I am happy to present a selection of photos of the final Boot Breather. I think the experiment was a success, although I won't know for sure until we've done some extensive real-world testing...
The 1.25" buckles are definitely overkill in terms of what would be needed to do the job of holding this device in place, but they lend a rugged, heavy-duty feel to the piece, and they closely match the sketch. I'm glad I didn't go smaller.
I initially thought the boot breather would be made of molded veg-tan leather, but that would require a wood form to mold on, and this turned out to be a sufficient way to test out the idea in the real world.
I'm happy to report that the boot seats onto the breather with a satisfyingly snug fit.
For those of you who are wondering "who the heck would want such a thing?," I can only say: The things I make are certainly not for everyone.
But for those who do appreciate such things: ardent boot fetishists, fans of breath control, leather enclosure freaks, sensory overload seekers: this could be right up your alley. You know who you are.
Thanks for visiting...