My New Boots

[EJGreen]

I've been searching for boots since the day I went on the waiting list for my armor. Naturally the first vendor I looked at was TKBoots. Needless to say, they never have anything in stock and have been "ramping up for production" for what seems to have been forever now.

 

My next option was Imperial Boots but (again) I can't seem to find anyone willing to answer my emails. I was actually looking forward to buying from Imperial because they sell the black TX boots that I could dye white (like the originals).

 

I decided to expand my search and I'm surprised to find that "chelsea" and "jodhpur" boots appear to be a European commodity. Just about every seller I found was somewhere in the UK and severe of them won't ship to the states

 

Anyway, I took my search to Amazon and found a pair of Roamers Leather Jodhpur Equestrian Riding Boots. You can see them from this link...

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PI2T0VK?refRID=Y91DERAGT73KGMJ7E71W&ref_=pd_cart_vw_1_1_p

 

I ordered them along with a bottle of Fiebings deglazer and white Angelus paint. It might take a while to get my boots in as they are coming out of the UK but I will definitely be back to this thread with pics and a review.

 

It's really a sigh of relief to finally get my boots ordered. My suit will be complete soon and all I really need at this point is a blaster.

[Holnave (evan_loh)[TK]]

Painting them white cause the paint to chip off and crack over time when trooping. That's when the boots get really nice just like in the movies

 

I've heard of people spray painting their boots as well.

[charlesnarles]

You won't be disappointed, they're comfy and look great. Only real discrepancy is the wider shape of the heel strip, but that's fairly negligible IMO

[EJGreen]

I appreciate the feedback. Like I said, I will definitely post pics and my personal review of the boots once they arrive.

[=Sv3=[TK]]

I appreciate the feedback. Like I said, I will definitely post pics and my personal review of the boots once they arrive.

I agree with Charles, I won't paint them until later but they look and feel great out of the box! Probably one of the best options out there.

[SeanTX]

I agree with Charles, I won't paint them until later but they look and feel great out of the box! Probably one of the best options out there.

 

So you are going to break them in then paint? Will that make the paint last longer?

[FirstCoastFett[501st]]

 

I bought black and painted white. Bass Amsterdam boots. incredibly comfortable, easy to paint. took about 7 coats, and two coats of the sealant to prevent it from chipping. not sure how they'll hold up over time, but I guess we'll see!

 

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[=Sv3=[TK]]

So you are going to break them in then paint? Will that make the paint last longer?

Never thought of it that way. It may or may not!!

 

To be honest, I was just excited to have something stormtrooper related I could wear

Edited August 12, 2015 by =Sv3=

[SeanTX]

Ha no doubt. I really need boots to see if my shins are to tight

 

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[=Sv3=[TK]]

Ha no doubt. I really need boots to see if my shins are to tight

 

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The nice thing about Roamers is that they are very narrow at the ankle, so that should help, that is if those are the boots you bought... Edited August 12, 2015 by =Sv3=

[SeanTX]

Those are the boots i am seconds from buying

 

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[=Sv3=[TK]]

They look very close to TKboots IMO. Not 100%, there are some slight differences in the design but they are as close as you get for the price! If you intend to go with black boots painted white, they seem to be a great choice... Very comfortable too! In fact, I'm wearing them right now

Edited August 12, 2015 by =Sv3=

[SeanTX]

For british shoes with us sizes I'm less worried about excanging them too.

 

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[EJGreen]

My boots finally arrived a couple of days ago and I am finally getting around to posting my first impressions and some photos...

 

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Edited January 31, 2022 by gmrhodes13
link not working removed

[EJGreen]

Today, I'm hoping to spend some time with my boots and start the process of getting getting them white.  Honestly, the only things that stands between me and my 501 application are these boots, painting the AB buttons and correcting a couple of minor fitting issues with my suit,  Everything minus these boots could be knocked out within a few hours so I'm going to tackle the boots first since they will take some time...

 

 

Here are the three basic chemicals one would typically need for a job like this.  I have a bottle of Fiebings Deglazer, a bottle of the Angelus  Acrylic leather paint, and the Angelus Acrylic Finisher.  You can find these on Amazon for about $10 each.  Having a deglazer is important because you want  to strip off that clear manufacturer sealer.

 

Let me point out that several leather experts say that you want to choose your deglazer appropriately.  Some experts say that you can use an alcohol based product for real leather and you can use acetone for man-made leather.  I don't know if that is true but I know that the Fiebings brand that I'm using is designed for genuine leathers and the label specifically says "Not recommended for man-made leathers."

 

A few other things you'll need (not shown here) are some rags or cotton balls (I'll likely be using an old white T-shirt), some masking tape (the blue painters tape works) some brushes and a place where you can work safely. You may also need a bottle of white fabric paint to color the elastic gusset on the sides.  A few people rely on the Tulip brand that you can find pretty much anywhere.

 

The Angelus Acrylic Leather paint can be applied using an airbrush or sponge pad.  A lot of videos that I've seen on the process use your basic paint brushes with a "fan brush" being the most popular.  I don't have an airbrush or spray brush so I will be using various brushes.

 

One concern that I had was using an "acrylic" paint.  One might assume that an acrylic paint (vs. latex paint) will crack but a lot of leather experts say that this paint should not crackle or peel.

Edited August 22, 2015 by EJGreen

[EJGreen]

You'll want to start with a deglazer.  Again, depending on whether or not your boots are genuine leather or man-made leather, you'll want to make sure you're using what works best for your boots.

 

One thing that I've noticed in other threads is the amount of time people spend just on the first step.  The purpose of deglazing your boots is to strip away the manufacturer's coating from the leather.  Think in terms of stripping wax off a car.  A lot of experts tell you that it is not necessary to spend hours on this step!  You're not trying to get down to bare leather--you just want to remove that clear, waxy coating from the leather. Naturally, some of the original dye is going to rub off and that's okay too.  Just don't think you're required to rub all of the original dye off during the preparation step.  If you really want to spend all that time doing so, by all means, knock yourself out.  It's just not required to achieve a nice finish.

 

 

 

Here, I'm simply using an old T-shirt to strip the leather and prep it for painting.  Cotton balls are a popular tool for this process as well.  I'm applying the deglazer in a circular motion.  You don't have to press hard but you want to make sure that you are thorough and you can use Q-tips for places that might be hard to reach.  It's also okay if you should happen to get any of the deglazer onto the gusset--its not going to ruin anything.

 

What you might begin to notice while you're doing this is that the leather may feel "softer" or more pliable.  The reason being, the protective seal is coming off and the natural tendencies of the leather will start to appear.  You might also see slight imperfections in the leather itself, creases, blemishes, and tiny wrinkles.  Again, this is what natural leather looks like!  It's the shoe polishes and sealers that tend to hide these little things in the end.

 

 

 

Here I'm confident that I've done a thorough job.  You'll notice that there's some of the black dye on my rag but you'll also see that the boot still looks black.  Again, that's okay!  Once you've completed this initial step, wipe your boots with a clean, dry cloth to remove any excess deglazer and let them dry a little bit before moving onto the painting step.  The Deglazer that I'm using is alcohol based so it actually dries really fast!

 

 

And here's the other alcohol-based product that I tend to use.  It, too, has a tendency to dry up really fast...

 

Edited August 22, 2015 by EJGreen

[EJGreen]

I've left my boots to dry for about an hour and I'm going to start the next step which is the actual painting process.

 

Before I dive in, let me say that there's more than one way to apply the paint to your boots. I highly recommend that you carefully read the instructions for your particular brand of paint or dye and it doesn't hurt to cruise on over to YouTube and do a search on the process.

 

I've heard of people who will use airbrush or spray. Some people have used foam or sponge brushes but I'm using regular paint brushes. Whatever method you use, you want to make sure that you're using a soft bristle or tool. Some paint brushes have harder bristles and that's not what you want to use. I went to my local art supply store and picked up a couple of brushes that feature a soft touch.

 

Before you begin, you may want to use painters tape to mask off the sole so as not to get paint on it. I'm not going to do that! I've got an art degree and have experience working with paints and brushes and my confidence level tends to be slightly higher than most. If you're frightened by the idea of painting without a "safety net," by all means get that tape on there! Just remember that when you pull that tape off in the end, some of the paint from your boot might come off with it. In that case, you'll want to score that line with a blade before you pull that tape off. One of the benefits of the paint that I am using is that it is water based paint. Should you accidentally get it onto the rubber sole, it should rub off with your finger or a damp rag.

 

 

It's not as scary as it seems!

 

You'll notice that I'm using a "fan brush." The brush gets that name because, well... it resembles a fan! Again, it has soft bristles which is important because you want to "flow" the paint onto the leather. It's the same technique that your wives and girlfriends use when they're painting their nails!

 

I should also point out that should you get some of the paint onto the elastic gusset, it's okay! That part is also going to be white as well.

 

When applying the paint, it's better to apply several thin coats as opposed to one heavy coat of paint. You don't need to load the brush with a ton of paint and you'll want to "pull" the brush over the leather. If you notice your brush is starting to "drag" go ahead and dip your brush into the paint and continue. Long brush strokes will have a much better appearance in the end as opposed to just dabbing it on.

 

I simply slid the boot onto my hand and made sure that I had an even coat applied all over. You'll want to pay close attention to seams.

 

 

Here's what the first coat looks like. Again, I'm not worried about any paint that may have gotten onto the elastic gusset. Any paint that happens to get onto the sole will come off with a Q-tip dipped in nail polish remover.

 

 

You'll notice that with just a single coat of paint, they are already starting to look white! But you do want to let them dry between additional coats of paint.

 

ALSO, clean your brushes in between coats as well. Don't let your brush sit in the paint while you're waiting for paint to dry! Cleaning your brushes will help them last longer and provide the best results in the long run. Believe it or not, a simple rinse under the faucet and a paper towel to dry was all that I needed to do to clean my brush.

 

I'm going to let these dry before I apply the next coat.

 

Again, if you have any questions, feel free to send a PM or post your questions here.

Edited August 22, 2015 by EJGreen

[EJGreen]

This is what boots look like when they're drying in the sun.

 

 

I actually set them outside to dry for a while before adding a second coat. 

 

In case you're wondering, "how long does it take for the paint to dry," I can tell you that it's not as long as you might think.  This isn't e6000 that needs to cure for 24 hours!  This is really a lot simpler than most would think. Gently touch the leather with your fingertip.  Does paint appear on your finger?  Does your boot feel sticky or tacky?  If not, that's a good indication that the paint is dry,

 

The first coat tends to dry faster than the following coats as much of the paint from the first coat is absorbed into the leather.  But after sitting in the sun for about an hour, I felt confident that they were ready for a second coat.

 

The second (and subsequent coats) are applied in the same way as the first.  You don't have to do anything differently but the drying times might lengthen a bit as less of the paint is absorbed into the leather.

 

 

 

Here's what a boot looks like after the second coat of paint...

 

 

As you can see, the second coat has already made a huge difference!  I'm convinced that a third coat might be the finishing touch before I apply the acrylic finisher.

[SeanTX]

Looking good man. I got all my paint just waiting for my boots to arrive. What is the communities opinion on bleaching the fabric around the ancle rather than painting it? I just feel it will look gunked up after a few coats of paint.

[charlesnarles]

Looks great so far. Surprisingly quick dry times eh?

[EJGreen]

Looks great so far. Surprisingly quick dry times eh?

This paint does have a tendency to dry quickly. Humidity and moisture will have an effect on the actual drying times.

[EJGreen]

Looking good man. I got all my paint just waiting for my boots to arrive. What is the communities opinion on bleaching the fabric around the ancle rather than painting it? I just feel it will look gunked up after a few coats of paint.

If you're referring to the elastic gusset you might not get the desired results from bleaching the material. It actually is elastic which means that it stretches and has rubber thread woven into the material. If you think you might be able to alter the color by using a bleaching method, I would suggest trying it out on a spare piece of elastic.

 

Honestly though, paint really doesn't gunk up the elastic as you might think and your shint armor is going to cover most of it up when you're all suited up.

[SeanTX]

If you're referring to the elastic gusset

 

The fabric piece over the ankle that stretches.

[PGHtrooper21]

My boots finally arrived a couple of days ago and I am finally getting around to posting my first impressions and some photos...

 

 

As you can see from the label on the box these are the Roamers brand black leather Unisex Gusset Jodhpur Riding Boots.  Apparently, the jodhpur style of boot is quite popular in the equestrian arts.  I ordered them online through Amazon (the link is in my original post up top).  They were shipped from the UK and they arrived a lot sooner than the shipper was predicting.  With shipping I paid around $65.00.  I ordered them in the Euro size 45 which converts to a US size 12 and the seller has them up to a size 13 US.  

 

I often have a very difficult time finding shoes that fit me properly.  Honestly, I'm usually barefoot unless I'm at work.  I can wear shoes from a size 12 to a 13 depending on the style but I do wish I would've ordered these a bit bigger.  There's obviously some benefits from breaking them in but they are "snug."  These are made in a medium width and if you have wide feet you may feel a bit of discomfort until you break them in.

 

 

 

 

They were packaged much like you would expect and they arrived safe and sound without any damage.

 

 

 

Here they are out of the box.  As you can see they come with only one pull tab but I've confirmed that having only one pull tab does not disqualify them and the CRL's for both the EIB and Centurion have no specific requirement on these.

 

 

As you can see there's no stitching or seams across the toe or instep.

 

 

 

A view from the side

 

 

 

I apologize for not having a clearer shot but you can see the strip on the back

 

 

 

Finally, a shot of how the sole looks.

 

 

Let me just finish this post by saying that I've looked high and low for boots since the beginning of my build and it has been a long road to find them.  Even before I started building my armor, I knew I was aiming for Centurion but I really didn't think I would actually lean more towards a replica (as replica as I can get) suit.  That meant I would have to find black boots and eventually paint or redye them white.  

 

Painting them will be the next step and since I'm already here, I might as well document the process throughout this thread.

 

If anyone has any questions, please do not hesitate to PM me or post them here!

Hi,

Do they run True to size? Are the soles and heal Reall Leather?

 

Andy

[EJGreen]

Hi,

Do they run True to size? Are the soles and heal Reall Leather?

 

Andy

I would say that they do feel a bit snug on my feet but I can wear anything from a 12 to a 13 US, depending on the style of the shoe. I think I would have ordered the next size up had I known ahead of time. Honestly, I'm inclined to say that if the width was a tad more relaxed they would fit a little better. I feel most of the pressure is against my pinky toes but these are brand new and will probably fit better after wearing them in.

 

The sole and heel is a ribbed neolite rubber.