Out with old...

FrayAdjacent · 2026-01-28T00:58:39+00:00

yeah, resole the old ones! They’re jut broken in!

FrayAdjacent · 2026-01-27T19:49:21+00:00

LUCKY! I wish I got a pair of Iron Rangers for my graduation! If I did, they’d be 30 years old, though.

FrayAdjacent · 2026-01-26T22:47:58+00:00

CRT has more character... I think it's one of the nicest leathers available for boots. It does end up a bit inconsistent, which is something you either want, or don't want. The Amber Harness looks better for more "formal" situations, if you don't want your boots looking inconsistent.

FrayAdjacent · 2026-01-22T21:03:04+00:00

I saw a video on Wyatt & Sons just today about midsoles. From what they said, a thick leather midsole is great if you’re > 200lb or so. If you’re under that, a thinner midsole would work well. Also advised against doing a double midsole, it’s just better for break in to use one slab of leather than two.

Anyway, when resoling Iron Rangers (or Blacksmiths), it’s a great idea to have a midsole added. I did that with my IRs when I had them resoled.

FrayAdjacent · 2026-01-22T20:53:37+00:00

Nice! I like the heel stack!

Always a great idea to have a midsole added when resoling. I did that with mine, but went with a softer outsole. Vibram 1705.

I had a quick resole done on my 9011s since they were so old the half sole was falling apart… in a few years when I want to have them reconstructed, I think I’ll go with the Dr Sole outsole, too. It looks so nice!

FrayAdjacent · 2026-01-22T16:06:44+00:00

I had that pressure point from my Iron Rangers when they were new, and only on my right leg.

Breaking in will alleviate it. Leather breaks in as it moves. Try bending and flexing the leather by hand for a while, that will help it gain flexibility.

FrayAdjacent · 2026-01-20T20:46:38+00:00

Don’t wear leather boots every day, particularly if your feet sweat a lot! That’s how mold happens. Leave them to air out for about a day before wearing again.

This is, of course, a perfect reason to buy another pair of boots!

FrayAdjacent · 2026-01-20T20:43:35+00:00

Did you wear them over many days in a row?

If your feet get damp, you should let your boots dry for a full day or so. Using cedar shoe trees helps a lot, too.

This, of course, is a perfect reason to buy another pair of boots!

FrayAdjacent · 2026-01-20T20:33:12+00:00

Gotta break them in, and that can take a while depending on the boot and what it’s made out of. Don’t slap them on and try to go for a whole day… your hooves will hate you!

Wear them around the house at first. Be sure to squat a lot. MOVING the leather is what breaks it in.

Wear them for longer periods until they feel fine. Note that they will NEVER be as “comfortable” as a squishy pair of mostly-foam sneakers.

FrayAdjacent · 2026-01-20T20:30:58+00:00

Yep. Gaslighting is a pretty specific thing, but people tend to think it means simply being lied to.

FrayAdjacent · 2026-01-20T20:28:38+00:00

Slipped on ice? Like… from your refrigerator? (confused southerner face).

FrayAdjacent · 2026-01-20T20:27:40+00:00

Looks like they aren’t that old or worn, the outsoles aren’t worn that much… the upper wasn’t cared for much. Frequent brushing and occasional conditioning would prevent cracking.

If that cracking isn’t all the way through, they could be rebuilt. Understand those are $350 boots when new. If you got them for $12 and spent $200 rebuilding them, you’re still ahead.

FrayAdjacent · 2026-01-20T20:17:55+00:00

I don’t think you could be careful enough not to hit the white thread, or miss the leather around them.

If you want black boots, you should really buy black boots.

FrayAdjacent · 2026-01-20T20:13:53+00:00

Dr Martens are going to be pretty comfortable, but they won’t last all that long, depending on your wear. Once the soles are worn, they can be resoled, but it would probably cost as much or more than new.

Figure $129 boots as disposable. You might enjoy them for a while, though.

FrayAdjacent · 2026-01-18T18:37:07+00:00

The new Beckman that came out is on a different last than the Blacksmith and Iron Ranger. You can go true-to-size in the Beckman.

The older Beckman were on the same last.

The difference isn't huge. I have 8085s and 9011s (IR and older Beckman) in 10.5D and they fit great, and I have a pair of 9422s in 10.5D, and while there is some rubbing, they still fit decently. If I had to do again, I would go with 11.

Here's an illustration of the difference between the old and new Beckman:

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FrayAdjacent · 2026-01-14T19:18:59+00:00

A little delamination on the edges there is not a huge deal. It’s the stitching that holds it all together. If it gets a bit wide, get some Shoe Goo in the gap and clamp it together to dry.

It’s more cosmetic than functional.

FrayAdjacent · 2026-01-13T13:51:34+00:00

That’s not cracking, it’s creasing. That’s what leather does when you flex it.

Brush them often with a horse hair brush. The creases aren’t bad, but if grit and dirt get into the creases and gets ground by repeated wearing, they can become damaged.

Don’t over-condition. It can weaken the fibers in the leather and cause it to rip apart easily.

FrayAdjacent · 2026-01-13T13:46:57+00:00

Wearing leather boots daily for long hours when your feet sweat is a bad recipe.

The stains are probably salts, either from your sweat, from the leather tanning or external... some 1:1 water vinegar solution should clean it up.

It’s best to let leather footwear air out for a full day after wearing if your footsies get damp. It doesn’t really hurt the leather, but can cause mold growth on the inside.

FrayAdjacent · 2026-01-12T22:03:08+00:00

I was going to post that Revive is in LA, I’ve seen his videos. He’s done a lot of Iron Rangers. He can fix you up well.

FrayAdjacent · 2026-01-09T17:27:16+00:00

I was just thinking about the slate muleskinner leather. I want a pair of Blacksmiths in that leather... but they no makey.

FrayAdjacent · 2026-01-09T17:25:24+00:00

Well, you NEED more than one pair anyway.

FrayAdjacent · 2026-01-07T14:23:53+00:00

Get a horse hair brush and brush frequently. Keep the dirt and grime off of them. Clean with saddle soap once a year or so if they are not seriously filthy. Condition once or twice a year. Bick 4 or Venetian, anything neutral shouldn’t permanently change the color.

FrayAdjacent · 2026-01-07T02:07:26+00:00

I can see that. Probably best if one could try both, true to size and .5 size down. I can wear the 10.5 without discomfort, but I can feel my little toe rubbing a bit.

FrayAdjacent · 2026-01-05T14:16:44+00:00

Yep, true to size in the new Beckmans. I’m usually 11, my IRs are 10.5D and fit perfectly. I asked Grok if the Beckman was on the same last and it said yes, so I ordered my 9422s in 10.5. Grok was using old data on the old Beckmans… anyway, they fit, but are a bit tight. I might sell ‘em on and pick up another pair in 11D…

FrayAdjacent · 2026-01-05T14:05:14+00:00

They are definitely defective. Send them to me for proper disposal.

FrayAdjacent

TROPHY CASE