Link to main album: Album

Ordering:

I originally heard about Moto(r) boots from an issue of Lightning magazine on Redwing boots. I looked them up and quickly realized they were relatively unknown. (and slightly confusing due to their multiple brand names) There are only a handful of reviews I could find. But all of them stated they were high value for the price. I checked their website , and they had/have them listed at 78,000 Yen. Which at the time of this post is about $600 USD.

There is no way to order these boots directly from their website outside of Japan. So I sent them an email. They were initially quick in responding to my sizing questions. And it took about a week of back and forth before I decided on the 11H sizing. At which point they sent me a PayPal invoice for the costs of boots and shipping. Shipping came out to about $48 USD. In total, I paid $674.63. I placed my order on May 3rd. And my boots arrived on May 31st. So about 4 weeks of waiting. Their website says orders placed will arrive in 14 days, but are subject to delays. Which was not a big deal for me since they are made to order.

Details:

MOTOR ITALIAN HORSEBUTT DRESS ENGINEER BOOTS
Goodyear welt construction
Unknown Last
Biltrite half sole and heel
Woodsman style heel
Leather midsole
Unstructured toe (Feels slightly structured, but that may just be the thick leather)
Hand dyed Black
Brass buckles
Size: 11H

Sizing & Fit:

As mentioned, the boots I ordered were size 11H. They sell 6H to 9H with all in between sizes, and 10H-12H no in between sizes. (Larger sizes seem to be unique to the horsehide engineer.) I was worried about this, as I am usually an 11. But I also have wide feet and need to size up anyway. So they had me measure my feet and they agreed the 11H would be correct or closest. Their website lists the Length and Width to be "normal" and the instep as "High"  (whatever that means). But they also say the width is in between a D and E. Based on this info, it is best to reach out and ask if you could send them measurements. As it is honestly a gamble.

When trying on the boots, I had a hard time slipping into them. I knew Engineer boots were notorious for this issue. The "pass line" in boots with long shafts. So I went to work on stretching them out a bit. The left boot went on easily shortly after stretching them. But the right boot was very stubborn. I thought I was going crazy, so I measured the boots and found them to be almost exactly the same size all around. So it must be my foot. After a few hours of trying to stretch them, I did the plastic bag over the foot trick, and managed to get them on. Once on, I found I had a bit of room in the toe and width, as well as some heel slip. I usually wear an insole with my boots, so I put them in and found that helped a lot with the heel slipping and extra room. Once on, I wore them for a few hours to stretch out and I could now get them on and off fairly easily. I expect it will only get easier.

Construction:

Aside from the issues I lay out below, these boots are built very well. The stitches per inch is high. And aside from a few spots, the stitching is basically perfect. The dye finishing could have been a bit better. It seems like some areas have a thinner amount of dye than others. But I personally like it since I'm a Wabi-sabi type of guy. Additionally, the finishing on the heel and midsole leave a bit to be desired. But again, I am not expecting White Kloud or Clinch quality finishing at a quarter of the price. The hardware is simple and could be of higher quality. Although I do appreciate the "raw" "unfinished" look of the brass. The Biltrite soles feel very beefy and hard. I'm sure it will take a while before they get worn down enough to merit a resole. The actual leather is where I am most pleased. This is my first horsehide boot. And I'm not sure ill be going back to chrome tanned boots. These feel stiff and beefy. And I know they will require time to wear in and become comfortable. It is why I'm into Raw denim, and any other "loomstate" garments. I love the journey, and these will certainly be joining me at my best and worst. Aside from all that, the grain is so lovely. Its a bit hard to see in the photos, especially in the black dye. But its almost like tiger stripes or cheetah spots. These will also age to show the natural color beneath the dye, similar to tea core leather. And I am very excited to see the progress.

Issues:

Album of issues The sizing isn't that big of a deal for me, as most boots are usually a bit long for me since I always have to size up to account for my EE(E) Width. Adding an insole helped most of the issue. And the initial fit was fixed with some stretching. There are other minor issues and here is a link to the photos on the main issues I found with this boot. On opening the box, I noticed the toe on the right boot has some scratches (more like dents or pushed marks). This is not a huge deal for me since I usually beat the hell out of my boots, and my dog always seems to scratch them... The other issue is the right boot has what seems to be loose grain on the counter. It is especially noticeable since the left boot looks perfect in comparison. Come to think of it, all the issues are with the right boot. Again, not a huge deal for me for the same reason. And finally, I notice there was a small portion between the welt where it is missing some black dye. Again, not a big issues as it is almost impossible to see unless you are up close and folding the leather over to see.

Closing Thoughts:

These are a hell of a lot of boot for the price. Moto is certainly the best value I've seen for a Japanese made boot. Let alone a made to order, hand dyed, horsehide engineer boots. I suspect they aren't well known since the ordering process is daunting, especially for a pair of engineer boots. I've also heard they don't actively seek to be known outside of Japan. All things considered, this is a high quality boot, and rivals top tier brands at 1/4th the price. And for some considering Clinch, or Lofgren, it is a no brainer to go with Moto if price is a factor. It is getting hot here in the Bay area. So I doubt I will be wearing these anytime soon. But once it begins to cool down, these will be my daily driver. Thanks for reading!