Biltbuck Lot 444 by Attraction
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@NickD thanks a lot!
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I’ve had a pair for a little under a year now and my foot prefers the 444 Attractions last over the lofgren engineer last in how it is snug through the arch/midsection then opens up to accommodate a wider toe box BUT the horsehide, albeit gorgeous, sure is stiff -specifically throughout the shaft. The Lofgrens feel like boots socks in comparison with similar amount of wear. I’ve got some creases forming now (RIP my shins and calf’s from the first couple months) and do like the additional structure of this hide to the shinki but was hoping for some of the rolls seen on the JLs down the road. For those who’ve owned their 444s for a while or have properly tamed the hide, does this leather soften up any like? specifically, have you gotten any folds/rolls along the shaft?
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@flannel-slut
my brown ones are my most worn engineers at the moment , and I’ve worn them a lot. the leather is still kind of stiff but moulded to fit my feet perfectly. It’s great to wear them and yes they got really comfortable with wear. I absolutely love the last , and maybe it’s even my favorite last and I have quite a few other boots to compare
Now that I have the black ones too , I would say the brown leather is even tougher than the black . First days in the black ones were hard but the brown ones were worse when I remember it correctly.
took a few quick pics, not the best sorry
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Thanks for sharing @Daniel-San! Yours are definitely showing more folds than mine, particularly from the side profile
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@flannel-slut
maybe because I have the straps fully tightened on the last hole. -
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@NickD
they are not made in the same factory as far as I know. And the last and shape is pretty different. the heel of the skoob is lower and the toe box is more "bulky" ( like the Y2engineers)
the last of the 444 is a little more sleek.
both awesome boots for sure
444
Skoob
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I can see what you mean side by side, especially the toe shape in profile and I don’t think the Skoobs tea core as fast.
I wondered about the factory as I read that Skoob do or did make shoes/boots for other companies.
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@Daniel-San saw these post yesterday and immediately thought of you. Stoked we’ll get some pics out in the wild from you
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They arrived 🥳
Fantastic boots , the leather is again outstanding with a very beautiful grain .
The shaft is softer on these and lined , so breaking in will be less painful on the calfs
the horse hair is super cool and has a stunning color which pairs perfectly with the leather.
they are a little brighter than the brown ones I already have which is a relief as I was a little afraid they could look identical to my brown ones .
here a few first impressions
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Cool @Daniel-San what is the expected long term wear of the horsehair? Will it fall off or will it stay and so these are intended as winter boots?
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@Nik
I have no idea , but these samples are pretty worn and the horse hair still looking good.
Don’t think they are meant as winter boots.
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@Daniel-San I was looking at these last week and was considering a purchase. Did you go with the recommended 0.5 size smaller than Brannock and if so, how’s the fit? Do you have any Wesco Mr. Lou’s that you can correlate sizing against? Thanks for any sizing info you can provide.
No one’s happiness but my own is in my power to achieve or to destroy.
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@John-Galt
not easy to give any size recommendations cause I need to wear orthopedic insoles.
Normally I had a 9.5 US in all of my boots, but because of the insoles I had to size up . Now I have a US 10 in most of my boots. Unfortunately I can’t tell you what brannock size I have , It’s not very common here in Germany.
If you have Iron Rangers , I would choose the same size for the 444.
hope that helps -
Yeah sizing in new boots is always a gamble. I have size 7.5 in my Iron Rangers, always 8,5 in VANS sneakers with 26,5cm.
But I have 8D in both my Wesco engineer boots. The Attraction 444 is on the bucket list for me too, but sizing is always a bit scary when trying a new brand.
But the lot 444 seams to have wider toe box then the Mr Lou is that correct..?
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@Daniel-San thanks for the honest feedback - greatly appreciated.
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@mecken88
I can’t compare with the Wescos, sorry !
The 444 look pretty sleek but have good overall volume for the feet. Getting in and out is struggle free, at least for me.
The only thing is the break in
which is quite challenging for most guys. The leather is outstanding ,but thick and stiff, so it needs a little to get comfortable.
I would recommend the same size as your Iron Rangers . -
I am in the market for some 444 and everybody tells me same size as IR is recommended @John-Galt
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