Jack Erwin Chester Boot Review - Why So Cheap?

11 WAYS TO SAVE MONEY ON BOOTS: stridewise.com...
FULL REVIEW + PICTURES: stridewise.com...
Jack Erwin was started when founders Ariel Nelson and Lane Gerson decided they wanted to build a brand “with prices we could relate to.” In other words, they make pretty inexpensive boots, partly because it’s mostly a direct to consumer brand. What’s the quality like?
FIRST GLANCE
Handmade in Spain from French calfskin, the Chester is Jack Erwin’s most popular boot and it's pretty darn dressy: toe cap, calfskin leather, low rise, and a sleek and streamlined appearance.
LEATHER
The leather is sourced from France and this boot is constructed in Spain.
We’re looking at full grain, calfskin leather that’s been slightly corrected for a nice, smooth leather. Full grain means it comes from the top layer of the hide of the animal.
* Full Grain Vs. Top Grain - The Surprising Differences stridewise.com...
Calfskin is considered dressier than cowhide but it actually has more tensile strength and wrinkles more finely, however since it just looks a little more delicate than regular leather it often gets used on dressier boots.
LEATHER CARE
Venetian shoe cream should do just fine with these and you want to make sure you get a horsehair brush as well, because the hairs are very fine which makes it easier to push the cream into the pores of the leather.
If you want to waterproof these stick to products from Coach or Cole Haan, per Jack Erwin’s recommendation.
Finally, use shoe trees!
* Compare with another dressy calfskin boot, the Frye Jones Lace-Up • Frye Jones Lace-Up Rev...
SOLE
This is a basic, medium density rubber sole that look like Dainite but it’s actually Jack Erwin’s own rubber.
After the rubber there’s a stacked wooden heel and a padded leather insock. I would have preferred some leather in the heel because the shock absorption isn’t great with these shoes.
These are Goodyear welted, which means they’re pretty water resistant and easy to resole, but the downside is the sole isn’t very flexible, it’s hard to wear in, and it’s not as comfortable as something like a Blake stitch.
* These look pretty similar to Thursday’s Captain boot, but there are important differences: • Thursday Captain Boot ...
FIT & SIZING
These run form sizes 7 to 14 and they fit true to size. I found the last very narrow and even though it did stretch over the first week of wearing them, they never felt that great.
Note that I lent these boots to some friends who I thought had the same shoe size as me (they can wear all my other shoes) and about half said they didn’t find it to be too tight, so your experience may differ - but if you look around online, the width is a common complaint.
PRICE
$220. That’s very inexpensive for European made, Goodyear welted calfskin boots, which are typically closer to $350.
PROS
Super smart looking
Pretty versatile
Goodyear welted
Inexpensive
CONS
Tough break in
Bad shock absorption
Leather may not age well
Very narrow last
FULL WRITTEN REVIEW HERE: stridewise.com...

[@chusamusic1409]

My new favorite channel!

[@ronwhite6180]

I recently purchased a pair of these boots in dark brown calfskin. I have a narrow foot and generally chose footwear from brands that have a slimmer fit. These boots fit me great, and I was really impressed with the full kidskin lining. In my opinion, You get a lot of bang for the buck with this brand.

[@TheRedace9544]

Meermin and/or Carmina review please! Awesome videos by the way!

[@Stridewise]

Carmina is out of my size and they have to make more shoes! But Meermin is already filmed and will be up soon :)

[@rockon21ful]

Late to the show but you’re the best boot reviewer on KZbin ‼️😷👍🥾

[@Stridewise]

Trevor! That made my night, thanks. Welcome!

[@jonathanwick1265]

Great review! For $220 and Goodyear welted they look like a steal.

[@Stridewise]

Hope you like 'em, Navid!

[@jonathanwick1265]

@@Stridewise they look really nice! Hope you enjoy them :)

[@matthewhopkins6359]

Definitely one of my favorite channels

[@jonahgeremia1921]

You should wear a white shirt during filming when displaying a black boot. More contrast. Hard to make out the boot against your black shirt.

[@Stridewise]

Yeah you're right Jonah, I learned that lesson

[@JohnNathanShopper]

You deserve more views

[@dobypilgrim6160]

Dammit Nick. Now every time I have to re-tie my boots I think of your videos. Lol. Merry Christmas.

[@Stridewise]

Hahaha! You too my man.

[@Cotivity]

They look AMAZING, imo. The narrow build is unfortunately a non-starter.

[@andyflew6329]

When you need to have them resoled have a black leather sole put on, it'll look like a ninja's shoe.

[@JohnNathanShopper]

Too much toe spring. It's a pity with all that elegant calfskin.

[@Stridewise]

You know, no one has ever commented on one of my videos that a toe spring was the disqualifying factor. Is it because you worry they'll lose shape over time or is it more of a comfort thing?

[@JohnNathanShopper]

It's not curling or wrinkling, because shoe trees solve most of that problem. It just looks...off to me, or extreme to have the toe box pointed up nearly an inch off the ground like that. To me, it's like the designers were afraid of making a simple, elegant dress boot, so they had to amp it up with this extreme toe spring so that everybody knows this is a fancypants calfskin dress shoe that's too precious to suffer gruntwork. I get fired up about it, but I love plain designs.

[@Stridewise]

Love it! You taught me something today. I guess to be fair the company emphasizes that you should always use shoe trees with these and they were a couple of weeks old and had never had shoe trees in them, so maybe if I'd been more diligent there would have been less toe spring.

[@Kamikazekman]

Hey mate, great vids again! Just wondering... Do you use shoe/boot trees in all your boots between wears?

[@Stridewise]

I was slack with that at the beginning but I do now! Got a big shipment of 'em.

[@Kamikazekman]

Yeah since learning about proper leather care for higher end shoes, I've been shoving shoe trees in all my GYW shoes and boots. My place smells like Cedar! haha. Slightly (and unhealthily) obsessed with minimizing vamp creasing.

[@Stridewise]

Literally two minutes ago i had this conversation with someone. "Do you get lots of boots delivered?" me: "Yeah, and shoe trees." then i had to explain why they're essential and she looked at me like I was crazy. I'm like no it's very basic boot care! Haha. Us boot people are a strange breed.

[@Kamikazekman]

Indeed. But damn, our footwear sure looks good though! hahah

[@stylinasian3291]

I think you can pick this up for $110ish. They are having a 50% off inventory sale right now!

[@Stridewise]

GET IT

[@olixo9852]

Hey there! What are your thoughts on the Common Projects Chelsea boots?

[@edf2953]

Nice video Nick. I was not familiar with the Chester Boot. While an interesting boot I’m satisfied with my Higgins Mill from AE.

[@Stridewise]

Glad you liked the video, Ed! I thought more people knew about Jack Erwin to be honest haha, maybe it's more of a New York brand. I like the Higgins Mill more as well, partly because it fits me better than almost any other boot.

[@matthewhopkins6359]

If I might ask, have you thought about doing a review on a Moc toe boot?

[@Stridewise]

I'm just putting the finishing touches on a review of Red Wing's moc toe! They're my first pair of boots ever so I'm looking forward to the response. Hope you like it!

[@TheMot616]

I believe that style boot is traditionally a Balmoral

[@Stridewise]

Good insight!

[@andyflew6329]

How have I not saw this video till today? I need a pair of these I don't care if they cut my toe. Better looking then the president by Thursday? Or did you review the captain?

[@Stridewise]

I just reviewed the Captain! They're slimmer and dressier for sure.

[@Stridewise]

Sorry I meant that the Jack Erwin is slimmer and dressier, not the Captain!

[@coconut6468]

Man , you ought turn up those cuffs. These are handsome!

[@ahastar1141]

Was the sizing based on your typical boot sizes or sneaker size? I was confused because you said you got an 11.5 which is the largest your shoe size has been. I am thinking about going for the wing tipped version but I couldn’t tell if I should get my standard boot size which is 11.5 or my shoe size which is 12.5 because they are a touch narrow

[@Stridewise]

Well for sneakers the biggest size I've worn is a 12 for my Converse Chuck Taylors. My Brannock size is like an 11.75 but I've never worn boots any larger than 11.5. You should try for a size 12 boot I think! Free returns/exchanges in any event.

[@ahastar1141]

Stridewise unfortunately no free returns during the sale and size 12 is sold out on the similar pair of boots (carter wingtips) I was looking at. So I am debating if I should go with the 12.5 or 11.5.

[@Stridewise]

Sorry man this comment got marked as spam for some reason. I'd have gone with 12, an 11.5 is a better idea than a 12.5 I think because you can get boots stretched but hard to make do with really big ones.

[@coryjosue5038]

NEED HELP! My red wing moc toe black harness leather has black molds at tip inside the boot. I haven't worn it in a week. How can I avoid this? Thanks

[@Stridewise]

I think using cedar shoe trees would help to prevent it from happening again because they help to reduce moisture inside the boot. As for getting rid of the mould... talk to a cobbler?

[@asadb1990]

should have taken better care of the boot by regularly polishing and waterproofing. if the sole is not too worn out, you could do a switch and bait.

[@rhymeandreasoning]

Very hot boots. Always love when you put the boots on. NICE.

[@JohnNathanShopper]

Do a review of the Loake Pimlico chukka. Since it's on Amazon it's now a direct competitor to Thursday boots in the $200 range, with the benefit of the British name and brand.

[@Stridewise]

Yo I've been meaning to review Loake but have been putting them off because I thought they were tough to get outside of Britain. I'll definitely put that on my list now, thanks so much for the heads up John!

[@rful3981]

By the way, is that Brooklyn?

[@Stridewise]

Yup, this is Dumbo :)

[@rful3981]

Stridewise I lived close for a year. Wonderful time.

[@LorenzoNW]

Pretty sure that if you waterproofed these boots your feet would cook in them.

[@asadb1990]

220 is hardly cheap when compared to asian made leather boots that run 100 max.

[@DJ4712DC]

Definitely not a boot. Is just a high top shoe

[@davidcoleman2463]

Why would I buy these when I can buy Thrusday boots for $200 .

[@Stridewise]

Yeah I like Thursday a lot more!

[@rful3981]

They might be made in China, like the Meermins

[@Stridewise]

Hmm, why do you think that?

[@rful3981]

Stridewise Because of the price. Making a quality shoe requieres a lot of labour. That is why shoes completely made in the UK, like Church's, C&J , Cheaney are expensive. Meermin is definitly made in China and finished in Mallorca.

[@Stridewise]

Hm, my Googling isn't finding anything. Maybe you should write an exposé for Stridewise.com :)

[@rful3981]

Stridewise shoegazing.se/english/2015/10/11/review-meermin-101482-tan-country-calf/ Owning boots from Cheaney, C&J and a pair of Meermins, I notice quiet a difference, especially in the finishing of the sole stitching. And of course they don't have the dainite. Recently I bought a pair of Tricker's boots...that is a real different chapter, what a quality and perfection!

[@matthewhopkins6359]

First!

[@davidcoleman2463]

Thursday boots. $200 So much better