Submitted by wild_biologist t3_1116wcy in BuyItForLife
I'm visiting the US, Chicago, from the UK in a few weeks.
I'm not going to buy stuff for the sake of buying stuff - only if relevant and if it will save waste and money in the long term. But I am getting some Thursday boots and Darn Tough socks - which are awkward to get in the UK.
Wondering what other BIFL recommendations there might be?
I get it some of you don't recommend Thursdays.
Thursday boots are garbage
Lodge Cast iron products but weight can be an issue. You can find them almost anywhere (Target, Walmart, local supermarkets, etc).
Leather products - https://www.bullhidebelts.com Hanks Belts
Brasher boots are some of the finest boots made, and they’re in the UK.
They're more outdoorsy than I'm after, but thanks.
Ashland Leather
Hanks Belts
Stockmfg
Red Oxx
Will have a look. Got some good cast iron already, but will see what there is at least.
Can add Nalgene water bottles to my list.
I have a question is there any bootmaker of higer quality but similar aesthetic to the thursday boots in the US, I'm European and I find a lot of the US boots adviced here not to be aesthetically pleasing(for example the red rangers) but thursday boots are stylish enough.
Nick's and White's are common recommendations here and I haven't heard a single bad thing about either
You could just find an old fashioned cobbler and have them make you custom boots.
Skip Thursday boots - go with Redwing IMO. Or if you want other recs, ask the fine folks at r/goodyearwelt.
Enjoy your trip!
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Yeah thats me too.
Thursday boots look less rugged, which is what I'm after.
Also great value. Sure not as good as other GYW boots, but they're also not $500...
You live in likely the most target rich BIFL footwear country in the world and want to get the bottom tier boots in America? Unless they have a specific type that really speaks to you, pass on them.
And there are 10,000 BIFL things in America and we can't list them. And they'd likely save you $0 vs. buying online. Having traveled the world, I can think of very few things that are cheaper in their home country. Hell....Yankee Candles are cheaper at Target than the factory store attached to the plant where they are made. Shit's maddening.
Where are you going? I'd suggest actually visiting the places you want to buy from and then you're actually not buying stuff for the sake of buying stuff.
If you're going to be in the Pacific northwest, I'd make a point of trying to find whites or nicks boots and trying them on. If you're in the northeast and around cities like New York, Boston, or Washington DC then I'd suggest visiting an Alden shoes store and trying those on. Thursdays are not bifl.
Wolverine 1000 mile
Can confirm Hanks belts. Bought my first - Old World Harness about 3 months ago - and since have purchased 2 more. Won’t buy any others.
Nice, they look decent. Will investigate.
1000 mile, is that a claim that sounds good but isn't that impressive?
My £40 Clarks have easily lasted 1000 miles...
Depends on what you want to spend. $300 Redwing Iron Rangers or Blacksmith $450 Whites $600 Alden Indy, best boot in my opinion. I have had mine for nearly 10 years. Honestly though there are much better boot manufacturers in the UK and EU.
If you’re going near the Museum of Useful Things or the MOMA museum shop, it’s well worth looking at their sites, both love to exhibit and sell great designs that age beautifully.
This sounds like a very unique suggestion. I'm intrigued!
Depends on what you’ll use of course but I buy these for UK family - Hamilton shirts made in USA western style (Lyle Lovett collection). Hamilton shirts
I’m a big fan of Redwing boots reasonably priced good quality
Yeah Thursday boots def are not worth it. Check out oakstreetbootmakers.com, I think they are in Chicago but not positive. I have a pair of their kudu leather lakeshore boots and they are just amazing. Not sure if they make that particular boot anymore but they have some amazing stuff.
They look great. It's Chicago that in going to, so will check it out.
No doubt better than Thursdays. But also 2.5x the price. A price I'm sure is justified though.
If you have cast iron, skip lodge. It's not that good. Wagner is better, but old.
Wow, what are the odds you are going to Chicago! How cool 😎 is that!? Took me a while to pull the trigger on buying a pair because of the price but they are completely worth it. I also bought the cedar shoe trees, might be a good idea to get them too if you are going to spend $500+ on boots, that was my thought process when I originally got mine.
Yeah thanks. Might hit a goodwill actually, we have charity shops in the UK, but very different to what you have!
I might go try a pair on. Then I at least a) know for future so I could order from UK and b) have a bar to judge others against.
Goodwill, local thrift shops are fun. You never know what your going to find.
Also, you should ask about local food. Food here is regional dependant. For example: Texas has great beef bbq, NJ has pork roll egg and cheese on a bagel. Etc.
Yeye keen to have some genuine Chicago deep dish! Definitely asking around for suggestions, especially if there's an old family business.
Not sure what else Chicago is famed for though, food wise.
There are plenty of boot makers in the UK and you should be able to get something in a style you like. Someone like William Lennon is still making boots the same way they always have but you will have to wait for them.
Or a company like William Lennon who is based in the UK.
Depends on what you need and are looking for. If you like the outdoors, it might be worth hitting up a REI store if it’s convenient.
Yeah I looked at WLs before deciding on Thursdays. Look great but not what I'm after this time around.
If you’re looking at service boots (i.e. Thursday Captains) you could but White’s MPs, Grant Stone Diesels, etc. The most aesthetic service boots are Viberg’s IMO, also the originals (and quite pricey), but they are a Canadian brand (still probably easier to acquire in the US than the UK).
Guns
Duluth Trading Company makes some damn fine stuff
Duluth Trading Company makes some damn fine stuff
Wesco and Truman Boot Co. are noteworthy brands that others haven’t mentioned yet.
FYI: there’s a store in Chicago on Milwaukee Ave. called Mildblend that carries footwear from many of the American companies mentioned in this thread. It would be a good place to try some pairs on and compare options. They also have an excellent selection of raw denim.
Leatherman Wave+, although not sure if you guys can even carry them
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With good reason - yes.
Without reason, yes if below a specific length and non-locking.
Think we have leatherman here, though unsure if same range and price.
I'd recommend Johnnie's Beef where I'd get a beef and sausage combo with hot giardiniera and a lemon ice. One of the locations in really close to O'hare airport.
You should edit to add where in the US in your post, that will impact what we suggest since you can't find everything everywhere! If there is a Patagonia store where you are going, for sure visit that. If you are outdoorsy at all in fact, there are a ton of things much easier to get in the States.
Chicago has great steakhouses, and I've got to assume a lot of good Polish food options (sausages, pierogies...)
Can be found easily in Europe though. Perhaps they cost slightly less in the US?
Levi’s - not BIFL (no jeans are), but good quality. You can get Levi’s in Europe as well, but I understand that the prices are much much higher than buying them in the States. Hit up a department store like Macy’s and you should be able to get a pair on sale for $30 or less.
Go on a riverboat tour while you're in Chicago. You will not regret it.
it is an old name .
*Used to make damn fine stuff. IMO since they've gained popularity they've clearly switched up to quantity over quality production. I have old pants and flannels from them that have lasted 6+ years. I have new pants and flannels that are less than 3 years old and look worse than my older items already.
Nice. I normally pay around £40-50 for my 512s so might be worth seeing if I can get some cheaper ones. I'll be near Macy's as well!
You can get the some of the popular Thursday boots (Captain etc) on Amazon UK now FWIW. I’m no big boot wearer but had my Captains for a while and I think they’re great value for the price.
Yeah, I saw. A few factors lead to me not:
I've spent $200 on factory seconds Vanguards ($250 new). I figured, whilst I'm over there might as well!
Glad you like them!
They were actually cheaper off Amazon for me. On the Thursday website you have to pay import tax which bumped the price up quite a bit. Also meant returns would be a nightmare, but thankfully I ordered the right size :)
Yeah import tax was more than $90! Its bonkers.
you can also get them new on resale like poshmark for excellent prices
Grado headphones?
You have tons of good French cast iron cookware your way already imo
Not worth the weight
Yeah got a full Le Creuset set + a 12" US cast iron, should be fine, you're right.
The US made ones specifically use their highest quality leather, and are manufactured at higher standards.
Love my Nicks. I think they are the Roberts (the taller heel one). They have a much slimmer profile than Wolverines or Red Wing which looked like clown shoes on me. These boots are far and away my most complemented article of clothing.
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If they’re is somewhere you can have stuff shipped that will really help.
Pendleton, Faribault, or 8th Generation blankets. They probably have a Pendleton outlet store near Chicago.
Outerwear will be on sale too.
Don’t get cast iron get Emile Henry fired clay stoneware. They’re the best of all worlds.
I will definitely agree on that. Fire hose and the dry on the fly pants are still my favorites. Especially the lined ones. The fleece went way down hill. It’s really nice to have an actual store to walk around and check the quality. Back in my day u just rolled the dice and ordered on line 😆
I vouch for Pendleton wool shirts on sale of course
Go to Filson in Naperville, a suburb of Chicago
Go to the made in Chicago museum.
Eyewear glasses and or sunglasses I would seriously look into State Optical or American Optical both made in Illinois, very very nice eyewear that you would not see a lot of back home and you may cop a deal
You can usually find extra discount codes or specials online. If you sign up for text messages they give a 10-15% discount. It's worth it.
Sorel, LL Bean both make nice boots not sure if Sorel is available in the UK
Wrangler 13mwz or 47mwz > anything Levi’s
Thicker tougher denim. Jeans you actually have to break in yourself
Have you been involved in a civil war in the third world? Chicago is fine compared to that.
Definitely (and sadly agree) here. They caught some marketing traction and became a bigger brand than they could keep up with. They still have good stuff, but they certainly have a lot of crap that’s just dad-fashion and not actually BIFL
> The USA is great for other leather goods too, so if you need a wallet or belt I'd add that to your list.
I'd sooner say the leather goods are one of the most overpriced stuff you can get in the US. Requires lots of labour for something relatively simple... Like those saddleback bags which cost 100-200$ more than something similar in Europe (and the saddleback stuff isn't even made in the US at all).
Those are interesting and priced competitively, but I'm not so fond of the rare screw-together type sole construction, I think the goodyear welted thursday boots will be easier to resole...
> higer quality but similar aesthetic to the thursday boots
> Nick's and White's
Dude that's like someone asking for cars similar to the El Camino but presenting them with a Peterbilt... :)
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Carhartt is much less expensive here
Chicago dogs and malort
American Giant hoodie. Google it. A really good simple hoodie. Not sure if there is an outlet in Chicago. But maybe someone resells or can get local shipping free…
You could get some decent Channel Lock pliers from a homedepot.
Jansport backpacks are inexpensive and extremely durable, which is why it's one of the default bookbags in the US. The iconic leather bottom bags are also relatively affordable and easy to find (get the one with actual leather, not pleather). You can likely find one in a mall or a store like tilly's
My last suggestion is to go to a US army surplus store. Most surplus gear is made in the US and well made. Dont expect to find M65 jackets those are long gone. And a lot of stores will sell "recreations" or reproductions, which should be avoided since that defeats the purpose of buying surplus if it's not really surplus.
waehrik t1_j8d34er wrote
Personally, I'd skip the Thursday boots. You have a lot of good boot makers in the UK and there are many better options in the USA if you're willing to expand your budget just a little bit more.
The USA is great for other leather goods too, so if you need a wallet or belt I'd add that to your list. A place like Hanks is great for belts, and they sell wallets too, but I don't have any experience with those. Check out etsy shops with a good reviews for hand made leather goods too. Since you were looking at the Thursday boots, it sounds like you'll have a place that will accept mail.