I wasn’t panicking. As an Aussie I refused to purchase a pair of these boots for the last 15 years as they have turned to uncomfortable poor quality rubbish.
Work as a fitter at RMs where these boots are made in adelaide, every boot goes thru a fair few hands to make them one of a kind. Proudly hand made in australia!
Quick question, are all RMs handmade in Australia? I read somewhere that they've now been shipped over to China for production, and only their top tier boots ($1000aud) are handmade in Adelaide
How is your worker turnover? Do you take on apprentices to maintain the level of skill required to make these boots? - I guess one of my fears is that RM end up being manufactured in China now that its owned by L Catterton.
@@lewicas I work as a maintenance fitter, so wouldnt kno about turnover of staff, all i kno is there is 2 lines doing 2 shifts going atm to make boots here in australia.
I bought my pair in Mt Isa for $210 when I was 25, I'm now 57 and still wear them regularly. They have been resoled twice in that time. Bloody great boots
I'm from Australia and have two pairs that I wear every day of the week and have done so for over 20 years. Paid around A$200 - $300 back then, and both pairs have been resoled twice by RM Williams for around A$80 each time. They don't just resole, they recondition with new inner sole, pull on tabs, stitching as required and the outer leather is like new. Considering all of that $20.50 / year is the average cost. $500, a bargain.
Yes I got a pair for riding and been resoled twice. That stockman style is excellent for riding and comfortable on the ground in the cattlemen's bar. Just saying. And much better value than most women's shoes around.
Bought My RM boots 33 years ago , still wearing them , had no repairs to this day. Would I buy another pair , no need I an 76 I guess these will see Me out.
Have worn the same pair to the office every day for more than a decade. When an Australian man reaches a certain stage of life and is not interested in continually buying leather fashion shoes - he buys a pair of RM Williams or two and never looks back.
Canadian guy here that works for an aussie company. I bought my first pair of RM's 6 years ago, and two more since then. Nothing compares for comfort and quality. My chesnuts are ready for a new sole and look better now than the first day I bought them.
Bought my first pair in 1978. Still have them. Had several half soles , 4 heels and 2 elastic sides replacements. Still comfy , still look good. 80$ well spent. ( that was 2 weeks wages back then.) The saying goes "they dont make things like they used to". Glad RM still does.
@@uncletiggermclaren7592 Other than the obvious wear, i think they would be. I dont think they've changed the inner soles or method of build. The Santa Fe model. Black leather, single piece boot, with Cuban heel, square toe, and leather sole is still the same from what ive seen. Were never the most comfy to walk a long way in, but great in the saddle and realy good as an old timey dancing boot.
@@colb9916 I am a Kiwi, we used to not have shoes until we went to school. And even once we got shoes, we basically had to be forced into them, I still often go about with bare feet. Every Kiwi kid my age, ended up with feet wider than most people from developed countries. I can't get shoes that fit unless I go up a full size, or even a size and a half. SO when I went into the RM WIlliams showroom here in Auckland they wanted to give me a boot that, literally looked like a clown shoe. Sticking 2 whole inches past my two. I would like a pair, but honestly, they looked stupid, and they were very strange to wear. Couldn't have run in them to save my life in fact.
@@uncletiggermclaren7592 lol yeah i grew up in a little fishing town up the West Aussie coast. Pretty much same deal, Only wore shoes to school. Rest of time we were little ferals running around the bush barefoot. Lol. Every couple nights mum was digging box thorns and double gees out of them.🤤😬. Rm's have that narrow toe that took some getting used to.
@@colb9916 I wouldn't be keen to barefoot around the Aussie bush. All them things what resent being stood on, and come to the party with poison. And the dropbears just waiting for you to spend too much time looking out for crawlies.
I bought a pair 4 years ago from one of their stores, after a couple of years of wearing them all day, every day - I put a hole through the leather where my big toe goes. I took it back to the shop on the off chance they could help. They said it was entirely their fault for putting me in the wrong size boot, gave me a new pair for free. Zero warranty left on them, just great customer service. I'll never buy a different brand after such a great experience and my replacements still look brand new after polishing them, again with daily wear.
@@BatCaveOz yea that’s…what you’re supposed to do. As long as you keep them clean and wear a clean pair of socks every time, wearing just one pair everyday is much better than buying a bunch and swapping out constantly. I’ve done basically the same with my own pair of generic brand boots, except I’ve only had them three years. Still going great and a good investment, they’ve served me well. Far less wasteful than buying a bunch of shoes.
@@DannyDevitoOffical-TrustMeBro I disagree. 2 things that hurt leather are dirt and moisture. Full leather shoes/boots can take longer then 16 hours to dry out. So wearing them daily can decrease their life. By alternating 2 pairs of shoes you can greatly extend the life of the shoes. For example, for the last 15 years I get a yearly boot stipend for work. If I buy a pair every January, my boots are much more damaged and smell worse then if I buy two pair dec 31st and January 1st every 2 years and alternate daily. I honestly get about 50% more life out of my boots. Plus the added benefits of less athletes foot, dramatically less boot stink. Having a back up pair on hot sweaty days or if they get wet from standing in water/flooding. I am recommend this to all my coworkers and anyone else who has the means.
At the same time, this is an invaluable resource. It helps keeps us informed about what level of quality we're actually paying for, and lets manufacturers know that if they make bs claims there's at least someone out there to call them out on it. I'm always leery when I see such incredibly high prices, because at that point you really want to know for damn sure that you're getting what you pay for. So being able to see that this is a company that legitimately gives a shit about the products they put out eases my comfort towards buying a pair. Whether or not they're actually worth 500$ is going to be purely subjective, but knowing that you're getting genuine quality(as opposed to paying mostly for branding and marketing caugh* Doc Martens) helps justify the cost. For me personally, this channel helped me validate my desire for a pair of Iron Rangers. I had bought a pair of much cheaper boots, in a similar visual style, in the past and really got burned by the quality(mostly in terms of longevity). I figured "they look the same, and they're both all leather, no way the Red Wings can be worth 200$ more". But this channel has help to visualize just how much variance there is in leather quality, as well as quality in construction, to the point that I now feel comfortable shelling out for the real thing.
Lol I heard a million Aussies sharpening their knives as soon as he said he was going to cut up an RM. Good to see our home town hero's got a good review
My grandmother is from Ukraine originally, and she said something that always sticks with me. "We were too poor to buy cheap things". Nice to see some value being placed back on good quality things, made to be fixed, not thrown away. Also, you got me as a subscriber when I saw the cat. Only true craftsman keep a shop cat.😁
Ha, ha, my grandmother was from Hungary and said something similar: you can't afford cheap shoes. In other words if you buy good shoes they will last a life time, but cheap shoes you will buy over and over again in that life time. This was back when more expensive didn't mean made in Bangladesh for an expensive brand.
Yea they really don't "last" 20 years anymore. Have a mate who is a D&T (Think shop teacher if you're a yank) and his soles lasted all of a year, funny as he was talking up his purchase quite a bit till that point. From what I've heard this is a bit out of ordinary but most people don't use them for 10+ hours a day, day in day out these days.
Nunyabidness haha, funny how you assumed I dint know what Design and Tech is ahah... I wore mine that were handed to me after them being worn for 15year through school and early workforce for when I got into senior years to have them until now, one resole when they were handed to me, as the cork had moulded to my fathers foot. Definitely worth the money if you take care of things
Nunyabidness wore mine at school actually. In design and tech classes too, just gotta take care of em, wore them in yr 11 and 12 and up until now, the shoes were previously worn by my father when he was in yr11,12 in school, and a bit in the workforce. Stopped wearing them for a bit, got them resolved and handed back to me... an awesome boot, made perfectly. Just gotta take care of em like anything else
My bad for not specifying, my mate brought his boots in 2018 for his first year on the job as it is a somewhat posh school. Also that explanation was not directed at you, more for clarification purposes in case someone isn't familiar
@@JamieLannyster yeah they only do like one or two boots with a vibram sole. :( i may just get a set of the ones i like and eventually once worn out get a vibram sole put on
For anyone upset at them being cut in half, this video has persuaded me to invest in a pair - he’s definitely generated at least one sale for the company!
@@edennorthyt8702 Hahaha, I've probably worn them for longer than you've been alive!!! Once upon a time they were indeed the duck's guts, as were ALL RMW products but nowadays, I wouldn't wear them if they were given to me. Clearly you don't know the half of it & would benefit from seeing all the photos of a particular FB page AND reading the negative feedback on their own damn FB page that is beyond appalling!!!
@@iThoughtUHad2Bitch Any brand other than that one - do your research, review their reviews & photos on their own Facebook page from all over the world - they're beyond appalling & make Australia look like a bunch of losers. Germany & England have the finest shoe/boot manufacturers in the world as far as I'm concerned. RMW used to be right up there with them many years ago, but no more. There's a special page on F/Book that shows heaps of photos of boots falling apart, brand new ones that are different heights, entirely different colours, the list just goes on and on, it's a joke, except it's also people's hard earned money :-(
For anyone who isn't aware, the leather sole does not last well if wearing regularly. The best thing you can do when buying a new pair is either get the rubber sole, or immediately take them to cobblers and have them attach a sacrificial thin rubber sole. You can then swap that rubber out periodically without needing a full resole and save a bunch of money. Still worth having them resoled at RM eventually as they give it a full detail and touchup
100% this. I had a pair with a leather sole and it had a hole within 1 month of mainly office wear. They did resole it in leather for free but the person who served me in the store barely thought a leather sole getting a hole in a month was an issue which was ridiculous.
@@waveman1500 I’ve multiple pairs of car cheaper dress shoes with leather soles that have survived far longer than a month. Leather soles aren’t just for horse riding.
I’ve done this with a few pair of (high quality) shoes. A pair of them are now about 20 years old and still on their original leather soles underneath…
Thanks for the tear-down. Are they worth $500? Here's my take: I have worn RM Williams boots for decades. They last, and the repair service is great if you have the time and patience to wait. None the boots I purchased are part of a landfill. I passed down two pair to my 26 year old son and he still wears them. He is now 34 years old. I am a retired Met Opera Chorister. I averaged over 250 opera performances per season for 26 season. My stock/stage boot was a pair of black chelseas. The saying "life is short, opera is long" couldn't be truer. Hours on my feet n a pitched stage was hard on every part of my body. RM Williams literally saved my feet and my ankles from the constant wear and tear of the stage. Now that I'm retired, I work on our property in Upstate New York. My work boots are the first pair of RM Williams I purchased back in 1995. So, $500 purchase (I think I paid ~$350) + ~$125 repairs = $625 / 25 years, $25/year. Worth it to me. By the way those boots at the Met Opera are still in service on another chorister's feet.
I am in the market for a great pair of boots or nice shoes and RM has some of the best reviews. i will definitely buy my first pair to start this year Right. thanks for sharing
@FlappableBean Not really. The Blundstones shown in this video (another Australian brand) are not suitable for the board room. And the RM Williams would not be suitable if you didn't shine them up a little.
Had mine for 10 years. During this time I've had them resoled twice, once in leather and once with a rubber sole and could not be happier with them. They are the epitome of the Sam Vimes Boots Theory of socioeconomic unfairness - you can spend 800 bucks on these boots and a few resoling, and still have amazing, tough, comfortable and waterproof boots versus someone else who buys boots worth 200 bucks but they leak and wear out every other year so they've spent $1000 on uncomfortable and leaky boots over the same time period.
200 dollar boots these days with a lot of wear won't even make 1 year likely. I've had 150 dollar synthetic material 'boots' not even last 6 months before the heel counter and other areas just disintegrated. Investing in some quality footwear is just better, and you spend everyday with comfortable feet, which has no price.
@@frankytanky5076 I bought a pair of Baxter "hiking" boots and they lasted two wears. Granted, they were lace ups, and the bit that broke was the stupid chrome-tanned, ultra-thin nubuck lace loop, but still: crap. $154AU. I didn't even intend to use them as hikers! I just wanted something mildly durable and comfortable to wear in the cold. I walked entirely on pavement with them. I was in a horse shop the other day, and saw the exact same pair of boots...but branded by Ariat, with slightly different stitching. Same leather pieces, same lacing system, same sole, just with slightly more stitching over the boot for fanciness, and different branding stamps. That's it. We all know what happened: some factory in China cranks out this pattern of boot by the millions, and the end buy can specify what sort of finishes or whatknot they want on it.
I was given a pair when I was 17, I’m 35 now and still have the original pair. They have been resoled twice and leather has faded and scuffed up due to not being polished but I like the look of them. My wife bought me a fresh pair for my 30th birthday and I wear them for special occasions or business meetings. Well worth the $500 anyone who owns a pair would agree.
I've had mine for 13 years now. No repairs, just routine maintenance despite heavy use. Most of the features that confused you are because they're riding boots. The leather sole, smooth inner heel and narrow contour are all for that reason, mostly to prevent sticking in stirrups.
That's why the 500 Dollars aren't even worth mentioning. And you probably paid less back then. How many cheap trash boots do people buy over 13 years? 50 bucks per year per pair? Maybe even more if the cheap boots do not last the whole year.
I still wear my RMs after 30+years. Only repair was the elastic sides. Felt like custom made for me right from the start. Still feel and look like new. What you did was sacrilege, but it shows the excellent product and may help them sell more boots. They are expensive, but well worth it, as are all of RM Williams products.
They are famous for it. I recently had a brother-in-law who gave a pair of his to ne of my son's, but they needed to be repaired. Went to our local RM Willima's store and they sent them back to the factory in Adelaide where they would have been originally made. Unfortunately their was a cut in the leather and when they went to repair them they didn't pass their internal testing. They then offered to give a new pair at a discounted rate based on how old the shoes where, which was a significant reduction...awesome service.
I rarely comment on UA-cam videos but feel compelled to do so bc of the majesty of this boot. I have the rubber soled version. Best boot/dress shoe purchase I've ever made. They fit like gloves after 7 yrs of wear on the sole and they still have a few yrs in them. I live in Austin so I wear them yr round (even with shorts). I bought them in a store where I was sized and fitted where I got the best fit and therefore longevity for the boot. Every Aussie I know owns at least one pair.
Supposed to be. Still sets off some poorly setup airport security checkpoints Australia. Quite a problem considering almost every pilot (that i know) wears a pair of RMs. Can't beat a rubber soled pair of RMs on the tarmac all day.
I think that C&J still use wooden shanks. They did try with other materials but didn’t work out. The plastic made a squeaking noise. But then again C&J are around USD 750. Nice boot from the Aussies.
We're so used to modern products that are meant to be disposed of after they break down, so we've forgotten that things actually used to be repairable. We're all out here buying new stuff while our dads are getting their stereos they bought in the 70's repaired for cheap.
@@JonasKFriedChicken ... I know, and it's not just apparel, things used to be built to last so you got your money's worth... my mom still uses the microwave and blender she got as wedding gifts back in the late 60's.... and they STILL WORK ! ! ! Everything built today has a shelf life, guaranteeing the need to repurchase the same product multiple times over a lifetime, insuring the separation of consumers from their hard earned income....
@@JonasKFriedChicken my parents have a sanyo stereo and loudspeakers from the 70s with the whole wooden encasings....lemme tell ya that bad boy still works like there's no tomorrow!
Living in Australia and working in the bush on my family's station, my boots have been a godsend and I'd never give them up. They have saved me multiple times from nails, heavy footed animals to snakes. It hurts to see them opened up like that, but also great to see how much love, passion and high end material that goes in to the making of them. Keep up the good work mate
First time viewer and fellow Aussie. I used to scoff at the price of a pair of R.M's when I was younger despite family and friends rave reviews. Genuinely surprised with the comfort and craftsmanship with my first pair. Just a great Aussie made product. Keep doing what you're doing mate, enjoyed the video, and cat 🤙🏼
I think that their dress shoes and more normal looking stuff is probably more premium. They were started as a leather working business. Everything else (gucci ace ect.) Is most likely garbage
Everyone I know in Australia has a story about these boots that like their grandfather still wears his original pair, or their dads 30 yo pair still look as good as new. $500 is a lot of money for a boot, but it isn't a lot for a boot that'll last a long time!
These boots are tried and tested, my first pair is over 12years and still going strong. I only wear RM Williams boots I now have 4 pairs and I got a pair for my 19 year old son to carry on the tradition.
When you buy a pair in-store in Australia, more focus is put on the fitting process of the shoe. I think they have their own specific feet size chart which takes into account the molding of the leather and sole to your foot over time or something.
It was for science! But for real tho, I would love to have these and now I know they are good quality, except I dont have the dollars to spend on such pricey boots so I'm only able to admire them from afar and get jealous of people who have them haha
I have been wearing RM William’s boots for a long time. After my first pair as a youngster (which lasted about five years being worn 4-5 days a week including after work nights at the pub) I experimented with other boots which would generally be ready to chuck out after six months of the same treatment. I should also mention that my first pair were not treated well…alcohol spilt on them when out (when I was 18-22 years old at this time was going out 2-3 times a week). I now own two pairs of Tampo comfort sole RM’s, one black, one brown. AU$595 per pair. The black are four years old and just sent back to RM William’s for $250 refurb/resole. They look like new. The Brown purchased Nov ‘21. After wearing in, they are the most comfortable boots you will ever wear; like slippers. Supportive and comfortable. Suggest they should be very hard to get on and off when purchased, but will be comfortable from the start free of blisters. From there they’ll get better and better. Expensive but no alternative to long term value. I’ll keep buying them (if I’m still alive ; )
As a young astralian man this is the first episode to hurt me personally I knew they were coming but seeing my leather babies sliced open made me look away.
The Australian Army now issue RM Williams boots for ceremonial dress. The patent leather boots we used to have kept having the soles fall off ; not good when marching in a parade! We were all individually measured and then we were issued a pair in black. When I discharged from the army I kept mine, I hadn't even used them so now they are my 'dressing up and going out for special occasions' boots. Because I was correctly sized I haven't had any foot aches when wearing them. I love 'em!
I just want to know, how people got such a gloss to the boots I was in army cadets my black GP boots where ok but on days like ANZAC day people had their boots piano black!
@@reecemartin453The old boots came with a black mirror finish. Easy to keep clean, but a lottery on the Anzac Day march. You'd be stepping over soles that had fallen off. Shouldn't really say it, but one year, not long into the march, my mates sole fell off. I was just behind him and had to smile as he limped around the city.
@@holdfast7657 Hold fast eh? Shelldrake here. (only army guys will understand) Same here. One year marching in Brisbane we could hear the slap of boot soles half off as the glue had given way or looking ahead we could see soldiers limping as they had one boot with a sole and the other gone so there was about an inch in height difference with each step. My unit got back to Gallipoli Barracks and just 50m from the RHQ someone clipped my boot and off came the sole. Bugger
My father, who lived his life as a "bushie", wore RM Williams boots his entire life. Unfortunately, my budget didn't allow for RMW's - I still consider them to be the Rolls Royce of Aussie boots. Great video, thanks!
Used to have a steel shank in them but after airport security changes, RMW changed to a composite shank so you could wear them through metal detectors (then they changed the security rules again). Great boots, last nearly a lifetime. Have 3x black pairs for work and a brown for the weekend.
Hey Matthew, just wondering what the comfort of them is like? He mentioned that the pinky toe goes squished due to the narrow design. After wearing them in, does that loosen up or is it always uncomfortable? I'm thinking of buying these for everyday work (office) use, but don't want to get something that will be bad for the feet in the long term
@Oliver Wan I have 5 pairs of RM Williams. If you are concerned about comfort and width, get the comfort craftsman in H width. Won't need to break them in at all. The leather sole is very traditional and can take a while to conform like most other boots.
I believe they may have also used a fibreglass shank at some point too to avoid the airport scanners. Might have changed back to cut some costs though.
@@lukeoelmo thx, good to know. I learned to never break in boots, that’s just a marketing gimmick. Its your feet that break, not the boot. Bunions and hammer toes, no thanks.
Never comments on anything but I had to share: Have had my RM Williams for over 7 years now. What I have found is that RM Williams is a bit of a throwback to olden times (mind you I am under 30). But my experience from buying these to wearing them all the time has been wonderful. I bought them in a storefront and had personalised service, from foot measurement to trying them on. I personally chose the comfort craftsman as they were more for everyday use and what I needed them for. They did take a little bit to break in (I just used them to break in instead of heating them) and I was regretting buying them for a second but as they started to mould around the foot, it came to fit like a sock! Not sure about quality deteriorating as I've only had one pair but I have yet to have them resoled and I regularly polish and condition them with RM's products. Literally best dress type shoe I've ever had! Generally, I have found that people make mistakes because they either just go in and buy them in the store before researching what is best suited to their needs. TIPS when buying RM Williams: - For people buying them as a dress shoe to go out in, I would recommend the classic. - For people buying them to use as a business shoe and more everyday wear chose the comfort. - For people buying their wedding shoe or just have the $$$ get the signature. - Find your shoe size and width with the video on their website/UA-cam . - I recommend to put them under a heater for a couple minutes before wearing them for the first time. This will make them break in immediately and mould to your feet. - Use RM's polish so it's the exact colour and their leather conditioner (I've been told it uses animal fat originally used by RM). The rest you can buy for cheaper somewhere else. - Polish them as necessary and condition them every couple of months depending on use. - Have them repaired by the local team in Adelaide especially if you are from interstate. (Well worth it and they can literally make your shoe brand new for half the price) I am from the great state of South Australia where they are made, so I am fairly biased and love supporting local SA/Australian businesses, but I look to pass on my shoes to my kids by maintaining them properly.
The official boot of Australian politicians everywhere. Every. Single. Politician. As well as aussie professionals and sales people and farmers everywhere.
So proud of this great Australian company. We have recently gifted our son a pair of custom made RM boots for his 21st. He was so excited to receive them a couple of weeks ago. I hope he will enjoy them for decades to come.
My heart was in my mouth the whole time watching this. When RM was purchased by a French company, it was a national upset. A lot of people didn't know, and when you told them, their world got flipped upside down. When it was brought back in Aus, the continent was at peace.
Only learning about this now but it still annoys me. "RM was purchased by a French company" hits like your mum telling you "There was a time when your dad thought he was gay"
OMG! As an Australian, absolutely freaking out that you're slicing up a pair of RMs. I've had mine for 20 years, resoled once. They really are amazing and comfy boots. In the long run the high intial price is worth it as it becomes a solid return on investment.
A true Aussie icon ❤ I can’t imagine not owning a pair (we live in the outback). My uncle, a cotton farmer, died in his nineties and never had a different shoe on his foot. They did work, weddings, holidays, and even eventually his final resting place. Literally never wore a different shoe in adulthood ❤
I visited the RM Williams store in Adelaide when I was in Australia. The customer service is superb. The company stands behind its products and customers know it. I don't know if it is still the case, but Williams used to guarantee their boots for life. A friend of mine had a pair for ages and eventually they split so he phoned the company. They asked him whether he would like a new pair or to have his repaired. He asked about the options and was told that people generally chose to have their boots repaired because they were so comfortable. The boots were beautifully repaired free of charge.
The comfort sole provides much better cushioning and if you were fitted in store, maybe they’d have recommended a wider fit, saving your toes. It’s important to remember that there are 3 width options F, G & H. F being the narrowest and H the widest. They are the best boots you’ll ever purchase, but it’s crucial to get the right fit. I have a pair that I’ve been wearing for 24 years and they’re still going strong. Admittedly, I’ve had some maintenance along the way, but that’s the great thing, they’re designed to be repaired rather than replaced. A small investment, in terms of cost per year.
I’m from Australia. I was standing in a puddle of tears watching you cut that boot in half. I’ve had my RM boots for 10 years and there still going strong. Best boots money can buy in my opinion. As painful as it was to watch at least you know your buying a quality hand made product. People who own a pair know how good they are.
Total agree. I cringed when the blade started cutting into the leather. And yes, they last forever with very little effort or care… I swear by RM Williams boots. The sole reason for their quality is that they haven’t offshored they’re production to India, Vietnam, or China - just a quality Australian made boot.
Straight to the argument of art vs function... Do they want a shoe made of multiple pieces of leather or 1 piece of leather that is going to look more slick? I personally prefer the look of Roosi boots but someone might want a more clean look. Gucci is not about designing functional clothing, they are going for a look. Watch a few episodes of project runway and see how many times they ask "But can she wear a bra with that?". Designers aren't even designing functionally for female bodies.
@Fernando Lentini Yeah art doesn't need to be pretty. It's been like that for more than 100 something years now. Every heard of The Fountain, Piss Christ,Black Square, or "Shoot in the name of Art"? They are high art but some people don't find them pretty. But I mostly used Gucci as an example because OP did and I definitely agree there clothing available to the general public is mostly gross, I let other people buy it, but some of their runaway stuff that will only ever be runway looks/ meant for museums is interesting and beautiful.
I’ve been a happy and proud wearer of a pair of RMs for 8 years. They’ve been re-soled once after I wore a hole in the leather. When I got them back (with new rubber soles and fresh heel blocks) my super comfortable boots were better than a new pair as they had conformed to my feet and were so supple. Definitely worth the initial outlay. These boots, with some occasional maintenance, will outlive me. No need to cut them up to see how well made they are. Just watch a tour of the factory online. Better still - buy a pair. They are an iconic boot.
The composite shank is a fibreglass shank. Instead of it being metal, they use fibreglass to make it airport friendly so you don't have to worry a thing about going to and from your destinations in your boots.
I've had the same pair of RM's for 39 years and been re-sole twice with genuine RM soles by a professional saddle maker. The secret is to use original RM boot polish and leather conditioning cream. Should last another 20 - 30 years at least. Cost approximately 100.00 in 1981. Great investment that is built to last. Proudly made in Australia by qualified boot makers.
Hands down the very best boots. I've had mine 7 years, wear them most days, resouled once by RM for $135. Customer service is incredibly good too. Don't know of any other companies still offering such a great service to customers
I've got the exact same pair, took two or three days of wearing and walking to wear them in. Great comfy shoe, wearing a thick sock isn't the smartest as the boots retain their heat, making them a little microwave for your feet but however, incredibly strong, comfy and much more durable than any other boot i've owned.
When my wife's Grandfather died, I inherited his RM's. He'd have had them for at least 15-20 years and I wore them pretty much every day for another ten years before the leather finally split on one of them. 30+ years out of a pair of boots ain't bad IMO. I have a new pair now and they're going strong.
My first pair of RM's lasted 30 years, and I was gutted when I had to give them up, and it was entirely my fault. For a couple of years I stopped wearing them, they were at the back of my cupboard and I didnt look after them, that is condition or put nugget on them. As a result the leather cracked and couldn't be repaired. This was heart breaking as they honesty where like I had nothing in my feet, they had moulded to every nook and curve of my foot. I am awaiting my new pair and will religiously condition them once a month and nugget one a week and expect to have them for 30+years. My wife and I just brought a pair for our eldest son and he loves them, cant wait for my youngest's foot to stop growing so we can buy him a pair. As others have mentioned, RM's aftercare service is 2nd to none, which for an Australian company is impressive as we do not have a strong service culture in Aust disappointly.
These shoes are legendary in Australia, they have been known to be passed down from generation to generation, from fathers to sons or daughters on the outback stations....... I have also aged 10 years watching you cut them in half..... but worth it to see the true craftsmanship they still put into them..... i think i’m going to have a cold beer to relieve the stress.... G’day from Australia.
@@hankatmaggies8819 They actually do make Kangaroo Hide Boots for an extra AUD $50. Kangaroo hide is also used in top grade motorcycle leathers. I purchased a pair of Square Toed Black Leather Cuban heeled boots back in the 1980s, resoled a couple times and for the life of me I can't find them today....
Well "normal" was expensive back then too. Adjusting for inflation a decent straight razor cost hundreds. A pair of boots, especially when people walked everywhere (very few cars yet) were an investment and would cost 80-200 dollars. About the same as decent boots today. And there were also times when boots were such a precious commodity that people would fight over who would get the boots off of anyone who died. Or passed out. Or fell asleep.
Hey just think how much they sell plastic fabric shoes with rubber soles glued on. They cost about $20 to make, will be destroyed after one year of constant use and they cost....*drumroll* $600! What a deal!
I have owned four pairs of these boots, the first pair are now 30 years old. I am 69 now and can’t see me needing another pair in my lifetime. Greatest foot ware I have ever owned.
These are just freaking good boots. I love the dress style and Cuban heel on my boots. One lesson I learnt was not looking after the leather. They cracked and looked pretty awful but all my fault. Learnt that lesson the hard way and not make sure they are regularly cleaned and polished. And in Australia we pay 600 to 700 depending on style. Ouch 🤕
RM Boots are to Australian what spurs are to Cowboys ... my Grandfather was buried in his RM Boots and Moleskins; they are an ICON of this Nations Outback Culture and History. The difference in profile between RM and Blunstones is because RM's are Stockman's Boots- Stockmen rode Horses (Sadly Motorbikes these days) so the Wedge of the toe is profiled to slide easily in and out of stirrups - not needed on Blunstones which are just Tradie boots. The sole of the RM's is also smooth so you do not get hung up on a stirrup and dragged to death ... it's not about being DRESSY.
I own two pairs of RM’s. Bought the first in 2001 and the second in 2002. Keep dry, use shoe trees and resole with only the best and they last, well, forever.
@@whyaskmenoely25 Yes they do but the cheaper option would be to resole them with protective soles so that you only have to replace the protective soles instead of having to send the boots back to the factory to replace the entire leather sole.
The uppers still crack up along the crease line. And I used Lexol leather food on both the uppers on the outside and inside. I’ve got a pair of Hugo Boss that lasted as long.
They do a kangaroo leather version which I have, but only with a custom fit. It’s about $50 more expensive but worth it I think. The leather is thinner for the same strength which makes them lighter and softer, also the custom fit is great. Mine was a little too tight when I first got them and after a few days I took them in. Rather than stretching or altering a new pair, they measured again and made a new pair for me from scratch. Great boots.
Have 3 pairs of these. First pair as a 16th birthday present (30 years ago!) that have been re-soled twice and the elastic sides replaced once. Second are a black dress shoe type that still look brand new and most recent pair are a light tan leather with a super comfy synthetic inner sole lining that I have worn every day to work for the past 5 years. The most quintessential Australian boot. Love them
I have had my R M WILLIAMS boots for over 20 years. They are hard wearing and look as good today as when purchased. I have had the sole replaced a number of times over the years.
@@jaiivanoff I have very large feet (euroean size 50-52 depending on brand) and anytime I have flown and not gone out of my way to wear shoes without a steel shank, I have always had to take my shoes off at security.
My heart sank when i heard the ripping noise . haha but in all honesty i have been wearing them for 12 years. They are flawless. You wont need another pair of boots ever .
I have the same style (and color) as those you featured, and I love them. They broke in nicely after a couple of weeks, and thereafter they became the most comfortable boots I own. To me, they were worth every penny.
The leather sole RMs are called "the wedding boot" over here, they're a bit classier compared to the rubber sole craftsman, however they're not as comfortable for everyday wear and the leather sole will deteriorate if you wear them everyday too. If you want a comfortable boot, the comfort craftsman or dynamic flex is the way to go.
I wear leather soles for everyday (at least in the summer). They shouldn't deteriorate that fast. Also leather soles breath much better than rubber, and the cork conforms much better than synthetic rather than just wears out.
@@Helliconia54 without a doubt they're a great boot, probably shouldve used a better word than deteriorate, I've had my leather soles for a year now and the sole has worn in a lot faster than my dynamic flex, however they still have a lot of life in them.
This was a good information session to the best OZ boot ever made. I have been wearing RMW on the first cattle station 1970 an a jackeroo. I"m still wearing them, at a cost of $890.00 hand made through a personal order only. Thank you to Andrew (Twiggy) and Nicola Forrest, who put RM's back on the map.
I’ve been wearing RMs for 30 years, wear them every day and I work in the outback, Simpson desert, Top End of the NT and Kimberley. They handle everything and the repair service is unmatched. I’ve a number of styles most with leather soles but man made soles for my work in clinic. Are they worth $500, yes, expensive the day you buy them, save the money on not replacing them for as long as you feed the leather.
My biggest concern with Chelsea boots in general is the elastic. You will never have a pair last anywhere near as long as a pair of lace-ups. The leather, the sole, the welt, etc. It all can be excellent, but the elastic is elastic. And this is not a criticism of this brand, but of the Chelsea design in general.
I have a pair of Baxter boots that I have had for 15 years. I wear to work every day and the elastic on them are fine. At the end of the day you get what you pay for.
I’ve owned a pair for 7 years and wear them to work every day. Had them re-soled once in that time. Well with the investment. Best boots money can buy.
Lucky you. I've owned 4 pairs. The last purchased in 2002. I hate them. A fashion brand of overpriced junk. At least they used to be cheapish which was enough to put up with them. $500-600 for a pair of craftsman's is a scam. But now they are part of LVMH, they cashed-up bogan's will keep on paying whatever.
I bought a pair 27 years ago for $260.00 AUD,only had the the side elastic changed recently during covid for $80.00. These boots are the high class of quality manufacturing and are at $650.00 a pair in today's money. There is no substitute for quality,worth every cent.
In Australia you used to be able to find these in thrift stores. I bought one new pair about 20 years ago and still have them. They used to be work boots (farm/horses) until people like Hugh Jackman started wearing them. If you got $500 for boots, you could do worse.
Buy some Rose Anvil wallets or belts that Hugh Jackman hasn't endorsed yet here - bit.ly/44jXLNu
Everyone I know in Australia finds them uncomfortable and say they take forever to break in.
I wasn’t panicking. As an Aussie I refused to purchase a pair of these boots for the last 15 years as they have turned to uncomfortable poor quality rubbish.
Australians all trying to not have a panic attack watching him cut an RM in half
🤣 yep
I definitely had a panic attack. My last pair cost me $900AU
So painful to watch
I cried a little.
Nah bro tns are the Penrith get- a- round shoe
Work as a fitter at RMs where these boots are made in adelaide, every boot goes thru a fair few hands to make them one of a kind.
Proudly hand made in australia!
Great work Jason!
Quick question, are all RMs handmade in Australia? I read somewhere that they've now been shipped over to China for production, and only their top tier boots ($1000aud) are handmade in Adelaide
@@involuntarytwitch9771 all boots still made in australia we have just installed 2nd line to increase boots being made. No boots are made else where
How is your worker turnover? Do you take on apprentices to maintain the level of skill required to make these boots? - I guess one of my fears is that RM end up being manufactured in China now that its owned by L Catterton.
@@lewicas I work as a maintenance fitter, so wouldnt kno about turnover of staff, all i kno is there is 2 lines doing 2 shifts going atm to make boots here in australia.
I bought my pair in Mt Isa for $210 when I was 25, I'm now 57 and still wear them regularly. They have been resoled twice in that time. Bloody great boots
wow, It is right that some people say if you have a good quality stuff and you take care of it and you can have it for a long long time
More of 30 years, that's impressing i wonder if the past shoes have much more quality than the current.
That's incredible
Wow, that's impressive! The way it's supposed to be.
Do they crease easy?
I'm from Australia and have two pairs that I wear every day of the week and have done so for over 20 years. Paid around A$200 - $300 back then, and both pairs have been resoled twice by RM Williams for around A$80 each time. They don't just resole, they recondition with new inner sole, pull on tabs, stitching as required and the outer leather is like new. Considering all of that $20.50 / year is the average cost. $500, a bargain.
That’s exactly why I just bought my first pair
Yes I got a pair for riding and been resoled twice. That stockman style is excellent for riding and comfortable on the ground in the cattlemen's bar. Just saying. And much better value than most women's shoes around.
Lol boomers
You wear each pair for half the day?
@@wes4192 HaHa, Random and depending on which pair have been polished.🙂
Send them back to RMW. They will repair them to as new. You are also now on an Australian Government watch list for this treacherous act.
SAS prepare to breach in 5...4...
Ala Simpson. Give him the Boot! hahaha
A two years ago that would have been a 'zany' joke. These day, not so much.
It’s not like RM ever made a boot himself.
'struth mate.
Bought My RM boots 33 years ago , still wearing them , had no repairs to this day. Would I buy another pair , no need I an 76 I guess these will see Me out.
Damn what a comment. May you live long and prosper.
You been babying them on the day to day and just light duty or they actually that tough?
I have had mine for nearly 23 years they have been looked after but worn a lot.
Love them to death!
🤣👍🏼
@@SCYTHE2525 most Aussie blokes have a pair that last their whole lives - take that as you will
Have worn the same pair to the office every day for more than a decade. When an Australian man reaches a certain stage of life and is not interested in continually buying leather fashion shoes - he buys a pair of RM Williams or two and never looks back.
Julian Drake 🙋🏼♂️
Canadian guy here that works for an aussie company. I bought my first pair of RM's 6 years ago, and two more since then. Nothing compares for comfort and quality. My chesnuts are ready for a new sole and look better now than the first day I bought them.
Thanks for commenting, now I don’t have to.
Julian. I have just reached this stage and looking forward to my first pair (or two in different colour choices)
@Boost boost no, they're not fashion, they're boots for men. Good luck with your better boots tootsie.
Bought my first pair in 1978. Still have them. Had several half soles , 4 heels and 2 elastic sides replacements. Still comfy , still look good. 80$ well spent. ( that was 2 weeks wages back then.) The saying goes "they dont make things like they used to". Glad RM still does.
I wonder if you brought a new pair, and compared them to yours, would they be the same .
@@uncletiggermclaren7592 Other than the obvious wear, i think they would be.
I dont think they've changed the inner soles or method of build.
The Santa Fe model. Black leather, single piece boot, with Cuban heel, square toe, and leather sole is still the same from what ive seen.
Were never the most comfy to walk a long way in, but great in the saddle and realy good as an old timey dancing boot.
@@colb9916 I am a Kiwi, we used to not have shoes until we went to school. And even once we got shoes, we basically had to be forced into them, I still often go about with bare feet.
Every Kiwi kid my age, ended up with feet wider than most people from developed countries.
I can't get shoes that fit unless I go up a full size, or even a size and a half. SO when I went into the RM WIlliams showroom here in Auckland they wanted to give me a boot that, literally looked like a clown shoe. Sticking 2 whole inches past my two.
I would like a pair, but honestly, they looked stupid, and they were very strange to wear. Couldn't have run in them to save my life in fact.
@@uncletiggermclaren7592 lol yeah i grew up in a little fishing town up the West Aussie coast. Pretty much same deal, Only wore shoes to school. Rest of time we were little ferals running around the bush barefoot. Lol. Every couple nights mum was digging box thorns and double gees out of them.🤤😬.
Rm's have that narrow toe that took some getting used to.
@@colb9916 I wouldn't be keen to barefoot around the Aussie bush. All them things what resent being stood on, and come to the party with poison.
And the dropbears just waiting for you to spend too much time looking out for crawlies.
I bought a pair 4 years ago from one of their stores, after a couple of years of wearing them all day, every day - I put a hole through the leather where my big toe goes. I took it back to the shop on the off chance they could help. They said it was entirely their fault for putting me in the wrong size boot, gave me a new pair for free. Zero warranty left on them, just great customer service. I'll never buy a different brand after such a great experience and my replacements still look brand new after polishing them, again with daily wear.
You wore the same footwear for 730 days continuously...? 🤮
Bro that some high loyalty
@@BatCaveOz yea that’s…what you’re supposed to do. As long as you keep them clean and wear a clean pair of socks every time, wearing just one pair everyday is much better than buying a bunch and swapping out constantly. I’ve done basically the same with my own pair of generic brand boots, except I’ve only had them three years. Still going great and a good investment, they’ve served me well. Far less wasteful than buying a bunch of shoes.
@@DannyDevitoOffical-TrustMeBro I disagree. 2 things that hurt leather are dirt and moisture.
Full leather shoes/boots can take longer then 16 hours to dry out. So wearing them daily can decrease their life.
By alternating 2 pairs of shoes you can greatly extend the life of the shoes.
For example, for the last 15 years I get a yearly boot stipend for work. If I buy a pair every January, my boots are much more damaged and smell worse then if I buy two pair dec 31st and January 1st every 2 years and alternate daily. I honestly get about 50% more life out of my boots.
Plus the added benefits of less athletes foot, dramatically less boot stink. Having a back up pair on hot sweaty days or if they get wet from standing in water/flooding.
I am recommend this to all my coworkers and anyone else who has the means.
@@umbrameshheiret4339 look into the benefits of a "shoe tree"
What you are saying and what I am saying are not mutually exclusive.
God I still vividly recall forking out the $500 or whatever for my pair of these and watching you stanley knife them in half was painful
coulda bought some Officine Creative boots m8
I think I actually almost cried
I was cringing at the idea of someone handmaking this boot, only to have someone cut it in half right away. Ahhh...
At the same time, this is an invaluable resource. It helps keeps us informed about what level of quality we're actually paying for, and lets manufacturers know that if they make bs claims there's at least someone out there to call them out on it.
I'm always leery when I see such incredibly high prices, because at that point you really want to know for damn sure that you're getting what you pay for. So being able to see that this is a company that legitimately gives a shit about the products they put out eases my comfort towards buying a pair. Whether or not they're actually worth 500$ is going to be purely subjective, but knowing that you're getting genuine quality(as opposed to paying mostly for branding and marketing caugh* Doc Martens) helps justify the cost.
For me personally, this channel helped me validate my desire for a pair of Iron Rangers. I had bought a pair of much cheaper boots, in a similar visual style, in the past and really got burned by the quality(mostly in terms of longevity). I figured "they look the same, and they're both all leather, no way the Red Wings can be worth 200$ more". But this channel has help to visualize just how much variance there is in leather quality, as well as quality in construction, to the point that I now feel comfortable shelling out for the real thing.
I didn’t pay that much but it still cut deep haha
I’m from Australia and this broke my heart but it is nice to see the quality being acknowledged by a professional without the hometown bias.
I’m Australian too. Best boots for riding horses In. Agreed, broke my heart. Cannot believe he did this.
Lol I heard a million Aussies sharpening their knives as soon as he said he was going to cut up an RM.
Good to see our home town hero's got a good review
Never trust a person who buys in quantities of 1.
They're a consumer.
Consumers destroy stuff.
Tbh, who cares lol if he wants to burn money for a vid.. still goes into the company.
@@tfre3927 oh have some pride mate
My grandmother is from Ukraine originally, and she said something that always sticks with me. "We were too poor to buy cheap things". Nice to see some value being placed back on good quality things, made to be fixed, not thrown away.
Also, you got me as a subscriber when I saw the cat. Only true craftsman keep a shop cat.😁
I m from France and we have something close to that :
We are too poor for buy shit
my dad is from Ukraine left during the U.S.S.R. PRAY FOR UKRAINE!
Ha, ha, my grandmother was from Hungary and said something similar: you can't afford cheap shoes. In other words if you buy good shoes they will last a life time, but cheap shoes you will buy over and over again in that life time. This was back when more expensive didn't mean made in Bangladesh for an expensive brand.
Yeah Russians and Italians both say the same :)
In Armenian we have “nothing is cheaper than buying expensive” (in our language this sentence is just 3 words)
Same idea 😊
I’d say a boot that lasts 20 years and only needs a resole once is unquestionably worth $500
I have a pair of RM Bushman’s that are 33 years old, on their 3rd sole and 2nd set of elastics and are still going strong.
Yea they really don't "last" 20 years anymore. Have a mate who is a D&T (Think shop teacher if you're a yank) and his soles lasted all of a year, funny as he was talking up his purchase quite a bit till that point.
From what I've heard this is a bit out of ordinary but most people don't use them for 10+ hours a day, day in day out these days.
Nunyabidness haha, funny how you assumed I dint know what Design and Tech is ahah... I wore mine that were handed to me after them being worn for 15year through school and early workforce for when I got into senior years to have them until now, one resole when they were handed to me, as the cork had moulded to my fathers foot. Definitely worth the money if you take care of things
Nunyabidness wore mine at school actually. In design and tech classes too, just gotta take care of em, wore them in yr 11 and 12 and up until now, the shoes were previously worn by my father when he was in yr11,12 in school, and a bit in the workforce. Stopped wearing them for a bit, got them resolved and handed back to me... an awesome boot, made perfectly. Just gotta take care of em like anything else
My bad for not specifying, my mate brought his boots in 2018 for his first year on the job as it is a somewhat posh school. Also that explanation was not directed at you, more for clarification purposes in case someone isn't familiar
The company is now back under Aussie ownership and all boots will be made in Australia
I just wish they did a bit more of a work boot range... like dress boot looks but with a sole with a bit more tread on it
Where are you getting this info from?
Dazz Za Andrew Forrest bought them out
@@themisunderstoodgorilla7030 Try the Macquarie comfort - dunno if they still have them
@@JamieLannyster yeah they only do like one or two boots with a vibram sole. :( i may just get a set of the ones i like and eventually once worn out get a vibram sole put on
For anyone upset at them being cut in half, this video has persuaded me to invest in a pair - he’s definitely generated at least one sale for the company!
You may want to research all the NEGATIVE REVIEWS AND FEEDBACK BEFORE THAT INVESTMENT!
@@dfraser2462 they are really good boots they will last so long
@@edennorthyt8702 Hahaha, I've probably worn them for longer than you've been alive!!! Once upon a time they were indeed the duck's guts, as were ALL RMW products but nowadays, I wouldn't wear them if they were given to me. Clearly you don't know the half of it & would benefit from seeing all the photos of a particular FB page AND reading the negative feedback on their own damn FB page that is beyond appalling!!!
@@dfraser2462 Then what is a pair of Chelsea boots you would recommend investing in?
@@iThoughtUHad2Bitch Any brand other than that one - do your research, review their reviews & photos on their own Facebook page from all over the world - they're beyond appalling & make Australia look like a bunch of losers. Germany & England have the finest shoe/boot manufacturers in the world as far as I'm concerned. RMW used to be right up there with them many years ago, but no more. There's a special page on F/Book that shows heaps of photos of boots falling apart, brand new ones that are different heights, entirely different colours, the list just goes on and on, it's a joke, except it's also people's hard earned money :-(
For anyone who isn't aware, the leather sole does not last well if wearing regularly. The best thing you can do when buying a new pair is either get the rubber sole, or immediately take them to cobblers and have them attach a sacrificial thin rubber sole. You can then swap that rubber out periodically without needing a full resole and save a bunch of money. Still worth having them resoled at RM eventually as they give it a full detail and touchup
100% this. I had a pair with a leather sole and it had a hole within 1 month of mainly office wear. They did resole it in leather for free but the person who served me in the store barely thought a leather sole getting a hole in a month was an issue which was ridiculous.
@@Macca-95 The leather soles are for horse riding, rubber sole for walking.
@@waveman1500 I’ve multiple pairs of car cheaper dress shoes with leather soles that have survived far longer than a month.
Leather soles aren’t just for horse riding.
I’ve done this with a few pair of (high quality) shoes. A pair of them are now about 20 years old and still on their original leather soles underneath…
Thanks for the tear-down. Are they worth $500? Here's my take: I have worn RM Williams boots for decades. They last, and the repair service is great if you have the time and patience to wait. None the boots I purchased are part of a landfill. I passed down two pair to my 26 year old son and he still wears them. He is now 34 years old. I am a retired Met Opera Chorister. I averaged over 250 opera performances per season for 26 season. My stock/stage boot was a pair of black chelseas. The saying "life is short, opera is long" couldn't be truer. Hours on my feet n a pitched stage was hard on every part of my body. RM Williams literally saved my feet and my ankles from the constant wear and tear of the stage. Now that I'm retired, I work on our property in Upstate New York. My work boots are the first pair of RM Williams I purchased back in 1995. So, $500 purchase (I think I paid ~$350) + ~$125 repairs = $625 / 25 years, $25/year. Worth it to me. By the way those boots at the Met Opera are still in service on another chorister's feet.
My aunty gave me her pair RM Williams she had them for 20 years. I still have them now 4 years with me going strong!!!
Such fantastic stories! Thanks for sharing these!
I am in the market for a great pair of boots or nice shoes and RM has some of the best reviews. i will definitely buy my first pair to start this year Right. thanks for sharing
I had never though my RMs that I've now worn near daily for 8 years could be heirloom pieces.. huh
Look what you did to all the USA manufacturers of boots.
Patients buy multiple quantity and don't suffer a down time.
It feels like experimenting on a frog - necessary for science but sorry for frog.
No boots were harmed during making of this video
In Australia, these are boots that can be worn in boardrooms, or the outback.
most C.E.O,s have a pair
Don't trust bastard's in shiny suits, even if they are wearing RM's.
@FlappableBean Not really. The Blundstones shown in this video (another Australian brand) are not suitable for the board room. And the RM Williams would not be suitable if you didn't shine them up a little.
Most politicians have a pair too and are appropriate attire to be worn in parliament, even by the Prime Minister
Australia where a sleeveless shirt and a mullet are seen as stylish.
Had mine for 10 years. During this time I've had them resoled twice, once in leather and once with a rubber sole and could not be happier with them.
They are the epitome of the Sam Vimes Boots Theory of socioeconomic unfairness - you can spend 800 bucks on these boots and a few resoling, and still have amazing, tough, comfortable and waterproof boots versus someone else who buys boots worth 200 bucks but they leak and wear out every other year so they've spent $1000 on uncomfortable and leaky boots over the same time period.
200 dollar boots these days with a lot of wear won't even make 1 year likely. I've had 150 dollar synthetic material 'boots' not even last 6 months before the heel counter and other areas just disintegrated. Investing in some quality footwear is just better, and you spend everyday with comfortable feet, which has no price.
Nice shoutout to Discworld, and I absolutely believe in the Vimes theory.
@@frankytanky5076 I bought a pair of Baxter "hiking" boots and they lasted two wears. Granted, they were lace ups, and the bit that broke was the stupid chrome-tanned, ultra-thin nubuck lace loop, but still: crap. $154AU. I didn't even intend to use them as hikers! I just wanted something mildly durable and comfortable to wear in the cold. I walked entirely on pavement with them.
I was in a horse shop the other day, and saw the exact same pair of boots...but branded by Ariat, with slightly different stitching. Same leather pieces, same lacing system, same sole, just with slightly more stitching over the boot for fanciness, and different branding stamps. That's it.
We all know what happened: some factory in China cranks out this pattern of boot by the millions, and the end buy can specify what sort of finishes or whatknot they want on it.
Just commenting to help you w the algorithm
theepiccheeeseXD same
Ohhh well heres my comment too.
me to
me three
me also
I was given a pair when I was 17, I’m 35 now and still have the original pair. They have been resoled twice and leather has faded and scuffed up due to not being polished but I like the look of them. My wife bought me a fresh pair for my 30th birthday and I wear them for special occasions or business meetings. Well worth the $500 anyone who owns a pair would agree.
Mark Robertson I got mine for my 17th birthday last November!
I've had mine for 13 years now. No repairs, just routine maintenance despite heavy use. Most of the features that confused you are because they're riding boots. The leather sole, smooth inner heel and narrow contour are all for that reason, mostly to prevent sticking in stirrups.
Yes I know RM Williams boots from owning and riding 2 horses in NZ in the 80's. My heart was in my mouth when you cut into the boot.
That's why the 500 Dollars aren't even worth mentioning. And you probably paid less back then. How many cheap trash boots do people buy over 13 years? 50 bucks per year per pair? Maybe even more if the cheap boots do not last the whole year.
I still wear my RMs after 30+years. Only repair was the elastic sides. Felt like custom made for me right from the start. Still feel and look like new. What you did was sacrilege, but it shows the excellent product and may help them sell more boots. They are expensive, but well worth it, as are all of RM Williams products.
wouldnt $500 cut in half just be $250?
i'll see my self out, sorry...
that's how 50% off works...you get half of the product
what a deal
amazing
Can you do isabel marant bekket sneakers
LOL 😆
Why?
I love the idea that a company encourages repair over replacing 😌
They are famous for it. I recently had a brother-in-law who gave a pair of his to ne of my son's, but they needed to be repaired. Went to our local RM Willima's store and they sent them back to the factory in Adelaide where they would have been originally made. Unfortunately their was a cut in the leather and when they went to repair them they didn't pass their internal testing. They then offered to give a new pair at a discounted rate based on how old the shoes where, which was a significant reduction...awesome service.
“It was almost like millions of Australians called out in agony and then went silent”
Oh my goodness......I think a bit of my soul died watching the massacre of these icons of Australia.
I hurt when he sliced the Redbacks too.
I rarely comment on UA-cam videos but feel compelled to do so bc of the majesty of this boot. I have the rubber soled version. Best boot/dress shoe purchase I've ever made. They fit like gloves after 7 yrs of wear on the sole and they still have a few yrs in them. I live in Austin so I wear them yr round (even with shorts). I bought them in a store where I was sized and fitted where I got the best fit and therefore longevity for the boot. Every Aussie I know owns at least one pair.
The shank is fiberglass and it’s meant to be airport-friendly.
Supposed to be. Still sets off some poorly setup airport security checkpoints Australia. Quite a problem considering almost every pilot (that i know) wears a pair of RMs. Can't beat a rubber soled pair of RMs on the tarmac all day.
@@zac.russ69 Knows pilots > says 'Tarmac' Yeah ok mate.
I think that C&J still use wooden shanks. They did try with other materials but didn’t work out. The plastic made a squeaking noise. But then again C&J are around USD 750. Nice boot from the Aussies.
Virgin staff when virgin was virgin received a pair of RM’s when hired.
@@worldgonemad6226 Cause its called tarmac ...? clearly you dont know what you're talking about lol
$500 for a pair of boots that last 20 years is worth it in my book...
We're so used to modern products that are meant to be disposed of after they break down, so we've forgotten that things actually used to be repairable. We're all out here buying new stuff while our dads are getting their stereos they bought in the 70's repaired for cheap.
@@JonasKFriedChicken ... I know, and it's not just apparel, things used to be built to last so you got your money's worth... my mom still uses the microwave and blender she got as wedding gifts back in the late 60's.... and they STILL WORK ! ! ! Everything built today has a shelf life, guaranteeing the need to repurchase the same product multiple times over a lifetime, insuring the separation of consumers from their hard earned income....
@@JonasKFriedChicken my parents have a sanyo stereo and loudspeakers from the 70s with the whole wooden encasings....lemme tell ya that bad boy still works like there's no tomorrow!
Robert Morgan if they not comfortable then no deal.
@@MrShnazer ... well obviously, that goes without saying...
Living in Australia and working in the bush on my family's station, my boots have been a godsend and I'd never give them up. They have saved me multiple times from nails, heavy footed animals to snakes. It hurts to see them opened up like that, but also great to see how much love, passion and high end material that goes in to the making of them. Keep up the good work mate
First time viewer and fellow Aussie.
I used to scoff at the price of a pair of R.M's when I was younger despite family and friends rave reviews. Genuinely surprised with the comfort and craftsmanship with my first pair.
Just a great Aussie made product.
Keep doing what you're doing mate, enjoyed the video, and cat 🤙🏼
Next cut open Gucci shoes to see if they all brand or actually real quality.
@yee yee if the Gucci shoes are indeed of premium quality, they will send a free pair. What you got to hide Gucci?
We all know they’re overpriced
@@danielaramburo7648 😂
Def not worth anyones money
I think that their dress shoes and more normal looking stuff is probably more premium. They were started as a leather working business. Everything else (gucci ace ect.) Is most likely garbage
Everyone I know in Australia has a story about these boots that like their grandfather still wears his original pair, or their dads 30 yo pair still look as good as new. $500 is a lot of money for a boot, but it isn't a lot for a boot that'll last a long time!
Flare03l buy once cry once !
These boots are tried and tested, my first pair is over 12years and still going strong. I only wear RM Williams boots I now have 4 pairs and I got a pair for my 19 year old son to carry on the tradition.
Exactly. They last decades and look great the entire time.
When you buy a pair in-store in Australia, more focus is put on the fitting process of the shoe. I think they have their own specific feet size chart which takes into account the molding of the leather and sole to your foot over time or something.
It's the same in every RM Williams outlet, London and NY
As an aussie with a great deal of first hand experience of the brand, it hurts my soul to see you tear apart an icon of my country, lol.............
It was for science! But for real tho, I would love to have these and now I know they are good quality, except I dont have the dollars to spend on such pricey boots so I'm only able to admire them from afar and get jealous of people who have them haha
It's a Singaporian company...
@markyhabs i ate 1kg of cow tonight
For real why UA-cam be recommending me watch my beloved boots get cut in half.
@markyhabs my mums your grand mum
RM’s are an Aussie staple, they’re the best wearing boot. These boots last for decades literally. Great videos mate keep them coming
Thanks for your input. These videos as well as your comments are definitely meant to help people form their own opinions. I appreciate it.
i've had mine since the 70's
They used to last, until they were bought out. Quality is nothing special these days
my mum has a pair that is over 40 years old.
They last for long , but looks cheap
I have been wearing RM William’s boots for a long time. After my first pair as a youngster (which lasted about five years being worn 4-5 days a week including after work nights at the pub) I experimented with other boots which would generally be ready to chuck out after six months of the same treatment. I should also mention that my first pair were not treated well…alcohol spilt on them when out (when I was 18-22 years old at this time was going out 2-3 times a week). I now own two pairs of Tampo comfort sole RM’s, one black, one brown. AU$595 per pair. The black are four years old and just sent back to RM William’s for $250 refurb/resole. They look like new. The Brown purchased Nov ‘21. After wearing in, they are the most comfortable boots you will ever wear; like slippers. Supportive and comfortable. Suggest they should be very hard to get on and off when purchased, but will be comfortable from the start free of blisters. From there they’ll get better and better. Expensive but no alternative to long term value. I’ll keep buying them (if I’m still alive ; )
As a young astralian man this is the first episode to hurt me personally I knew they were coming but seeing my leather babies sliced open made me look away.
Learn to spell mate.
Calm down dear, its only a boot
The Australian Army now issue RM Williams boots for ceremonial dress. The patent leather boots we used to have kept having the soles fall off ; not good when marching in a parade! We were all individually measured and then we were issued a pair in black. When I discharged from the army I kept mine, I hadn't even used them so now they are my 'dressing up and going out for special occasions' boots. Because I was correctly sized I haven't had any foot aches when wearing them. I love 'em!
I just want to know, how people got such a gloss to the boots
I was in army cadets my black GP boots where ok but on days like ANZAC day people had their boots piano black!
Reece Martin ever seen AAFC SD shoes?
@@reecemartin453 spit n polish
@@reecemartin453The old boots came with a black mirror finish. Easy to keep clean, but a lottery on the Anzac Day march. You'd be stepping over soles that had fallen off. Shouldn't really say it, but one year, not long into the march, my mates sole fell off. I was just behind him and had to smile as he limped around the city.
@@holdfast7657 Hold fast eh? Shelldrake here. (only army guys will understand) Same here. One year marching in Brisbane we could hear the slap of boot soles half off as the glue had given way or looking ahead we could see soldiers limping as they had one boot with a sole and the other gone so there was about an inch in height difference with each step. My unit got back to Gallipoli Barracks and just 50m from the RHQ someone clipped my boot and off came the sole. Bugger
My father, who lived his life as a "bushie", wore RM Williams boots his entire life. Unfortunately, my budget didn't allow for RMW's - I still consider them to be the Rolls Royce of Aussie boots. Great video, thanks!
Used to have a steel shank in them but after airport security changes, RMW changed to a composite shank so you could wear them through metal detectors (then they changed the security rules again). Great boots, last nearly a lifetime. Have 3x black pairs for work and a brown for the weekend.
Hey Matthew, just wondering what the comfort of them is like? He mentioned that the pinky toe goes squished due to the narrow design. After wearing them in, does that loosen up or is it always uncomfortable?
I'm thinking of buying these for everyday work (office) use, but don't want to get something that will be bad for the feet in the long term
@Oliver Wan I have 5 pairs of RM Williams. If you are concerned about comfort and width, get the comfort craftsman in H width. Won't need to break them in at all. The leather sole is very traditional and can take a while to conform like most other boots.
I believe they may have also used a fibreglass shank at some point too to avoid the airport scanners. Might have changed back to cut some costs though.
@@lukeoelmo thx, good to know. I learned to never break in boots, that’s just a marketing gimmick.
Its your feet that break, not the boot. Bunions and hammer toes, no thanks.
Its fiberglass.
Never comments on anything but I had to share:
Have had my RM Williams for over 7 years now. What I have found is that RM Williams is a bit of a throwback to olden times (mind you I am under 30). But my experience from buying these to wearing them all the time has been wonderful. I bought them in a storefront and had personalised service, from foot measurement to trying them on. I personally chose the comfort craftsman as they were more for everyday use and what I needed them for. They did take a little bit to break in (I just used them to break in instead of heating them) and I was regretting buying them for a second but as they started to mould around the foot, it came to fit like a sock! Not sure about quality deteriorating as I've only had one pair but I have yet to have them resoled and I regularly polish and condition them with RM's products. Literally best dress type shoe I've ever had! Generally, I have found that people make mistakes because they either just go in and buy them in the store before researching what is best suited to their needs.
TIPS when buying RM Williams:
- For people buying them as a dress shoe to go out in, I would recommend the classic.
- For people buying them to use as a business shoe and more everyday wear chose the comfort.
- For people buying their wedding shoe or just have the $$$ get the signature.
- Find your shoe size and width with the video on their website/UA-cam .
- I recommend to put them under a heater for a couple minutes before wearing them for the first time. This will make them break in immediately and mould to your feet.
- Use RM's polish so it's the exact colour and their leather conditioner (I've been told it uses animal fat originally used by RM). The rest you can buy for cheaper somewhere else.
- Polish them as necessary and condition them every couple of months depending on use.
- Have them repaired by the local team in Adelaide especially if you are from interstate. (Well worth it and they can literally make your shoe brand new for half the price)
I am from the great state of South Australia where they are made, so I am fairly biased and love supporting local SA/Australian businesses, but I look to pass on my shoes to my kids by maintaining them properly.
@CC hahahaha
Avery Meneses - very insightful, thank you
CC - still read it though, quite informative for some
Thanks for your comment, great information :)
great advice. i chose mine for going out so i chose classic if it would have been for work i would have chosen comfort as the rubber sole lasts longer
The official boot of Australian politicians everywhere. Every. Single. Politician. As well as aussie professionals and sales people and farmers everywhere.
And pilots as well!
you forgot their sons/daughters in university, paired with ralph lauren.
@MARCUSAURELIUS Aussie farmers don't wear them? 400 pairs sold alone in the past 12 months in my country town righto mate.......
@MARCUSAURELIUS they wear them as dress shoes just like the politicians unless pollies wear workbooks in parliament?
The ADF (Australian Defence Force) also wear them for parades.
I've seen someone go swimming in these boots and then come out of the water and continue walking (sand and all) like nothing happened.
I’m guessing that was at a B&S ball 😁
Definitely an Australian thing to do.
😆😆😆
So proud of this great Australian company. We have recently gifted our son a pair of custom made RM boots for his 21st. He was so excited to receive them a couple of weeks ago. I hope he will enjoy them for decades to come.
My heart was in my mouth the whole time watching this. When RM was purchased by a French company, it was a national upset. A lot of people didn't know, and when you told them, their world got flipped upside down. When it was brought back in Aus, the continent was at peace.
I love my RM's. I'm an Aussie living in the UK. I only foumd out today, from these comments, that the company has been bought back. Great news.
Only learning about this now but it still annoys me.
"RM was purchased by a French company" hits like your mum telling you "There was a time when your dad thought he was gay"
Not anymore Twiggy Forest has bought it
@Ozzie climate refo yeah it does
Wow if these are your priorities you have excessive privilege.
I've had a pair for 6 years and they have barely been worn in. Probably the most worth it thing I've ever purchased.
Tough Aussie leather
Had mine 31 years, bought them in Percy St Adelaide.
Well, it looks like you have a Tilley hat too. You obviously make good choices...
@@M_J_nan RIP little Tilley, I lost it when the truck it was in was stolen. It's now in a ditch somewhere in Arizona.
OMG! As an Australian, absolutely freaking out that you're slicing up a pair of RMs. I've had mine for 20 years, resoled once. They really are amazing and comfy boots. In the long run the high intial price is worth it as it becomes a solid return on investment.
Danielle *you're
@@ebisu8824 ooops typo!
Crash test scientists rigging up a Lamborghini: "Hee hee... expensive thing goes "Boom!" "
A true Aussie icon ❤
I can’t imagine not owning a pair (we live in the outback). My uncle, a cotton farmer, died in his nineties and never had a different shoe on his foot. They did work, weddings, holidays, and even eventually his final resting place. Literally never wore a different shoe in adulthood ❤
That's just sad. Everyone needs to vary their fashion choices a little!!
@@philmcclenaghan7056no they don’t. If that makes them happy then so be it. Live your own life.
@@BillyMillionignorance is bliss, what they don’t know won’t hurt them. Simple folk should stick to simple things for sure
Unfortunately, Australian politicians have made the boots uncool by universally adopting it. Especially when they want to win votes in rural areas
I own them. Very versatile boot. This was kind of what I expected to see. Quality all the way through. Fully recraftable, too. Thanks.
I visited the RM Williams store in Adelaide when I was in Australia. The customer service is superb. The company stands behind its products and customers know it.
I don't know if it is still the case, but Williams used to guarantee their boots for life. A friend of mine had a pair for ages and eventually they split so he phoned the company. They asked him whether he would like a new pair or to have his repaired. He asked about the options and was told that people generally chose to have their boots repaired because they were so comfortable. The boots were beautifully repaired free of charge.
Watching you cut through the leather was painful to watch. I love my RMs.
I felt the pain too...
The comfort sole provides much better cushioning and if you were fitted in store, maybe they’d have recommended a wider fit, saving your toes. It’s important to remember that there are 3 width options F, G & H. F being the narrowest and H the widest. They are the best boots you’ll ever purchase, but it’s crucial to get the right fit. I have a pair that I’ve been wearing for 24 years and they’re still going strong. Admittedly, I’ve had some maintenance along the way, but that’s the great thing, they’re designed to be repaired rather than replaced.
A small investment, in terms of cost per year.
I’m from Australia. I was standing in a puddle of tears watching you cut that boot in half. I’ve had my RM boots for 10 years and there still going strong. Best boots money can buy in my opinion. As painful as it was to watch at least you know your buying a quality hand made product. People who own a pair know how good they are.
Total agree. I cringed when the blade started cutting into the leather. And yes, they last forever with very little effort or care… I swear by RM Williams boots. The sole reason for their quality is that they haven’t offshored they’re production to India, Vietnam, or China - just a quality Australian made boot.
So gucci and fashion brands-show how much people are paying for the name rather than the quality
They're also paying for the effort that goes into designing, and the shows to promote the products.
@@brandonkey181 Holy shit sherlock i thought bill gates donated to them for that
Straight to the argument of art vs function...
Do they want a shoe made of multiple pieces of leather or 1 piece of leather that is going to look more slick?
I personally prefer the look of Roosi boots but someone might want a more clean look.
Gucci is not about designing functional clothing, they are going for a look. Watch a few episodes of project runway and see how many times they ask "But can she wear a bra with that?". Designers aren't even designing functionally for female bodies.
@@brandonkey181 paying for the brand advertising the most
@Fernando Lentini Yeah art doesn't need to be pretty. It's been like that for more than 100 something years now.
Every heard of The Fountain, Piss Christ,Black Square, or "Shoot in the name of Art"? They are high art but some people don't find them pretty.
But I mostly used Gucci as an example because OP did and I definitely agree there clothing available to the general public is mostly gross, I let other people buy it, but some of their runaway stuff that will only ever be runway looks/ meant for museums is interesting and beautiful.
Andrew "twiggy" Forest owns it now, brought it back under Australian ownership and will ensure they stay Australian made.
Twiggy also helping force! My man
I’ve been a happy and proud wearer of a pair of RMs for 8 years. They’ve been re-soled once after I wore a hole in the leather. When I got them back (with new rubber soles and fresh heel blocks) my super comfortable boots were better than a new pair as they had conformed to my feet and were so supple. Definitely worth the initial outlay. These boots, with some occasional maintenance, will outlive me. No need to cut them up to see how well made they are. Just watch a tour of the factory online. Better still - buy a pair. They are an iconic boot.
The composite shank is a fibreglass shank. Instead of it being metal, they use fibreglass to make it airport friendly so you don't have to worry a thing about going to and from your destinations in your boots.
What about the nails?
@@veneratedmortal4369 exactly what I was thinking, idk if they are fibreglass or not but I guess they are metal.
And the nails.
If you can get thru a metal detector with jeans on, you can get RM's thru with those tiny nails
I've had the same pair of RM's for 39 years and been re-sole twice with genuine RM soles by a professional saddle maker. The secret is to use original RM boot polish and leather conditioning cream. Should last another 20 - 30 years at least. Cost approximately 100.00 in 1981. Great investment that is built to last. Proudly made in Australia by qualified boot makers.
Yep, same here. Bought Brown pair in 1986 then black in 1998. Still wearing both alternately.
The best bloody pair of shoes I've ever owned. So happy I invested in a pair of RM's!
damn right too!
Hands down the very best boots. I've had mine 7 years, wear them most days, resouled once by RM for $135.
Customer service is incredibly good too. Don't know of any other companies still offering such a great service to customers
I've got the exact same pair, took two or three days of wearing and walking to wear them in. Great comfy shoe, wearing a thick sock isn't the smartest as the boots retain their heat, making them a little microwave for your feet but however, incredibly strong, comfy and much more durable than any other boot i've owned.
I’ve had a pair for just over 40 years and other than needing new soles and heels for the second time they still bring compliments. Fabulous product!
When my wife's Grandfather died, I inherited his RM's. He'd have had them for at least 15-20 years and I wore them pretty much every day for another ten years before the leather finally split on one of them. 30+ years out of a pair of boots ain't bad IMO. I have a new pair now and they're going strong.
My first pair of RM's lasted 30 years, and I was gutted when I had to give them up, and it was entirely my fault. For a couple of years I stopped wearing them, they were at the back of my cupboard and I didnt look after them, that is condition or put nugget on them. As a result the leather cracked and couldn't be repaired. This was heart breaking as they honesty where like I had nothing in my feet, they had moulded to every nook and curve of my foot.
I am awaiting my new pair and will religiously condition them once a month and nugget one a week and expect to have them for 30+years. My wife and I just brought a pair for our eldest son and he loves them, cant wait for my youngest's foot to stop growing so we can buy him a pair.
As others have mentioned, RM's aftercare service is 2nd to none, which for an Australian company is impressive as we do not have a strong service culture in Aust disappointly.
These shoes are legendary in Australia, they have been known to be passed down from generation to generation, from fathers to sons or daughters on the outback stations....... I have also aged 10 years watching you cut them in half..... but worth it to see the true craftsmanship they still put into them..... i think i’m going to have a cold beer to relieve the stress.... G’day from Australia.
Wow.. I think they should make limited runs made with Kangaroo leather to even further the heritage worth of these!
Read the biography of rm Williams incredible
@@hankatmaggies8819 that’s the “Kangaroo Craftsman”. I own a pair.
@@hankatmaggies8819 They actually do make Kangaroo Hide Boots for an extra AUD $50. Kangaroo hide is also used in top grade motorcycle leathers. I purchased a pair of Square Toed Black Leather Cuban heeled boots back in the 1980s, resoled a couple times and for the life of me I can't find them today....
Bogan echo chamber
I felt actual pain when you cut the leather.
It's sad to do, that's for sure. But hopefully it helps people when they are trying to decide which would be better for them and their budget.
I love that sound though.
bmorepanic Same, man.
I could hear that boot screaming in pain and disbelief, "Noooooooo...!"
What would have been a "normal" shoe a century ago is now sold at a premium.
Well "normal" was expensive back then too. Adjusting for inflation a decent straight razor cost hundreds. A pair of boots, especially when people walked everywhere (very few cars yet) were an investment and would cost 80-200 dollars. About the same as decent boots today. And there were also times when boots were such a precious commodity that people would fight over who would get the boots off of anyone who died. Or passed out. Or fell asleep.
Hey just think how much they sell plastic fabric shoes with rubber soles glued on. They cost about $20 to make, will be destroyed after one year of constant use and they cost....*drumroll* $600! What a deal!
A century ago a lot of people probably didn’t have shoes or wore second hand old shoes that didn’t fit...
or died on the battlefield..
This statement is based on no research or facts I'm quite sure.
I’ve always thought to myself,that every pair of leather shoes should be made of one solid piece of leather,and not multiple pieces
My father-in-law got married in his RM’s. 40 years ago. He still wears the exact same pair. (Well, not EXACT same. They’ve been re-soled a few times)
I have owned four pairs of these boots, the first pair are now 30 years old. I am 69 now and can’t see me needing another pair in my lifetime. Greatest foot ware I have ever owned.
These are just freaking good boots. I love the dress style and Cuban heel on my boots. One lesson I learnt was not looking after the leather. They cracked and looked pretty awful but all my fault. Learnt that lesson the hard way and not make sure they are regularly cleaned and polished. And in Australia we pay 600 to 700 depending on style. Ouch 🤕
RM Boots are to Australian what spurs are to Cowboys ... my Grandfather was buried in his RM Boots and Moleskins; they are an ICON of this Nations Outback Culture and History. The difference in profile between RM and Blunstones is because RM's are Stockman's Boots- Stockmen rode Horses (Sadly Motorbikes these days) so the Wedge of the toe is profiled to slide easily in and out of stirrups - not needed on Blunstones which are just Tradie boots. The sole of the RM's is also smooth so you do not get hung up on a stirrup and dragged to death ... it's not about being DRESSY.
My Dad has had RMs for 20 years , all he had to do was resole and good as new, here In Aus these are work boots as well 👌 #straya
Top tip for broke players - if you know someone in the Aussie defence force, they get half priced RM Williams boots ;)
I own two pairs of RM’s. Bought the first in 2001 and the second in 2002. Keep dry, use shoe trees and resole with only the best and they last, well, forever.
RM can resole them for you at their factory I believe
@@whyaskmenoely25 Yes they do but the cheaper option would be to resole them with protective soles so that you only have to replace the protective soles instead of having to send the boots back to the factory to replace the entire leather sole.
The uppers still crack up along the crease line. And I used Lexol leather food on both the uppers on the outside and inside. I’ve got a pair of Hugo Boss that lasted as long.
I really like the new setup, especially the wall! Toaster is my favorite UA-cam cat. I think a custom shop bed would be great to see 🐱❄️
They do a kangaroo leather version which I have, but only with a custom fit. It’s about $50 more expensive but worth it I think. The leather is thinner for the same strength which makes them lighter and softer, also the custom fit is great. Mine was a little too tight when I first got them and after a few days I took them in. Rather than stretching or altering a new pair, they measured again and made a new pair for me from scratch. Great boots.
Have 3 pairs of these. First pair as a 16th birthday present (30 years ago!) that have been re-soled twice and the elastic sides replaced once. Second are a black dress shoe type that still look brand new and most recent pair are a light tan leather with a super comfy synthetic inner sole lining that I have worn every day to work for the past 5 years. The most quintessential Australian boot. Love them
I have had my R M WILLIAMS boots for over 20 years. They are hard wearing and look as good today as when purchased. I have had the sole replaced a number of times over the years.
Oddly satisfying watching him cut into the boot, but at the same time: nooooo!!!!!
but seriously, i don’t think i’ll ever buy $500+ boots
You're missing out
I can wrap my head around why people would be triggered by this, but that comment calling the cat ugly is way out of line. That cat is adorable
The shank is fibre glass “airport friendly”
good point
@roseanvil it changed from steel when it was adopted by qantas airlines as part of the pilots uniform
i do airport security boots normally dont beep unless they get resoled wrong but te belts beep 60% - 70% of the time love the crocodile skin belts
And it doesn't conduct heat like metal does. I imagine you walk a lot of very hot ground in Australia at least.
@@jaiivanoff I have very large feet (euroean size 50-52 depending on brand) and anytime I have flown and not gone out of my way to wear shoes without a steel shank, I have always had to take my shoes off at security.
I'm really glad your channel started to blow up. Well done, please don't change the quality!
My heart sank when i heard the ripping noise . haha but in all honesty i have been wearing them for 12 years. They are flawless. You wont need another pair of boots ever .
I have the same style (and color) as those you featured, and I love them. They broke in nicely after a couple of weeks, and thereafter they became the most comfortable boots I own. To me, they were worth every penny.
RM actually have their boots but in half and displayed in their shops
The leather sole RMs are called "the wedding boot" over here, they're a bit classier compared to the rubber sole craftsman, however they're not as comfortable for everyday wear and the leather sole will deteriorate if you wear them everyday too. If you want a comfortable boot, the comfort craftsman or dynamic flex is the way to go.
i have a pair of Rm williams.I found that the leather sole did wear out too quick for everyday use. Great boot.
I wear leather soles for everyday (at least in the summer). They shouldn't deteriorate that fast. Also leather soles breath much better than rubber, and the cork conforms much better than synthetic rather than just wears out.
@@Helliconia54 without a doubt they're a great boot, probably shouldve used a better word than deteriorate, I've had my leather soles for a year now and the sole has worn in a lot faster than my dynamic flex, however they still have a lot of life in them.
RM Williams boots considered business shoes in Australia.
Love mine.
Love the reviewes and tips. Made me look after my shoes more thank you.
Where do you live?
This was a good information session to the best OZ boot ever made. I have been wearing RMW on the first cattle station 1970 an a jackeroo. I"m still wearing them, at a cost of $890.00 hand made through a personal order only. Thank you to Andrew (Twiggy) and Nicola Forrest, who put RM's back on the map.
I’ve been wearing RMs for 30 years, wear them every day and I work in the outback, Simpson desert, Top End of the NT and Kimberley. They handle everything and the repair service is unmatched. I’ve a number of styles most with leather soles but man made soles for my work in clinic.
Are they worth $500, yes, expensive the day you buy them, save the money on not replacing them for as long as you feed the leather.
My biggest concern with Chelsea boots in general is the elastic. You will never have a pair last anywhere near as long as a pair of lace-ups. The leather, the sole, the welt, etc. It all can be excellent, but the elastic is elastic. And this is not a criticism of this brand, but of the Chelsea design in general.
markalexander774 RM actually have a service where they can replace the elastic! Extremely popular here in Australia
the elastic can be replaced as with the sole
In my experience the elastic and sole wear at a similar rate and should be replaced together.
I had never thought about that, that's good to know they can easily replace the elastic
I have a pair of Baxter boots that I have had for 15 years. I wear to work every day and the elastic on them are fine. At the end of the day you get what you pay for.
I’ve owned a pair for 7 years and wear them to work every day. Had them re-soled once in that time. Well with the investment. Best boots money can buy.
rockn roll lol
No you didnt
Lucky you. I've owned 4 pairs. The last purchased in 2002. I hate them. A fashion brand of overpriced junk. At least they used to be cheapish which was enough to put up with them. $500-600 for a pair of craftsman's is a scam. But now they are part of LVMH, they cashed-up bogan's will keep on paying whatever.
@ Before R.M. Williams were purchased by an international company, the price of the boots were $330. Big price jump.
Johan Fouche I guess that’s why I purchased them 7 years ago, while the company was owned and boots produced in Australia (hence I’m from Australia).
The boot John Wayne wished had been made in America.
I bought a pair 27 years ago for $260.00 AUD,only had the the side elastic changed recently during covid for $80.00.
These boots are the high class of quality manufacturing and are at $650.00 a pair in today's money.
There is no substitute for quality,worth every cent.
I’ve had RMs around 30 years now own 4 pairs still have them all now, I’m now 58 and still love them built and bred in Australia
Beat you by 24yrs. mate, but match you with the other numbers. THEY ARE THE BEST!!!
In Australia you used to be able to find these in thrift stores. I bought one new pair about 20 years ago and still have them. They used to be work boots (farm/horses) until people like Hugh Jackman started wearing them. If you got $500 for boots, you could do worse.
RM Williams : you need to love them for more than two days before you can bond