Briselblack (Benzein) Tochigi Engineer Boot Review

Specs:
Size 43.5 (TTS for US 10.5D Brannock arch length who wears 10D in Viberg, Grant Stone)
Kapak Last
Tochigi Veg Tan Cowhide - Color 5 Kashmir - Aniline finish
Hand Welted - single row flat welt - white stitching
Dr Sole Super Grip black half sole
Natural edge finish
11" shaft
Brass roller buckles
Full woodsman heel
Unlined
Unstructured toe

[@likearc]

The best reviewer is back! Happy to hear you, Dave.

[@thevintagefuture6567]

😄thanks you’re too kind! Appreciate the kind words!

[@dbluntson5243]

Dope video man. I really like how sensible you make things. Very practical and extremely realistic. It’s so easy to get caught up in “keeping up” with others on social media. I think that some of us lose touch with reality and over extend ourselves. I speak from experience on that regard. It’s like you’re this voice inside of my head reminding me to buy what I like. Through watching your videos I’ve developed my own sense of style and I’m trying new things here and there. Just wanted to say how much I appreciate what you do. This might be my first engineer boot. I’ll do some research first of course. Later man.

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Wow thanks man!! I really appreciate the encouragement! And glad it helps keep things in perspective. I have made all the mistakes myself, got into overthinking, trying to get “the absolute best”, but ended up happier when I just chilled out and enjoyed life hahaha

[@pieromancer208]

Been wearing my benzein’s for the past year! I got mine in Shinki brown horse hide. I love them. I get complimented regularly while wearing them. It took quite a while to break them in, but they are a great boot. I think I had to wait from sept- January to get them. 100% worth the wait.

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Oh nice, yours sound amazing! Anything from Shinki is a leather delicacy. I probably should have gotten the Shinki horsehide instead of the oiled Horsebutt with my first pair and I probably would have held onto them.

[@sons.moon.leather]

Nice to have you back! The most appealing thing you mentioned was the good heel lock-in on these. That’s the main feature my engineers are lacking.

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Yeah I’ve never found that in a stock boot before. Even Clinch has a terrible heel cup. Role Club has a wonderful heel cup, but it’s custom sizing. The Briselblack heel cup isn’t snug, but rather just has the right shape to cup your heel from the top a bit.

[@nathancreel8547]

David! Great to see some new videos. Love this boots! They look perfect. Such a great design and execution. My Wescos finally arrived after 19 months 😂. They are made to measure and still needed a 3/4 insert for my super low volume foot, but they fit perfectly now. Really want Unsung engis for my next pair. Met them recently and they got my measurements so 🤞😁.

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Dude! Great to hear from you! The Wesco’s sound so amazing- really wish mine had fit- that 1339 just won’t work for my footsies….And UNSUNG 🤯🥰 Now that is a boot I need to try before I die. Also Kreosote. But I needed to halt the spending for a while 😅 Maybe at a life milestone it would be a cool present I can ask the wife for haha

[@nathancreel8547]

@@thevintagefuture6567 Kreosote looks awesome too, but the wait is even long than Wesco. I know what you mean about the spending. It adds up quickly. Picked up some Ooe denim the other day when someone on the discord mis-sized at a fair amount off retail new with tags, but had just bought two iron heart shirts AT retail 🤦‍♂️. Oh well, I still can’t regret that.

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Oh I feel that, about buying a good score used 😂 What’s nice though is, folks like us have been in the hobby to know what’s actually worth jumping for. Doesn’t mean we don’t make mistakes, but I don’t waste on things now that I once would have thought were a “gotta have this now” thing.

[@Nick-sq1me]

Wow this is an amazing pair David! Glad to see you making videos again. I have a pair of tochigi boots too and it's remained one of my all time favorite leathers for the last few years. At first I was surprised how slowly mine aged but now I appreciate their gradual progression. I think it's a leather that is intentionally made to mature slowly over many years or even a lifetime.

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Your Tochigi boots sound awesome! That’s encouraging too, that my leather will slowly age. There is something great about a leather which doesn’t give instant gratification.

[@DalesLeatherworks]

TOCHIGI!!! ❤❤❤❤

[@DMorgan77]

I don’t particularly like engineer boots, never tried them and I feel like the price point is high to try them, but if you post it I’ll watch lol. I enjoyed it.

[@drzaius844]

💯

[@thevintagefuture6567]

😂dude I totally get that. I’m like that when people review certain things too.

[@TheDancingKing92]

Great review as usual. Have some of their jodhpurs (made when they were still Benzein) on the "Kujang" last. Fit 1/2 Size smaller than brannock as well. I have an Iron Heart Belt in the same leather and it is supple, strong and patinas beautifully, can't wait to see a patina report on these, glad to hear they fit so well!

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Oh that’s cool you have the jods! I didn’t pay much attention to them until I saw some really great ones that I almost mistook for a Clinch. Benzein/BB really makes some cool designs.

[@drzaius844]

Glad you’re back!

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Thanks!

[@BootSpy]

sweet! I have some black ones on the way - maybe in May or so? Anyway, stoked to get them - nice review

[@thevintagefuture6567]

That rocks! Cant wait to see those. And thanks for sayin hi 🍻

[@stevenschwagel8029]

It would be interesting to see what kind of man wears these boots, They are beautiful boots.

[@davidcallan7844]

I have the Stride in Black Horween Chamois Smooth and The Seventh in Brown Overdyed Badalassi Veg Tan from Benzein, great boot company love them. I’d put them up there with Rolling Dub Trio from Tokyo. I get the high cost of some boots when the single makers are only doing 50-100 pairs a year aka the $2000-$3000 but RDT, Lofgren and the Indonesian Brands value to quality can’t be beat at a quarter to half the price. Thick Aniline aka Paint over the veg could explain the slow patina? Great boots, great review.

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Your boots sound amazing! Yeah, I agree, Benzein, RDT etc are fantastic - I'm kinda over the whole $2k boot thing these days, as much as I enjoy the ones I have...And yeah, the slow patina has gotta be that there's a paint pigment finish on them or something, even though I was told they're aniline....Still super fun boots though. I will do an update on the patina in a few months cuz I've been wearing them a lot since this review was done.

[@JFANderful]

Glad to see you’re back. Have you thought about getting cowboy boots? There’s a guy in Sebastopol I just recently heard about.

[@thevintagefuture6567]

I love cowboy boots! Used to wear them every day for over a decade. I’ve now moved on to explore other things but break out the old cowboy boots sometimes. I like your suggestion- maybe I’ll pick up a new pair in the coming years.

[@JFANderful]

@@thevintagefuture6567 I meet someone that took a class from him and my goodness the spi on the stitching is insane. The fit process also sounds like the best thing ever

[@thevintagefuture6567]

That’s awesome!

[@Mark_Bayer]

Thanks for the suggestion! These look awesome man! I want to order I’m just scared to buy boots without trying them on. How can I be sure to get the exact right size?

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Ordering from Indonesia is a bit risky tbh haha....You wouldn't be able to try them on first. It might be best to get Wesco boots to start. The best way to get those is contact Standard & Strange. They're an amazing retailer. There might be a wait, but it's worth it. You could go into one of their stores, or if it's a stock boot, you could buy it and then return it and ship it back if it doesn't fit (as long as you don't crease the boots at all or scuff the soles - always try on inside on carpet and don't bend or crease the boots so they're still returnable if needed)

[@Mark_Bayer]

@@thevintagefuture6567 I might just go to standard and strange at some point and see what they have. I honestly want the clinch boots most anyway, might just pony up eventually and get those

[@thevintagefuture6567]

They're super freakin amazing, if they fit you. Definitely worth waiting for. You'll usually spend less money in the long run if you just save for the thing you really want instead of trying to substitute it with 3 others that are cheaper. That's been my experience anyways (I learned the hard way hahaha). Yeah, call SnS about Clinch and see how they can help you or what they have in stock.

[@df540148]

I thoroughly enjoy my pair of Keepers in OD horsehide. Sizing is a bit tight. I went a half size up for the Strides and those are a bit too big so it's tough (both in Kapak). Perhaps the Ben 02 last fits better?

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Ah, interesting sizing situation….One thing I should mention more is I wear wool socks usually, which helps with sizing a lot, for those slightly big ones. After a couple weeks of that, it felt normal haha….But yeah, enjoy those boots; I have been super impressed with Benzein!

[@df540148]

@@thevintagefuture6567 and I've found Kujang fits much smaller too due to the hard taper at the toes.

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Oh I see, that makes sense

[@woemyrom996]

These are great, I see you took down the Role Club engineer review I booked an appointment with Brian when he comes to BKStitchdown bootcamp but the limitd info available to research and varying stories makes me want to cancel. Insert the Hot/Crazy GF chart meme. Replace GF with boots, hot with aesthetics/comfort, and crazy with monies, timing, and sizing issues. To quote Sosa to Montana " i like you theres no lying in you"

[@cbwillpower]

When you rebuild them, have the cardboard heel counter replace with leather. I rebuild mines.

[@Nicholas-V]

How is their sizing compared to Grant Stone?

[@thevintagefuture6567]

I guess it depends on what your foot is like. With Grant Stone, I go 1/2 down from Brannock. My Brannock is 10.5 heel to ball, so I get Grant Stone 10D. I have made 9.5D work, but it’s not right….With Briselblack I get 43.5, which is the same as my Brannock size (10.5D). The issue is, many people disagree on the corrrct conversion from EU to US sizing, but for me I have found 43.5 = 10.5US to be reliable.

[@Nicholas-V]

@@thevintagefuture6567 thanks! In Grant Stone in a 9.5 EEE in the Leo last which fits pretty perfect. My Ottowa Boots are a bit roomier in the bunion area but my Edward's gave me blisters until the insole compressed slightly. My biggest issue with boots and shoes in general is finding something that's wide enough.

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Oh interesting. I suppose reach out the them to ask about width. I’m sure with some measurements they could figure out what’s best for you.

[@philsandoval8614]

Sorry bro, there's no way those look better than a good pair of Wesco Mr Lou's. I own a pair of Mr Lou's and they're one of my favorite if not my favorite boot. I don't have as many boots as you...but I know what I like.

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Hey, that’s totally fair haha! 😆 I love the look of the Lou- it’s literally the classic - I just never had a good fit 😭 And you knowing what you like and sticking to it, that’s wiser than most of us 🍻

[@philsandoval8614]

@thevintagefuture6567 I do like your content. Like I dig your 310 Viberg boot reviews. I would love to get a pair of the 310 Viberg. I wear a 10.5 D....but they never have it available. Hahaha I wish I knew when they will drop so I can buy a pair. Keep rocking it! Cheers.

[@thevintagefuture6567]

Haha thanks so much! And yeah, I *think* Viberg announces their seasonal drops on their email newsletter, but I’m not sure. I don’t pay as much attention anymore.