Oak Street Bootmakers Trench Boot

I usually have 5-7 pair of work boots in weekly rotation, so daily wear for the Thunderdome was quite an adjustment. The first several weeks I used trees nearly every night, but the need to dry the boots quickly required the boots spend most nights in front of a fan. The boots were brushed with Tampico brush for about one minute nearly every day. This was very effective at knocking off dust, obliterating scuffs & scratches and providing an ever-so-slight sheen that made the boots look nice. Twice I wiped a small amount of mink oil on the welt and midsole area. I did my best to commit to the spirit of the Thunderdome - these were worn for everything; farm chores & projects, date night, sandblasting, monument installation (digging ditches), hiking, sightseeing in the city….we spent a LOT of time together! Concrete floors, gravel lots, fields, pastures, conferences, workshops, cemeteries, forests, sidewalks….and the Dainite did not disappoint. Not a bit. Regarding the boots; I dislike the pattern nearly as much as I dislike the last. The boots started out *extremely* tight, but did loosen up. I suppose this is considered “break in”. This pair arrived with an imperfection; one of the quarters was misaligned. Knowing how this pair would be worn for the contest, I decided to not let any of this be a bother. Had I purchased these for fashion wear, I would have requested to exchange them. One of the most interesting characteristics of this Boar Leather is the dark red undertones. This really gives a unique depth to the boots, which at first glance seem to be simply dark brown. One of my objectives was to try to determine if “fashion boots” are durable enough to withstand anything beyond casual wear. I found that this pair is extremely durable. The leather is unbelievably resilient, resistant to scuffs and scratches. The construction quality is holding together with no signs of deterioration. Other components; outsole, insole, even the OEM leather laces have 0 issues.