Rockport Farnum report...

PyramidBlaster · Post by **PyramidBlaster** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:32 pm

OK, here's my impression of the much-discussed Rockport Farnum boots... I just received my pair in dark brown a few minutes ago.

A little background. I typically wear hiking boots or double-gore slip-ons, and am partial to Timberlands. I typically wear a size 12 in regular width, usually with fairly thick cotton socks (but not hiking socks.).

Opening the box, I was pleasantly surprised by the finish---in previous photos, I was thinking the boots would look too dressy, but these look like they'll get some character fairly quickly. The boots seem to be really lightweight, probably due to the lightweight outsole---as noted in previous posts, the outsole is not really a long-wearing type, being more designed for office/casual use. It does offer a decent tread pattern, but not something suited for hiking. It also appears to be non-replaceable, but I guess we'll see when I eventually get there.

Slipping the boots on, I expected to find a shoe that fit fairly loose, according to many who have reported that they run large. I have not found this to be so---In fact, I had to wear a thinner sock to get a comfortable fit---If anything, the boots run true-to-size in length, but a little narrow in width.....

They're a bit stiff right out of the box, but I'm hoping to soften them up with some pecards or similar. I'm hoping they'll feel a little wider after they break in, but so far I think they'll be O.K. in the meantime.

I'm REALLY glad I didn't order them a half-size small, as I would be sending them back. If anything, these will do me through the premiere, until I can get either some J.Crew Ruggeds or the ubiquitous Aldens....So far, favoring the J.Crews, because I like a little more tread than I'm seeing on the Aldens.

I'll be breaking these in as much as possible until the premiere---I'll update the thread as things develop....

IndianaSVT · Post by **IndianaSVT** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 5:47 pm

;0 I've always wanted to do that lol.

PyramidBlaster · Post by **PyramidBlaster** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 11:23 am

UPDATE:

I've been wearing the Farnums on and off for almost three weeks...And my impression?

First off, the last (last is the basic shape of the foot that shoemakers use for their designs---they vary from company to company) is a bit on the narrow side. It's designed as a dress/casual boot, as opposed to an outdoor boot...

I like them, but after I recently saw an opportunity to pick up a pair of J.Crew /Red Wing Rugged Classic boots, I think I've relegated the Farnums to being more what they were designed for---Casual/dress boots. I'm not bummed, as I really do like them...But they just seemed wrong for the application, at least in my case. A little too pointy, a little too narrow, a little too lightweight...A little too...Cultured. They'll make good backups.

From what I've read and seen, the Red Wings seem to suit my personal ideal of the Indy boot---Something rugged enough to be worn in the field (with a pair of hiking socks!), but just classy enough for dinner with your folks. We'll see.

Naturally, when the Red Wings come in, I'll post a side-by side comparison, along with a full report. But for now, The Farnums are backups...

rrhanselka · Post by **rrhanselka** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 8:32 pm

I love mine, because I am a salesman in the oil patch. They work perfectly as a dressy work boot with jeans or khakis. You are right. Rugged, they are not.

Many Thanks
Randoman

theinterchange · Post by **theinterchange** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 10:25 pm

I don't plan to go on adventures in mine. Just wearing them around town and such. Looking forward to getting Alden's or Magnoli Adventure Boots one of these days.

IndyWannaBee · Post by **IndyWannaBee** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 2:44 am

Me too! Love them! And they are somewhat pre-distressed right out of the box!!1

JC1972 · Post by **JC1972** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 10:50 am

I have 2 pairs of Farnums and I love them. Yes they're stiff out of the box but they break in after a few times.

Indybantha Jones · Post by **Indybantha Jones** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 5:26 pm

How quickly do the soles wear on them?

Mark Brody · Post by **Mark Brody** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 5:59 pm

I've had mine for about 7 months or so, and I wear them pretty regularly. Here's what the soles look like.

Vegeta · Post by **Vegeta** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 6:00 pm

I also got mine a few days ago. I've worn rockport shoes for almost 10 years. They have always been true to size for me.....but not these. They are at least 1/2 size too big. Well.....I found a way to solve that...lol.

First thing I did was chuck em in the wash and washed them in cold water, then dried them on high heat in the dryer using a shoe rack. This took away that nice weathered look they had and gave em a dull brown color. I wore them out for a few hours and the fit felt much better. Then I used some fiebings leather conditioner on them and that brought back a nice slightly worn look to them.

I personally like them a lot. People say they are too narrow but they are no more narrow than real aldens. And the ruggedness factor is lightyears beyond the aldens because these at least have some very decent tread. It's importand to take these on a rough sidewalk and scuff em up really good to get some good traction out of them. I do this with all my new boots and it helps them feel more grounded if that makes sence.

I find them to be plenty rugged. In fact I'm gonna wear them next time I head up to north florida to work on the huntin' property we have up there. They're waterproof and I'll get em nice and weathered that way

PSBIndy · Post by **PSBIndy** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 6:08 pm

I love my Farnums, too. Comfortable, light, and useful for all but hardcore trekking.....and they're cheap enough to buy 'em every other year. The J.Crew classic boot is ok but seems way too rugged for everyday use or going to the office......more like a straight work boot to me.....and at close to $230, you're better off just buying an Aldens at that price.

ichnob · Post by **ichnob** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 8:44 pm

Just ordered a pair of these myself today. Hoping to break them in to a comfortable wear before Comic Con.

whipcracker · Post by **whipcracker** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 9:21 pm

I just bought some today at my local Dillards. They were on the clearance wrack for $31!! I usually wear a size 11 and these were10.5 butI have alot of shoes that are a half size to small.

scot2525 · Post by **scot2525** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:08 pm

Well my Rockport Farnums arrived today and I have to say it looks great as an alternative to Aldens but I will not be keeping them. I ordered 11's and they are to big in the length, I normally wear an 11.5. They also really hurt my shins when I lace them up and walk around in them. I guess I will use the Rockport Capitals for know as my close enough boots.

Vegeta · Post by **Vegeta** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 8:36 pm

I do not lace them up all the way....Never will. I lace them up to the 1st metal tab. wrap em arround my ankle and tie em off.

PyramidBlaster · Post by **PyramidBlaster** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 9:01 pm

I softened mine up AND distressed them a little by stomping on them a few times, and kneading the parts that are stiff---like the ankle. Any 'hot spots' (like the one on my left heel) I smoothed out by rubbing it out hard with the smooth butt of a swiss army knife---A little trick I've picked up from when I sold hiking boots....

Vegeta · Post by **Vegeta** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 10:14 pm

I'm thinkin' about draggin' my boots behind my truck while I do 2 or 3 trips arround the block

floyd1977 · Post by **floyd1977** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 2:43 am

SO these boots won't be good for some light hiking? I was looking at these as being good useful for some day hikes, I guess I need to keep looking then. I really have no use for a "dress boot" and I want most of my indy gear to have a real world function....

PyramidBlaster · Post by **PyramidBlaster** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 7:54 am

They do seem to be designed as a casual boot--Not quite a dress boot, but very close. I typically wear them to the office, but for real adventures I default back to the Red Wings....

floyd1977 · Post by **floyd1977** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 8:00 am

PyramidBlaster wrote:They do seem to be designed as a casual boot--Not quite a dress boot, but very close. I typically wear them to the office, but for real adventures I default back to the Red Wings....

Red Wings eh... would you be so kind as to give me the model and colour of these boots so i can check them out?

Piers · Post by **Piers** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 11:36 am

I believe these are the Red Wings, very good sole on them

http://www.jcrew.com/catalog/product.jh ... =cat303109

Vegeta · Post by **Vegeta** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 2:26 pm

PyramidBlaster wrote:They do seem to be designed as a casual boot--Not quite a dress boot, but very close. I typically wear them to the office, but for real adventures I default back to the Red Wings....

I've said before..I dissagree with you on this. I think they would be more than fine for some light hiking. I do some serious work in the woods and thats how I plan to treat mine. Like work boots. Think about it man. They're leather, waterproof and have a pretty decent sole...they'll be fine. As long as your not climbing a mountian or rock climbing.....these boots plenty tough.

PyramidBlaster · Post by **PyramidBlaster** » Thu Jun 05, 2008 8:59 pm

I believe these are the Red Wings, very good sole on them

Those J.Crew ones would be it...I got some discounted ones in Hickory and darkened them with leather treatment and shoe polish...There's a thread about a month or two old with Pitfall Harry & myself discussing them:

viewtopic.php?t=28494&highlight=j+crew

Nothing against the Farnums, I like them alot...I wore them today. They would simply kill me on the kind of hikes I take...And I think I'd kill them, too...

danmartin26 · Post by **danmartin26** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 9:24 am

Hi,

I'm going to pick up a pair of these.

Which would be the more SA color, Dark Tan (top) or Dark Chocolate (bottom)?

Thanks,
Dan

PyramidBlaster · Post by **PyramidBlaster** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 10:17 am

I think many are torn on this particular subject. I myself got the darker brown and love them...But many others seem to prefer getting the lighter color and darkening them slightly with shoe polish/pecards, etc.

My vote is for the darker.

danmartin26 · Post by **danmartin26** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 1:30 pm

Thanks for the reply. I've decided to go with the darker.

Vegeta · Post by **Vegeta** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 3:09 pm

I wanted the lighter ones but had no choice...so I have the dark ones.

PSBIndy · Post by **PSBIndy** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 6:28 pm

I have both........for $69 each shipped, it's too much of a bargain to pass up.

whipcracker · Post by **whipcracker** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 10:16 pm

I have worn mine for about a week now and like them more and more. I wore them in the AZ desert this weekend and they were not hot. I wore them today while looking a some river front property in UT and I was glad that I had them te ground was spongey and the water almost to my ankles. They wick water amazingly fast, by the time I got to my next appt they were dry, on the outside of course, like I had never even been in the water. I like them! Lace them to the top but when you do flex your ankle by pointing your foot toes upward, then that way the knot is covered by your pants and always catching on stuff. That's what I do and it works great.

Las Vegas Jones · Post by **Las Vegas Jones** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 11:31 pm

I got the Rockport Farnums as well, I am extremely happy with them and even with them laced up all the way, they are possibly the most comfortable shoes I own

Las Vegas Jones

Alex · Post by **Alex** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 12:42 am

NICE weathering. These are next on the list for upgrades.

nicktheguy · Post by **nicktheguy** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 2:36 am

I like the look of the Farnum. A very good close enough.

scot2525 · Post by **scot2525** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 6:01 pm

I recently recieved my replacement Farnums in the lighter color, which I prefer, in a size that fits me and they are much more comfortable than the pair I previously had.

indycurtis · Post by **indycurtis** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 12:23 am

Just to re-iterate, in case it hasn't been said in this post, but 6pm.com is a great place to get deals on Farnum's. I got a pair of dark brown from there (which is usually 125.00 plus S&H) for $75. THey took a week to break in, but now they're my favorite shoes I own. I still need to get to the Alden shop for some SA laces, but otherwise a great boot all around.

Do make sure to get the half size smaller. I also suggest sizing by other rockports. Before I ordered mine i went to a local men's shop and tried on another pair of rockports to make sure i'd have the sizing right before i ordered. Worked like a charm.

Best,

Wraith1031 · Post by **Wraith1031** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 1:25 am

I have never owned Aldens, but my Farnums are the most comfortable shoe I have EVER owned!

Gunk · Post by **Gunk** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 9:58 am

Are Rockport Farnum soles repairable?

PSBIndy · Post by **PSBIndy** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 10:15 am

Gunk wrote:Are Rockport Farnum soles repairable?

....maybe, but it's probably cheaper to buy a new pair than to replace the entire sole.

Herr Doktor · Post by **Herr Doktor** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 10:16 am

Las Vegas Jones wrote:I got the Rockport Farnums as well, I am extremely happy with them and even with them laced up all the way, they are possibly the most comfortable shoes I own

Las Vegas Jones

Mine came in looking the same way...already distressed from the factory!

Debating the whole color thing though. That brown shoe polish is screaming to me!!!

Indiana Jess · Post by **Indiana Jess** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 5:03 pm

I just recieved a pair of these from a COW member a few weeks ago. They're really comfortable, but the sole are too soft to last for very long. It might be worth it to see if I can get someone to replace them with sturdier soles.

Vaderbreath · Post by **Vaderbreath** » Fri Jun 20, 2008 5:46 pm

I absolutely love my farnums, but I too wish the soles were a bit heartier. I've had mine for only a few months and I'm amazed how fast they are wearing down from ordinary use. Still, though, they are my most comfortable shoes.

-Corey