@daizawaguy:

Some heels modified by Brass Tokyo

http://www.brass-tokyo.com

Great job. These are looking pretty close to perfect, IMO…

...actually, wait... I love everything about these.

-bornheim

@madmonday:

Great boot bornheim. Those waxed laces came with the boots?

Yep… standard laces that come on the 1000 Mile Boots.

-bornheim.

I posted these on the Wolverine thread… but thought I'd throw em up here, too...!

These came back from the boot maker a bit earlier than expected. I just wasn't getting along with the rubber fore-sole on the rough out 1K boots.
This is what they looked like to begin with:

I had an additional rubber protective sole applied over the existing rubber to beef it up a bit… but I still wasn't happy. Then I went looking for and managed to source a range of different sole options including a cats paw-like "Dr. Sole Original" cord composite rubber sole, but these things are super heavy… and well, you know... sometimes the idea of a boot is more comfortable than the actual boot on your foot--like lugging a slab of concrete around strapped to your foot.

In the end I decided I have so many heavy duty boots, and with summer coming, I'd go for a lighter option... so the Vibram.

I'm pretty happy with how these turned out... kind of the way that should be, I think. 

Cheers,
-bornheim

So these came back from the boot maker today, a bit earlier than expected. As per my previous post (above) I just wasn't getting along with the half rubber fore-sole on the rough out 1K boots.

I had an additional rubber protective sole applied over the existing rubber to beef it up a bit… but I still wasn't happy. Then I went looking for and managed to source a range of different sole options including a cats paw-like "Dr. Sole Original" composite rubber sole, but they were super heavy. In the end I decided I have so many heavy duty boots, and with summer coming, I'd go for a lighter option... so the Vibram.

I'm pretty happy with how these turned out... kind of the way that should be, I think. 

Cheers,
-bornheim

You can also make your own laces. That's what I did.

I tracked down an ebay seller who sells waxed cotton lace by the metre. He usually adds a metal tip for the length you want. The metal tips are crap so order them untipped, or remove the metal tip. Then buy yourself some heat shrink tubing, a tea light candle, and make your own lace-end tips. And that's it.

That's what I did on these boots. OK these tips are a little long, but you can do them any length you want and/or change them any time:

-bornheim

@Andreas1965:

The Nordstrom customer service was top notch, as always. I shop at Nordstrom since 1990 or longer, never an issue with them.

That's good news, and I'm pleased to hear that you got a good resolution. Of course, the way that Nordstrom responded to the problem is exactly that way that Wolverine should have! Shame on them for not dealing with it.

I have to say, I've had three pairs of 1K boots and they've all been good. Well made and I like the cut on them… but I have been lucky too, and at the price which Wolverine are pitching these boots there is no excuse for not standing behind them and dealing with the occasional problem.

However, as much as I like the 1K boot... they're not a ca. 300-400 euro boot... not in any language, currency or place. They're a US$250-280 boot, which means... EUR 180-200.

-bornheim.

^^
Good answer.

You're right of course about the small local boot makers, and that goes for most styles, also.

I was having a chat with Jamie (EastWest) a while ago and touched on this issue in relation to cowboy/riding boots. When I was growing up (yep, in the countryside with horses and cows) the cowboy boots my dad wore, and a couple of my own pairs, were made by a small boot maker in the area. No one, at all, wore branded boots like Justin or Tony Lama. And, there weren't sizes for riding boots! Every pair was made to fit the individual because it was more or less understood that a riding boot (i.e. no laces and required to fit with your foot in a stirrup) had to be a very precise fit. It was only more recently and with the popularity of rodeo's and western "culture" not directly linked to working cowboys that mass produced riding boots became popular (a bit like work boots today). Back then, most guys would have expected their riding boots to last a good 20 years. But then again, like me, guys who ride horses don't like walking… 

-bornheim

@irishexpat:

I still like the Chippewas, and when it comes time to buy some engineers I will likely go chippewa.

Yeah… I was thinking some Chippewa Engineers and then pimp them out with a new sole. By the way, didn't Chippewa produce the first Engineer boot... or do I have that wrong?

-bornheim

@Andreas1965:

Hmm… really sorry to hear about this. I'm based on Germany too, so I really feel your pain in terms of the relative dollar value at stake here. But that aside... there's no excuse for crap customer service.

By the way... I though I should mention that your "cheaper option" being RW is not a cheaper option in Germany. Ridiculous prices...!

If I were you (apart from harassing and shaming Wolverine) I'd try to locate some better quality hooks yourself and get a boot maker to repair your 1K boots. Is the problem hooks and eyelets...?

I currently have my rough out 1K boots at the boot maker. I paid full euro price for them... but I just couldn't get along with the rubber half sole. I decided I had so much damn cash in the boots already that I might as well just plow some more in until I get something I'm happy with. I sourced 4 new sole options myself and took them all to the bootmaker. I'll post some pics mid next week went they come back...

-bornheim

Just noticed that these boots are reduced on the J Crew website. OK, they're only US$20 off. Note, that includes US domestic delivery but excludes tax.

PS. Don't want to plug another site… so I hope its OK to mention that here on the forum. I'm happy to delete this if its not appropriate.

-bornheim