I’ve worn these boots almost exclusively and almost every day. I wanted to wear them as if they were my only pair which means do all task while wearing them but also take good care of them This included a lot of rainy bike commutes (because Denmark…) to the office but also when doing smaller tasks around the house and garden. I like that the leather is easy to clean and easy to give a gentle shine. There’s been a few situations in which they got very wet or once completely soaked in mud but were always easy to clean up again. The right boot has suffered more because my bike has studded tires in winter and when in a rush they got scratched. I’ve also spent 10 days in our cabin in the middle of the woods in Norway over New Year’s in very cold (-25°C/-13°F) conditions and hip-deep snow. That was not planned as I was sure I had some Red Wing ice cutters stored there which was incorrect. Soles performed terribly in the snow as they became very hard and offered zero grip and provided virtually no insulation. Next year I’ll choose some mini lug soles as a minimum.
Absolutely excellent. As the fit was fairly good from the beginning I was able to wear them for full days straight away. They leather was very firm and had become much softer but I’m sure they will only be truly broken in after another 6 months due to the double layer toebox. Care: They were brushed about every two weeks and I treated them with Saphir’s clear shoe cream monthly but while in Norway I was desperate and treated them thoroughly with snow seal as they got wet in the snow). The leather has darkened substantially and it takes only a gently brush to bring back the shine and depth. There’s very collapse of the toe box as it’s two layers of 2.5mm upper leather (vamp over quarters) that are glued together.
Overall the fit when new was better than any new pair of boots/shoes I’ve ever bought. The toebox is spacious enough but I will increase the arch support for the last’s next iteration. The heel had a pressure point that has since gone. I’ve never had discomfort or even blisters. I like wearing them with good wool socks. First time Ive tried kiltiesand I feel they have added some comfort to the instep.
Overall I’m quite happy how they turned out but There’s many things I will improve on next time. There’s an instagram post in which I shared what could have been done better. Speedhooks: we’re not set well and I damaged the upper on the first speedhook and ultimately lost that speedhook. The eyelets were also set a little too hard. One of the boots is slightly taller because I made a mistake while clicking and did not notice. The stitching of the outsole is a bit too close to the edge. The rows of the upper stitching could be tighter together
Looks great but not a great choice in cold, wet, icy or snowy conditions. Becomes hard in cold temperatures and offers very little insulation towards the ground. They also offer minimal cushioning. Durability seems great (but soles usually last me a long time as I am careful not to drag my heels. )
This was really fun and I’m thankful for the incredible helpful shoemaking community online.