Rolling Dub Trio – Griffin Engineer Boots – Horsebutt Brown

by Rolling Dub Trio

£965.00

Rolling Dub Trio – Griffin Engineer Boots – Horsebutt Brown

£965.00

The Griffin engineer boots are another great example of Rolling Dub Trio’s masterpiece range of footwear. They are fully handmade with great care and attention to detail and you can very quickly see and feel it. The Griffins are smart but rugged in a very well put together package.

The modified Munson and USN mixed lasts are very accommodating and great for a wide range of foot shapes. It hugs in the heel, has a curvy instep/ waist, is low profile in the mid foot, normal to wider width at the ball and tapers at the toe for a sharp almond shape finish. It is immediately very comfortable underfoot and in shape when sized right (take a look at the size guide tab) and will retain an air of rugged smart which you can dress up also.

The Horsebutt leather from Italy is thick but pliable, has a beautiful lustre, is harder wearing than cordovan and looks even better with wear and patina. The CXL leather that RDT use for a number of their boots is a real step up from other CXL out there in the market and the Horsebutt leather really is some of the nicest we’ve seen. It has subtle grain and a very robust feel. Each pair will show quite a depth of colour and what will look like discolouration in part (the shaft in these images for example) is the natural skin of the hide showing through the tanning process. If you wanted uniform colour finish these might not be for you.

The construction is superb. Heavy duty and uniform stitching, kip leather lined in the foot, fully channeled Goodyear welt construction (this takes a lot of time and precision) with an outer flat welt (which is neatly finished), rubber cork soles which are comfortable and hard wearing, Quabaug heels and a cushioned full leather insole. In RDT’s own words: “The direct welt method is similar to the Goodyear welt method, but instead of attaching ribbing to the sole, the welt and upper are sewn directly through a groove dug in the sole.
The sole can be made thinner without ribs.”

They are very well made boots, in a great design that are comofrtable and made of the best by some of the best.

Made in Japan by a very small team of craftsmen and fully resole-able.

  • Horsebutt Leather from Italy
  • Kip leather lined (in the foot area)
  • Chanelled Goodyear welt construction
  • Heavy duty oak tanned midsole
  • Heavy duty Rubberised cork outsole
  • Quabaug rubber heels
  • Kip leather lined
  • Cushioned leather in-sole
  • Leather pull loop
  • Brass buckles
  • 11″ height
  • Made in Japan by a very small team of true artisans
  • D-E Width

The Griffin engineers are made on RDT’s adapted Munson and USN last. In short it is standard to slim in the heel, shapely in the waist, standard to wider at the ball with a gradual taper towards the toe. It is roomy in the right places and the smarter toe and waist for a very good fit (if sized correctly) and smart low profile appearance. It is a very accommodating and comfortable last. If you have wider toes you would likely want to go up a half size from the below recommendations/ comparisons.

An 8 US in the Griffin engineer boot is similar in length to the below but likely narrower in the toe:

  • RDT Stan/ Casper/ Coupen: 7.5 – 8 US
  • RDT Roots: 8 US
  • White’s Semi Dress Boots: 7.5 – 8D US
  • White’s Smoke Jumpers: 7.5D US
  • Attractions Lot 444: 8 – 8.5 US
  • Red Wing Iron Rangers: 8.5 US (7.5 UK)
  • Viberg: 8 D/E (2030 last)
  • Trickers: 8 G
  • John Lofgren Engineers: 8 – 8.5 US
  • John Lofgren Donkey Punchers: 7.5 US (old sizing, 8 US new sizing)
  • John Lofgren M43 & Combat: 8 – 8.5 US

Please get in touch with any sizing questions you may have and also take a look at our size guide blog post. We will do our best to assist you in as much depth as we can to get your sizing right. We have experience with a number of UK, European, Japanese and USA made branded shoes/ boots to help with comparisons and can take any measurements you may need.