Hey folks....I'm sent J. Crew product info every week it seems,
and most recently, they've come up with a boot that
could "out do" the Rugged for Indy "Close enoughs".
I almost wonder if there was some recognition on
where the rugged sales were coming from.
I know they're still $150.00 but the hope is they might
just have a sale one day eh!
Kilgour, you beat me to the punch here! I just spotted these myself and just HAD to log on and post a pic. These look to be the best j.crews thus far as far as look-alikes! (other than the sole) AWESOME! Even called "Vintage Work Boots"!
I like the look of these a lot better than the Aldens... That extra stitching on the side of the heel gives the boot a bit more charachter in my opinion.
At the moment you could buy a fairly respecable close enough outfit from J.Crew. They've got the boots, a web belt, "broken in" millitary shirt, and some "work ware" jeans or "Broken-in" chinos in a kind of millitary pinkish color, and maybe even a decent gun belt. Now they are all fairly expensive, for close enoughs, but they tend to go on sale.
These new boots remind me quite a bit of the Redwing 100 year Classics. They still don't bet the Deckers style wise, but they are better than the Ruggeds. They need the speed hooks added, like the newer Ruggeds do. Maybe that's next years alteration to them. Still has that large moctoe welt, again like the Redwings.
Yes, these boots have definitely hit the stores -- as I am wearing mine right now! They look good, very close to Aldens, at least close enough for me considering the $100+ price difference! I got there just in time, as there was only one pair of size 8's left! I would say the fit is pretty good right out of the box, but they may run a half size big -- I probably could've gotten away with a 7.5. I'll have to wear them for a while to get a better feel for the fit...
These boots are nicer looking than the Ruggeds, imho.
They do not have the thick padding around the ankle and the color looks great in the picture.
I will be keeping an eye out for the JCrew sales.
Update: These boots definitely run at least a half size big. After keeping the size 8's for a whole 2 days, I returned them to the store & bought the 7&1/2's online. These fit a lot better than the 8's, but if they made a size 7, I probably could've fit into them. So I would say that you should go at least a half size smaller than you normally wear...but on the plus side, they are very comfortable right out of the box.
I decided to stop by J. Crew to check out these new boots but they didn't carry them at the store. The sales person told me they could order them for me from the store to my house with FREE shipping. If they didn't work out I could bring them back to the store and they would return them for me and have another size shipped to my house again without paying for the shipping.
He then told me I could sign up for a J. Crew credit card and save 10% off the boots.
10% off and FREE shipping and no shipping returns. So I ordered a pair.
Michigan Jones wrote:I decided to stop by J. Crew to check out these new boots but they didn't carry them at the store. The sales person told me they could order them for me from the store to my house with FREE shipping. If they didn't work out I could bring them back to the store and they would return them for me and have another size shipped to my house again without paying for the shipping.
He then told me I could sign up for a J. Crew credit card and save 10% off the boots.
10% off and FREE shipping and no shipping returns. So I ordered a pair.
I was told the same thing.
Tyrlock,
When you say they run a half size too big, what are you basing this on?
I normally wear skate shoes, which run a half size small. My normal shoe size is 10 1/2, but I wear a size 11 skate shoe.
I went and had my foot measured to make sure, and ask an employee at JCrew, both said to go with the 10 1/2.
Well first of all, don't take my word as gospel -- it was just an observation that I had made. Second, I was basing it on the fact that ALL of my shoes, boots, & sneakers are size 8...the JCrew size 8's were too big, so I returned them & got the 7.5's. These fit pretty well, but much better now when I wear them with thick socks, and also since I put a cushion sole inside them. I think that if they made a size 7, then I probably could've fit in that one even better!
I like 'em! Trade those laces for black or brown ones, and it's all set. Thanks for the link, Kilgour! The question is, what would a size 10D be in J Crew sizes?
Wow quick turn on getting these it only took 3 business day to get them.
I have to agree they do run a bit big. I wear between a 10.5 and 11 depending on the maker. The 11 was way to big for me but the 10.5 seem to fit pretty good I think a 10 would have been to small.
Hey Guys: Is there any chance someone could post some pics of these boots? I find that often the way they look can be soooo different from the advert eh.
There's really no comparision to when they're on someone's feet.
You can see all the similarities and differences from Aldens.
With my Ruggeds working their way into "Worn out" status, I've got
to make a move on some new clogs for the ole dogs.
Mine arrived on Friday. They look just like the picture. Most boots are stiff and need broken in, not these. The leather is so soft they were just like trying on a pair of tennis shoes. I won’t get a chance to wear them for a couple of weeks though. It was still 102 this weekend, which is shorts and t-shirt weather for me.
Mine too, were very comfortable right out of the box. They now have gotten a bit darker -- probably from the brown-tint Pecards I put on the & some sunlight from wearing them outside. I could probably take a pic, but I'm not sure about being able to post it here. I could maybe email it...
Hey Tyrloch: just send the pic to me and I see about posting a link to it.
I'm still not savy enough put up a pic but I can create a link to it.
I've got to see these things soon 8-[ , my Ruggeds are really looking ratty .
I'm at a point where I need to decide to buy these or go all the way for a pair of Aldens. I like these because they have a good sole for the bush and for a bit of snow eh!
Gotta remember I live up in the Great White North.
After much consideration and soul searching , I've decided that the
J Crews will again be my Indyesque option. With over a foot of snow and slush on the ground (which fell from the 10th on) I have to go with the boot that isn't going to leak and soak through as easily as the Alden.
Don't get me wrong, I would pay for the Aldens but when livability is factored in I need a three season boot. I wish the Alden's were a bit more weather proof.
So..ya's gots to buy whats gonna works eh!
Anyway...Michigan had said he'd go a half size smaller than his normal.
Would this be the consensus? I wear a size 9 dress shoe, my last Ruggeds were 9.5's and just a bit big at first. I wonder if they size up the same?
I already had a pair of Aldens, and I love them. However, I went ahead and bought a pair of the J. Crew Vintage Work Boots. First, they do seem to run a little large. I normally wear a size 11 shoe, and that's what I ordered. The boots seem a little large, though I'm going to deal with that by wearing thicker socks -- I'm not sure but that a size 10.5 might be too tight.
One reason I decided to buy the J. Crew boots was the sole. I often wear my boots at my cabin, where we get some rain, ice and snow. The Alden soles can be a bit slippery in those conditions. The J. Crew vibram soles shouldn't have that problem.
The J. Crew uppers so look a little bit aged already, though they do seem a bit shiny. I think I need to hit them with some Pecards!
Thanks Randy..great advice.
It sounds like your reasoning is very similar to my own.
The question I'd like to ask you is, Do you feel like these are
true $160.00 boots? How is the quality of the boot as you see it.
I'd be really interested.
I'm going to be ordering them very soon and would appreciate your
feed back. They certainly do look really good. The colour looks excellent even "as is".
P.s. Where abouts are you geographically?
Having all the seasons, for sure tests the limits any product?
They’re a great boot. Imported Italian leather, like all J-Crew shoes. Just have your feet measured and order that size.
I went to Nordstrom’s, had someone in the men’s shoe department measure my foot, and ordered that size. The boots fit perfectly right out of the box, and they’re only getting better the more I wear them.
I can’t comment on snow, living in the desert and all, but they do look like they’ll hold up to a lot.
I'm in Phoenix, Arizona, so we only have two seasons: Nice, and H*ll! But I also spend a lot of time at our cabin in the moutains (about 7000 feet), and it rains and snows there a lot, and some of the terrain is rugged -- lots of rocks to climb over and around, lots of hills, etc. I also spend some time in Flagstaff, Arizona, also at 7,000 feet -- not as hilly or rugged, but cold and snowy/icy. So, I wanted to have a pair of close-enough kinds of boots to wear in those kinds of conditions. It rained a lot at our cabin last weekend, and the soles did their job -- no slipping or falling, etc.
As far as price, who knows if they're worth it. It was worth it to me to have boots like this to wear in more adverse conditions. They seem pretty sturdy and well made, and compared to what I pay for shoes generally, I guess it's not that bad.
By the way, I did replace the laces with 45" brown "dress" laces (flat, unwaxed), to enhance the close-enough look.
Well....that seals it!
Thanks for the terrific feed back. It makes the decision that much easier.
Both posts cleared my lingering indecision.
The quality of the Ruggeds was quite good and lasted me over two years with very regular wear. If these are the same I'd be very satisfied.
Mind you...I did scoop my ruggeds on that unbelievable $29.00 sale a few years ago .
Even at $160.00 these seem to be a good value.
Randy..my folks spend a few months in Lake Havasu every year and from their travels have mentioned the mountains. When they were there last (last Jan-Mar), there hadn't been rain in ages. Has that changed?
It would be facinating to live in a place that varies so greatly.
We got a lot of rain this summer at our cabin (in the mountains above Prescott, Arizona). By far the best summer (rainfall and temperature-wise) in the last seven years or so. We've gotten some rain down here in Phoenix, too, but we're still behind average for the year to date down here in the flatlands.
Again...what are these in size 10 D? What size would I have to order to get them to fit me? I had my feet measured for Aldens, so are we talking about having to have my feet re-measured for these?
Not sure I even understand your question, Strider.
If you were measured for your Aldens, and you wear a size 10D, I double dog guarantee that unless you went through a growth spurt, or lost some toes since you got sized, you will STILL be a size 10D. Why get 'remeasured'.
Re-read randystokes reply above. He ordered his regular size, and said they seemed a bit large, but thought going down one size would be too tight. I imagine you'll experience the same thing....so order your measured size and see what you think.
Yes, Michaelson got it just right (which is always impressive for a man of his age and drinking habits )
Seriously, though, I did order my regular size. They're a bit roomy, but I'm convinced that going down half a size would make them too tight. I solved the "problem" by adding a pair of those gel insoles and getting thicker socks. The toe box on the J Crew boots is a bit bigger -- or "higher" -- than on my Aldens, but that's not really a problem.
I've been wearing them quite a bit, and they're really very nice boots.
Still has that large moctoe welt, again like the Redwings.
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but I can create a link to it.
, my Ruggeds are really looking ratty 
.
