Boot Camp

[johnniegold]

I’ve been looking at a pair of Crown Northampton Woodford Desert Boots for awhile now.

I was always hesitant to pull the trigger because of that fact that if I ordered the wrong size, I would have to ship them back to England and incur that hassle. I know @blantyre dealt with that when obtaining his Harlestones.

So I held off until…. BOOT CAMP!

I was on the Crown Northampton website on Friday and they mentioned that they would be at Industry City in Brooklyn this weekend at Boot Camp and to stop by and get sized.

You don’t have to tell me twice….

This morning…

Me: Honey… get ready. We’re going out.

Mrs. Gold: Are we going to TJMaxx and Costco?

Me: Uhhh…. Yes. Hurry up.

One hour later…

Mrs. Gold: Honey… this isn’t Costco.

Me: Huh… how bout that.

This is Chris Woodford (Managing Director of Crown Northampton sizing a customer for a pair of sneakers).

Crown Northampton proudly remains in fifth-generation family ownership, under Chris as Managing Director, who is the great great-grandson of founder, Earnest Woodford who began the company in 1908 as:

This is Chris sizing my feet for a pair of Woodfords

Meet my feet…

(Hey… I didn’t say they were pretty. )

These measurements will be kept on file and used for future orders. Now I can order from Crown Northampton in the future and feel confident that whatever model of shoe/sneaker I select should be the right fit.

Chris and Lucy were great and the Woodfords should arrive in about 12 weeks. Just in time for winter when I can’t wear them.

Now, how about some more pics from Boot Camp…

 

[Toothpick]

@BigFoot is claiming copyright infringement

That's pretty neat. Wish I could do that someplace around here!

 

[johnniegold]

This was quite an event. Many of the people you see are well-known in the boot/shoe community and on social media.

I also ran into Nick from Stridewise and we chatted for a few minutes. I have watched many of his reviews about the Mail Bag from Satchel & Page and his reviews on the Captain Boot from Thursday Boot Co. and the Higgins Mill boot from Allen Edmonds. I told him that a lot of my recent acquisitions were his fault. He said he hears that a lot.

Very nice guy. I thanked him for his efforts and for the great content he has been putting out there for years.

Bedo’s Leatherworks.


Brian the Bootmaker (Role Club)

Russell Moccasins

Nick’s

Grant Stone

Saphir

I briefly spoke with Devin, one of the organizers of the event and she said Rose Anvil was doing a workshop in another building along with some other bootmakers but I didn’t get a chance to get over there.

All the vendors and attendees were extremely nice and having a good time being surrounded by all the great (and some legendary) boots and leather goods being offered up.

It was a great time and Mrs. Gold was aces while I ran around like a kid in a candy store.

Tomorrow… I’ll go with the missus to TJMaxx and Costco and I’ll have a smile on my face the whole time.

Can’t wait until next year!

 

[Toothpick]

Many of the people you see are well-known in the boot/shoe community and on social media.

That's odd, I don't recognize any of them

You and I pretty much share the same "buy once, cry once" attitude when it comes to clothing and luggage and Dopp kits and shoes, etc.
But I tend to not pull the trigger on my impulses in these categories because technology, and other hobbies suck up my spare change. Like motorcycles, and most recently guitar learning, and I guess you can say meats because I been eating the hell out of home grilled local beef.

I will say though...when I'm ready all I need to do is look up some of your threads here to find out what is the best of the best. I'll probably start with Satchel & Page - which is bookmarked

 

[Toothpick]

The shoes in these phots are just stunning. And I could def wear them to work and around town but I feel like no one would appreciate them. I surely would, and that's all that matters in the grand scheme of things. But you know...sometimes you just want that recognition like "nice shoes!". And I know no one around here, that I know and interact with would even look once at my shoes

 

[johnniegold]

I'll probably start with Satchel & Page - which is bookmarked

My only advice when it comes to Satchel & Page is this…

Spoiler

 

[Toothpick]

The older I get (I'm 40) the more I want to buy stuff that will last till I die. Which if you think about it....it's not a big ask

 

[Doc4]

Which if you think about it....it's not a big ask

Buying green bananas, are you?

 

[DrakeMegrim]

Crown and Goral are the only two brands of sneakers I'd really wear. I really should hop over to Crown, I'm only an hour from North Hampton but I kind of want a pair of normal SMUGS instead of something from Crown. I can't pick!

 

[johnniegold]

Crown and Goral are the only two brands of sneakers I'd really wear. I really should hop over to Crown, I'm only an hour from North Hampton but I kind of want a pair of normal SMUGS instead of something from Crown. I can't pick!

Having been able to see/handle the Crown shell cordovan, I must say I was impressed with them. And now that they have the actual dimensions of my feet, I would definitely want to add a pair to the collection.

Interestingly, when sizing my left foot, Chris mentioned how the toe next to the pinky toe sits up a bit and that he would make adjustments to provide more room for that.

On his diagram, that’s what the line that I circled, signifies.

 

[Doc4]

I ran around like a kid in a candy store

Those tan boots on the left ...

... look like they would get a really nice patina during the first decade or two of regular wear!

 

[La Malice]

in the same vein if you wanted some more candy for teh eye.

I gotta say the production is on point, maybe a but too much edited but then who would not dream to go to Tokyo

 

[joanfrancisco]

Hey, I use these from Adventure Andy in all my boots—they’re tough as nails: Products - https://adventureandy.com/collections/all.

 

[DesertIguana]

Had several pair of shoes made to fit feet, pricy, but well worth. Lasted 20 years, by taking care of.

Amazing photo of boot camp. Big Apple has enough people to come, and buy.

 

[blantyre]

Very nice! I look forward to hearing your views of the boots. Don’t you have another pair on order from Crown as well?

I also like the image of the man in a denim shirt and suspenders. I feel the same way about ironing!

 

[johnniegold]

Very nice! I look forward to hearing your views of the boots. Don’t you have another pair on order from Crown as well?

I also like the image of the man in a denim shirt and suspenders. I feel the same way about ironing!

That’s Brian the Bootmaker.

This is my first order with Crown.

Tomorrow will mark 11 weeks since my order was placed. I haven’t received any communication regarding the status of my order other than a confirming email the day my order was placed. I thought I would’ve received an update/status email in the interim.

Nevertheless, while at Boot Camp, I was told the boots would arrive between 9-12 weeks, so we shall see.

 

[psfred]

I may have to see if the "local" (50 miles away) shoe company still makes their own. I grew up in Grumman Wellies, passed down from kid to kid, after my brother needed some anti-pronation wedges in his shoes.

The quality impressed my Depression era parents, and although not stylish, those boots outlasted all of us and ended up getting passed along to family friends with younger children. We got a tour on one trip, got to see them make shoes on ancient equipment.

It did take a while to get them, and that will be the case for you as well. I'm sure they are not lost, just waiting in the queue for manufacture.