Japanese Boot / Shoe Appreciation Thread (White Cloud, Rolling Dub Trio, John Lofgren, Clinch, etc.

[Mghart]

So I'm between the Lofgren m43 in waxed brown suede, the RDT Roots 6" in brown horsebutt and White's Semi-Dress in Natural CXL. I can't decide which will work best with my lifestyle and clothing.

I had the Lofgren engineers but ultimately got rid of them because putting them on and taking them off was too much admin. I also just got rid of some Alden NST boots, namely because they were too small now, but also because putting them on was a PITA due to all the eyelets and narrowness of the neck and vamp.

As for wardrobe, I tend to wear tailored hems on all my pants, with hem width averaging 8.5". I feel like that might not be enough pant for some boots.

The m43 seems the most practical, as it's not a full-on, structured boot. However, the 7 eyelets could prove to be a pain.

The RDT Roots 6" are just cool, but may be a bit much for my wardrobe, and also maybe impractical due to the tongue and clunkiness?

The White's semi-dress are also structure but less intense than the Roots. I really like Natural CXL too (had it on my Lofgren engineers). However, these are still more boot then, say, the m43s.

Help.

I’ve owned the m43s, ultimately selling them cause I think at the time I should have sized a full size down instead of half. If you have a low instep though, the Lofgrens will probably not fit well. I do think they are the ‘sleekest’ relative to the other options considering it’s unlined and has an unstructured toe.

Have had multiple semi dress over the years however and while I don’t have them anymore, they’re a solid boot and comfortable once broken in. I think the RDT roots are even chunkier than the Whites.

All of them are super casual and fit a workwear, or super casual out fit. None of these imo dress up well if you wanted them to do double duty in that regard.

 

[Fenderplyr]

I’ve owned the m43s, ultimately selling them cause I think at the time I should have sized a full size down instead of half. If you have a low instep though, the Lofgrens will probably not fit well. I do think they are the ‘sleekest’ relative to the other options considering it’s unlined and has an unstructured toe.

Have had multiple semi dress over the years however and while I don’t have them anymore, they’re a solid boot and comfortable once broken in. I think the RDT roots are even chunkier than the Whites.

All of them are super casual and fit a workwear, or super casual out fit. None of these imo dress up well if you wanted them to do double duty in that regard.

the black shinki version of the m-43 might be the exception to your last point, that is until the teacore starts wearing through

 

[GentlemanJeff]

I’ve owned the m43s, ultimately selling them cause I think at the time I should have sized a full size down instead of half. If you have a low instep though, the Lofgrens will probably not fit well. I do think they are the ‘sleekest’ relative to the other options considering it’s unlined and has an unstructured toe.

Have had multiple semi dress over the years however and while I don’t have them anymore, they’re a solid boot and comfortable once broken in. I think the RDT roots are even chunkier than the Whites.

All of them are super casual and fit a workwear, or super casual out fit. None of these imo dress up well if you wanted them to do double duty in that regard.

Yeah I’ve had most of these and tried on the others and they all have their merits and drawbacks in style and fit. Obviously they’re all super high quality.

I’d say if you’re looking for a dressy service/heritage style boot, don’t sleep on the Alden 379x. It’s a Japan favorite. Brogue Shop, Leffot, and Dashing all carry some. Brogue Shop carries a ton of dressier 379x boots.

 

[whorishconsumer]

If you have a low instep though, the Lofgrens will probably not fit well.

All of them are super casual and fit a workwear, or super casual out fit. None of these imo dress up well if you wanted them to do double duty in that regard.

Do you mean the m43s have pronounced arch support?

I'm not envisioning them as dress per se, but my style (I guess) is casual with collared shirts sometimes. So, like, maybe construction worker boots would be a bit out of place.

 

[Mghart]

Do you mean the m43s have pronounced arch support?

I'm not envisioning them as dress per se, but my style (I guess) is casual with collared shirts sometimes. So, like, maybe construction worker boots would be a bit out of place.

Not so much that they have arch support but if you have a low volume foot, the high instep of the m43s will make it hard to lock your foot in properly.

 

[GentlemanJeff]

Do you mean the m43s have pronounced arch support?

I'm not envisioning them as dress per se, but my style (I guess) is casual with collared shirts sometimes. So, like, maybe construction worker boots would be a bit out of place.

The Lofgren M43s have little/no arch support. They have HUGE vamp/instep space. I had to sell mine because I have a wide foot, medium arch, but low instep, and I couldn't get my heel locked in at all due to the zero space over my foot. Laces completely closed and that didn't do any good.

 

[whorishconsumer]

Not so much that they have arch support but if you have a low volume foot, the high instep of the m43s will make it hard to lock your foot in properly.

The Lofgren M43s have little/no arch support. They have HUGE vamp/instep space. I had to sell mine because I have a wide foot, medium arch, but low instep, and I couldn't get my heel locked in at all due to the zero space over my foot. Laces completely closed and that didn't do any good.

Ah right, the meat on the top of your foot or lack thereof.

That's good to call out, thanks. Any sense if it's more or less voluminous in that respect comparative to the engineer?

 

[jischwar]

Ah right, the meat on the top of your foot or lack thereof.

That's good to call out, thanks. Any sense if it's more or less voluminous in that respect comparative to the engineer?

My guess is slightly less on engineer since it's laceless. My biggest issue with their engineer was that the pass through was so damn tight.

 

[jmiller123]

@whorishconsumer Maybe check out Vibergs with the 2040 last? I grabbed a pair from their recent archive sale and really liking them so far. I've tried both whites semi and the Lofgren m43 and think these might be better with your style. I've found myself drifting from heavier boots which the whites semi definitely are, and personally didn't find the lofgrens that versatile (altho I had the rough out version). The 2040 last goes great with workwear but also relatively sleek and could take a shine if that's what you wanted.

 

[GentlemanJeff]

@whorishconsumer Maybe check out Vibergs with the 2040 last? I grabbed a pair from their recent archive sale and really liking them so far. I've tried both whites semi and the Lofgren m43 and think these might be better with your style. I've found myself drifting from heavier boots which the whites semi definitely are, and personally didn't find the lofgrens that versatile (altho I had the rough out version). The 2040 last goes great with workwear but also relatively sleek and could take a shine if that's what you wanted.


View attachment 2326757

Yeah, 2040 is a great last. Very similar to the 379x.

 

[jischwar]

@whorishconsumer if you want to go down the Viberg hole, 2030 is probably more versatile than 2040 since the ball and toe aren't as wide.

 

[whorishconsumer]

I did some Vibergs on maybe the 2020 last. They were too small, which was the main issue, but I didn't love the Dainite sole.

Is the Ridgeway comfortable?

 

[jischwar]

I did some Vibergs on maybe the 2020 last. They were too small, which was the main issue, but I didn't love the Dainite sole.

Is the Ridgeway comfortable?

Yes very. Just the aesthetic of the heel puts people off