SAGARA: The Ultimate Indonesian Boot Review
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- Опубліковано 29 чер 2024
- ★ Here's Sagara's site but you should just write orders@sagarabootmaker.com to work up an order: sagarabootmaker.com/product-c...
★ Full article + pics: stridewise.com/sagara-boot-re...
★ Here are videos I mentioned here:
- 8 Indonesian Boot Brands You Should Know • The 8 Best Indonesian ...
- How Carmina makes the best dress Chelsea stridewise.com/carmina-chelse...
- How Tricker's makes boots fit for a king: stridewise.com/trickers-shoes...
- Best custom bootmakers stridewise.com/custom-boots-o...
You might not think "Indonesia" when you hear "boots" but if you don't, you should. Because of a history of Dutch colonization, a dash of Chinese businessmen, and a strong spirit of artistry and creativity, the city of Bandung is the world's preeminent hotspot for crazy high quality boots that are hand made to a degree you won't find anywhere else - at least, not for three figures.
The 5-person team at Sagara Bootmaker is perhaps the best known and while there's a lot of discussion of their trailmaster hiking boots and their boondockers, their top selling boot is this exact model: the Cordmaster. Made with a lace-to-toe monkey boot design, super thick natural vegetable tanned horsebutt leather from Italy, two leather midsoles and a Norwegian handwelt, it's hard to think of any boot that better embodies why so many guys get their boots made in Bandung.
00:00 Intro
00:30 My trip to Indonesia
00:54 Why Indonesian boots?
02:26 What "handmade" means here
04:02 Are old fashioned boots better?
05:17 Sagara's Cordmaster boot
07:00 Maryam Horsebutt leather
07:48 Sagara's boot construction
10:03 Sagara boots price
12:07 Sagara boots pros
13:55 Sagara boot cons
16:49 Wrapping up - Навчання та стиль
* Check out the article + pics: stridewise.com/sagara-boot-review/
* ORDERING: I put this in the description but didn't go into much detail, basically their website has some pre-made boots ready to go but the main way to order is go to their Instagram and DM them to start the process: instagram.com/sagarabootmaker/
Don't pay any attention to available sizes etc on their website, just ignore the website and talk to them directly and you can get whatever you want
I appreciate you making these videos so I have something to scratch that itch while waiting for the boots i ordered from sagara and briselblack
Finally the video is out! Glad to see you finally doing a boots tour in Indonesia :)
I have like 4 more Indonesian videos coming up but the editing process has taken FOREVER haha
@@Stridewise Cool! Oh by the way, sorry I couldn't join your meetup at that time 😓
Just got my pair of custom cordovan split toes in Jan. My first cordovan and had the initial worry of a long break-in period. Took me a day and it’s been comfy after that. Yes, long waiting time and don’t expect quick responses after the sizing and fit has been determined. Just give them time and space to construct it. Mine is gusseted with red leather which Bagus did warned me that the color will stain my socks. I like the red contrast and vanity made me bit the bullet suffering red stained socks. Worn it on rainy days and had no issue with wetting my socks but I’ve not experimented by steeping into water puddles like how you did. Looking forward to pair this with my Flathead leather jacket when I head to Japan to enjoy the Sakura in 1-2 mths time. 😊
Hi Nick! As an Indonesian I really appreciate you showcasing Sagara! I haven't got Sagara they don't have any Chelseas. Thanks again!
Loved this thank you!
glad you enjoyed it, this was a labor of love
Sick boots maaan! I'd feel self conscious wearing these but can appreciate the effort gone in to making them. Also the effort that has gone in to making this Looooong vid - great work!
Thanks for watching it all Alex!
I need to feel self conscious. I own a pair and get nothing but compliments on them.
First pair of monkey boots reviewed! I love mine. I appreciate the thoroughness and the choice of a shoe that isn’t a service boot or moc toe. You’re the man Nick!
Thanks Jacob! This video won't pop off like a "best boots" one but I love the kinds of guys that find it and comment :D
The green laces look great on those
Excellent video Nick. Deep dive into a great topic. Well done.
I had such a joy writing and producing this one, glad you liked it
@@Stridewise I definitely have a pair of Sagara's in my future. Hey, please tell us about the gray/green chino's you are wearing in parts of the video. They look like a 5 pocket chino or jean. That is a great look.
@@telemarktumalo6978 those are taylor stitch's camp pants in boss duck!
@@Stridewise Thanks Nick!
I have a pair of Santalum’s I had made two years ago they are lace to toe and I work construction in them, they are currently out getting a re sole but they have been amazing boots and have held up great!
Excellent video Nick as usual.....! GG... P.S. As I watch this I have my Alden Ealdwine Indy boots on, in matte gray...! LOve Indy's Nick because of you...! LOL
Matte gray Indys, that's awesome! Hope you liked my last video on grey boots :)
As always I really enjoyed your presentation ! Still try to purchase American when possible , keep up the great job !
I love my Cordmasters. I wish they could have been a half size larger but at the time, Bagus said that wasn't available. Still, they're super comfortable and built like tanks.
"Salam" aka regards from Indonesia
Wah dokter kopi kita nonggol 🤭
Terima kasih!
Happy I got both my pairs of BENZEIN back when they were $300, I have The Seventh in brown over dyed Badalassi Minerva and The Stride in Horween black chamois.
i LOVE black chamois, that and I guess roughout are my favorite black leathers. Hope you like my interview with Briselblack when it's out
So cool Nick…… I’ve been waiting for these very same boots from Sagara (single midsole) and sounds like we’re almost there.
Thanks for the honest review. Could see it was a bit of a painful one, especially after having visited the factory and met the guys who made them for you... A less than perfect boot, for sure.
Hi man. Delighted you e revisited these sorely underrepresented brands! Thanks for the video.
I also think an important Pro of Sagara and other Indonesian boot brands is they have an absolutely gorgeous design and aesthetic. Out of all the boots featured in your video, the silhouette of these is simply unmatched in my opinion.
I’m in the process of saving up for Sagara’s hiking boot. I think it’s safe to say they, along with other Indonesian boot brands are unbeatable for the unique design aspects they bring to the table.
What I like most about these brands is that they are each playing with their own style. Sagara uses completely different design points to Txture who use completely different design points to Junkard and so on.
Given how much people will pay for crappy built design gimmicks from Nike, I think the USP of brands like Sagara, is just how good the design is with the build quality
Yeah I'm really proud of this video! I didn't quite get into this in the video but what's cool about the Bandung guys is they all do everything but each agreed to emphasize something different, like Briselblack with Chelsea, Onderhoud with boondockers, Sagara with monkey boots, Winson with dress boots. And they're all friends! It's magical
if you're after some trailmasters then they still have a few pairs from their recent scratch and dent sale! I know they have two in size 44 (10.5 - 11us) for less than $300.
I've always been curious about what kind of relationships they all had! good to hear that they're all friends!@@Stridewise
Great video Nick, one day in the near future I will go to Indonesia and order a pair of boots from these guys. I am too nervous to just order it online without trying it on.
If you're in Indonesia, they've got this cool service where they send you shoe samples to make sure they fit your feet! I think that's pretty awesome
yeah I think if you measure your feet a bunch of times and try a couple of European sized shoes to make sure you should be ok. At least from Sagara.
I ordered a pair from Sagara few years ago purely based in your review, I i would never have found them otherwise.
I wear these bad boys to the office, out and anout and have been hiking multiple times and they are still near pristine and feels crazy sturdy. Amazing boots!
My only recommendation is springing extra for name brand soles wich lasted significantly longer
what soles did you get?
Me too! His video was the reason I got mine. My sister was living there in 2019 and got them made for me. Toured the factory and everything.
I agree about the laces. They lasted maybe 20 wears.
I’m pretty sure mine are Goodyear welted.
The soles are sagara’s own. Highly marking, wear easy and have poor grip. Not sure if they still use them.
Maybe the water seep in from where the tongue is, what i noticed about Indonesian boots are the tongue are not fully gusseted which makes the water seep through.
Incredible boot making with great silhouettes, will be checking them!
Thank you for a great video on my favorite brand. Yes, I’m a boot guy and own two pairs of Sagaras. I have a pair of Cordmasters in black Rocado shell and a pair of Boondockers in roughout Maryam horsebutt.
nice! my Benzeins are roughout maryam horsebutt #buttbuddies
how would you rate your cordovan cordmasters in terms of comfort? how were they initially/how are they feeling now?
@ They were comfortable right off the bat with very little break in. Two years later they are still very comfortable and I have walked several miles at a time in them. The only problem I had was that the tongue would slip off to the side. I think they have resolved that problem now though.
@@albertmanuel5028 happy to hear that! I think I'll order a pair too. Thanks!
Those green laces are nice
yeah i didn't think i'd love them and they gave me a second pair but i like them a lot
my chordmaster's are my tankiest boots! but i love em
I got junkard fortis n soon renav anf sagara all fit well so far
Would love to see more in depth videos on individual Indonesian makers. This was very interesting
SAGARA!!! ❤
If you want a waterproof boot from them I would go with the trailmaster… I have them and they have a waterproof lining on the tongue. Thanks for the review, I love Sagara!
I've got a pair of CXL trailmasters on the way. When did you get yours and how long did it take to get them? Do you actually wear them for hiking?
@@dingo9696My Trailmaster was completed in about a month and a half. I mostly use it for daily activities. I'd like to try it for outdoor activities, but haven't had the chance yet
and I have a pair of Badalassi Pueblo bone Trailmasters on order! I'm ready to start see more of them out in the wild@@dingo9696
@@dingo9696I ordered mine last January and they arrived in May. They’re starting to really break in so I do plan on wearing them on my next hike.
Got a pair of Txture boots and Prof Barnets lace to toes. The Barnets are masterpieces. But both are basically perfect, better than you will find anywhere else in the world.
My Txture got gap between the tongue and the upper , making water able to enter the boot. I hope they already fix that.
They also tacked the shaft to the last , making it less water resistant due to the holes.
Their last is too high on the instep and heel , creating loose fit
Their upper is too big , I ran out of tightening range.
I need put thick insole and kilties and seal the gap and holes to make them work.
I hope they already made improvement currently , other than that, their boot and the sole work look great .
@@nafis6668 God damn you're really unhappy with that boot! I feel like they're still worth it given the handcrafting aspect and everything but like I say in the video, I respect it when guys want crazy high levels of perfection for boots
Yep, pray they will fit. My pair of jackrabbits didn't. And they are so beautifully made it makes me feel all excited when I see them. I still didn't came around to sell them
Yeah Jakkrabbits were a half size small for me too, alas. They're still cutting their teeth, like Fortis. The pros are theyr'e so much faster and cheaper and easier to order than like Onderhoud though
@@Stridewise yeah i had my in a bit more than 3 months. Pretty fast actually
I don't have Sagara *yet*. Even though I consider myself a boot guy and know all the terms the customization options are intimidating and a bit overwhelming :)
Paralysis by analysis! I definitely get it.
I like the patina on them. All these well made boots handmade like this makes you wonder how the other brands that compromise quality get away with it still
Like I say, most guys don't want to wait months for boots - or order over Whatsapp haha! I love the guys committed enough to do it though
Excellent video I’m a boot guy 9 pairs of nicks 3 pairs of whites 6 pairs of grant stone 3 pairs of oak street bootmakers 3 pairs of Pankhurst 3 pairs of Truman boots Allen Edmonds redwings fryes (and went through all the craziness of sizing)I just received my first pair of custom jakkrabbits service boots ,I’m super impressed with the Indonesian boot makers not 1 bad stitch a perfect gold and white Norwegian welt chain stitch and the it’s a beautiful leather called badalassi Pueblo Olivia all the hardware is brass it has a 360 hand welt a dr sole 1091 cork half sole with brass nails there super comfortable (no breakin) do to a perfect fit . It’s a cheaper price (450) but on par or superior to all above mentioned shoe makers of course this is subjective I love all my boots when they’re a perfect fit
White’s hand welts some of their boots too.
Great video. What about resoling hand welted boots? Is it hard to find a cobbler that can do that in the US?
I have friends who've had it done, I think it just winds up goodyear welted back on but it's def doable
Excellent video
Is it difficult to find cobblers in the US to resole and eventually put a new welt on Norwegian welt boots? That’s my main concern.
I don't think so, a gave a friend some norwegian welted Santalums and he got them resoled pretty easily
Love my Cordmasters. And the Maryam Natural Horsebutt is a beast, but man it looks good after a year!
Question. When it's time for a re-sole what do we do?
My buddy got his Indonesian norwegian welted boots resoled by a rando in NYC, I don't think it's too hard to do
@@Stridewise that's good to know because I'd like to keep as original as possible when the time comes. Thanks!
great video! how would you rate this boots in terms of comfort? they sure look nice, but aren't they so stiff to the point of being like prison for your feet? haha
Boot nerds don't like to admit it but by far the best way to stop water ingress into your boots is to have cemented construction. Along with thick leather uppers and minimal upper seams you can effectively have completely waterproof boots if you maintain the leather upper. Often a rubber rand is added to protect the more vulnerable lower parts of the upper. The majority of these boots can be re-soled as well.
Manufacturers often (but not always) add Goretex because, due to marketing, many boot buyers demand it but it is not necessary.
Many European mountain footwear brands like Scarpa, Zamberlan, Meindl, Hanwag produce this sort of boot.
Good examples I'm familiar with are the Scarpa SL Active boot (without Goretex) with 2.8mm leather uppers and the lighter Scarpa Delta which used to be produced in both GTX and non GTX versions but now sadly is only available with Goretex.
hahah you're so correct that a boot needs to be cemented to be waterproof. Like my Portland Leather Boots are impressively puddleproof.
Beautiful manly boots 🔥
Unmentioned cons of Indonesian boots:
1. Some boot designs have gap between the tongue on the vamp , leading to water get into the boot.
2. Some of them tack the shaft to the last for lasting , leading to water leak.
3. Some of the shaft pattern tend to be too big , leading to the wearer losing tightening range.
4. Some of last are too thick on the instep and heel, making the feet sit too low on the boot , leading to less tightening range overall.
You are specifically griping about Txture here haha, sorry to hear about your troubles
When I stayed in Bali and my brother stayed in Bandung with his Indonesian wife a lot of the folk including my extended family were not Muslim 🤔 although the people majority were there was a massive range of religions. Central Bandung was alway a standstill at the weekend when everyone visited the generic shoe outlets from Jakarta so every weekend we tried to find the small boot makers we sat sweltering in traffic for hours 😢 so never got any boots on my visits. With the crazy rains in Bandung you would think waterproof boots might be a skill 😅
90 percent of the population of indonesia is muslim dude
Hey Nick, I love the video! Any words from Santalum? Are they still running their shop? They went completely rogue 😢
Nick, the water is probably seeping in through stitches on the toe cap upper. So I think the chain stitch is not culprit.
fair
Now I want a pair... damn.
Tell 'em I sent you! Though I get zero commissions for this brand haha. But I love helping them out
Indonesia product always amazing.
Solid review. I have tried quite a few boot brands over the years and am a sucker for quality and also unique design. Many higher priced brands may be well constructed but all have similar design language to my eye. Sagara not only has unique designs and customizable options through their MTO program, but I think for the price, the quality you get is unmatched. The only brand that compares to me in terms of both quality AND unique design in Yuketen, but honestly I think Sagara is slightly better just because the price is lower than Yuketen for similar to slightly better quality. I have a pair of Trailmasters and Cordmasters and they're honestly my favorite and most durable pair of boots I own.
I should also add that while they do take some time to break in, I think they're the best fitting boots out of the box that I've encountered as well. Can't recommend Sagara highly enough!
How long did you wait for this boot?
Love my Junkards. They become my feet. It's hard to explain :)
Hey Nick one thing that I was a bit confused on by the end is how easily would these be to re-sole in the US? Would you take them to a cobbler would just put a GYW on it? How would that impact the look with all of the stitching these have while new?
I have a friend who resoled his norwegian welted Santalums without issue at a local cobbler, I think it's easier than stitchdown resoles
@@Stridewisethanks for the info!
I would implore you to see how many customers have been stranded and gotten no reply after paying. I would warn anyone thinking of getting anything until they get their act together
Can you do a video on how to actually order a boots from their site? Ive been on numerous times and their site is really confusing
see pinned comment - the site should be disregarded, you order boots by DMing them on Instagram or sending them an email
One of the best bootmakers in Indonesia. It was unfortunate that recently I DMed them asking for a size guide for buying soles & half soles for resoles in other places, which I do think it wouldn't bother them in terms of timing and production.
They only looked at my DM but they didn't reply, I didn't know why, some people thought it was due to differences in political views 🤷 which is very Indonesian 😁, but the truth remains as mystery.
Love that an Indonesian brand is getting so much love. Would love a video on Indonesian denim brands!
Oh boy that's out of my wheelhouse but I met some guys there who could probably do a guide!
@@Stridewise that would be awesome incredible! Terima Kasih 🙌🏽
Are you going to do a video on onderhoud
Yes but I'm still waiting on my pair. Janus calf suede boondockers!
Are Indonesia boots brands (like Sagara) cheaper if you buy them in Indonesia?
A little, not by a ton.
That’s a well made boot. Socks getting wet kinda weird. Was the tongue gusseted?
mostly gusseted yeah
i want a pair of the Black cord masters shown on Standard and Strange's site, but they are never available. the Sagara website is s nightmare and the same leather is never listed. There website is too much. i want to order a pair of boots without having to have a PhD in leather boot making technology.
You're totally correct that Sagara and most Indonesian boot websites are hard to use, but never fear: everyone just orders from them by DMing their Instagram. Sounds weird to us but it always works, they have strong reputations for a reason. Just go say hi on IG!
They look kinda like bowling shoes…..but I like em!
A common opinion on monkey boots but once you've worn them you appreciate them haha
Didn't you have these listed on Grailed ?
briefly!
was it the soles of your feet that first got wet? that would surprise me! off course a boot made out of leather, will never be more waterproof than the material itself. if not heavily waxed a normal veg tan leather, whether its the upper or the sole is not waterproof at all! at the contrary it absorbes water. so no. a traditionally handmade boot is rarely super waterproof when stepping in puddles up to your ankles. also it looks like sagaras solestitching threads aren't really waxed(which is crucial because it prevents the capillary effect of both the thread and the stitch holes by sealing them against water!). but nevertheless it is unlikely that the first drops of water seep in threw the bottom construction. more likely they come through the seams on the upper, where the panels meet and past the lacing(especially on a lace to toe). but waxing, not just the upper but also the welt area and sole stitching definetly helps. with only natural products off course! best regards from a bootmaker :)
Jackrabbits next! Please? I was hoping they would be in this video as all I saw was "Are Indonesian Boots Worth It"
Already done! ua-cam.com/video/6ZzMu0peJjA/v-deo.html
Do the boots run true to size?
What are the methods of buying this boot?
I'm so stupid for not mentioning that, they have some stuff on their website but you basically need to go to their Instagram and DM them about starting the process
These may be my Casual choice...very nice. Nick's Tactical are my preferred Daily Driver, however. Reckon i need to win the Lottery, lol!
Having a full 360 welt and fully gusseted tongue would help on the “water proofing” of the boot. Not that any boot like this can ever be truly water proof.
You improved the way you walk, your feet goes straight now when walking, instead of your old duck walk, good job.
Those boots are incredible, want you did not mention is how you go about contacting and getting on a list. I emailed Safari and got no response.
Sorry about the iPad auto correct changing my words.
I know I'm stupid for not mentioning that, you basically go to their Instagram and DM them about ordering. It's not like Onderhoud where there's a lottery, Sagara are fairly capable at putting your order in and getting you boots in a few months
@@Stridewise thanks for getting back so quick. This boot hobby is almost as expensive as my motorcycle and car hobby! Can I name drop at Sahara?
@@stephenbaron5681 you can name drop yeah! they won't give me any money but it's nice for them to know I've helped them make a sale haha
Would you say Sagara is a safe bet as someones first Indonesian pair of boots?
Yes they're among the most respected and ethical brands. Bagus even told me that sometimes when someone complains to him about a small/shady brand ripping them off, he makes them free boots just to maintian the good name of Indonesian bootmakers
I’ve ordered from them twice. They are definitely trustworthy. Don’t worry about it for a second.
Russells
ok
Sounds like you should have gone for a 360 degree welt instead of a 270 degree welt. I got my Iron Rangers to leak from standing in water...it started at the unwelted heel.
In the meantime... the real men who work in construction are using cheap Keen boots.
yeah I mean you could say that on a video about running shoes and hiking boots. different shoes are for different people and uses!
How is the arch support?
good actually! i mention in the video that the insole/midsole had started to conform to my foot and the shank made itself felt under the arch, i think it's good
@@Stridewise I appreciate the reply! Thanks
😲 I've been looking everywhere for roofer boots like that (lace-to-toe). I've been looking for over 2 years actually. Thorogood and Chippewa no longer make that style.
I've resoled my Thorogoods too many times and I need a new pair. Thorogood discontinued them 😡 Dr. Martens makes them, but that's a hard pass for me.
The price is steeper, but the quality is better. I'm about to be $700 poorer now.
haha you know Trickers has a really cool monkey boot I think about a lot, but nothing like the Cordmaster's build!
Last time I splashed in a puddle like that my mother thickened my ear
A couple spots where can't understand what you're saying. Have seen vids that describe why G-Tex is scam, related to waterproof jackets and such. I'm not quite there yet for wanting boots that have extra leather in spots that make them impossible to break in and all that. Not many American cobblers who will want to do this kind of work for a reconstruction, so don't know what their rebuild policy might be, but imagine it can't be very cheap to buy boots or return boots to Indonesia, etc.
The Oak St ones I looked at this week were about $500 and I could have used a 10% off coupon. I thought the machine welt looked fine and not too busy compared to some other versions, but they don't seem to offer much in leathers apart from typical chromexel.
Yes, sounds pleasing. Maybe next year?
I guess I'm only a minor boot guy?
I have two feet and a coubering??
subtitle says canterine?
does anyone know if the tongue is gusseted or not? maybe that’s the reason why the cordmasters got wet
partially gusseted
Its a no from
Me they look like some kind of leather orthopaedic boot
haha well like i said you can get the exact same boot with regular laces if you like everything else, or modify... anything else
lost me with the half sole.
So just get a full sole dummy
yeah you can just get a full sole if that's what you want. i spent a lot of time saying you can get them made however you like haha
So Sagara makes boots that cost 2x just because they don't have any machines? What a ripoff.
what? machines cut down the labor time. no machines mean more labor time means higher cost. i can't imagine a MORE reasonable explanation for a higher price?
@@Stridewise That's what I said. They CHOOSE to make boots that cost 2x simply because they refuse to use machines. That's a ripoff.
Nice boots but I'm one of crazy people that like to support American workers as much as possible.
SAME 👍
I think it's perfectly normal. I always wanted a pair of redwings but as an Indonesian felt somewhat wrong knowing that many foreigners put high regard on our bootmakers so I crossed my fingers and ordered one(cause I never tried MTO), and I'm pleased with the result especially because I got a special discount so I only paid $167.
@@pudingassI think it’s awesome that you’re supporting businesses in your country! 👍
Nobody is making boots like this in America, unfortunately. Personally, I'm more interested in supporting excellent craftsmen, wherever they may live.
I found my Nick's Officer boot is better than my Txture. More water resistant build , nice high gusset to keep debris and water out. I can ask for smaller upper to fit my slender ankle and shin . The best fitting , least break-in boot I ever have.
The only pair that I can wear 16 hours a day with and walk 7000 steps with a single lace up.
Message to yuppies: stop it!
Seems like they don't make US 13 and up.My 14W foot will not wear a pair.Only love for the little men.
One thing I learned about Sagara is that what is on their website is not necessarily the limit to what they can do. Not sure if you reached out to them directly but I asked them if they did wide widths and they had last options that weren’t listed on their website
Sorry Sasquatch
Nah I think they make boots that big, don't pay any attention to what's on their website just DM them for info
Nice boots. Not for me tho. Thanks for sharing
you purposely putting those works of art in a dirty piss filled NY puddle made me throw up in my mouth.
boots are meant to be worn hard, Craig!