Boots

Brothers of Briar

Help Support Brothers of Briar:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Bub

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 15, 2007
Messages
1,987
Reaction score
4
This is a lot of work
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kP-FgpkO0Do" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen ></iframe>
 
It is a lot of work, but it's work he can be proud of. He is very skilled and does a beautiful job of repairing boots. Nice video. 8)
 
Good as new
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aqtvqcg6Z8s" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen ></iframe>
 
Interesting video. Had me in stiches for a bit. Wonder if he likes working sole-o?
I'm here all week and don't forget to try the veal.
 
I love handmade footwear. A real appreciation and respect for what cobblers do. When I went away for school, before I'd made any new friends, a very friendly cobbler, whose little shack was the closest business to where I was living, while fixing a hole in my skateboard shoes, somewhat befriended me. A fascinating thing to me, but even as watching that video, I wondered how long until that craft becomes factory repetition and wanting to run your head into a wall. My goodness does that ever look tedious. Impressed he didn't have his fingers taped up to protect them from cuts when pulling the cord. That cobbler I mentioned had his hands taped up like he was wearing gloves.

I've never heard of this guy. Must only sell in-store customs? No website, which is why ask. I like that he seems to make a lot of monkey/roofer styled boots, with the lace going very forward and way down on the toe. I've always liked the looks of that style. Similar to these:

https://www.midwestboots.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=TH814-4233
 
He's a true one-man operation. I see he did a limited edition of 25 pairs. No prices anywhere. Have to email him. I understand that approach, but at the same time, I have to admit that is a hurdle.

Nick's handmade boots and shoes has a decent youtube channel. I've learned a lot about shoe making watching those. They go over different leathers, different soles, the different lasts they use, etc. Very informative videos.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvCF7zgsHhUlbqQ6MDHEgOA/videos

I forgot to link the reddit forum on handmade footwear:
https://www.reddit.com/r/goodyearwelt/
 
Boots can be expensive
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OdfxmfXWSBQ" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen ></iframe>
 
That pretty much addresses everything in life. Would most people spend, if they had the disposable income, $100K on a stereo system? Nope. I would in a heartbeat. I don't want a 10,000ft home or a yacht or a vacation home. I want an insane stereo system. That's a dream purchase for me. Or a $10K bicycle would be on my list (arbitrary $, because I don't have one in mind in particular). A $100 bicycle from Walmart is perfectly fine for most people. Pipes. Shoes. Fountain pen. Cars. Boats. Whatever.

If you see everything through a purely utilitarian lens, then NONE of this would make any sense to you. As he put it, if you can see the artistry, developed craftsmanship, philosophy, and whatnot behind the thing, then all those aspects are assigned a value of some sort.

Robert M. Pirsig addresses this, at least in part, in his book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Classical vs. Romantic.

Pirsig writes, “A classical understanding sees the world primarily as underlying form itself. A romantic understanding sees it primarily in terms of immediate appearance.”

Romantic thinkers are fueled by inspiration, intuition, creativity and imagination. They value the outer beauty or art and are led by their feelings. Classical thinkers value systems, laws and logic. To them, the inner workings of a thing is much more important than its surface appearance.

https://morethaneyecandy.nl/two-ways-of-looking-at-the-world-classic-vs-romantic-understanding/
 
Nick gets a good review...more reasons to buy a pair of boots
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mfk5VEovpIo" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen ></iframe>
 
I was glad to see Brian the Bootmaker show a tear down and resole of a pair of Corcoran 1500 jump boots. I have pairs of both the 1500 and 1525. Comfortable boots that I used to find for $40 in surplus stores. The 1525s were good winter boots in the upper Midwest. I'm a little less impressed with the 1500s. I've wondered what they looked like underneath. Nevertheless, for what they cost, I was impressed.
 
You waited too long for your cowboy boots
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g4GoafpPncw" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen ></iframe>
 
That's f'ing awesome. I haven't worn cowboy boots since I was maybe 4 or 5, but I appreciate that detailed work.
 
I have a pair of 30+ year old Vasque Sundowners. Purchased before my disdain for goretex in footwear. Uppers in great condition. Soles show their age. Until last year, never worn except for hiking and backpacking. Now for wet or muddy yard service. The sole came loose from the heel on the right boot. I knew it was going to eventually happen. They aren't stitched together. It was all glue. Grateful it didn't happen on the trail. Even though I was aware of the construction, once I was re-cementing them together, I got a much better idea of how they were made. The glue was perfectly applied. Not one spot of glue on either boot up into the leather. Always waterproof, so not a micrometer missed complete application. The longer I looked at the construction, the more baffled and impressed I was. I'd love to see a video of these boots being made. They were handmade. To be so precise with everything is nuts. I know my work will not result in them being waterproof. Of course, I tried to do a great job. I'm not unsatisfied with my work, but my money is on them now leaking. I hope I'm wrong.

Time to start shopping for a littleway or goodyear/Norwegian welted boot with no goretex. They're sort of like dinosaurs at this point. Everyone wants goretex and doesn't care if they can be resoled. If anyone has ideas, let me know. I'm aware of some models and makers, like Limmer and White's Centennial Hikers.
 
Top