John Lofgren (Speedway)

[Mizmazzle]

@fuzzybunnies great photo! Classy SOB!

[ZackB]

@fuzzybunnies love those Chapmans man. You wear them well

[fuzzybunnies]

@Mizmazzle @ZackB thank you fellas!

[stitchdown.shell]

[Gammaman]

This worked for me as these were so tight to get on and off that after a year the stitching came undone on the outside of the backstays. I got the stays repaired but then abandoned them until last week decided to soak them in the bath for an hour in luke warm water.
Then I put two pairs of thick socks on and a carrier bag over my feet and squeezed them into the boots. 48 hours later they were dry taking them off only at bedtime. Now they fit really well.

Whilst drying lots of white patches appeared

They were then treated to some Pecards antique leather dressing. Right boot dressed.

Quick brush and they were ready to wear

[Mizmazzle]

@Gammaman whoa! Are those natty CXL?

[Gammaman]

@Mizmazzle Yeah they are.

[NickD]

@Gammaman Wow, the colour difference to my six month old pair is massive!

[Mizmazzle]

Took some better photos of my boots for the Thunderdome. On my desk…yes. My version of studio lighting.

Thought it rather interesting how the uppers have maintained a more pure green color while the exposed toe box area has gotten more sun and elements exposure.

[Bobcat Sig]

@Mizmazzle That's cool to see the leather changing color like that. I know you want some green to remain, but that's a unique brown-ish color that's developing.

[flannel slut]

@Mizmazzle yellowish patina coming through is gorgeous

[Mizmazzle]

Thanks guys. Really curious to see how they go

[fuzzybunnies]

@Mizmazzle man those are looking good. How have they been on the feet?

[Mizmazzle]

@fuzzybunnies mine fit pretty spot on and are quite comfy.

[steelworker]

@flannel-slut oh my

[Bobcat Sig]

@Mizmazzle it's posts like yours that give me hope that I can make a pair of engineers work. I know the JL engineers are a chore to get on when new if you have a high instep. After your foot is in, how's the instep room?

[Mizmazzle]

@Bobcat-Sig Mine were never that hard to get on. These Badalassi Grigios were a tad harder the first couple times cause the leather is veg tan and a lot stiffer than my other other CXL engineers....which were always pretty easy to get on and off.

So much of this comes down to foot shape. Once my foot is in, the instep is great...kinda roomy if anything. I actually use a thin leather Red Wing insert in both my pairs to take up the volume a bit, as I have a low volume foot.

[NickD]

I’m a bit behind @Mizmazzle and @Gammaman in terms of wear, but I think they’re just about broken in now.

[NickD]

@Bobcat-Sig for me they started off as quite tight to get on and off but have freed up quite nicely now. I’d say I have a medium instep, and my pair are CXL so quite forgiving.

I had the same concerns as you but bit the bullet as I think they’re the best looking engineer boots on the market.

[Mizmazzle]

@NickD I concur! I find the JL engineer silhouette to be the best looking. Slightly bulbous toe, the shaping around the heel/ back stay …all in perfect flow.