Kinda forced myself to dome these.

At the start of my boot collecting journey, I wanted to start with Marikina brands. Marikina is a city in Metro Manila that was once famous for their shoemaking. After a disappointing experience with my first boot build with RE Craftsman (fit issues), I found a brand named Black Wing Shoes and on their IG page was their captoe homage to the iron rangers. I visited their shop on March 4, 2023 and got measured by the owner himself. I asked that he make me a pair using a leather insole and a plain toe version of the boots on their IG page. He offered recycled tire outsoles and I agreed. I picked a museum finish grey leather that he had on his catalog.

I was measured at their store.

This was a bad experience. I was told a lead time of about 4 to 6 weeks. After numerous follow ups and angry messages, they called me to fit on June 24, 2023, 3 months and 3 weeks after I got measured and paid the down payment. When I got there, it was burgundy in color. They had messed up the leather and tried to put the blame on me. When I showed the message thread and even picked out the leather again on their catalog, they changed their tone and became uncomfortable yet still kinda unapologetic. I told them if they fit, I'd just take them anyway because I didn't want to go through that wait again. Unfortunately, it didn't fit. it was way too loose and I saw that the eyelets and the speedhooks were flimsy so i asked for a sturdier kind. I also saw that the insole was fiberboard. The owner promised to redo the boots, and agreed to the specs I asked for and even promised that he would put leather insoles. He said he had a grey crazy horse leather that he had been keeping and he would break that out for me. After even more angry follow ups, I finally got them on September 25 but they still didn't fit. they were loose around the vamp even when the facings touch. It also came in a weird nubuck charcoal leather and fiberboard insoles with a cheap foam insert. The eyelets and hooks were still the same flimsy kind and one broke on my first pull. As I didn't want to deal with them again, i took them to Willie's and he changed the eyelets and added thick leather insoles and they worked. he didn't change the speedhooks because they weren't attached well and was worried about tearing the leather if he took them out.

I barely wore these boots. I did maybe once a week. and forgot about them for about a month.

there is no break in. I wasn't happy with the leather so I tried different products on these. on the second month, i used dubbin wax. around December, I took that out with saddle soap. around the last month, I used Saphir cream and VSC about a week before the deadline. I don't think the leather changed at all.

even with the thick insoles from Willie, the fit isn't snug at all. wearing thicker socks really helps. The heel counter is also flimsy and the heel fit just feels weird and pinches my heel when walking.

After using the VSC, I think this grew on me and I'm starting to wear them a bit more. ehh. not really.

I actually think they're pretty cool. its gives enough bounce and surprisingly doesn't mark floors. Ive tried repeatedly.

I just feel like ₱9000 would be a waste if I didn't at least give them a try. I can get over the fact that its blake stitched. Like what I told the owner, in the end, its the boots I'll be judging. and I think I've been very judgemental with this pair. But overall, they fit okay and they perform okay. so they're okay. as for the brand, im probably just not the customer for them. would not go back and would not recommend.