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.

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.

@Darth-fader At the risk of bringing some bad vibes to this thread, I feel you on missing a drop and being bummed out. I like Mike, what he's built, and the fact that he's local to me. Heck, I've ridden dirt bikes with the guy and built trail together. But I'd be lying if I wasn't frustrated at how it works. I've missed on more products of his than I've acquired, actually.

I just don't know if there's a way to make it work to make everyone happy. He's said as much. I even had this first Sashiko shirt cancelled on me while my credit card was processing. It was already purchased! It still bothers me so much that it's turned me off the brand for a while.

@cyclops said in IH-888S-UHR - 21/23oz Ultra Heavy Raw Selvedge Denim High Rise Tapered Cut Jeans:

Yeah i agree with Goosehd here. But only you can judge with the facts/info in front of you. Have a think and go with your gut so to speak. Think about the pros and cons, and whether the risk is worth the reward

What was your measurements of your old comfy 888XHS? How far apart is it to 34.7inches? And then weigh up what others have measured in terms of shrinkage of the waist and just do a bit of maths to see if its too much etc....

I just got my spare size 33 out of storage. It has shrunk down to 33inches after two washes (measured the IH way) from 33.8inches....

My current 888-XHS measure out to just over 34 inches. That's over a half-inch difference, which didn't seem to be a lot on paper, but when tried on, it seems to be a lot. I think the issue is that while these jeans will shrink, the waist will stretch right back out to something that's probably too big. I was hoping (and ignoring the fabric physics of cotton) that wais shrinkage would be permanent.

On your 888 pair, did the shrunken waist measurement of 33 inches remain, even after wearing?

@VegaS10 said in IH-888S-UHR - 21/23oz Ultra Heavy Raw Selvedge Denim High Rise Tapered Cut Jeans:

They should fit properly brand new.

When soaked/washed, they will shrink roughly 1 inch in the waist. With wear, they will stretch out to their "brand new" measurement. They will not stretch past their pre-shrink measurement.

When I ordered my UHFs, I ordered my usual 888 size. When recieved, the waist fit just like all my other pairs. When they shrunk, I had to really struggle to get the upper buttons fastened. After about an hour or so of wear/walking, they were back to their pre-shrink fit and were very comfortable.

If your brand new/dry/not soaked pair is too big now, they will be too big later.

Fair. I was hoping that somehow, the waist shrinkage would be permanent, like the other measurements of the jean. What I'm reading there is that isn't the case.

@cyclops

Thanks for the reminder. I read and re-read this thread while I waited for my pair.

What I learned from that was an inch in the waist (maybe more?) shrink is expected, which would snug these up where I like them. But what I’m also seeing is that the waist will stretch back out to pre-shrink measurement, which I don’t want. Has that been your experience with your pair? Did the waist stretch back out after initial shrink?

These showed up earlier this week. Stoked!

Based on the date stamp, they’ve been sitting on the shelf for two years, but I suspect in short order that they’ll soften up. It was apparent that the break-in will be short. And it will be an investing experience with the burly sole and relatively soft leather uppers.

I look to darkening these things up with some wear.