Hey, thanks so much for the review. Watching a review of my product is always a little challenging. Lol, I’m human. Anyway, I’d like to address the price point. I totally understand how some people would think they're too much. I think what some people don’t consider is how our boots are made. They're not made like any other boot brand. In every interview or podcast I’ve done, I’m confident at one point, you’ll hear me say, “You’re paying for the product, not my name.” I don’t think a name is worth much. All our footwear is 100% built in Japan. This means we don’t have our uppers sewn in places like China, then attach the soles in Japan and call it “made in Japan.” Also, we’re using products like Horween and Vibram that are made in the USA. We pay a premium price for the highest-grade Horween and American-made Vibram soles and heels. Most Vibram products are made in China. We don’t use that. We’re also shipping everything from the USA (or England, France, Germany and Italy) to Japan, which is expensive. We're paying import duties too. A lot of our hardware is also made in the USA. Our shanks were made in Germany, but now they’re made in Japan. Our buckles are also made in Japan. We make our laces too. We make our boxes. We make our shoe bags. We even make the drawstrings that are used in our shoe bags. All of that is made in Japan. Our loomed labels, also made in Japan. Name another brand that does all of that. I don't think there is one. So when I say you’re paying for the product and not my name, I really mean it. From the start, I wanted John Lofgren Bootmaker to be different, thoughtful, and ethically made, where everyone involved, even the people making the parts you don't see, like the shanks, to be paid fairly. What we do is expensive and not easy, but we think it's worth doing. We've had continuous growth every year since we started, so I am happy to report that what we're doing resonates with some like-minded people.
would you ever consider using a higher SPI on your welts and doing a good year welt similar to what viberg does with the machine channeled good year welt on their Goodyear welted shoes? I have the black engineer boot and love it, just fyi.
Japan is a high-wage country, you know, okay. If he says you don't pay for the brand or the name, but for the product, then he's lying. It's a beautiful boot, no question, and the other boots in his collection are also beautiful. But whether everything made in Japan and ethically flawless etc. justifies the price??? Just ask John Lofgren what he and his production workshop get out of every boot sold? I would be much more interested in that...
@@Bar_fly Why would you write "then he´s lying" but at the same time you don´t seem knowledgeable as to whether made in Japan and ethically flawless justifies a certain price or about the benefit JL are making out of their boots? I don´t know it either, but I wouldn´t call out someone a liar without actual proof. Plus, would you expect JL to make less profit because of their claims on "Made in Japan"? If it ethically produced, they should also minimize their benefits? I honestly don´t understand your point. Knowing where and under which conditions a product is crafted is rare in our globalized world, which is important to some people (myself included). Paired with some impeccable boots that are by far the most comfy shoes I own, this is for me arguments for the price point.
Very nice boot, I really like it. I'm with you, the cost is not justified, however. I think the extra premium is the cost of putting the "John Lofgren" label on them. Thanks for the well done review and well thought advice.
Got my first pair of Lofgren’s on a BF sale, so I paid a bit under 800 for them vs. just under 1K. I have several brands of boots, and while these are nice and well made, they pale in comparison to Viberg, and a host of other USA made boots of same build and material quality that cost considerably less. If you can get over ‘made in China’, Grant Stones are excellent boots that would cost twice the price if produced in the US. I do like the Lofgren’s I picked up, and their sizing is similar to Viberg, but I am undecided on keeping them or not. I also have Nick’s, Alden, Viberg, Grant Stone, and Oak Street Bootmakers.
Personally, I think Oak Street Bootmakers on their 30% discount is where I draw my line for boots even if brands like Vibergs are considered the gold standard by more. I quite like my trench boots and the elston last has always been comfortable for me. However there is a case where I'm also seeing salarymen in the Japanese market spend upwards of 2000 dollars on leather shoes/boots. It just seems like the Japanese market do command such a premium even if they don't move as many units.
Beautiful boot. Not sure I'd pay $1K for em though. Can get a similar makeup from different brands for 1/3rd-1/2 the price...that's not to say the other makeups are as nice (only that I'm willing to deal with somewhat lower quality for the price savings).
i really like these alot.. but im not paying $1k for a boot unless its Cordovan.. or a PNW boot that's spec'd out like a tank in a MTO order.., BUT.., I will say,, these are gorgeous.. very very nice shape.. and the counter/heel stay design is really catching.. great last.. toe box., slim waist.. narrow heel.. its damn near perfect and I really like that olive color.. im dyin' to get blue and/or green boots soon.., JL's comment on this video was neat,, but clearly they're not getting the best Horween hides if you have that much loose grain break on the one boot and not the other.. i could see if they both wore evenly from long-time usage.. the other interesting point, is how he said so much of the material is from America.., at that point.., why not just buy American boots.. ppl that pay a premium for US materials,, are probably just gonna want US boots in general then.., (not to argue here.. just casually debate) I really like them regardless.., if they were priced like a Truman.., I'd have already bought a pair
@aChannelAboutBoots I just bought some Julian's Bowery Boots in whiskey Horwren cordovan for 900.,, new to my delight., have you ever heard any rumors of JL 'stealing' the design..? Btw, just filmed a video of the same Stone Rambler MPs you have. Gave your channel a mention of course
@@toneohm That’s awesome. I have a Bowery in color 8 shell. They’re a cool boot. I haven’t heard about any design stealing. Most modern boot patterns are usually just based off of different historical ones so it’s easy for a lot of boots to look similar. I think the Bowery looks a lot different than the lofgrens for what it’s worth. Congrats on the new MPs. They’re a sweet boot.
Good afternoon. Please, could you tell me, the creases at 11:00 - is this normal? I have similar boots from a local manufacturer. They have such creases. Apparently, this is the norm, since your expensive boots have this.
Not usually normal. Usually you’ll see that type of creasing as manufacturers cut the leather from less desirable sections of a hide. Usually closer to the belly. They do this to increase yields. It seems that leathers with higher oil content also may be a little more prone to it.
@@joeybaldarelli6620 yes they are. There are so many boots that are built better or similarly that aren’t that expensive. Some cxl and vibram 700s aren’t worth $800. Grant stone chukkas destroy JL, Bordon Columbia are basically nicks boots for $400 with better finishing. Caswells are made incredibly well for $350. These are all brands built basically the same or better then JL.
These are good boots, but nothing more. It is in this pair that I observe a low-quality, loose piece of leather on the vamp and on the boot top...The CXL lottery was invented by cunning and dishonest marketers. avoiding low-quality pieces of hide is one of the main signs of shoemaker skill.
The toe box is roomy for me at a full size down from brannock. This last has generally more room for the toes than the usual fashion boot. That’s as much as I can tell you. I’m sorry, but I have no idea how wide your toes splay or if it would work for you. Wish I could be of more help than that.
Do you think it’s wider than viberg 2045? I have a 2040 unstructured and it’s honestly too narrow for me i have to sell. Dont want to run into same problem with these
@@adinghosh917 The 2045 toe box feels wider than the Lofgrens at the same size (11E). Viberg says the 2040 is more narrow than the 2045 and I haven’t tried the 2040 yet.
