Best posts made by Bobcat Sig

And for when things get serious

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

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 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.

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.

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.

I'm stoked to share another Grailed score and to join the Derroll Cool Kids Club. I picked these up recently... and there's a bit of a story.

These things are killer! Kind of a neat thing to have the same leather as my Guildsman (fka The Alex), only flipped inside out. The Grailed seller was a little wobbly when I pressed him on the sole construction. Nonetheless, we found a price where I could take a flyer because on an earlier trip to Wesco, I found a size I could (eventually) squeeze into of their 7500 Engineer. The seller claimed these were a Ship John Derroll boot. And by most markers, it is; the boot leather, the last, the toe shape, buckles, etc. But the soles were off. Mike at Ship John specs his boots with the Vibram V-bar full sole and heel stack pad. These suckers have a Sure-Grip half-sole and maintain the V-bar heel stack pad.

Deep in a rabbit hole - and a question I asked here - I toted them along when I picked up my reworked custom Engineers to ask the man himself at Wesco; Chris Warren. Turns out, these were likely a recraft. Someone bought a pair and had them resoled and either rebuilt or tweaked the uppers. If you look closely, you'll see different wear on the vamp (new) versus the shaft and straps (original).

It's a bit of a frankenboot, but importantly, I can get them on. There will be some break-in, especially with the left boot, but I remain committed!

Two other nuggets I learned: Chris confirmed that hot water in the boots is a-ok with their footwear. He went on to explain that with Wesco, the steel shank will support such heat, whereas a full veg-tan-constructed boot would be susceptible to accelerated collapse. The other is that people buying brand new boots will often send theirs in for a rebuild; be it a different sole, a buildup tweak, or most commonly, a full resize. I had no idea! Crazy.

I'll wear these and either have them reheeled with a Super Grip heel when the time comes or have them completely resoled with the VIbram V-bar.

Bonus nugget: Mike of Ship John specs his engineers with the full sole due to all the rain we enjoy here in the PNWet. With no sole leather exposed, the boots require less maintenance. Though Chris was quick to say that applying boot wax to the sole leather negates that breakdown. The more you know...

A sweet shirt, to be sure. I was logged in a bit after the shirt went live and saw available inventory. Then I saw the price. Yah... tough times for those of us in the US right now.

The upside is that many of you snagged a killer shirt, and that gives me a bit of happiness.

Atop the two-stroke, which is the preferred weapon for the technical and slick singletrack we enjoy in the PNWet.

... and forgive me for the multiple posts; I wasn't able to upload all the images in one post.

Let's see if I can get a few pictures posted here...

From last weekend on the big, overgrown dirt bike, in the wilds of central Oregon.

The 450, which gets a rally tower for racing rallies. Seen here in go-anywhere mode.

It's Flannel Friday (that's made out of selvage), and this shirt didn't get enough love. I'm sporting mine today as I hunker down inside, waiting out an atmospheric river. I snapped up this shirt because it has the colors of my alma mater; blue and gold/yellow. It's almost time for some College Football Saturday... let's go 'Cats!!

Update! And it's a good one.

I chronicled earlier that Wesco was going to rebuild the boots, of sorts. They offered to fit a stiffer heel piece between the leather and relast the upper to a 9 E sole, narrowing the boot and removing some excess leather. I picked them up yesterday. And man... Chris and crew at Wesco do an incredible job!

Not only do the boots fit like a firm handshake, but they have also been completely resoled, and they have even added a different heel stack. A proper heel cup is now present, and while things are a little tight over the instep, it should loosen. There's also a bit of heel slip, but the boot's lower and sole are nearly new, so they will need more break-in. I'm stoked!

I finally have the Mr Lous I always wanted, but could never fit into.

I had a wild ride yesterday on a bike I never thought I'd bother to consider. Man, was I wrong.

That thing is an absolute sled. And the handling breaks my brain. I kind of want it...

Really good stuff, fellas. Thank you.

I was up at Wesco yesterday, picking up another pair of boots that I chronicled in another thread, so I had a chance to take the problem to the source.

Turns out, it's two things. The most common - and my problem - was the footbed rubbing against the midsole. The remedy? Baby powder, just as @ZackB and @northsouthdenimguy mentioned. They gave me a new set of insoles that solved the problem just the same.

The other issue that Wesco mentioned is that the leather-stacked heels, which are nailed together, can work a part just a slight bit and squeak. They tend to work themselves out, or a re-heel can also fix it.

@Ross said in The Wesco squeak; is there a fix?:

@Bobcat-Sig In my experience i'd say you're probably right, this is normally caused by rubbing between the layers in the sole, many other brands do put an 'anti-squeak' layer in the midsole to combat this (normally something synthetic, but it varies) - Wesco doesn't, preferring a more traditional construction throughout:

However, what you gain in durability you loose in leather surfaces being layered together in a way that can cause friction and therefore a squeak. I'd say you've got two realistic options;

Send them back to Wesco with the best description of exactly where the squeak is located and when it occurs to see if they can rebuild the sole in a way to eliminate or mitigate it.

Alternatively you can try to power through it, if its a friction squeak it will eventually dissipate on its own as whatever two parts are rubbing wear themselves to a point that they settle with each other, although how long this may take is anybodies guess.

I also asked about this midsole squeak. The multiple layers of veg tan leather can cause squeaks, but Wesco employs the use of a steel shank, which prevents most squeaking in the midsole. Others, like Drew's, White's, NIck's, etc., use veg tan shanks.

Such are the quirks with the sweet, hand-built boots.

@northsouthdenimguy said in Ship John:

@Bobcat-Sig

The current make up is the only one I’m aware of, and it seems to me that Mike likes the full sole, maybe be better for riding?

@hgering27 said in Ship John:

@Bobcat-Sig I think, and I could be wrong, but I think that is basically the Iron Heart Germany Boss boot, I have that one and from what I understand its otherwise identical to the Derrolls

Fellas, thank you. I did go out and find the IH Germany boot, and it does come with a split-sole, using the V-bar, whereas Mike's Ship John Derroll is the full-length V-bar sole. Both seem to be a British Tan Domain rough out.

I've found a pair on the secondary market that seems to bear the construction of the IH Germany boot, but the split-sole is Dr Sole with a V-Bar heel. Seller claims Iron Heart. And they don't look to be resoled. Mainly, I'm trying to verify that they are a Ship John collab and that they are not a Mr Lou.

The stamp on the inside of the shaft looks to be a 2023 boot, so maybe, at some point, these were made with a Dr Sole split-sole.

This rabbit hole is deep!