I asked for a true engineer work boot. I got more than expected.

Lighter commercial excavation work. Apartments and smaller projects.

Initially worried about the lighter 3.5 oz elephant with a 3 oz liner. Used to having a pure 6 to 9 oz leathers. Soft and pliable. No break in necessary. Exceeded my expectations. Only negative is that it doesn't behave like horse or bovine leather. It doesn't scratch,scuff,mare, or change color. Worked a few weeks on my knees on rough concrete. After a few days I new i didn't have to worry about the toes. Not a single mark. More armor than standard leather. Dirt and mud just cleaned right off. Toward the end of the contest the leather would discolor when drenched.

Adam(open road) got my fit dialed in. Being my 3rd pair with him. I've struggled with pull ons and he's helped my understanding. Heal cups my ankle to delete heal slip. Even my brother had tried them on. He is really surprised of the certain point of contact to help hold the foot. He's a smaller size than I. Comfortable from day one. Great arch.

He has exceeded my expectations. I truly appreciate all the back and forth. Progress pics have been a huge plus. I've noticed that I've never had a issue common with other PNW pairs. Very little heal shrinkage. No sole to leather seperations. Usually happens in constant wet conditions. He doesn't wet cement any process. He let's everything dry to glue together in soling process.

We threw around a lot of ideas. From discontinued green vibram v bars and other vibram soles. To dr soles. Also even entertained actual small vehicle tire treads. Prefer half sole look. So he came to with cutting a 100 lug sole to half.

Couple months in Adam and I had a funny conversation. I asked for the toughest work leather for this build. Bores hide was the frontrunner. Till he came across a couple elephant hides. But at this specific call. He was confused of my stating that these are too good. They don't mark ro scratch. Doesn't seem to take water or darken. May have not been the best choice for a patina contest entry. He stated he built the work boot first. Not a patina contest boot. All 3 of my boots are 4811 last. Forst 2 had celastic. Wanted a flat toe appearance. He promised he would build this pair to flatten out the way I wanted. So it did. Adam has been a great to throw ideas with. Open to any idea. Multiple ideas are still in discussion. Great guy. Side note. He has always quoted me less than what I've paid. Keep.telling him he needs to up his prices.