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Post by AMP on Jul 31, 2008 13:36:52 GMT -5
Hard to compare custom made leather to off the shelf vinyl.
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Post by Koda Vonnor on Jul 31, 2008 14:58:25 GMT -5
I've never worn Simon's boots so I don't really have much to go on except the looks. To me it looks like his regular jedi boots wouldn't be well fitted to the calf or tall enough (for me anyway - my legs are very long in proportion to my torso - I can wear a 21" boot). Plus I have never had a comfortable pair of footwear in a stock size 11. Also, I'm sure vinyl is decent durability if you take care of them, but for beating them up to get that signature "Star Wars" look, and for overall long-lastingness (is that a word?), I think leather is better. This is only my opinion though. When I first started costuming Jedi, I debated the pros and cons of OTS (off the shelf) vs. custom, and given the need for all-day-trooping comfort, and the desire for accuracy and authenticity in both look and materials, the choice was clear for me. Everybody has to make that choice for themselves and nobody should be disparaged for their choices. Back in the day, plain Diaz polo-style boots were only $150. For custom fit (which he did quite well for me), it was a good deal. Maybe not so much anymore at twice that price, but historically (Generic boots, Katarn boots) his fit has been exceptional so I went with him for the Kota boots too. Will I continue to use him in the future for custom designs? I can't say. But as his cost creeps up into say the Renick Boots range, I may rethink my boot source. ~ Bill Costigan
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Post by Cem-Ji Pobroo on Jul 31, 2008 16:44:15 GMT -5
Hard to compare custom made leather to off the shelf vinyl. I'm merely pointing out that Simon's boots are of a good quality at a low price and you don't have to wait forever to get Carlos' boots. Of course pleather is not the same as leather. Good luck getting your pair!
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Post by Cem-Ji Pobroo on Jul 31, 2008 16:46:01 GMT -5
I'm 6'3" and the boots fit me fine. Besides I don't have $300 to spend on Jedi boots. My wife would kill me. Maybe others here can spend that, but I can't. I've never worn Simon's boots so I don't really have much to go on except the looks. To me it looks like his regular jedi boots wouldn't be well fitted to the calf or tall enough (for me anyway - my legs are very long in proportion to my torso - I can wear a 21" boot). Plus I have never had a comfortable pair of footwear in a stock size 11. Also, I'm sure vinyl is decent durability if you take care of them, but for beating them up to get that signature "Star Wars" look, and for overall long-lastingness (is that a word?), I think leather is better. This is only my opinion though. When I first started costuming Jedi, I debated the pros and cons of OTS (off the shelf) vs. custom, and given the need for all-day-trooping comfort, and the desire for accuracy and authenticity in both look and materials, the choice was clear for me. Everybody has to make that choice for themselves and nobody should be disparaged for their choices. Back in the day, plain Diaz polo-style boots were only $150. For custom fit (which he did quite well for me), it was a good deal. Maybe not so much anymore at twice that price, but historically (Generic boots, Katarn boots) his fit has been exceptional so I went with him for the Kota boots too. Will I continue to use him in the future for custom designs? I can't say. But as his cost creeps up into say the Renick Boots range, I may rethink my boot source. ~ Bill Costigan
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Post by AMP on Aug 1, 2008 8:27:02 GMT -5
I'm merely pointing out that Simon's boots are of a good quality at a low price and you don't have to wait forever to get Carlos' boots. Of course pleather is not the same as leather. Good luck getting your pair! I have my Diaz boots. You may want to pass that on to those less fortunate that haven't received theirs.
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Mon-Jas Charan
Message Board Member
"Poena Vigoratus. Pullus cavo vix. Palma , est eternus"
Posts: 2,630
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Post by Mon-Jas Charan on Aug 1, 2008 8:39:15 GMT -5
I'm merely pointing out that Simon's boots are of a good quality at a low price and you don't have to wait forever to get Carlos' boots. Of course pleather is not the same as leather. Good luck getting your pair! I had a pair of those, a few years back, they lasted about 3 weeks before the upper ripped away from the sole. But then again I was working at the Ren Faire. Even good leather boot takes a beating out there.
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Post by Primrodo on Aug 1, 2008 23:19:07 GMT -5
I'm merely pointing out that Simon's boots are of a good quality at a low price and you don't have to wait forever to get Carlos' boots. Of course pleather is not the same as leather. Good luck getting your pair! They are of good quality, but not GREAT. And the boots, while similar have no challenge when it comes to accuracy, especially the Anakin and Obi-Wan...Simons boots do not look like Diaz's at all. I have worn rubber riding boots, vinyl boots and leather boots....I'll never wear nothing but leather.
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Post by horsegal on Aug 3, 2008 8:27:54 GMT -5
I sent Carlos a rather scathing email. This was his response.
Thanks for your e-mail. I understand your concern, and I appreciate the advice. I’m currently working on a chain supply solution to address the delivery issues. The problem is not the actual time of making the product, but delivering it for a reasonable price, that is why I have to ship in bulk and fulfill the cargo company requirements to do so. I hope to have that matter solved and have a better alternative in a couple of weeks.
Let me know if there is anything else I can do for you.
Regards,
Carlos A. Díaz
Dunno, but I think if it costs more to ship in a timely manner he needs to just increase his shipping charges. I personally would have been more than happy to pay considerably more for shipping than he has charged if it meant I got the boots several weeks ago. It also doesn't account for his crappy communication and not responding to email for weeks at at time.
Equivalent boots at the swankiest foxhunting store in Northern Virgina run $750. They are $500 at the "discount" places. (Yes horse people spend obscene amounts of money on their stuff.)
But I guess I'm not really out anything. I got my money back and I'm not going to have Amex re-authorize the charge unless/until I have them and they are close to perfect. But I really don't want the money, I want the boots!!!!
BTW - anyone know anything about motocowboy? His boots are more and his feedback isn't uniformly great but I thought it might be worth a shot.
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Post by Cem-Ji Pobroo on Aug 7, 2008 17:46:26 GMT -5
I'm merely pointing out that Simon's boots are of a good quality at a low price and you don't have to wait forever to get Carlos' boots. Of course pleather is not the same as leather. Good luck getting your pair! They are of good quality, but not GREAT. And the boots, while similar have no challenge when it comes to accuracy, especially the Anakin and Obi-Wan...Simons boots do not look like Diaz's at all. I have worn rubber riding boots, vinyl boots and leather boots....I'll never wear nothing but leather. I never said Simon's boots were great; I just said they were good. Turns out he doesn't sell them anymore. They were cheaper and fit what some people could afford. Before that I had a pair of those cheap $40 Jedi riding renaissance pairs you see on ebay. So for me, Simon's boots are better. I wish I could spend more and get a really good pair. But for now, Simon's boots fit the bill.
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Post by Starkindler (The Naked Jedi) on Aug 7, 2008 22:05:48 GMT -5
I am still a Hobbit/Jedi....bootless and hairfooted.
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Post by Koda Vonnor on Aug 8, 2008 6:11:32 GMT -5
Carlos sent my boots yesterday. I should have them by next week.
Ordered (with "from-scratch" design): 02/14/2008
Shipped: 08/07/2008
~ Koda
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Post by AMP on Aug 8, 2008 9:40:09 GMT -5
WOW! That beats the 8-12 weeks that other custom boot makers make you wait.
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Post by Koda Vonnor on Aug 8, 2008 11:44:37 GMT -5
Yeah, huh... Doesn't really compare though, since these were not a stock design and had to be developed from scratch. But still... six months?
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Mon-Jas Charan
Message Board Member
"Poena Vigoratus. Pullus cavo vix. Palma , est eternus"
Posts: 2,630
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Post by Mon-Jas Charan on Aug 8, 2008 14:14:16 GMT -5
That is very reasonable ... one of the boot makes at the RenFaire, Catskills boots, after they measure you at the site and get you custom order, tells you, you can expect them in 6 - 10 months ... The average price on the boots .... $1200.
Designed from scratch 6 months seems like a quick turnaround ... What I showed my Carlos Diaz Obi-Wan boots to the 2 bookmakers on site Catskills boots, said the could make then for $1700 and would take about a year ... Olde Souls said $400 and 7 - 10 weeks. Both were impress with the quality of materials and price, $220 with shipping, yes I got in back in March. In fact Olde Souls, asked to "copy"my boots and see just what it would take to produce them ... The owner said he would contact me when he knew if they would offer them as a standard item for the 2009 RenFaire season.
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Post by Koda Vonnor on Aug 8, 2008 15:19:55 GMT -5
Wow!
Yeah, plus mine had one complete re-make in there 'cause the first ones were too light-brown. Woulda been done in April if that hadn't happened.
~ Koda
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