I just got into quality boots last year l. This was my first time competing and I ended up not getting the second month photos posted in time. I found myself feeling relieved instead of upset for getting dropped from the contest. I only had one pair in but was beginning to resent having to where them every other day when I had other new boots that I’d rather wear and break in. I understand the contest and am glad they do it but I came to the realization that it’s not for me.
Thanks for the vid Phil. Was considering pulling the trigger on the oak street horse butt u just featured. Seeing it at 6 months makes me glad I didn’t pull the trigger. It’s a great boot but I woulda a wanted a bit more of a patina.
I love the way those brass boots in Essex look. I like the lug sole look way better than my wedge sole Brass boots, I’ll resolve them eventually and get that vibrant mini lug. I’ll bet they would darken into the zone you want with some mink oil, and also that would probably temporary over time if it was too dark.
I was considering maybe participating next year. I don't have many boots so I won't really feel that pain of walking past other great boots. By the time the Thunderdome started this past year I was still wearing docs and looking at stepping my game up. Now... I'm still wearing the same docs while I wait for my Nicks to be made lol. I did get some other boots, Redbacks and Lems, during that time and honestly the Lems could have been interesting to do had I gotten them when this started. They have gotten some nice patina and really darkened up when I hit them with mink oil, which I only did once because it did change the color quite a lot (as I wear them though some of the lighter shades are showing up where they crease which is neat). Anyway we'll see as the next one is still some time before the next one.
I have the same Oak street trench boot in the natural chromexcel with leather soles. I kept the laces long on them and can take my boots off without taking the laces out of the eyelets. I just have to wrap the laces around the boots before tying them, something I got use too and now like. I have really come to apprieciate the leather soles
Thunderdome patina was a very, very clever marketing ploy. Watching people buy things they normally would not buy, or excessive collections is nearly identical options.
Appreciate the video and the insights on the Thunder Dome contest Phil! I have never participated and i am looking forward to participating in the next one. I am enjoying the search of various manufacturers, leathers and boot styles to choose one for the next contest. Really appreciated your insights on how the contest became a bit overwhelming for you by the end of this current one. Good to know. Thanks!
If you don’t already own a bunch of boots I think the Dome is a excellent way to be a part of a great community of kind and thoughtful people. I suggest it if you need a new pair
@@AshlandLeather Thanks Phil, really appreciate the additional thoughts. I am new to the boot game. I just purchased two pairs of Grant Stone boots in March. I am hooked. But i am absolutely planning on participating. I will enjoy the two pairs i just bought for the next 6 months and then plan a Thunderdome purchase to wear for the contest.
I'm both a subscriber and a customer. I also subscribe to Stitchdown but have never participated in the Thunderdome Patina contests. I own too many pairs of heritage boots to justify participation by buying another pair just to play, with no chance of acknowledgement. My guess is you own a lot of treasured leather boots. I say enjoy wearing the ones you have and enjoy sitting out, but appreciating, the Thunderdome Patina competition.
bro we just want to see sweet patina. doesn't have to be a scientific experiment comparison between leathers. wear those shell cordovan vibergs - they look great. and show us the patina after.
I see a lot of horween dublin on your channel, but I would love a deeper dive into essex leather. It's seems quite rare for boots; more so than dublin. Great video, btw!
Love Essex. Dublin IS Essex but with a hard wax applied to the grain. We used to use Essex for our wallets (it's beautiful!) but it is extremely difficult to keep clean. Further, sunlight and even just the air will change the color of Essex. We had problems with our natural Essex turning pink. For that reason we moved away from it and substituted our light veg tan colored leather for Natural Horween Latigo. Essex is a beautiful leather and I was actually working at the tannery when the tannage was conceived. Skip Horween wanted to use the same tree barks that they use to tan shell cordovan but instead impart these tree barks into steer/bovine/cow hides. Essex was the result. Horween wrote a nice article about a decade ago www.horween.com/blog/2011/11/04/essex-and-dublin
I am so happy to have participated and am equally pleased to NOT have to wear the Indy’s every day any more. I’m looking forward to wearing my other beautiful boots and honestly after the halfway point it all started becoming a real chore. I need to talk to you soon about the 2030 Service Boots. Count me as extremely interested in the Vibergs and I’ll need your opinion on my next purchase. All in all I enjoyed the last 6 months and am lucky to have worn the Aldens. They are extremely comfortable and beautiful. Not sure yet if I’ll participate again next year.
I feel the same way. I get the competition, and I did the first one with my Tahura Boots in Maryam Olive horserump. It became tedious and also kind of just didn't fit my lifestyle and also wanting to wear new boots and old favorites etc.
I don't think i would ever do 2 pairs because of the rasons you outline here. I also didn't wear my boots everyday because i do have other pairs that i like to wear. All said and done I maybe wore my dome pair around 2/3 of the time. This gave me a chance to wear other pairs for variety and still get plenty of wear on my dome boots. I think that lots of people doing the dome wear their boots a little too much tbh. you can get great patina by just wearing 3 ish times a week and having fun with a rotation. Especially if you throw them on for more hardcore stuff like going for a hike or doing work outside.
My theory on the horse butt leather color. I think it has to do with what’s used to condition it. I’ve been using VSC and had the same results as you. I think the waxes are blocking out “stains”. I’m going to try pure lanolin next since it has given my veg wallet an awesome patina.
From 7:25 all I heard was, "Waaaaa‼️"😂 Seriously, maybe the process can allow for participants to have a "cheat day" where they wear whatever they want with the goal that boots getting evaluated maintain equal wear. Just a thought... Otherwise, great insights on both boots, and reaffirms my opinion of GS boots.
Wait, are you saying "speed"-hooks make tying/untying faster?? Must be the reason they're not called slow-hooks. ;) All jokes aside, great video of pretty boots.
I'm debating between the Saddle Tan and Essex. Do the Essex get as dark as the Saddle Tan? I kind of want the Saddle tan colour but for them not to darken.
