A cowboy, a sunset, a muscle car, an engineer boot.

I wore these nearly every day for five months straight, however, I work quite a bit from home so he’s probably got less aware than some others in the competition. However, they’re transformation was dramatic. Notable wear include includes bringing them along with me in a few professional kitchens, where I was cooking for large events, and hiking for a few days in the dense and wet Olympic forest. Something else notable, during that hike part of the trail was flooded and I had to Wade an ankle deep lake water for about 100 yards. It’s good to know these boots are completely watertight.

This Maryam natural horse hide has been very interesting. It was almost white when I received it, very little grain and quite pliable. As it’s aged, it picks up every scratch and spill gracefully, adding depth and dimension to the patina on the boot as it dramatically tans from sun exposure this particular hide did not hold rolls at the vamp almost at all while the toe collapsed dramatically. The straps stretched out quite a lot the ones at the calf curling, and the step straps drooping so much they dragged on the ground I will have to have them replaced. This hide has aged and reacted differently to any other horsehide I have had and I think it’s specific to this batch Mariam put out and not typical for their horse hide because I’ve handled many others that were not like this. The aging has been stunning and I don’t know if I’ve ever had boots that get more compliments than this minimum three or four a day when I wear them out.

These boots fit well upon receiving, but this particular hide was very stretchy and they have since become loose with wear

Brian‘s finesse and mastery of design, particularly in this 1940 last engineer boot, are undeniable, and its influence on modern heritage boot, making silhouettes cannot be overstated. The intention in his designs is unmistakable and undeniable, from the rounded toebox designed to collapse a very specific way over the week to mini a vintage Chippewa engine he worked on at the start of his career, to design Easter eggs like the M on the back stay that is an homage to his mother’s name are the tiny gems we enthusiasts clamor for. But they are more than just Easter eggs and fun stories, they are storytelling turned into timeless design.

Brian‘s full woodsman heel provides perfect balance to a tall and top heavy silhouette and is the best in the game.

Role Club’s proprietary, half souls, with their wings and arms hoisted holding boot, making tools are the coolest design I have seen on any soul. The natural color way is a perfect compliment as my natural leather ages and darkens. Good traction and comfort in a long lasting durability.

Brian's 1940 last engineers are legendary for a reason and their robust toe box and confident stance upon receiving has transformed and collapsed into a weathered form I can only try to capture in words as the representation of the American rebel. Slouching Marlon Brando on a motorcycle in his leather jacket, James Dean leaning against the wall with a lit cigarette, a lone cowboy walking into the sunset. These are the feelings and images this worn-in silhouette evokes. Deeper than nostalgia. A timeless vintage sentiment and feeling central to Americas cultural identity, sometimes better but often worse in practice, always poetic in memory and cinema, you can feel its lonely aching echo in these boots.