The Ojibwe tribe, also known as the Chippewa or Saulteaux, have historically lived in what's now southern Canada, the northern Midwestern United States, and Northern Plains. Known for their trademark birchbark canoes, copper mining, and maple syrup, they significantly shaped their region for several centuries.
Such a common pattern. 1. Brand builds reputation through quality 2. Popularity and sales follow 3. Stakeholders cash out, brand is sold or 4. Quality product suffers decreased sales due to long product life then 5. Negative pressure on quality to support margins 6. Awareness by disappointed or angry customers 7. Reputation and sales decline
Berkshire Hathaway bought them. I used to buy the engineer boot but I dropped them after the lawsuit. At first I thought it was some b.s. California law but once I found at they were deceiving their customers I was actually upset. If I'm buying American made it better be American made.
Man, I tried cutting a pair of boots by hand, you make it look so easy. I ended up gouging and slicing my hand, 7 sticthes to fix, and the boots i cut in half were from Walmart. You're the master, my friend
It’s actually very easy. You obviously weren’t using proper technique and a dull knife. He’s using a razor sharp knife that is literally meant to cut leather that is even thicker than this.
I've had these boots for two years and they have been fantastic everyday boots. I did get them for $150 so I guess that makes it worth it. Great job again Weston, looking forward to the WW2 boot series.
It’s awesome that you reached out to the brand to let them give their own reasons instead of just stating your opinions alone. It’s that kind of transparency & integrity that separates your content from other RUclipsr channels man.
I agree on every point. The pricing was wrong. Suffice it to say that similar Chippewa boots, but from the "working line", such as 20017, have exactly the same leather, a more complex design with a detouchable insole and a similar quality throughout. But it has a price of $160 versus $290 for the "Original" line. The greed of the owners is what killed the Chippewa. With a reasonable price of 160-180 they could take off as the design of the chippewas is always great and the quality is decent at this price. PS Some models were built with a leather insole and had a quality fully comparable to a red wing(1939, 1935, 1958), however the price was insane, something like $380-$420(!). This is a pair of whites without a discount in 2012.
Great review! Book ending the analysis between Thursday Capt and RW Blacksmith was brilliant since both models are popular at their respective price points. Oftentimes, when these bigger public companies acquire smaller, popular brands, they operate like vampires, sucking up the goodwill and reputation of the brands to sell more and more, with higher and higher margins, until the public wises up and stops buying...they then discard the empty husks into the corporate waste bin and look for another popular brand to exploit...the corporate jargon for this predatory business tactic is "maximizing value for investors...."
I got my Chippewa service boots at Sierra trading post for $59. Was cheap enough that I figured it was a decent buy. Mine has a leather lining up front instead of the cotton lining on these ones. Compared to my Redwing Work Chukkas I do think the Chippewa boots are more comfortable, but time will tell if they decline as the foam breaks down. My plan is to use the Chippewa as a project boot when sole wears out, because I really like the Tan renegade leather they used. Maybe I will try and resole them with a leather insole and cork as a little side project.
As someone who owned several pairs of these: The oddest thing about them was that every single pair shrank in length as they broke in. Yes, I used shoe trees. Never had any other boot break in by shortening and widening, rather than just widening. Meant that they started comfortable for me (with an insole), and then I had to sell them all after a few months. Also, the leathers all aged TERRIBLY.
@mikezeke, i used one, bridgement boots, overall maybe it is same Quality in the inner side, on the upper its very easy to containing by mold, but it depends of your area storage
@@jamesdaniel2363 Yeah I had a similar experience with a pair of Apaches. Decent quality, used them for about 10 months as a line service tech at an airport, no complaints, except for the fact that they stretched out and became elongated in the toe. Kinda wish they shrank instead.
@@jamesdaniel2363 I wear their 80's+ era Engineer boots for work, and what was originally a snug, nice fit, turned into a boot that felt way too big and the leather stretched unbearably. I've had over 12 boots from several brands and I've never had this happened. I punched a few more holes in the instep strap, and that seemed to help, but the leather has folded and collapsed in a very ugly way. Very disappointing considering their engineers pre 80's were amazing
I have a pair of Chippewa shoes that I bought in 1980 that I still wear to church on Sundays. They were very well made back then. And they only cost about $30 back then. Mine are still in good shape after 40 years.
My first pair of boots a long time ago were Chippewa and it's really sad to see the company discontinue their heritage line. I've had a terrible experience a few years ago with the very same boots ,loose grain and really bad quality control of late. Hate to say it, but I think I saw this coming.
I used to work at a small family owned clothing store that sold Chippewa way back in 2005. The quality was still very good at that point. They have declined quite a bit it seems unfortunately
I have the same exact boot you cut in half, which is a casual boot, and although it looks very sharp, your input is spot on. I have made this boot more wearable with a Superfeet copper insole. I've had a few US Chippewa work boots over the years and they were always fantastic, the most recent was a Cibola with a rugged vibram sole and the chocolate apache leather-- great boot, very high quality, but I don't believe they make these anymore.
I have these boots and they are totally uncomfortable. Really sad to find out why. I would be interested to see you review the Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill boot, a good Wisconsin company!
American-made AE footwear has gone downhill in recent years. They are leaning more on their country of origin and less on QC, similar to how American car companies have and continue to do. This is at the same time as costs do not reflect this reduction in quality. Kind of reminds me of Cadillac. Elevated prices with disappointing quality.
I know people say Allen Edmonds is not what it may have been but I have not found that. My Higgins Mills are great! I would love to see them cut in half and analyzed!
I got exact the same boots as video 6,7 yrs ago and still working well, planning to change the sole recently . it's sad for me these boots were being discontinued as it was my 1st ever work boots.
I own these boots, but I bought them on sale for $195 as the LL Bean branded “Engineer Boot”. LL Bean has now outsourced their engineer boot to Vietnam and based on comments on their website quality has really dropped since that shift. I’ve owned these boots for about 7 years and overall I couldn’t be happier with the quality of the upper and the styling etc. I wear these boots by far more than any other shoe I own. The downside is the vibram sole - there is no grip whatsoever and no shock absorption. In the winter it can actually be dangerous wearing these. I made the mistake of wearing them on a trip to Europe and my feet hurt terribly and I ended up spraining my ankle due to the lack of grip. When I returned from that trip I had them resoled with an aggressive lug sole and wow did it make a HUGE difference. The new sole absorbs shock and they are now suited to all kinds of uses - casual wear, yardwork, hiking, hunting etc. the leather of the upper on my pair looks like it is higher quality than the pair shown in this video, has broken in beautifully and has completely formed to my foot. I hate it when these small heritage brands get bought out. One thing the English seem to do right is protect their heritage brands. In fact I’d love to see you start reviewing some English boots and compare them to the American brands. I own boots by Loake, Cheaney and Sons and Sanders - they seem to be very high quality, especially when compared to most American boots.
I have a pair of LL Bean cap toe "Iron Works" made by Chippewa that I bought in the mid 2000s. My experience is similar to yours. Once I broke them in I found them to be comfortable and durable. But that particular Vibram outsole was downright slippery on wet pavement. Several times I almost fell from the boot skating on the damp sidewalks after a rain. Good thing I have very good balance and regained my footing each time. They were the first "real" boots I bought and I've worn them more than any of my other boots since because they're the most broken in and I usually reach for them. When the soles and heels wore down I ground them smooth and glued on Vibram lug sole and heel and that improved them by a lot. At the time that I bought them 15+ years ago I think I paid around $120 at LL Bean and that was the most that I had spent on footwear up to that time. I remember fretting about whether to spend so much money for a long time before I pulled the trigger. I won't claim that they were worth the money because I know very little about footwear quality then and now, but they were the first footwear that I spent over $100 on and I cherished them and they served me all those years and will probably continue to do so for many more.
I have a pair of Thorogood 1892 series Beloits. Great boot, but not easy to find, or cheaply. These Chippewas remind me of them, at least superficially. I'd love to know what's really beneath the surface of my Beloits! Great episode to see, I've always wondered about the Chippewas (I'm originally from WI).
I have the Dodgeville as well. I love them. Compared to the Chippewa service boot here, the Dodgevilles at least have Horween Cavalier Chromexel uppers and full leather midsoles. I love the half soles on the Dodgeville as well, which is period correct for the early-WW2 russet combat boot and a nice stylistic difference from similar boots like Iron Ranger. It does have a poron insole, which Weston would undoubtedly deduct points for. However, mine have held up fine over the past two years. I do use a custom removable orthotic, though. I would love Thorogood to bring back the 1892 boots, especially with some upgrades. Weinbrenner is an awesome company worth supporting.
I’ve had these boots going on 6 years now, they have been great, also well taken care of and they have lasted well. Big fan but I’m soon to retire them only due to finally wanting something different.
I have had this pair for a year now when amazon had them for 150. No complaints. Alot easier to break in then my red wing blacksmiths and red wing mocs. Dont get me wrong i love red wing
Out of all the heritage companies you've covered in the $200-$350 range, you've missed the Thorogood 1892 line. It got discontinued a few years back but you can still pick up pairs here and there. They used Horween leathers on their later make ups which makes them pretty interesting for their price point.
To me the real winner in that lineup were the roofer/monkey boots. None of their competitors were making a boot like that. Very cool boot at that price point.
I still own my pair of the beloit boot. They've patina'd overtime beautifully. The insole in the toe box area is ripped up though. The leather got really soft, maybe too soft. The boot had no ankle support whatsoever. I think just like the chippewa heritage line they discontinued them due to low sales.
I'd really love to see a review on some of the Altra shoes. they are really interesting and especially with their new Lone Peak hiking shoes that have some kind of rock plate inside the protects your foot, I think it'd be a cool teardown. Specifically the Altra Lone Peak 6.
I got the service boots in cordovan around 2015. They were my first introduction to GYW boots and boots in general. They’ve held up well, and look great too. I wear them as a casual office boot, but looking at this it’s apparent they were over-priced at the time. I also got a pair of homestead in Odessa black off eBay for $200, about 2-3 years ago, that has more loose grain but ironically are more comfortable. Those are my thrasher boots and I would not hesitate to resole them. I also think the silhouette of them looks better than RW but just my opinion. Either way, I am going to semi-retire the cordovan’s for a pair of RW 8111’s.
I love your videos. Thanks for all you do! I’d love to see a video on J. Crew’s Kenton line. I just got a pair of Chromexcel cap toe boots with a vibram sole and Goodyear welt for a great deal. These go on sale for $150 or less regularly and seem like a great value but I’d love to know if there is a catch that’s exposed once they are cut in half. Would also love to see what’s inside Filson’s boots!
I had the version from LL bean (looked just like these, but without the chrome-tanned leather) before they made them in Vietnam back in 2017. I wore them everyday for a year working in a wood shop and after work. The shock absorption was not so good, but after purchasing aftermarket liners, they felt great. They were ruined after a cobbler replaced the sole. A day after the replacement, the new sole had torn off, and I ruined the boot by walking in them without the sole. I missed them so much! I currently have the Iron Rangers and they feel, look, and perform incredibly similar to how I remember the Chippewas from LL Bean felt.
Had a pair of Homested Chippewas (Iron Rangers Basically) since 2017. Mud, snow, sand, wet, rain, range, climbing, work and much more it held up. Paid around 150$ for a copper with dark brown toe cap gorgeous combination. Definitely replaced the lather laces a few times, brake in was alright not too bad, these were prob factory seconds or the QC was kinda bad, but I still liked it. I do have to mention that the sole is still all there, I wish I did the shoe tree and prob better conditioning. The current state is that the boot is a bit shrunken, footbed is harsh, leather is now a darken tone all around, cardboard foot bed is worn, the canvas toe is a bit messed up. For what it was I think it served me well. I definitely switched to Red Wing as of now and are looking at Whites. Would I recommend? Probably if you can get it for dumb cheap and take care of the goods, if you pay above 100-150 no probably best to save and buy once. Honestly the homested had it been touched up in the right places and at the right price could have gave the Iron Rangers a run.
I don't wear boots any more but if I did I would watch your channel over and over to find out what's up and what's down. In the boot department. Thanks again.
LL Bean private labeled these under their Kathadin Iron Works line as well. Wore mine out as a general use boots, but I only paid around 150$ for them at the outlet store. Don't think I would be thrilled at close to double that.
It would be cool to see Meermin reviewed, they have the Rust Waxy Commander which seems from a month of wear to be a lot tougher than expected. When shipping and taxes are factored they are the same price in the EU as Thursday Captains.
Have two of these that are 7-8 years old! The Crazy Horse leather looked great to begin with but didn't hold up well over time - and it's too thin to be unlined. The V-bar soles lasted well but I just had my black Odessa Homestead boots resoled with a leather insole, midsole, and Vibram wedge outsole! Way more comfortable than before.
New subscriber, I've watched several of your videos and have learned quite a lot. Pretty fascinating to learn about what's inside these shoes but, disappointing at the same time.
You should try and get some Canada West boots, like their W.M. Moorby line. Handmade in Winnipeg, Canada fair pricing (I got a W.M. Moorby pair, and work boots from them, and I love them, but would be curious to see the guts of them)
I bought a pair.of these in 2010-ish. They were uncomfortable at first but much like my government issued combat boots slowly broke in, became one the longest lasting most comfortable boots I've worn since my combat boots.
You must have gotten a pair that was made before all these changes. There is nothing about these boots that would lead to longevity. Crap materials for the lowers & questionable leather for the uppers.
This is the boot that got me into boots. I did not own them but saw a friend at a holiday party wearing them and they just seemed to be dressy enough but casual enough for a holiday party.
I have had these boots for several years now, and I can just about echo everything you said about them. They cost me $60 at a local Justin Boot outlet store, and we’re labeled as factory seconds, though I can’t figure out why. I worked in them for a few weeks, but had to relegate them to casual wear only, because, as you said, they’re just NOT comfortable. The sole construction makes them feel like you’re walking on concrete! Other than that, they have been very durable, and I still occasionally get compliments on how they look, so for the money, I guess I’m happy.
I bought mine for around $150 on Sierra. They took over a year to break in but I actually keep them in my regular rotation the Cordovan is just such a nice color. That said I'll probably be replacing with a pair of Red Wings before long. I think you should take a look at doing the Unmarked DB Hunter soon. Unmarked boots are incredibly attractive I'd love to know the quality matches the the look and feel.
While I bought the five eyelet cap toe version of this boot, it was at a Justin outlet store in El Paso for something like $60. Was an amazing deal. Wish I could get more
I mostly have Red Wings, but I like my Thorogood Dodgevilles an awful lot too, though I do find the black chromoxcel to really like scuffing. But it’s easy enough to fix.
I have their Moc Toe mountaineering boots that are very comfortable with nice arch support and they use Horween leather on them, but I would still have to agree that they are not worth $300 and I think these were original little over $300. Anyway I spent $199 on them and they do look good and well made, but I would definitely choose Redwings over Chippewa Its just obvious that Redwing Heritage boots use better materials. I really wish that Chippewa used cork instead of that foam crap. Thanks again for another great break down video 👍🏼.
I used to love Chippewas. The last pair I bought had an outsole starting to separate, went through a whole Nightmare with Boot Barn trying to return them. Ended up contacting Justin for a warranty, they didn’t offer the same model anymore, had to pay for return shipping, replaced the boots I bought with a cheaper model, took 2 months to get a replacement pair. Once I got the replacement pair one of the lacing turrets was pulled out of the boot within 2 days of using the boot. I didn’t bother returning them again for warranty and lose more money with shipping. It had now costed me over $400 for a pair of damaged boots, what a disappointment. I now buy Danners which seem to be so much better and much closer to what Chippewas were many years ago. I won’t buy from Boot Barn any longer either if they can’t guarantee a product that fails after a couple days of use.
I got a pair for Christmas back in 2014. Now back then there wasn’t many options besides the red wings, and wolverines but both were more expensive (and other major differences) They were around $280 and I have them in the “tan renegade” color, which I believe is Horween. I absolutely love them. They have aged great and still look good. Sure a little “hard” but they’re the only boots I can wear and walk in all day long (I have bad toes-bunions). I had new heels put on about a year ago, and that’s it. Heck I’m wearing them right now. Granted with the Doc Marten craze, the look now puts me in that style category, which I’m not a fan of. But I enjoy them. Again at the time there wasn’t much, and anything in the price range or cheaper didn’t have any info on them.
Got a pair I bought for around 110$ back in 2014. They are absolutely beat to shit… but I love ‘em and they are much more comfortable than my iron rangers.
Weston, a lot of people (myself included) have been asking for a Rancourt review. Have you considered checking out their stuff? You could review their Dirigo line for value and one of their heritage boots for overall quality.
I got a pair of Chippewa Blaine's with a vibram full lug sole for $55. I love em especially with the new timberland pro insole I dropped in them. Brian the bootmaker is going to do a crazy overhaul when they get a little more beat up.
I bought pairs back in 2012 and 2014 just because they were the only thing I could find with a neoprene cork sole. I liked that for working in the oily environment of a machine shop. Much more sure footed.
The Chippewa Originals are unique in their fit - more narrow and lower volume than the Red Wing heritage styles. Adding a foam or leather insert solved the comfort problem and makes them nice and snug for a good fit. Unfortunately for me, I found my pair in 10D to be too tight in the toes, yet the 10.5D is too roomy unless I use the insert with thick socks. In hindsight, sizing down the half was a mistake and I ended up suffering with rock hard uncomfortable boots for the last 7 years. Just resoled them though and had the toes stretched out to boot!
Hey first of all congratulations for your videos im from Mexico and i've learned so much of boots thanks to you and i wanted to make a request if you could do a video of a well known brand of boots here in Mexico is called cuadra i would love to se how well they are made.
I wanted these, but found them disconnected when I went to look. The only thing left at my local boot store was a pair at half price in my dad’s size. He’s enjoying his pair. I ended up some blundstone 500s I live in.
A boot to check out!! You gotta check this out. Saw it on an ad while I was scrolling online. Sketchers Alley cats - talgen... This is interesting in that it looks like a hybrid of Timberlands and Docs. Has the same exact lug pattern of a Timbo but you can see thru it like on docs. The boot itself looks very similar to Timberland, but has the tall loop on the back like docs. You gotta see it. $100 and says it's real leather. Id normally have no interest in buying a pair of boots from sketchers, but it's a really interesting boot. Especially at that price.
I bought a pair of Chippewa work boots a few years back on an impulse (they were on sale) while travelling through Vermont. I believe their MSRP was around $300. They are 8", steel toe, insulated, heavy-duty work boots. Fit and finish is excellent. I use them predominantly for rocky, hillside tree and landscaping work on our Indiana farm. The huge upside to these boots is sure-footedness (if there is such a term). My feet are held firmly in place (no slippage) and ankle support is ridged, while not being uncomfortable. This is critical when working on hillsides with acute angles. The leather uppers have taken heavy abuse with virtually no chipping, cuts or scuffing. The only downside is that these boots are old school HEAVY, which is ok when working more or less in place, rather than covering a lot of ground. Bottom line - great, durable boots at good value.
I own two pairs of these in the same size, the insole is actually completely different on the models with the wedge sole and the difference is large enough that they actually fit half a size smaller. The insole on that model seems to be veg tan as well.
I bought this boot in the exact same colour in 2015, and I'm still wearing them almost everyday in the fall, winter, and spring seasons. I wore this boot to work today. I get lots of compliments from women who love this style and colour! My boots has speedhooks. I've replaced the stock laces just once two years ago. My boot has Horween leather with a Vibram sole. I have no problems with the build quality, except for the very fragile stock laces that gets easily destroyed by the speedhooks. The boots are heavy at first, but you will get used to the weight, and it is a masculine boot that almost everyone loves. I didn't get a single complaint from anyone with this style.
would love to see a review on the Georgia amp LT wedge steel toe boot. been wearing the non-steel toe version for about 6 or 7 months now. they have a pretty interesting counter design on them.
I have a pair of these with the cap toe, Iron Ranger I guess. I’ve had them for about twenty years. Worn the hell out of them. I haven’t given them the care that I should have. In twenty years I have probably only polished and or conditioned them four or five times, and they show it. Still they have always been comfortable and are still my go to boot if I know I’m hoofing it. They’ve been everywhere from the AP Trail to Old Faithfull in Yellowstone. Point I’m getting to; I wonder if the quality has dropped recently or if I have been extremely fortunate with a par level boot. I’ve replaced them with a pair of Danners for hiking but I still find myself walking out in those old Chips
I completely agree. I have RW Blacksmiths and thought these would make a decent alternative. I bought the "Aldrich" boot in black Odessa about a year ago and for $200 I won't complain, but they are not $290 boots. A wool felt insole and good socks are the only way I can wear them. The welt also sticks out pretty far, which looks weird when I look down at them.
I hate that this is the cause of the stigma behind the Mexico factories because Thursday was able to produce a relatively high-quality product. (especially at its price point) Would actually love to see a review of the American-made Thursdays like the Vanguard or Logger.
I got these exact ones and i have had them for over 2 years wuth quite a lot of use and they are keeping up really well, I got them for something closer to 150 usd and for that price i think they are just fantastic boots.
Got a pair of chippewa 1939 service boots, had them about 4 years was torn between the model you've shown here and them. The 1939 has a better construction inside with a leather liner in the toe rather than fabric, foot bed has broken in lovely on mine I'm guessing it's leather with a Cork layer based on how it's worn in. I believe the leather is horween on the 1939s not sure what leather exactly though they called it ran renegade. The soles on the 1938s are a pretty cool vibram sole with mini spikes and Chippewa marking down the middle.
I got a vintage pair of chippewa boots ive had and worn almost every day for years. quality is absolutely outstanding. Sad to see that this is what they turned inton
I got these for $103 on Amazon back in October. I really like them at that price. There were some flaws in the quality, def not worth the asking price. BUT my interior has a leather wrapped foam insole(?) BELOW the leather heal cover. What ever cushioning that was below the leather heal cover failed massively, tho, just completely decayed. The outsoles are fantastic.
I picked up the Carolina boots for $155 back in November. So far they have been solid, just can’t stand the squeaking they make on vinyl floors. As soon as it’s time for a resole, I’m going to look into doing a Vibram lug soles. I tried to order the $120 Chippewas on Amazon, but they were out of size 9. Apparently have to size down half a boot size.
I've had these exact boots for over a year now and they are great. Yes, you need to put an insole in them as they are hard under foot but they are meant to have an additional footbed put in them. They were incredibly stiff when I got them so much so that two layers of conditioner were need to the help the break in. I think you really where you missed the mark is the price point. I think I paid about 120.00 for mine. I think thats a more realistic real world price point. No I would not have paid 290.00 for them as they aren't worth that. They are good looking and they definitely started my journey into heritage footwear. I now have Red Wing, NIck's, White's, and Wesco in my collection, but i still wear these on a weekly basis. If you can find these on an auction site or online retail outlet priced under the 150.00 get them.
I've had my old Chippewa's for over 15 years got them for metal shop and auto classes. there still in awesome condition. man do they suck now much older age to have on all day its like standing on stone all day. I think I will have them re done for comfort/special occasions. Black with Dark red there studding cleaned up every time
Bought my first pair of Chippewas in the late 80s and was a loyal customer for many years. Bought a pair where the midsole separated from the welt while they were in storage They offered me a discount on a new pair (which they later reneged on) so I bought a pair of Red Wing Iron Rangers instead. Had a similar issue after many miles of wear, sometimes in wet conditions. Ultimately for the money I think Thursday is probably the best bet partially because they are very comfortable though I don't know yet about their durability.
Even though I bought them for $60 on Amazon to use as an every-day-wear heritage boot for work (Illinois home inspector), I consistently find myself reaching for my Iron Rangers over the Chippewa's. Decent for $60 but nowhere near worth the high price point they normally have them at.
Thank you very much for this review! Sadly I bought my "1901" in January 2019 before there was much information online. The only shop over here in Switzerland that sold them wanted 365 Swiss Francs (which is about the same amount of US-$). Got carried away by the "goodyear welted construction". Compared to the quality they were totally overpriced (especially the shoebed seems like crap). Well, at least they have lasted. And with some leather/cork insoles they are a little less uncomfortable:-) Anyone knows of a good cobbler who does leather insoles? State of the shoe right now (after a little less than four years - worn mostly in fall/winter): outer leather is grainy but in good condition, cotton inside of toecap is worn off, in some parts the inner stitching of the welt seems to have become loose, shoelace has been replaced once.
Thursday Boots wasn't a thing back when they launched these. And the styling is completely different from the Thursday Captain. They were priced quite a bit cheaper than their competitors like Red Wing and Wolverine, so, they filled the gap. Plus, they have always been readily available at the low-to-mid $200's.
I just don't think calling it a cash grab is accurate. The company charges what they think the customer will pay, and when the product doesn't sell they lose money.
The Rose Anvil shop has belts, wallets, and more. Check it out here - bit.ly/44jXLNu
The Ojibwe tribe, also known as the Chippewa or Saulteaux, have historically lived in what's now southern Canada, the northern Midwestern United States, and Northern Plains. Known for their trademark birchbark canoes, copper mining, and maple syrup, they significantly shaped their region for several centuries.
Such a common pattern.
1. Brand builds reputation through quality
2. Popularity and sales follow
3. Stakeholders cash out, brand is sold
or
4. Quality product suffers decreased sales due to long product life
then
5. Negative pressure on quality to support margins
6. Awareness by disappointed or angry customers
7. Reputation and sales decline
See Levi's, Carhartt, Filson, Pendleton, Woolrich, etc ...
You left out “acquired by suits from NYC.”
reputation rarely takes the same hit as quality tho :(
@@JustBenInLA and Filson
Berkshire Hathaway bought them. I used to buy the engineer boot but I dropped them after the lawsuit. At first I thought it was some b.s. California law but once I found at they were deceiving their customers I was actually upset. If I'm buying American made it better be American made.
Man, I tried cutting a pair of boots by hand, you make it look so easy. I ended up gouging and slicing my hand, 7 sticthes to fix, and the boots i cut in half were from Walmart. You're the master, my friend
Walmart boots are just that good.
When he pulls that blade up towards himself I do flinch
It’s actually very easy. You obviously weren’t using proper technique and a dull knife. He’s using a razor sharp knife that is literally meant to cut leather that is even thicker than this.
Having the right tool for the job makes the difference look at the handle and angle of the blade.
@@jamesjameson4566 are you going to be ok though?
I've had these boots for two years and they have been fantastic everyday boots. I did get them for $150 so I guess that makes it worth it. Great job again Weston, looking forward to the WW2 boot series.
Agreed. Decent boots for $150 but trash for a $300 boot.
Looks like the fears everyone had with quality decline was true.
Expand.....
It’s awesome that you reached out to the brand to let them give their own reasons instead of just stating your opinions alone. It’s that kind of transparency & integrity that separates your content from other RUclipsr channels man.
I agree on every point. The pricing was wrong.
Suffice it to say that similar Chippewa boots, but from the "working line", such as 20017, have exactly the same leather, a more complex design with a detouchable insole and a similar quality throughout.
But it has a price of $160 versus $290 for the "Original" line. The greed of the owners is what killed the Chippewa. With a reasonable price of 160-180 they could take off as the design of the chippewas is always great and the quality is decent at this price.
PS
Some models were built with a leather insole and had a quality fully comparable to a red wing(1939, 1935, 1958), however the price was insane, something like $380-$420(!). This is a pair of whites without a discount in 2012.
I paid 600+ for nicks and would rather weld in flip flops than wear them again. I'm a plumber but still.
Thanks Anvil, for quality content. It’s insightful stuff. I’m learning a lot.
Great review! Book ending the analysis between Thursday Capt and RW Blacksmith was brilliant since both models are popular at their respective price points. Oftentimes, when these bigger public companies acquire smaller, popular brands, they operate like vampires, sucking up the goodwill and reputation of the brands to sell more and more, with higher and higher margins, until the public wises up and stops buying...they then discard the empty husks into the corporate waste bin and look for another popular brand to exploit...the corporate jargon for this predatory business tactic is "maximizing value for investors...."
Great channel, great information, great presentation, great editing. Thanks for this quality content, learned a lot!
I got my Chippewa service boots at Sierra trading post for $59. Was cheap enough that I figured it was a decent buy. Mine has a leather lining up front instead of the cotton lining on these ones. Compared to my Redwing Work Chukkas I do think the Chippewa boots are more comfortable, but time will tell if they decline as the foam breaks down. My plan is to use the Chippewa as a project boot when sole wears out, because I really like the Tan renegade leather they used. Maybe I will try and resole them with a leather insole and cork as a little side project.
As someone who owned several pairs of these: The oddest thing about them was that every single pair shrank in length as they broke in. Yes, I used shoe trees. Never had any other boot break in by shortening and widening, rather than just widening. Meant that they started comfortable for me (with an insole), and then I had to sell them all after a few months.
Also, the leathers all aged TERRIBLY.
Did you have the rough out ones?
@@mikezeke7041 No, I had a total of four, over time. Two of the L.L. Bean models, a smooth black pair, and a pebble brown cap toe pair.
@mikezeke, i used one, bridgement boots, overall maybe it is same Quality in the inner side, on the upper its very easy to containing by mold, but it depends of your area storage
@@jamesdaniel2363 Yeah I had a similar experience with a pair of Apaches. Decent quality, used them for about 10 months as a line service tech at an airport, no complaints, except for the fact that they stretched out and became elongated in the toe. Kinda wish they shrank instead.
@@jamesdaniel2363 I wear their 80's+ era Engineer boots for work, and what was originally a snug, nice fit, turned into a boot that felt way too big and the leather stretched unbearably. I've had over 12 boots from several brands and I've never had this happened. I punched a few more holes in the instep strap, and that seemed to help, but the leather has folded and collapsed in a very ugly way. Very disappointing considering their engineers pre 80's were amazing
Wow, read my mind. I was just eyeing these on ebay wishing youd cut a pair. You just saved me a couple hundred$. Love the channel!
So glad to see y’all back.
I have a pair of Chippewa shoes that I bought in 1980 that I still wear to church on Sundays. They were very well made back then. And they only cost about $30 back then. Mine are still in good shape after 40 years.
My first pair of boots a long time ago were Chippewa and it's really sad to see the company discontinue their heritage line. I've had a terrible experience a few years ago with the very same boots ,loose grain and really bad quality control of late. Hate to say it, but I think I saw this coming.
I used to work at a small family owned clothing store that sold Chippewa way back in 2005. The quality was still very good at that point. They have declined quite a bit it seems unfortunately
I have the same exact boot you cut in half, which is a casual boot, and although it looks very sharp, your input is spot on. I have made this boot more wearable with a Superfeet copper insole. I've had a few US Chippewa work boots over the years and they were always fantastic, the most recent was a Cibola with a rugged vibram sole and the chocolate apache leather-- great boot, very high quality, but I don't believe they make these anymore.
Thank you for all you do. Educating the consumer is no small task.
I have these boots and they are totally uncomfortable. Really sad to find out why. I would be interested to see you review the Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill boot, a good Wisconsin company!
I resoled mine with an aggressive lug sole and it made a world of difference.
American-made AE footwear has gone downhill in recent years. They are leaning more on their country of origin and less on QC, similar to how American car companies have and continue to do. This is at the same time as costs do not reflect this reduction in quality. Kind of reminds me of Cadillac. Elevated prices with disappointing quality.
I know people say Allen Edmonds is not what it may have been but I have not found that. My Higgins Mills are great! I would love to see them cut in half and analyzed!
+1 for the Higgins Mills or any boot from Allen Edmonds! Don't be fooled by the MSRP prices, AE makes a fantastic $250-300 boot!
I got exact the same boots as video 6,7 yrs ago and still working well, planning to change the sole recently . it's sad for me these boots were being discontinued as it was my 1st ever work boots.
Curious what you have coming up next.
Always an interesting channel 👍
I own these boots, but I bought them on sale for $195 as the LL Bean branded “Engineer Boot”. LL Bean has now outsourced their engineer boot to Vietnam and based on comments on their website quality has really dropped since that shift. I’ve owned these boots for about 7 years and overall I couldn’t be happier with the quality of the upper and the styling etc. I wear these boots by far more than any other shoe I own. The downside is the vibram sole - there is no grip whatsoever and no shock absorption. In the winter it can actually be dangerous wearing these. I made the mistake of wearing them on a trip to Europe and my feet hurt terribly and I ended up spraining my ankle due to the lack of grip. When I returned from that trip I had them resoled with an aggressive lug sole and wow did it make a HUGE difference. The new sole absorbs shock and they are now suited to all kinds of uses - casual wear, yardwork, hiking, hunting etc. the leather of the upper on my pair looks like it is higher quality than the pair shown in this video, has broken in beautifully and has completely formed to my foot. I hate it when these small heritage brands get bought out. One thing the English seem to do right is protect their heritage brands. In fact I’d love to see you start reviewing some English boots and compare them to the American brands. I own boots by Loake, Cheaney and Sons and Sanders - they seem to be very high quality, especially when compared to most American boots.
if and when he starts reviewing English made boots, he might start saying his favorite "really interesting to see what's on the inside")
I have a pair of LL Bean cap toe "Iron Works" made by Chippewa that I bought in the mid 2000s. My experience is similar to yours. Once I broke them in I found them to be comfortable and durable. But that particular Vibram outsole was downright slippery on wet pavement. Several times I almost fell from the boot skating on the damp sidewalks after a rain. Good thing I have very good balance and regained my footing each time. They were the first "real" boots I bought and I've worn them more than any of my other boots since because they're the most broken in and I usually reach for them. When the soles and heels wore down I ground them smooth and glued on Vibram lug sole and heel and that improved them by a lot.
At the time that I bought them 15+ years ago I think I paid around $120 at LL Bean and that was the most that I had spent on footwear up to that time. I remember fretting about whether to spend so much money for a long time before I pulled the trigger. I won't claim that they were worth the money because I know very little about footwear quality then and now, but they were the first footwear that I spent over $100 on and I cherished them and they served me all those years and will probably continue to do so for many more.
Love these videos. Thanks for your expertise
Between you and MrBallen, I can't figure out what my favorite YT channel is
I have a pair of Thorogood 1892 series Beloits. Great boot, but not easy to find, or cheaply. These Chippewas remind me of them, at least superficially. I'd love to know what's really beneath the surface of my Beloits!
Great episode to see, I've always wondered about the Chippewas (I'm originally from WI).
I have the Dodgeville as well. I love them. Compared to the Chippewa service boot here, the Dodgevilles at least have Horween Cavalier Chromexel uppers and full leather midsoles. I love the half soles on the Dodgeville as well, which is period correct for the early-WW2 russet combat boot and a nice stylistic difference from similar boots like Iron Ranger. It does have a poron insole, which Weston would undoubtedly deduct points for. However, mine have held up fine over the past two years. I do use a custom removable orthotic, though. I would love Thorogood to bring back the 1892 boots, especially with some upgrades. Weinbrenner is an awesome company worth supporting.
Beloit, lol
I’ve had these boots going on 6 years now, they have been great, also well taken care of and they have lasted well. Big fan but I’m soon to retire them only due to finally wanting something different.
I have had this pair for a year now when amazon had them for 150. No complaints. Alot easier to break in then my red wing blacksmiths and red wing mocs. Dont get me wrong i love red wing
Out of all the heritage companies you've covered in the $200-$350 range, you've missed the Thorogood 1892 line. It got discontinued a few years back but you can still pick up pairs here and there. They used Horween leathers on their later make ups which makes them pretty interesting for their price point.
I have a pair of Beloits. Hard to find, but they seem pretty solid.
To me the real winner in that lineup were the roofer/monkey boots. None of their competitors were making a boot like that. Very cool boot at that price point.
I'm still waiting for a Viberg review. Unlikely but I'm into Canadian brands as well as American/Japanese.
I still own my pair of the beloit boot. They've patina'd overtime beautifully. The insole in the toe box area is ripped up though. The leather got really soft, maybe too soft. The boot had no ankle support whatsoever. I think just like the chippewa heritage line they discontinued them due to low sales.
@@jamesmorgan4596 With his workboot focus, I'm thinking...."Great construction, great materials, light duty, too expensive".
Another great video. Man I wish you could do the super logger
I'd really love to see a review on some of the Altra shoes. they are really interesting and especially with their new Lone Peak hiking shoes that have some kind of rock plate inside the protects your foot, I think it'd be a cool teardown. Specifically the Altra Lone Peak 6.
Loved this vid. Thank you. Very illuminating!!
I got the service boots in cordovan around 2015. They were my first introduction to GYW boots and boots in general.
They’ve held up well, and look great too. I wear them as a casual office boot, but looking at this it’s apparent they were over-priced at the time.
I also got a pair of homestead in Odessa black off eBay for $200, about 2-3 years ago, that has more loose grain but ironically are more comfortable. Those are my thrasher boots and I would not hesitate to resole them.
I also think the silhouette of them looks better than RW but just my opinion.
Either way, I am going to semi-retire the cordovan’s for a pair of RW 8111’s.
I love your videos. Thanks for all you do! I’d love to see a video on J. Crew’s Kenton line. I just got a pair of Chromexcel cap toe boots with a vibram sole and Goodyear welt for a great deal. These go on sale for $150 or less regularly and seem like a great value but I’d love to know if there is a catch that’s exposed once they are cut in half.
Would also love to see what’s inside Filson’s boots!
Seconded.
I had the version from LL bean (looked just like these, but without the chrome-tanned leather) before they made them in Vietnam back in 2017. I wore them everyday for a year working in a wood shop and after work. The shock absorption was not so good, but after purchasing aftermarket liners, they felt great.
They were ruined after a cobbler replaced the sole. A day after the replacement, the new sole had torn off, and I ruined the boot by walking in them without the sole. I missed them so much!
I currently have the Iron Rangers and they feel, look, and perform incredibly similar to how I remember the Chippewas from LL Bean felt.
Had a pair of Homested Chippewas (Iron Rangers Basically) since 2017. Mud, snow, sand, wet, rain, range, climbing, work and much more it held up. Paid around 150$ for a copper with dark brown toe cap gorgeous combination. Definitely replaced the lather laces a few times, brake in was alright not too bad, these were prob factory seconds or the QC was kinda bad, but I still liked it. I do have to mention that the sole is still all there, I wish I did the shoe tree and prob better conditioning. The current state is that the boot is a bit shrunken, footbed is harsh, leather is now a darken tone all around, cardboard foot bed is worn, the canvas toe is a bit messed up. For what it was I think it served me well. I definitely switched to Red Wing as of now and are looking at Whites. Would I recommend? Probably if you can get it for dumb cheap and take care of the goods, if you pay above 100-150 no probably best to save and buy once. Honestly the homested had it been touched up in the right places and at the right price could have gave the Iron Rangers a run.
It would be interesting to do a mini series on hiking boots like the Danner Mountain Light boots.
Would be super cools to see the new Red Wing Iron Ranger traction tread boots. Interested to see what they changed about the construction
Would love to see you take a look at the Wolverine 1000 mile’s, especially the Evans
I don't wear boots any more but if I did I would watch your channel over and over to find out what's up and what's down. In the boot department. Thanks again.
LL Bean private labeled these under their Kathadin Iron Works line as well. Wore mine out as a general use boots, but I only paid around 150$ for them at the outlet store. Don't think I would be thrilled at close to double that.
That's a bummer. I was looking forward to getting a pair of these, they look really slick
Would love to see the Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill Boot reviewed!
It would be cool to see Meermin reviewed, they have the Rust Waxy Commander which seems from a month of wear to be a lot tougher than expected. When shipping and taxes are factored they are the same price in the EU as Thursday Captains.
I read it as Chewbacca for some odd reason lol
Chewbacca fucked a Jawa and we got Chippewa
@@Aperson156 I work with Kenny Ewok. Imagine Kenny Rogers but Ewok height.
The few Chips I have I absolutely adore. They’re all vintage, though (1980s or older) and have been babied.
Have two of these that are 7-8 years old! The Crazy Horse leather looked great to begin with but didn't hold up well over time - and it's too thin to be unlined. The V-bar soles lasted well but I just had my black Odessa Homestead boots resoled with a leather insole, midsole, and Vibram wedge outsole! Way more comfortable than before.
New subscriber, I've watched several of your videos and have learned quite a lot. Pretty fascinating to learn about what's inside these shoes but, disappointing at the same time.
You should try and get some Canada West boots, like their W.M. Moorby line. Handmade in Winnipeg, Canada fair pricing (I got a W.M. Moorby pair, and work boots from them, and I love them, but would be curious to see the guts of them)
Thank you for the review!
I wonder, have you heard about Canada West Boots? I would love to see your review on them.
I bought a pair.of these in 2010-ish. They were uncomfortable at first but much like my government issued combat boots slowly broke in, became one the longest lasting most comfortable boots I've worn since my combat boots.
You must have gotten a pair that was made before all these changes.
There is nothing about these boots that would lead to longevity.
Crap materials for the lowers & questionable leather for the uppers.
Very nice review!
This is the boot that got me into boots. I did not own them but saw a friend at a holiday party wearing them and they just seemed to be dressy enough but casual enough for a holiday party.
I have had these boots for several years now, and I can just about echo everything you said about them. They cost me $60 at a local Justin Boot outlet store, and we’re labeled as factory seconds, though I can’t figure out why.
I worked in them for a few weeks, but had to relegate them to casual wear only, because, as you said, they’re just NOT comfortable. The sole construction makes them feel like you’re walking on concrete!
Other than that, they have been very durable, and I still occasionally get compliments on how they look, so for the money, I guess I’m happy.
I bought mine for around $150 on Sierra. They took over a year to break in but I actually keep them in my regular rotation the Cordovan is just such a nice color. That said I'll probably be replacing with a pair of Red Wings before long.
I think you should take a look at doing the Unmarked DB Hunter soon. Unmarked boots are incredibly attractive I'd love to know the quality matches the the look and feel.
While I bought the five eyelet cap toe version of this boot, it was at a Justin outlet store in El Paso for something like $60. Was an amazing deal. Wish I could get more
I mostly have Red Wings, but I like my Thorogood Dodgevilles an awful lot too, though I do find the black chromoxcel to really like scuffing. But it’s easy enough to fix.
Hey, Weston, Horween Chromexcel is not usually dyed through. The color 8 and navy are always surface dyed.
I have their Moc Toe mountaineering boots that are very comfortable with nice arch support and they use Horween leather on them, but I would still have to agree that they are not worth $300 and I think these were original little over $300. Anyway I spent $199 on them and they do look good and well made, but I would definitely choose Redwings over Chippewa Its just obvious that Redwing Heritage boots use better materials. I really wish that Chippewa used cork instead of that foam crap.
Thanks again for another great break down video 👍🏼.
I used to love Chippewas. The last pair I bought had an outsole starting to separate, went through a whole Nightmare with Boot Barn trying to return them. Ended up contacting Justin for a warranty, they didn’t offer the same model anymore, had to pay for return shipping, replaced the boots I bought with a cheaper model, took 2 months to get a replacement pair. Once I got the replacement pair one of the lacing turrets was pulled out of the boot within 2 days of using the boot. I didn’t bother returning them again for warranty and lose more money with shipping. It had now costed me over $400 for a pair of damaged boots, what a disappointment.
I now buy Danners which seem to be so much better and much closer to what Chippewas were many years ago.
I won’t buy from Boot Barn any longer either if they can’t guarantee a product that fails after a couple days of use.
I got a pair for Christmas back in 2014. Now back then there wasn’t many options besides the red wings, and wolverines but both were more expensive (and other major differences) They were around $280 and I have them in the “tan renegade” color, which I believe is Horween. I absolutely love them. They have aged great and still look good. Sure a little “hard” but they’re the only boots I can wear and walk in all day long (I have bad toes-bunions). I had new heels put on about a year ago, and that’s it. Heck I’m wearing them right now. Granted with the Doc Marten craze, the look now puts me in that style category, which I’m not a fan of. But I enjoy them. Again at the time there wasn’t much, and anything in the price range or cheaper didn’t have any info on them.
Got a pair I bought for around 110$ back in 2014. They are absolutely beat to shit… but I love ‘em and they are much more comfortable than my iron rangers.
@@hedark1135 great price even for the time
Weston, a lot of people (myself included) have been asking for a Rancourt review. Have you considered checking out their stuff? You could review their Dirigo line for value and one of their heritage boots for overall quality.
I got a pair of Chippewa Blaine's with a vibram full lug sole for $55. I love em especially with the new timberland pro insole I dropped in them. Brian the bootmaker is going to do a crazy overhaul when they get a little more beat up.
Used to visit chippewa falls once a year. Still have some family living there. Yep, used to skate in my D3s out there!
I found an old pair of handmade Chippewa that are insulated. I really like them. Shame to see Chippewa struggling.
I bought pairs back in 2012 and 2014 just because they were the only thing I could find with a neoprene cork sole. I liked that for working in the oily environment of a machine shop. Much more sure footed.
The Chippewa Originals are unique in their fit - more narrow and lower volume than the Red Wing heritage styles. Adding a foam or leather insert solved the comfort problem and makes them nice and snug for a good fit. Unfortunately for me, I found my pair in 10D to be too tight in the toes, yet the 10.5D is too roomy unless I use the insert with thick socks. In hindsight, sizing down the half was a mistake and I ended up suffering with rock hard uncomfortable boots for the last 7 years. Just resoled them though and had the toes stretched out to boot!
Hey first of all congratulations for your videos im from Mexico and i've learned so much of boots thanks to you and i wanted to make a request if you could do a video of a well known brand of boots here in Mexico is called cuadra i would love to se how well they are made.
I wanted these, but found them disconnected when I went to look. The only thing left at my local boot store was a pair at half price in my dad’s size. He’s enjoying his pair. I ended up some blundstone 500s I live in.
A boot to check out!! You gotta check this out. Saw it on an ad while I was scrolling online. Sketchers Alley cats - talgen... This is interesting in that it looks like a hybrid of Timberlands and Docs. Has the same exact lug pattern of a Timbo but you can see thru it like on docs. The boot itself looks very similar to Timberland, but has the tall loop on the back like docs. You gotta see it. $100 and says it's real leather. Id normally have no interest in buying a pair of boots from sketchers, but it's a really interesting boot. Especially at that price.
Please do the Wolverine 1000 Mile Moc-Toe Original
I bought a pair of Chippewa work boots a few years back on an impulse (they were on sale) while travelling through Vermont. I believe their MSRP was around $300. They are 8", steel toe, insulated, heavy-duty work boots. Fit and finish is excellent. I use them predominantly for rocky, hillside tree and landscaping work on our Indiana farm. The huge upside to these boots is sure-footedness (if there is such a term). My feet are held firmly in place (no slippage) and ankle support is ridged, while not being uncomfortable. This is critical when working on hillsides with acute angles. The leather uppers have taken heavy abuse with virtually no chipping, cuts or scuffing. The only downside is that these boots are old school HEAVY, which is ok when working more or less in place, rather than covering a lot of ground. Bottom line - great, durable boots at good value.
Would love to see you review one of the Sportsman's Guide WWII Reproduction boots
I own two pairs of these in the same size, the insole is actually completely different on the models with the wedge sole and the difference is large enough that they actually fit half a size smaller. The insole on that model seems to be veg tan as well.
Just picked up a tan pair for $40! Yes the sizing is off. I normally wear an 8.5 and these were stamped at 7.5. For $40 I think I did pretty good.
I bought this boot in the exact same colour in 2015, and I'm still wearing them almost everyday in the fall, winter, and spring seasons. I wore this boot to work today. I get lots of compliments from women who love this style and colour! My boots has speedhooks. I've replaced the stock laces just once two years ago. My boot has Horween leather with a Vibram sole. I have no problems with the build quality, except for the very fragile stock laces that gets easily destroyed by the speedhooks. The boots are heavy at first, but you will get used to the weight, and it is a masculine boot that almost everyone loves. I didn't get a single complaint from anyone with this style.
would love to see a review on the Georgia amp LT wedge steel toe boot. been wearing the non-steel toe version for about 6 or 7 months now. they have a pretty interesting counter design on them.
I have a pair of these with the cap toe, Iron Ranger I guess. I’ve had them for about twenty years. Worn the hell out of them.
I haven’t given them the care that I should have. In twenty years I have probably only polished and or conditioned them four or five times, and they show it. Still they have always been comfortable and are still my go to boot if I know I’m hoofing it. They’ve been everywhere from the AP Trail to Old Faithfull in Yellowstone.
Point I’m getting to; I wonder if the quality has dropped recently or if I have been extremely fortunate with a par level boot.
I’ve replaced them with a pair of Danners for hiking but I still find myself walking out in those old Chips
I completely agree. I have RW Blacksmiths and thought these would make a decent alternative. I bought the "Aldrich" boot in black Odessa about a year ago and for $200 I won't complain, but they are not $290 boots. A wool felt insole and good socks are the only way I can wear them. The welt also sticks out pretty far, which looks weird when I look down at them.
I actually have a pair of these. I’m thinking of grabbing them in black/brown too. But they’re pretty rad.
I hate that this is the cause of the stigma behind the Mexico factories because Thursday was able to produce a relatively high-quality product. (especially at its price point) Would actually love to see a review of the American-made Thursdays like the Vanguard or Logger.
I got these exact ones and i have had them for over 2 years wuth quite a lot of use and they are keeping up really well, I got them for something closer to 150 usd and for that price i think they are just fantastic boots.
Please consider reviewing Wesco Jobmaster. Thanks for doing what you do. You have really given me a new appreciation for high quality boots.
Reminds me of Corcoran, over the decades the quality has absolutely plummeted to the point where I won't buy them any more.
I really appreciate! Because I am really boots lover! That’s great I need to know ❤
Love this channel. Would like to see a pair of nike sb dunks cut in half and compared to a aj1.
Got a pair of chippewa 1939 service boots, had them about 4 years was torn between the model you've shown here and them. The 1939 has a better construction inside with a leather liner in the toe rather than fabric, foot bed has broken in lovely on mine I'm guessing it's leather with a Cork layer based on how it's worn in. I believe the leather is horween on the 1939s not sure what leather exactly though they called it ran renegade. The soles on the 1938s are a pretty cool vibram sole with mini spikes and Chippewa marking down the middle.
The Wolverine was mentioned. Has that one been covered? I can't find it.
I got a vintage pair of chippewa boots ive had and worn almost every day for years. quality is absolutely outstanding. Sad to see that this is what they turned inton
I got these for $103 on Amazon back in October. I really like them at that price. There were some flaws in the quality, def not worth the asking price. BUT my interior has a leather wrapped foam insole(?) BELOW the leather heal cover. What ever cushioning that was below the leather heal cover failed massively, tho, just completely decayed. The outsoles are fantastic.
I have a pair of their blue suade chukkas. Got them at Sierra for like $50. They look nice and are fairly comfortable.
I’ve had a pair of the engineers for years. I don’t wear them much, but they’ve definitely held up
I picked up the Carolina boots for $155 back in November. So far they have been solid, just can’t stand the squeaking they make on vinyl floors. As soon as it’s time for a resole, I’m going to look into doing a Vibram lug soles. I tried to order the $120 Chippewas on Amazon, but they were out of size 9. Apparently have to size down half a boot size.
I've had these exact boots for over a year now and they are great. Yes, you need to put an insole in them as they are hard under foot but they are meant to have an additional footbed put in them. They were incredibly stiff when I got them so much so that two layers of conditioner were need to the help the break in. I think you really where you missed the mark is the price point. I think I paid about 120.00 for mine. I think thats a more realistic real world price point. No I would not have paid 290.00 for them as they aren't worth that. They are good looking and they definitely started my journey into heritage footwear. I now have Red Wing, NIck's, White's, and Wesco in my collection, but i still wear these on a weekly basis. If you can find these on an auction site or online retail outlet priced under the 150.00 get them.
He straight up said at the end of the video, for $130 to $150 they're a good boot.
I've had one pair of chippewa heritage boots and they were awful, uncomfortable and the shank broke. It's no wonder they discontinued this line.
I've had my old Chippewa's for over 15 years got them for metal shop and auto classes. there still in awesome condition. man do they suck now much older age to have on all day its like standing on stone all day. I think I will have them re done for comfort/special occasions. Black with Dark red there studding cleaned up every time
I have a few pairs of Chippewa Service Boots and I really like them! But yes, they are really hard, that is definately true.
Bought my first pair of Chippewas in the late 80s and was a loyal customer for many years. Bought a pair where the midsole separated from the welt while they were in storage They offered me a discount on a new pair (which they later reneged on) so I bought a pair of Red Wing Iron Rangers instead. Had a similar issue after many miles of wear, sometimes in wet conditions. Ultimately for the money I think Thursday is probably the best bet partially because they are very comfortable though I don't know yet about their durability.
Even though I bought them for $60 on Amazon to use as an every-day-wear heritage boot for work (Illinois home inspector), I consistently find myself reaching for my Iron Rangers over the Chippewa's. Decent for $60 but nowhere near worth the high price point they normally have them at.
Thank you very much for this review! Sadly I bought my "1901" in January 2019 before there was much information online. The only shop over here in Switzerland that sold them wanted 365 Swiss Francs (which is about the same amount of US-$). Got carried away by the "goodyear welted construction". Compared to the quality they were totally overpriced (especially the shoebed seems like crap). Well, at least they have lasted. And with some leather/cork insoles they are a little less uncomfortable:-) Anyone knows of a good cobbler who does leather insoles?
State of the shoe right now (after a little less than four years - worn mostly in fall/winter): outer leather is grainy but in good condition, cotton inside of toecap is worn off, in some parts the inner stitching of the welt seems to have become loose, shoelace has been replaced once.
What a cash grab at $290, glad that didn‘t work out.
When the Vibram outsole is worn out, these, being only fiberboard inside, are trash.
Thursday Boots wasn't a thing back when they launched these. And the styling is completely different from the Thursday Captain. They were priced quite a bit cheaper than their competitors like Red Wing and Wolverine, so, they filled the gap. Plus, they have always been readily available at the low-to-mid $200's.
I just don't think calling it a cash grab is accurate. The company charges what they think the customer will pay, and when the product doesn't sell they lose money.