My quality Craigslist dogs, helping me out on Sunday while I brushed some local single-track motorcycle trails.

And for when things get serious

The IH forum is both an excellent resource and a terrible menace to my spending account. Diving deep on this thread is bad for my wallet.

I posted these in the Mr Lou thread, despite the boots being a custom order Boss:

And since we're talking Wesco, my Guildsman (fka the Alex):

With work style boots, two others that I'm quite fond of, Red Wing Moc, a classic. Admittedly, it's on their narrower last, and I should really be in a wide last, but the CRT leather is tough to resist.

Because I'm in what seems to be a great region for many things, including bootmakers, I made a trek down to Truman Boots for sizing and was able to convince them to build these out of the last bit of Waxy China Blue. They are part of my Bobcat boot collection, with the Bobcats being the mascot of my alma mater.

And on the topic of my Bobcat boots, I have a thing for western wear, and boots in particular. These Ariats from their Futurity series, built in Mexico, also sport my university's colors.

Lastly, for now, my party boots, python belly from Tecovas:

And the one that's likely more fitting here, my '94 900 SuperSport with all manner of cool bits and trick parts

The conditions were all-time this weekend in Oregon's High Desert. Heavy rains blanketed the region the days prior, and with the temps cool, the dirt was perfect. And I do mean perfect. Like all-time best conditions, perfect.

I was on my KTM 350 XC-F, which I have come to call my desert sportbike. It's dumb how good it is in the fast stuff.

I've been busy! I've acquired a few pairs, and there are a few I haven't yet posted.

My new favorite Grailed score is these Brooklyn x Wesco Custom Hendrik Charcoal Roughout boots. Timing lined up with a deep dive on boot fit tips, lasts, and a full send into Grailed. As my IH x Wesco Guildsman boots have been a favorite and fit well, I took a flyer on these. They're a 9.5 D and have only seen a bit of use. They'll take some breaking in as a 9.5 E fits me well.

I had a pair of Chippewa loggers for years that were going to cost most of the way to a new pair of handmade boots. So those went in the bin, and I opted for a pair of hand-made-in-Mexico 8-inch bison loggers from Drew's Boots. Bonus here is their last features a wider toe box and more accommodation in the instep - both things I struggle with. Not only do they fit well out of the box, but they also smell amazing. The shrunken bison is thiccc and will take a beating. These are intended for work, and while they won't be making me money, they will be working the local single track of my favorite motorcycle riding areas.

I'm a bit of a slut for Tecovas, mainly because they offer an EE width and their boots fit me well. These full-quill ostrich boots were my first from the brand. I get comments nearly every time I wear them.

These Fryes have been with me for 14 or 15 years and predate several changes of the brand's ownership, back when they were well-made. I think these were hand-made? Maybe in Mexico, as well? In any case, a reheel and a thin half-sole were added for traction. They're a bit long as I sized them to fit my instep, and they were acquired long before I was aware of all the great, hand-built brands we know and love today. I've often thought of selling, but given the recent brand reputation, I don't know that they're worth anything.

I am super stoked! I was down at SE PDX for boot things, which I'll cover in another thread, and lo and behold, not only did they have this shirt in stock, they had one in a tag L. My oh my, is this fabric cool! Because I'm a total neophyte to this whole sphere, many of these non-denim fabrics are new to me. Kersey is no different. I'd never had it in hand, and despite best efforts, the shirt is so much more striking in person. And it's so soft!!

All of this, I'm sure you all know, but I had to share my enthusiasm.

On the other end of the spectrum...

The rain returned, and riding off-road in it isn't my favorite, so I got out and worked some trail. It gave me a chance to start the break-in of my Drew's Loggers. Forgive me for the top-down shots. I did the best I could...

The dogs were quite interested in what was happening

This is probably the most fun, especially when you take a perfectly good dirt bike, and smaller wheels and slicks on it. Dumb and hilariously fun.

@northsouthdenimguy hinted at it; are we seeing a restock at some point? I’d like an IH cut that sorta fits a western style, and fits over cowboy boots and the 634 seems like it might be the jam

This is very much a ‘where do I post this question’ question.

I’m after my next pair of denim. And after getting frustratingly punted from Reddit’s largest subreddit related to this, I come to one of the nicest places on the internet to ask my fellow denim heads; where would I post here to ask about which jean I might buy - Iron Heart and otherwise? I know we have a multitude of threads for many makes outside of IH, but what about a question that spans some of these?

@harleylawhorn Love it! Thanks for the detail. This gives me hope for my pair, which still sit wrapped as they came from IH UK. Nearly an inch out of the waist would make mine about perfect. And as I’m a devout belt-wearer - even better.

I appreciate you sharing

@harleylawhorn nice score. I picked up a tag 34, and like you, the waist is an interesting one. How much shrinkage did you end up with in your pair?

Blazers and wool shirts?! Much excite

@Anesthetist And now you have me on a hunt for anything Iron Heart wool.

So maybe a return to the OG melton wool vest? A UHF vest would be pretty sweet.

@dirtyframer Holy hell! Those are amazing. WOW!!

It’s timely that this thread popped up again. After jumping back into bicycles earlier this year with an acquisition of a GasGas ECC 5 eMTB, my attention had turned towards a gravel bike - something I can pedal from the house, functions as a city bike or sorts, and gets me out on all the gravel that abound here in the west when I’m not a motorcycle.

I’ve been leaning towards a Specialized Diverge of some flavor, likely with a SRAM components set. I’m doing a bit of work with them this year, which is why they have me attention, but it begs the question - what should one look for in a gravel bike? I know, a wide-ranging question…

@kojimastreets said in Iron Heart Products - What do you think we should make?:

I’d love a western boot cut. Like IH’s take on Wrangler’s 13MWZ, even with the leather patch moved to the same spot on the high pocket. Would cop instantly, starch, and press a seam into those soooo quickly

Dude, YES!! I mentioned that in one of the 634 threads. That would be an absolute dream pair in any denim over 14 oz, preferably heavier; 18, 21, or 25.

Caution on the leather patch relocation. I know that Mister Freedom caught some hell from Wrangler’s parent company for doing something similar with one of their cuts that are very similar to the 13MWZ. In fact, one of Iron Heart’s stockists and collaborator had to photoshop out the patch on a particular pair of pants that they sold on their e-commerce site to avoid the same legal wrath. However, doing so after the fact is absolutely something that could be done. I’d most certainly do something like that.

On the subject of ideas… with autumn nearly upon us, I turn towards pieces that I can layer, of which I’m suspiciously light. In particular, vests in a fabric other than denim.

Fabrics that immediately come to mind:

• sashiko. I know Haraki-San isn’t big on the style or the quality, but I just picked up a pair of S’dA Kaise-dyed pants in a nearly neon indigo. That same fabric in a work, western, or casual vest would be super sharp
• UHF vest, something that can be layered over western denim chambray shirts
• Corduroy. This may be an outlier, but a lined cord vest could be a sweet cool weather piece, be it UHF material or wool
• wool. This doesn’t seem to be a fabric typical of Iron Heart, but maybe a collab with Dehen 1920: their amazing Pendleton wool knit and Iron Heart’s timeless design
• Canvas duck lined with wool or UHF

@Darth-fader Yes, very much agreed. I’m no fan of big social media, and made the choice to unplug from all of that, so I miss out on drops and such.

I suspect Mike drops product like that because it’s easier to announce on IG, and queue up his e-commerce system to drop at the same time, saving him the need to pull together an email, send it, etc.

Where I get hung up isn’t missing drops altogether, after all my only interaction with the brand is via email or in-shpp, it’s when your order is cancelled on check-out. I keep mentioning this but it burned me too much to forgive and forget, despite it seemingly such a small thing. I’ve often thought of selling all of my pieces out of spite. No other brand, of any kind, has me feeling that strongly.