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#Rules

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• Include all of the information in format below, but especially:
  • Price
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  • Images

#Recommended Posting Format

• Maker/Model:
• Size:
• Leather:
• Sole:
• Price:
• Location:
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• Images:
• Notes:

Please be a communicative buyer or seller. There's nothing more painful than having someone drop off the face of the earth without leaving some sort of note. Good hunting!

Please report listings that violate the rules above.

"This is a scheduled post, if I screwed up please contact the mods."

I hope you and yours will get a chance to rest and reset to end the year. What are your plans?

Or just post your daily footwear pics.

Ask your shoe related questions.

Resources

• FAQ Thread Series
• Resource Wiki Page
• Beginner Boot Buyer's Guide
• Leather Care Guide
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How To Ask A Question

Include images to any issues you may be having. Include a budget for any recommendations. The more detail you provide, the easier it may be for someone to answer your question.

https://preview.redd.it/n4tfomjsuo8e1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=d26071e08728afdf25192d98bc2532f3fb3497eb

I got these shoes in today and wanted to write down some of my thoughts. They are my first pair of Aldens. I've always wanted to have a pair in my collection but I'm not a fan of the Indy boot. I've heard that Aldens snuff suede is great and was initially looking at the Dover (29336F), but didn't want to order yet another plain toe so here we are. I also think that Aldens longwings are very attractive, so I'm very happy with my decision to get a pair of brogues from them.  

I'm Canadian so I tried to find a shop within Canada. It was hard for me to find a store that had Aldens but I managed to find Mr. Derk, a shop in Edmonton. Shipping was fast and they even have 10% off your first order, so I highly recommend them. I think they can also order models from Alden that they don't stock, so that's good too. 

I'm an 11D on a Brannock, and I ordered a 10.5D. I read online that Alden recommends sizing down a half size on the Barrie last, so that's what I did. They fit pretty well, maybe a bit loose but I think going down another half size would be too tight and I'd prefer too loose to too tight anyways, For reference, I wear a 10E in Dayton service boots, 10.5D in the 602 last from Parkhurst, 9.5E in the C&J 378 last and a 10E in the C&J 325 last (because I wear thicker socks with the Conistons).  

I really, really like these shoes. The snuff suede is an awesome colour, and the shoes are so comfortable I don't think there will be a break in period at all. The suede is very "hairy" and that gives the shoes a rough appearance that looks great with jeans (which I wear 90% of the time). The welt joins are pretty good from what I can tell, and the general finish of the shoes is nice. One thing I will say is that there are a few spots where excess glue is visible, or there's loose stitching, etc. I don't really care about these things on casual shoes like this, but others might.  

These shoes are also my first with a leather sole so I might have toe taps installed. 

https://preview.redd.it/o2waotmuuo8e1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=f5114466959049f89e5ea0b8ea7cce4fc41e4114

https://preview.redd.it/vt4hwsjvuo8e1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=98e60d26cec4f7b343f8dc7e637e9a27acf052f5

https://preview.redd.it/k3p1jp7wuo8e1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=21edbddfe65811459234b357e415436e6cb0f2cc

Right Shoe Welt Join

Left Shoe Welt Join

Missed Punch

Overall, I'm very satisfied with these shoes. I do feel that Crockett & Jones have better quality control, but there are certain things that Alden does well. 

Hello GYW, it's Monday Funday! Take a load off and take a breather. Memes, hot takes and all silliness are welcome!

Ask your shoe related questions.

Resources

• FAQ Thread Series
• Resource Wiki Page
• Beginner Boot Buyer's Guide
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• GYW Women's Guide

How To Ask A Question

Include images to any issues you may be having. Include a budget for any recommendations. The more detail you provide, the easier it may be for someone to answer your question.

Found an amazing deal on a pair of shoes but they aren't your size? Share them here so other members can take advantage of the great deals!

Rules

• Regular rules apply. Please be courteous to one another.
• No personal sales are allowed! Anyone found to be posting their own goods will receive a warning and then potential ban should you continue to post your own goods. If you want to sell your own items, the semi-weekly B/S/T thread is a more appropriate location.
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"This is a scheduled mod post, if I screwed up please contact the mods."

I saw mention on shoe Healers YouTube comments that itshide have ceased trading, and there is on the UK companies house that there is a notice to strike off a company called Davies Odell which is the owning group.

Itshide were the (original?) British maker of the Commando lugged unit.

Whilst there are alternative makers out there it's the end of another traditional manufacturer if this is true.

Ask your shoe related questions.

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Link to Album

Overview

I’ve owned these black Danner Mountain Light II boots in size 10D since early 2017, and they’ve been through a lot. They’ve tackled glaciers in Iceland, most of the Northeast mountains, the South Island of New Zealand, and snowy trails in Hokkaido, Japan. Despite their solid performance, it’s worth noting that these are not top-tier boots compared to many highlighted in this subreddit. However, they’ve proven to be a dependable, versatile option for me.

Fit and Sizing

The size 10D fits me perfectly, even though my Brannock size is closer to 11D. For reference, I’m also a 10D in Truman Boots, Wolverine 1000 Mile, Red Wing, and Grant Stone, so these fit true to size in that range. They offer great support and comfort once broken in, although the break-in period was a bit rough as I got used to the "airthotic" heal cup.

Build and Durability

The full-grain leather upper and stitchdown construction are hallmarks of this model, and they’ve held up well over the years. I had them resoled once, which brought them back to life, but the uppers have needed nothing beyond regular conditioning. The Vibram Kletterlift sole still offers solid traction, and the Gore-Tex lining has done a great job keeping my feet dry in wet conditions. The Gore-Tex does its job too well however as things can get hot after a long day but lighter weight darn tough hiking socks mitigate the heat and sweat to a good degree.

Performance

These boots perform well across a variety of conditions but are by no means the lightest or most advanced hiking boots out there. They handled icy and rocky terrain in Iceland and the Northeast with ease, and the waterproofing came in clutch during wet hikes in New Zealand and snow in Japan. While they lack the refinement and premium materials of higher-end boots, they’re a reliable option for demanding trails.

Maintenance

After nearly seven years, regular cleaning and conditioning have kept these boots in good shape. I just snapped a few photos as I was preparing them for another winter, and the leather still feels flexible and looks good for its age. Resoling was straightforward, thanks to the stitchdown construction.

Conclusion

The Danner Mountain Light II is a solid mid-tier boot. They may not compete with the craftsmanship or materials of top-tier brands discussed on this subreddit, but for the price and availability, they’ve proven to be durable and reliable over the years. If you’re looking for something that can handle tough conditions and don’t mind the weight, these are worth considering.

Rating: 8/10. A dependable, long-term option with some limitations compared to premium boots.

Hi guys, today I want to share with you quite a nice find I scored in a surplus store.

I've always wanted to try a leather sole to see if it is my jam, but due to most leather soled boots being prohibitively expensive, I could not afford that kind of money just to experiment. I found these boots through an ad (I guess constantly looking for GYW boots online has it's boons after all) and decided to pull the trigger. They were 219 PLN with shipping, that equals to around 54 USD, so even when the sizing was wrong, or the leather sole was not my thing, I would not break the bank.

About the Rugak "brand". I don't know if it is a maker of these boots or not, but when you search for "belgian boots Rugak" it pulls up multiple pics of diffrent Belgian military boots also branded Rugak, so I went with it.

So, let's begin the review. They come in a plain white box which I am so familiar with, becasue I wore multiple Polish army surplus boots, and they also came in a white box with minimal information on them. On the box, there were more stickers that this, but they got removed, I guess after the Belgian military decided to let them go. The stamp on the right side says "calf leder" which I can confirm, it is indeed calf leather, my dad owns couple of calf leather shoes and the shine and overall leather grain is similar. Inside the boots are wrapped in a plastic bag - standard stuff in surplus. The box and the boots, smell similar to Bundeswehr surplus I am also quite familiar with.

The boots themselves are more on the dressier side I would say, the nose is quite narrow, but not like full on dress shoe, the side profile isn't too slim either, so they kinda work in a more casual setting I would say. I wore them today with 25 oz. straight leg denim, and they did not look out of place. You can see that these are 360 GYW with a thin leather midsole. The laces are cotton and are abysymal.

The sole itself is leather, around 4mm thick, but what caught me off guard the most, is the closed channel stitching (also called blind stitching). I was amazed of how good deal I got with these, current production leather soled boots with closed channel stitching runs what, 400 USD plus ? Here you can see the stitch that impressed itself on the leather "flap" that covers it. The heel stack is made from one piece of rubber, nailed and glued to the boot, with the Rugak marking, from where the name of these, and many other boots came.

The tongue is gusseted to the fourth hole, and on the left boot is made of piss poor, most flappy and loose piece of leather they could find laying on the factory floor that day, the tongue of the right boot is nice and proper. The inside marking and date stamp, sheesh, these boots are almost 40 years old and in beautiful condition. The footbed is leather, with leather sockliner covering the nails, and the whole boot is lined.

Before I wore them, I conditioned them with two layers of Saphir Renovatour, followed by one coat of Saphir Medaille d'Or Mirror Gloss, and one coat of Saphir Medaille d'Or Pate de Luxe in black. The sole got a one coat of Saphir Sole Guard. The leather shined up very quick, and the sole became nice and supple. I wore them today, on a damp pavement (it rained during the night) and I must say, first couple steps were dangerous, but after walking like 100 meters, they felt quite stable. I won't be wearing them anymore this winter due to the rain and snow, but I must say the leather sole feels nice under foot. These boots are remarkably flexible, and the pedal feeling when driving is great. I wore them for 3-4 hours today, they were nice and comfy, no hot spots, no rubbing, no pinching, just smooth sailing. They feel a bit better underneath the foot that my Iron Rangers, comfort-wise.

Overall, I am quite happy that I managed to score boots that are made in a premium way for basically peanuts.

Ask your shoe related questions.

Resources

• FAQ Thread Series
• Resource Wiki Page
• Beginner Boot Buyer's Guide
• Leather Care Guide
• Manufacturer Last Sizing Thread
• GYW Women's Guide

How To Ask A Question

Include images to any issues you may be having. Include a budget for any recommendations. The more detail you provide, the easier it may be for someone to answer your question.

Buy, sell, and trade your shoes.

#Rules

• Footwear only
• Don't use URL shorteners
• Include all of the information in format below, but especially:
  • Price
  • Location
  • Images

#Recommended Posting Format

• Maker/Model:
• Size:
• Leather:
• Sole:
• Price:
• Location:
• Wears/Condition:
• Images:
• Notes:

Please be a communicative buyer or seller. There's nothing more painful than having someone drop off the face of the earth without leaving some sort of note. Good hunting!

Please report listings that violate the rules above.

"This is a scheduled post, if I screwed up please contact the mods."

Ask your shoe related questions.

Resources

• FAQ Thread Series
• Resource Wiki Page
• Beginner Boot Buyer's Guide
• Leather Care Guide
• Manufacturer Last Sizing Thread
• GYW Women's Guide

How To Ask A Question

Include images to any issues you may be having. Include a budget for any recommendations. The more detail you provide, the easier it may be for someone to answer your question.

Ask your shoe related questions.

Resources

• FAQ Thread Series
• Resource Wiki Page
• Beginner Boot Buyer's Guide
• Leather Care Guide
• Manufacturer Last Sizing Thread
• GYW Women's Guide

How To Ask A Question

Include images to any issues you may be having. Include a budget for any recommendations. The more detail you provide, the easier it may be for someone to answer your question.

Anyone planning on holiday travel? If so, what footwear is making the trip?

Or just show what you're wearing.