ADDICT BOOTS Japan
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AB-01H-ST HORSEHIDE ENGINEER BOOTS STANDARD
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@FlavourFade the addicts have more toe spring, and a much lower volume last with a pointier toe box and shorter instep. Casper’s in 12 took zero break in out of the box, whereas these in 12 are going to need more time, wear, and stretching to get them broken in. I love both but they are totally different, and I would say the addict is more like a cowboy boot in terms of how they feel vs. the Casper is really its own unique thing. All that being said RDT makes more comfortable shoes out of the box.
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@SourPower thanks for the write-up!! I am surprised you took the same size in both Boots since I was able to even size down to a 9 from my usual 9.5-10 depending on maker in the caspers while I read a lot about the addict being tts. Also I would love to hear from you how substantial the Addict Boot feels? The caspers feel like tanks to me
Insta: max_25oz
WTB:
-IHSH-397 XXL/XXXL
-526j / 526pj XXL/XXXL -
My two(twenty five) cents…
I sold my Caspers a few years ago, and at the time I was still recovering from a catastrophic quad injury, so my feet had definitely atrophied and were smaller than normal. I’ll agree with this though, I think the Casper is typically a full size down for a lot of people. But with side-zips and pull-on boots like engineers, ropers, etc., so much comes down to foot volume, instep, and the overall shape of your feet. I think I’d probably do just fine a half size down in the Casper now that my feet are back to normal.
As mentioned above, the Addict side-zips feel more like a Western boot with a sprung toe. Not exactly lightweight, but definitely not as substantial or heavy feeling as a Casper.
The ST last is a longer last, so for some people true to size may feel too long. I think the determining factor for sizing these is really going to come down to foot volume and instep. Are you the person who has to crank down the straps on every pair of engineer boots or even add holes? No matter what you do, even with an additional or thicker insert and thick boot socks, you still have heel slip? Then you probably need to start sizing down. If you typically follow the normal sizing advice of a half size down and up a width, or true to size in a D width on something like a Mr. Lou, then I think you’ll probably be fine going true to size in these.
I think where it starts to get tricky is with people who have wider feet. Does that mean you size up, or do you just go true to size and bear through it? I really don’t know. Although I do know somebody who has a tremendous amount of experience with these boots and the people who wear them, so I’m sure I could reach out if somebody has one of those outlier feet that doesn’t fit the typical sizing advice.
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@northsouthdenimguy thanks for your opinion, I think the most important thing is how personal and individual footwear is in terms of fit. Not that feet are just different, also everyone has different taste in how they like their boots and shoes to fit. Also the same boot in different leather will feel different.
I am pretty sure that the casper is more what I feel like being the style I Iike to wear and the addict western boots is more a boot I love to look at but not sure if I would wear them a ton. But I like to at least play with the Idea in my head and wonder how they would look beaten up.
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@FlavourFade a few thoughts from my personal experience with larger feet and handmade boots…
My perspective is that there seems to be a lot more variability in sizing and fit throughout the “middle” of the chart, with outliers like me on the ends often taking the largest size that Japanese boot brands will offer. Just my observation but it seems like it can be a lot more difficult to nail down the perfect fit for people with smaller feet.
I don’t have as much choice, and in RDT for example they don’t even offer half sizes in the larger boots. So I either take a 12 that’s comfortable and slightly roomy, or try to squeeze into an 11. I also learned that the Japanese domestic footwear market prefers a roomier fit, which explains why RDT Boots feel and fit the way that they do. American consumers and boot brands tend to suggest/prefer a snug fit.
I find way less variation with size 12 boots and wear that size in Wesco, Russell Moccasin, RDT, Addict, Zerrows, etc. and they all work very well for me.
That being said the addict is definitely a snugger fitting boot and last shape in size 12 than the Casper, but they are like comparing apples and oranges to me- so they will always look and feel different on foot.
Excess In Moderation
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@SourPower thanks for your thoughts man! I recently got a pair of Luosjiet Boots that also fit a bit oversized but still comfortable and I just realized that I like that and the overly snug fit I tended to in the past is not what I am after for my next purchases anymore
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Hey all, I’ll be in Chicago again this year for the Stitchdown Expo(Nov 6 and 7th), formerly known as Boot Camp. Addict will be in attendance, so I’m planning to try on some of their engineers. I’m actually interested in a pair myself once Iron Heart releases them. Assuming Addict will have both the ST and CL lasts available, I’ll try on both. I’m not sure if IH is planning to carry both or just the ST last in the engineer, but either way I’ll be happy to give some feedback on the different fits and sizing if anybody’s interested.
@selveldgesteps
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@northsouthdenimguy said in ADDICT BOOTS Japan:
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Everything we have coming is on the CL last, The Engineer boots where not available on the ST.
Looking forward to hearing about the ST.
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@northsouthdenimguy hopefully we can make the Stitchdown Expo in 2027. I've met Ben a couple of times and he's a good bloke. Looks like a fun event!
The devil is in the detail..
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Yeah, it’ll be interesting. I have the ST side-zips from last year’s Stitchdown collab, so I’m really curious to see how the CL fits in comparison. From what I understand, the CL side-zip might be a little tricky in the same size I wear in the ST. Apparently, the CL engineer fits pretty similarly to the ST engineer, other than the lower toe profile and slimmer shaft. Hopefully, Addict will have all the different lasts available in their laceless boots so I can try them all and see how the fits compare. Might be a useful data point for others too.
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I always have a great time. This will be my third year, and I’ve dragged my wife along every year. She’s a trooper.
Ben’s a cool dude, although he’s always so busy at these events that I never get much time to hang out with him. But I’ve met so many great people over the years.
