Pachinko_ wrote:I always struggled to find quality footwear, nothing lasts very long on my feet. Probably because I'm tall and heavy and I walk a lot and I've twisted my ankle like a thousand times playing basketball and it's permanently swollen, I don't know.
One day last year I was visiting a friend in a small town and my eye caught a sign "Chromexcel", that's easily the best boot leather in the world in my opinion. That was enough to get me through the door, and from there I was sold. One man operation housed in an old shop, beautiful smell of leather, old boot making machines. I had no idea how boots are made but the guy walked me through everything, I picked chromexcel exterior, kangaroo interior, layers and layers of veg tan for the soles, Daynite outsoles and a custom design based on an old Czech army boot with goodyear welts.
Then he took a bunch of measurements and found a hardwood last that roughly matched my foot and started gluing strips of thin leather on it until he was confident he had the shape and size just right. Days later I went by for a fitting and he had made one boot out of cheaper leather, with soles, laces and everything, just for me to try it on and then he was gonna throw it away. I was blown away that this is what he had to do to make a pair of boots, I actually kept it as a souvenir:
And then one day finally my boots were ready:
Was it cheap? God no. Nothing cheap or fast about the whole thing. I still cringe a bit thinking how much I paid, but I'm not regretting it. I know how chromexcel ages and I absolutely love it, and I know how these boots are made and I have no doubt they will last a lifetime, just change soles and laces every few years.
You can find boots made like that, Nicks Boots comes to mind, but man, it's a different experience wearing something that is exactly cut to your foot... easily the most comfortable footwear I've ever owned. If you can swing it I highly recommend finding a local boot maker in your area and having a pair made, do it once in your lifetime. Great experience, great product, keep the craft alive.
Shout out to James Roberts of Reboot Supply in Kyneton, Victoria, Australia.
. Moved from WI to East Austin about 3.5 years ago. It's a good area, tons of stuff within walking distance. Easy to hop on a bike/scooter if you venture a little further. If you want some recs:
