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Toe-to-Toe With The Chippewa 1901M51 Engineer

Chippewa 1901M51 Engineer boot

The Chippewa 1901M51 Engineer On Road Test

Quality footwear is like a relationship; there is immediate attraction and growling desire but it is not until you have lived together for a while that you really know whether you are right for each other.

And, so it is with the Chippewa 1901M51 Engineer. These things are subjective but, for many a boot fan, bundling them in to the back of a cab and back to your place will be the first reaction. “Classic, sleek elegance”, are three words that spring most readily to mind. (We could add “built for action” too but that might be slightly coarse.)

We have deliberately waited before coming to a firm view about whether these are lifers. Some eighteen months ago, our Matt had his ardour for a Cordovan Service Boot dampened by construction issues which only came to light with the passage of time. Also, we wanted to put them through their paces through the North German winter before commenting too much. Even though they are not marketed as a boot for extreme conditions, we believe that they should be able to at least some punishment.

The weather has been ridiculously mild though, so it has taken until these first days of spring to cover at least 250 miles and to really get to know these Engineers.

First things first. Out of the box, the Black Whirlwind, full-grain American hide is flawless and remarkably supple. The stitching to the Goodyear leather welt and finishes on the Vibram V-Bar outer sole are neat and trim, and the straps are of a decent enough thickness to be manageable yet prevent ugly curling.

Bigger Is Not Better

A word of caution, though. These Chippewa Engineers don’t just run big, they run HUGE! So much so that ordering a full size down would have still left room for a thicker winter sock, if needs be.

Tyre companies, paper mills, widget manufacturers – they can all work to tolerances comfortably within a millimetre so why can’t footwear companies fall in line? In an era where more and more boots and shoes are bought online, surely it makes send to introduce some standardisation.

It would save us all so much time and frustration, not to mention the added cost and CO2 associated with returns and reshipping.

So yes, these puppies have been treated to a sturdy leather insole and they now feel as they should.

After this though, it is all good news. After six months’ regular service, the leather has begun to settle and show signs of developing character but there are no signs of sloppiness setting in. Moreover, none of Matt’s disappointment with the Cordovan Service boot has reared its ugly head. In fairness, Matt did suggest at the time that he had maybe unearthed a dud and, on this evidence, he might well have called it correctly.

Yes Or No?

Would we recommend a long and loving affair with the Chippewa 1901M25 Engineer? Yes, we would. It is a good-looking beast which sits handsomely atop a 2.5″ Logger type heel. The sheer quality of the leather means it will still look great whether it is polished up for a dressier finish or given a serious rubbin’ with the dubbin for a more carefree outdoor life.

The clincher is probably the price. Coming in at just under $330, she is hardly a cheap date but Chippewa have priced have priced her competitively against similar boots in the category.

The Essentials

  • Style: Chippewa 1901M51 Engineer
  • Description: Made in the USA with certain imported materials.
  • Leather: Black Whirlwind, full-grain American leather
  • Construction: Goodyear Leather Welt
  • Shank:Steel
  • Outsole:Vibram V-Bar
  • Insole: Texon with maple leather heel.

Buy online directly from the manufacturer or click here for more stockists.

 

 

 

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11 comments

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Elly Geldwerth July 31, 2016 at 07:16

Do these only come in an E width?

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Avatar
Denimhunters July 31, 2016 at 15:01

Most if not all Chippewa boots come in D, E and EE widths. That is the theory at least but when stocks start to dwindle, D’s can be hard to come by.

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Elly Geldwerth July 31, 2016 at 18:24

That’s what I thought. But everyone that has these boots only shows an E width. Strange. Because they seem to be in stock everywhere too. I know they run large but an E might be even harder to gauge.

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Denimhunters August 2, 2016 at 12:40

Yes, they certainly do run big and we are seeing too that few stores are stocking D’s at the moment. It is worth digging around until you get the exact right size. After all, you’re going to be living with these for a fair few years to come. Have you looked at Amazon’s merchants?

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Avatar
Elly Geldwerth August 2, 2016 at 12:47

Tried searching Amazon and others, no one has size D. I actually sent an email to Chippewa to inquire and was told this style only comes in E. Gonna try sizing down a bit and see if it works. Otherwise back they’ll go.
Thanks for the assistance.

Avatar
Denimhunters August 2, 2016 at 14:03

Hmm, that information sounds a little dubious. We are seeing that http://www.onlineshoes.com and http://workingperson.com are doing Engineers in a broad range of sizes and widths. It does depend on the exact style you want, of course.

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Elly Geldwerth August 2, 2016 at 14:18

Yea I asked about the ones you reviewedreviewed, the 7 Inch 1901m51. Never saw them in a D. The other styles I saw in a variety of sizes.

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Elly Geldwerth August 7, 2016 at 16:41

Ended up getting a pair. Sized half down. So far really pleased. And your review was spot on. Great looking boots, well made, comfortable. Thanks for the assistance.

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Newsdesk August 9, 2016 at 01:17

We think that these are tremendous boots and are big fans of Chippis generally so we are just totally stoked to hear that! Happy stompin’

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