John Lofgren Wabash Engineer Boots

I feel a sense of accomplishment in finishing the Thunderdome. The commitment to one pair of boots over six months was intimidating, but turned out to be a reliable constant during many changes. These accompanied me in my work as a bartender - being covered with sticky spirits and syrups every night - and followed me in my return to college and working in a coffeeshop after reorienting my goals. I think these boots and I have been better off for it: aging and "patina-ing" together. This is my second pair of engineers - I'm hooked. There is something so cool about the immense amount of Shinki horsebutt that went into these things. I should say they were difficult to break in, but in reality they took to the fast paced nature of the hospitality industry after the first weekend. The Vibram 700 soles wore super hard and the extreme Shinki grain handled all the spills and steps just fine; being wiped off and brushed most nights. The overall construction is neat as a pin and hasn't let me down yet either. Most impressive to me though is how little wear the heels are showing after so much time. I figured they would need to be replaced at least once. There is a special connection I have with these boots after all the cocktails and coffee they saw firsthand. What a rewarding experience this Patina Thunderdome has been.