Posts made by Bobcat Sig

@NickD said in John Lofgren (Speedway):

@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 said in John Lofgren (Speedway):

@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.

That's great, fellas. I appreciate you chiming in. I do find the JL engineer quite handsome. Based on availability and looks, it seems to be a coin flip between the JL and The Flat Head. Both look similar and are rumored to come out of the same bootmaker shop.

@Brandrea Oh man! ok. I'm 6' 185 and was eyeballing the L or M. Good to know, thanks!

@Mizmazzle no worries. I appreciate you coming in and sharing your data.

All these cool and unique fabrics certainly make things more interesting, even if it can be a lot to keep straight.

@Brandrea Where did you end up on size when compared to other IH shirts? Seems like they are properly roomy.

Also, I dig the color!

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.

@northsouthdenimguy All good! I'm excited to see if my flyer pays off. We'll know soon.

@Mizmazzle I was hoping you wouldn't say that.
I almost always wash these shirts in cold water, gentle cycle, no spin, and line dry. Is shrinkage expected, even with that level of care?

The shirt arrived yesterday. My first purchase with Iron Shop Provisions, and they were great. I sized down, looking at the measurements, and it seems to fit well... save for the pits. I usually focus on the chest/pit-ot-pit measurement, as that usually ensures I have enough around the body there to make it work, and while this particular shirt measures out well there, the shoulder measurement is a little shorter than normal when looking at other shirts.

I know fit can be a personal preference and that measurements don't always tell the story. How much tightness, if at all, do you tolerate? Or is it a sign of pit tightness that the shirt is sized incorrectly?

@Stringthing75 What a score! Congrats.

We may have similar body types. Me from a lifetime of skiing, hiking, and riding sportbikes. So like you, I've struggled to find cuts that accommodate muscular thighs and still have room for proper glutes. For Iron Heart, this means the 888 and the 634, and the 633 from Self Edge. I get a similar drape in the front like you do, with much of it due to both the stiff and thick nature of the fabric and due to the extra burly construction of the button fly. Even my heavy Naked & Famous Weird Guy jeans do this. Seems par for the course.

And like you, I also overthink these things. A lot. The pictures you posted look good. Keep wearing 'em in. The advice here has been great.

Sorry to hear about the tragedy. And glad to hear that you used it to lose some weight.

@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?

@kojimastreets Double blue double western. I like it. Nice, man. The Kersey, with its soft hand and easy drap certainly lends itself to a great layer. That's a great idea.

@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.

@Mizmazzle Sweet, thanks. I would've guessed JL, but that Badalassi leather looks much different than the product shots. Looks better in person and after some wear.

@northsouthdenimguy I love such chicanery, even with boots.

Turns out the boots in question were/are a Ship John Derroll. They’re stamped with a ‘23 year code, so maybe Mike had them with a Dr Sole before moving to the current V-Bar. I’ll confirm with Chris at Wesco when I pick up my reworked horsehide engineers in a few weeks.

The pictured Derrolls show up next week. I’m stoked. I’ll post when they land.

@Mizmazzle those look great! Boot and leather ID?

@Mlwdp Good to know, thank you. I figured the toe cap adds a bit, but I intend these in a similar manner, and to wear to and from riding dirt bikes.

I’m thinking black rough-out. Which leather did you go with? And how is it holding up?

@hgering27 yah, that's what has me a bit confused. While the boots in question are the right size, I'm concerned that they are on the Mr Lou last, making it a difficult proposition to acquire, not knowing if they are the 7500 or not. I'll keep digging.

@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!

@SKT said in Help me find an engineer boot:

@Bobcat-Sig sounds like a good information gathering trip. I’ve been very curious about the Romeo and have thought many times about putting in for a custom build. How did they fit compared to the tall boots you tried on? Same ballpark?

Great question. And the short of it is, sort of.

Chris shared the story of me that they wanted to produce a tough slip-on shoe or slipper for the loggers wearing the corked boots, or for those wanting something easy to get on and off. Apparently, they sell tons of them in Japan.

Expect a firm handshake around the mid and forefoot with some wiggle room in the toes. If you have a high instep and PTSD from boots over the years giving you hell in that area, that won't be a problem in that area of the shoe, mercifully. To put some detail to it, I size out to a 9.5 E in the Hendrik and Johannes boots, and the same in the Boss engineer boots, including the 7500. I'm probably the same in a Mr Lou, but that's an all-around super tight boot on me, to the point of being too painful to wear.

When new, the Romeo does take more effort to get into than you'd think, given the gore stretch panels and low nature of the shoe. But I'm sure that loosens up over time, where you'll be able to step right into it. The best part is no pressure at all over the instep.