I initially heard about Benzein from Patrick (@tichoblancoshoes) back in December 2019, who had just purchased a pair of whole cut chelsea boots in brown waxed flesh back on Black Friday. I could easily see myself buying another pair from them in the future (even without a discount), and I would recommend them to anyone in a heartbeat. This past July, I received my first pair of custom designed boots from Benzein Shoes (@benzeinshoes), deemed the TDD-01 boot. Thus, prior to construction of a garment, most denim undergoes a sanforization process to remove shrinkage and stabilize the fabric in width and length. This is my first time recording a video so please forgive the focus inconsistencies and the baby wailing in the background. However, they quickly relaxed and fit perfect and comfortably again. The denim experienced less and less horizontal tension as it moves down the leg, and thus exhibits increasingly less stretch, with the hem remaining unchanged after shrinkage. Also, they’re one of the few retailers I could find who offer a wide range of Warehouse products, so if you’re in the market I’d definitely give their shop a look. First off, I would just like to praise Peng for absolutely nailing the fit of these boots. If you have found anything different in your experience (or I have written anything incorrect), please let me know. The leather starts as a rich, dark java brown color with a glossy waxed finish. It is usually recommended to wait until after a pair is shrunken with its first wash before hemming. Boy, was I wrong. In fact, if you aren’t already familiar with this small boot making family out of a small village in China, then maybe you aren’t actually the boot enthusiast you believe yourself to be. However, as these boots are worn mostly at work in a dental office and walking casually around Target, the functional traction the commando soles provide has had little use for me. Their engineer boots really stand out—Benzein’s put in the work to source some of the best leathers anywhere in the world, most specifically Maryam horsebutt, and it works great on that engineer (including the shorter 8-inch model). But are they structurally sound and built to last? Possibly. Sole/Ridgeway): $45, Leather upgrade (Maryam toscanello horserump): $100, Hardware: 5 copper eyelets, 2 quick hooks, 1 eyelet, Toe design: brogued cap toe, unstructured, Welt construction: 270° 2 row stitchdown (beige), The waist of raw, unsanforized jeans should be purchased true to size. (Please note, I decided to do a cold machine wash with size 31 pair, as opposed to the hot machine wash I did with the size 33 pair.). I said it in my first review and I’ll say it again: Benzein has some of the best branding I’ve seen. I would say that the actual stitch length between the two is fairly similar, but the Onderhoud stitches may be pulled tighter, resulting in slightly larger stitch holes and spacing between the stitches. I was one of those annoying customers who asks a bajillion questions and requests several measurements with photos, and they were kind enough to oblige. Compare the profile of Renavs above to the Onderhouds below. Excuse the mild wedgie, as I took this photo right after putting them on after hang drying while they were still in their most shrunken state. This will not be so much of an in-depth review of the Java Waxed Flesh boot by Truman Boot Company, as an amazingly extensive and detailed review was already written by Nick over at stridewise.com. However, the more I’ve worn these boots, the less the creases bother me. *The 32″ waist post-machine wash is probably less than actual shrinkage, as I pulled not the waist while they were still damp, scared that they had shrank too much. I’m actually very happy with the quality of the welt stitching. As price continues to increase, you’re no longer paying for a higher-functioning boot, as much as you’re paying for the attention to detail and craftsmanship with which the boot was made. However, Benzein listened to all my measurements and special requests, and confidently chose my appropriate size. Below I’ve placed my Trumans with stitchdown construction alongside my Role Clubs and Onderhouds for reference. Given how frequently Benzein boots are pushed by boot influencers (for want of a better term) on Instagram, I've been pretty dubious about this brand. Similar to the roping along the cuffs, the puckering along the yoke seam has also become more prominent after this wash. Little bit more fading around the seams of the butt pockets. I decided to cold machine wash these again, similar to their initial wash. Not much fading just yet, but here’s some photos for documentation’s sake. Of all the woodsman heels I’ve seen online, I think Brian’s style is probably one of my favorites. lol just kidding. The only really noticeable difference would be in the shape of the last, which I discuss more below. As I said in my TDD-01 review, I really like Benzein’s Cuban heel style. For instance, here is an example of him picking apart a hide, circling all the imperfections that he plans on excluding during clicking for boots. The best men’s rain boots all have common threads: dependability, quality construction, and a brand you can depend on if it doesn’t work out the way you hoped. Around the … The traction on the bottom of the boots may be minimal. This removes majority of the shrinkage left in the denim (after the garment has been constructed), making it easier to size when purchasing online. As I mentioned earlier, I mailed Brian a pair of these memory foam orthotic insoles. The smooth waxy coating has only really scuffed away in areas of high flexure (where my toes crease and around the neck of the boot where I wrap my laces). Yes, and I already have. (Note: this is based on the assumption that you can still button the jeans after initial shrinkage.