have longer arms beware. -
Slipped the shirt on this morning and I really like the fit. I'm glad I went with the XXL since it shrunk down a little.
Just incase you guys were interested here's the measurements post wash, taken the IH way:
Shoulders: 19 in.
Chest: 23.5 in.
Length: 30 in.
Waist: 23 in.
Opening: 23.5
Sleeve length: 25.5
