Shoes

he says ..'good year welting is this new fad' ..must be aimed at a different niche than a typical shoe person...for me these are the real moto boots or shoes .. https://www.motostyle.jp/collections/shoes ...they are artisanal offerings like those from rolling dub trio and are sold out most of the times ...though I know nothing about motor cycle boots ...
thats true .. motorcycling shoes have a different need and he needs to sell his non GY welt shoes :D
 
found a video where he is cutting open a shoe..

@chander checkout the Raida Vintago Riding Shoes. again with all the riding slide and stress armour and in a chelsea ( which i love) form. Again Not a GYW
 
Thanks @arj.

I am aware of trip machine and did have their boots for a couple years, then I gave those away. Not sure if their quality has improved, but even though they were OK for what they were charging for "MOTO BOOTS" their quality & overall experience of using that boot was Meh.

I have used a lot of motorcycle gear over 2 decades + of riding, and like everything else there is a lot of gear out there sold as "the gear", but turns out to be absolute cheap garbage. That includes some high end manufacturers too.

My current shoes include -
KLIM Outlander GTX - for weekend trips - where you need a single shoe for riding + a lot of walking and all your luggage is in a backpack - 5 years - though my batch had solid QC issues. In the US they have no questions asked return/repair policy, but in India it is tricky to get.
Gaerne G-Dakar - for long trips - specially reserved for Himalayas where you need solid waterproofing, a lot of torsional rigidity, stiffer sole for standing on the pegs etc etc - 4 years + exceptional boots, just impractical for almost everything off the bike.
TCX Hero - waterproof leather shoes - riding around town - 7 years - brilliant stuff, surprisingly waterproof, look good, feels brilliant. One shoe was left outside in the rain by mistake. So this is what needs replacement - I can always get the TCX Hero 2, but I want to try something different, but comparable.

I am looking for another pair of leather boots, that is - Ankle Length, full grain, reinforced around the heel & toe (not steel/composite, just extra leather), not waterproof (feet get too hot) - definitely GY/hand welted so changing the sole is always an option. They should also be able to take some beating and something I do not have to baby up. No point paying for something and then have to baby it up.
I have owned a number of bike specific boots and in my experience -
- Most shoes that are called "riding boots" aren't really meant to be ridden in. They are just tough looking shoes but will fall apart at first sign of trouble.
- If you really want bullet proof riding boots - there are MX & Enduro boots - but you really need to get used to them, they are stiff, hard to walk in, you can't really feel the controls of the bike. I tried and gave up - settled for something a little more comfortable and a lot more convenient - the Gaerne above.

I was very keen on the Craft & Glory - as they do have a full grain trekking, water resistant boot - that seem to have some of the features I am looking for. However, I was hoping I get some opinion from people who have tried these homegrown brands to vouch for their "abusability".

***this is just my opinion and what works for me - not what the standard is - not too ruffle any feathers.
 
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Thanks @arj.

I am aware of trip machine and did have their boots for a couple years, then I gave those away. Not sure if their quality has improved, but even though they were OK for what they were charging for "MOTO BOOTS" their quality & overall experience of using that boot was Meh.

I have used a lot of motorcycle gear over 2 decades + of riding, and like everything else there is a lot of gear out there sold as "the gear", but turns out to be absolute cheap garbage. That includes some high end manufacturers too.

My current shoes include -
KLIM Outlander GTX - for weekend trips - where you need a single shoe for riding + a lot of walking and all your luggage is in a backpack - 5 years - though my batch had solid QC issues. In the US they have no questions asked return/repair policy, but in India it is tricky to get.
Gaerne G-Dakar - for long trips - specially reserved for Himalayas where you need solid waterproofing, a lot of torsional rigidity, stiffer sole for standing on the pegs etc etc - 4 years + exceptional boots, just impractical for almost everything off the bike.
TCX Hero - waterproof leather shoes - riding around town - 7 years - brilliant stuff, surprisingly waterproof, look good, feels brilliant. One shoe was left outside in the rain by mistake. So this is what needs replacement - I can always get the TCX Hero 2, but I want to try something different, but comparable.

I am looking for another pair of leather boots, that is - Ankle Length, full grain, reinforced around the heel & toe (not steel/composite, just extra leather), not waterproof (feet get too hot) - definitely GY/hand welted so changing the sole is always an option. They should also be able to take some beating and something I do not have to baby up. No point paying for something and then have to baby it up.
I have owned a number of bike specific boots and in my experience -
- Most shoes that are called "riding boots" aren't really meant to be ridden in. They are just tough looking shoes but will fall apart at first sign of trouble.
- If you really want bullet proof riding boots - there are MX & Enduro boots - but you really need to get used to them, they are stiff, hard to walk in, you can't really feel the controls of the bike. I tried and gave up - settled for something a little more comfortable and a lot more convenient - the Gaerne above.

I was very keen on the Craft & Glory - as they do have a full grain trekking, water resistant boot - that seem to have some of the features I am looking for. However, I was hoping I get some opinion from people who have tried these homegrown brands to vouch for their "abusability".

***this is just my opinion and what works for me - not what the standard is - not too ruffle any feathers.
Really impressive and I was embarrassingly was trying to talk to a fish on swimming !

Why dont you speak to Blackbird shoes and get a custom one made since they do have a custom biker option . maybe oyu can speak to the C&G guys on customising as well ?

Their grizzly green trailmaster looks so good
 
Blackbird shoes and get a custom one made since they do have a custom biker option
I couldn't find that - that sounds good!

C&G - yes their himalayan series does sound promising - I was hoping they do not turn out to be another "promising but not delivering" brand.

Really impressive and I was embarrassingly was trying to talk to a fish on swimming !

Not at all - I am far from being the "fish". I am that obese uncle with the opinion on the best Chola Bhatura in the neighbourhood - having compulsively eaten them from every shop in the city for decades.

With like everything else "gear" - what works for one doesn't work for everyone - and my preferences are based heavily due to my biases and preferences.
 
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Had acquired these Carmina Shell Cordovan Boots in their Soller Last earlier this year , a more true to size forgiving last than Simpson ..

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I couldn't find that - that sounds good!

Checkout the Harley Round Biker
 
There is a comparison here for BlkBrd vs Craft & Glory.

For those of you who have experience with BlkBrd - do you agree with the guy's assessment? I am just wondering as that will give me an idea on what to expect/how many grains of salt to account for?

Thanks!
 
There is a comparison here for BlkBrd vs Craft & Glory.

For those of you who have experience with BlkBrd - do you agree with the guy's assessment? I am just wondering as that will give me an idea on what to expect/how many grains of salt to account for?

Thanks!

Hi Chander,

I have two pairs of BlkBrd boots, which have been my daily drivers to work for the past few years . They have helped me survive any challenge that namma urban jungle has thrown at me - downpour while in traffic on a scooty, trampling by fellow riders, floods, overflowing drains, mud, gravel, garbage, broken glass pieces, construction debris, ... They are resilient and are showing no signs of wear.

CG 002.jpeg

I came across Craft & Glory while searching for locally made welted boots. What makes them stand out is that they have a large portfolio of leather goods like belts, wallets, backpacks, watch straps, jackets, etc in addition to footwear. A few months ago, when it was time to replace my aging wallet, I bought a belt & wallet combo from them.

CG 001.jpeg

The fit and finish is good. I received an invite to join their WhatsApp community. The group is pretty active with 100+ messages a day. So, I had to mute the group. What I like is their offer of the day (20%) on a specific product, exclusively for the community. They also run a sale every 6 months or so - usually in the months of June and in December where they give up to 30% off on orders > 10k.

The BlkBrd boots are great for everything except long drives. I think it would be true for most rugged boots in general. Now I am on the lookout for a pair of welted shoes for travel, especially if I am driving. A pair that can be dressed down. Pull-up uppers would be the choice as they are low maintenance. Among others, I have shortlisted these and am waiting for them to go on sale.

From what I have understood, C&G sources all raw materials locally. Their staple leathers are available year round in three colorways - black, brown and tan. Basically, all their products are available in these three colors. I am not aware of the source of their leathers. They just mention that they source from a gold certified tannery. They also have their own branded leather care products.

C&G would be worth considering for someone who would like to venture into the world of full grain leather and welted footwear without breaking the bank. Occasionally they do limited run of special and imported leather, but at jacked up prices. At those prices, I would prefer BlkBrd.
 
Wharfedale Linton Heritage Speakers in Red Mahogany finish at a Special Offer Price. BUY now before the price increase.
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