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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    John Lofgren (Speedway)

    Footwear
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    • MizmazzleM
      Mizmazzle
      見習いボス
      Joined:

      @mclaincausey you been able to get the engineers out lately in this Denver July heat? Few evening walks to the park for me….i should really move to Montana haha

      In the easy chair with my boots on, melted whiskey in my hand. Could'na been asleep for more than three hours...time to go to work again...

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • MizmazzleM
        Mizmazzle
        見習いボス
        Joined:

        What are anyones thoughts on using boot trees?

        In the easy chair with my boots on, melted whiskey in my hand. Could'na been asleep for more than three hours...time to go to work again...

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • mikebarhootM
          mikebarhoot
          Iron Heart Deity
          Joined:

          Yes. Always. In boots and dress shoes.

          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • MizmazzleM
            Mizmazzle
            見習いボス
            Joined:

            Thanks @mikebarhoot….do you go shoe trees or boot trees in the engineers?

            In the easy chair with my boots on, melted whiskey in my hand. Could'na been asleep for more than three hours...time to go to work again...

            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • DmartD
              Dmart
              啓蒙家
              Joined:

              I only have shoe trees.

              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • MizmazzleM
                Mizmazzle
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                Joined:

                Thanks @Dmart

                I’m wondering since shoe/ boot trees are meant to help a boot keep its shape, do they prohibit the leather from getting those cool rolls (horse butt leather) or the patina that we are all working for with the rich multi tones in the leather that come with creasing and folding etc. ?

                In the easy chair with my boots on, melted whiskey in my hand. Could'na been asleep for more than three hours...time to go to work again...

                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • GilesG
                  Giles
                  IHUK Crew
                  Joined:

                  Depends what you want.  If you want them to look old and worn as soon as poss, don't bother.  If you want to let them properly dry and stay looking newer for longer, then use tree's….

                  "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • mclaincauseyM
                    mclaincausey
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                    Joined:

                    I use cedar show trees in mine @Mizmazzle

                    I have not been wearing boots at all in this heat. Been wearing sandals mostly, which is not hugely typical for me; I don't generally regard boots as seasonal.

                    Think it, be it.

                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • MizmazzleM
                      Mizmazzle
                      見習いボス
                      Joined:

                      Alright then! Seems so far everyone uses trees. I guess I lean towards what Giles said about wanting them to break in faster and not using trees. I live in a fairly arid climate so my boots always dry out fast. As for keeping the shape, that’s where I lack the expertise.

                      In the easy chair with my boots on, melted whiskey in my hand. Could'na been asleep for more than three hours...time to go to work again...

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • GilesG
                        Giles
                        IHUK Crew
                        Joined:

                        Putting trees in allows them to dry "to shape"…

                        "OK face up to it - you're useless but generally pretty honest and straightforward . . . it's a rare combination of qualities that I have come to admire in you" - Geo 2011

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • DmartD
                          Dmart
                          啓蒙家
                          Joined:

                          Every pair of shoes I own has shoe trees, with the exception of the Birkenstocks and Crocs.
                          We could debate on the use in sneakers but in leather shoes/boots, I would always use trees. It certainly adds to the longevity of the shoe because they properly dry and stay in shape. This doesn’t mean that you don’t get creases and wrinkles (if that’s what you are after) but it protects the leather from cracking which can be the death of a shoe.
                          So far I went well with it and will continue using them.

                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • goosehdG
                            goosehd
                            Mod Squad
                            Joined:

                            I am about 50/50 on shoe tree use.  If I consider them a work boot (Wescos with heavy lugged treads) then I tend not to use trees, and for a dressier boot (Vibergs, Trickers, and Cowboy Boots) then I do.

                            "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • mclaincauseyM
                              mclaincausey
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                              I maintain that ANY quality footwear should be unfinished-cedar-shoe-tree'd. It is unquestionably better for your footwear to do so. The leather doesn't know or care if the shoe is a dress shoe or a workboot, but you'll benefit from less mold/mildew and bacteria buildup and eventually becoming smell, less damage to the leather and other constructional materials from moisture, the creases that form being from how they are worn and not how they are stored, them keeping their shape, etc… It is well worth the investment and time to keep anything off your foot on a tree.

                              And I take @Giles ' recommendation around eschewing trees for aging aging to be a tongue in cheek way of saying the same thing, but don't want to put words in his mouth.

                              Think it, be it.

                              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • goosehdG
                                goosehd
                                Mod Squad
                                Joined:

                                excellent point and received…need to get some more trees.

                                "I don't give a shit what anyone else is doing, we will do what is best for us and our customers" - Giles P. :)

                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • MizmazzleM
                                  Mizmazzle
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                                  Joined:

                                  Well ok! Getting some great input now!! As always this forum is a wealth of info that I appreciate immensely!!

                                  In the easy chair with my boots on, melted whiskey in my hand. Could'na been asleep for more than three hours...time to go to work again...

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • mikebarhootM
                                    mikebarhoot
                                    Iron Heart Deity
                                    Joined:

                                    @Mizmazzle:

                                    Thanks @mikebarhoot….do you go shoe trees or boot trees in the engineers?

                                    in my RWs i use shoe trees as well as my Roperesque square toe Luchesse’s. all others which are western and newly acquired Drews, i use boot jacks. because of the instep addition to the tree.

                                    im really persnickety about my shoes and boots. mostly because thats how my dad taught me and due to the numerous foot and ankle injuries leaving them jacked. by no means am i afraid to use em and get em dirty,  but i keep em clean and ready to use however and repair/resole as needed.

                                    i consider myself to have a decent collection of shoes and boots (Made in USA). some of which ive had 40+ years. and have done everything from mucked horse and pig stalls to wade through Houston floods and hurricanes.

                                    maybe TMI but hope it is helpful.

                                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • mikebarhootM
                                      mikebarhoot
                                      Iron Heart Deity
                                      Joined:

                                      @mclaincausey:

                                      And I take @Giles ' recommendation around eschewing trees for aging aging to be a tongue in cheek way of saying the same thing, but don't want to put words in his mouth.

                                      lol. eschew obfuscation.

                                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • M
                                        Memphisakers
                                        Iron Heart Deity
                                        Joined:

                                        Been on vacation the last two weeks… the Lofgrens caught about 80% of it.

                                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                        • M
                                          Memphisakers
                                          Iron Heart Deity
                                          Joined:

                                          It was a very long two weeks. The 777 142OD caught a bunch of wear as well…

                                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • M
                                            Memphisakers
                                            Iron Heart Deity
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