The 2025-26 Stitchdown Patina Thunderdome presented by Grant Stone, Nicks Boots, and Standard & Strange starts in just 15 days!
And you can pre-register in the Patina Project app today.
Here’s everything you need to know about the FIFTH edition of the world’s greatest judged footwear—and now leather goods!—aging and patina contest.
FOUR Categories to Enter
Thunderdome Five will feature four distinct categories, two of which are brand new for 2025-26. Each category will be judged separately and features its own category-specific prize pool.
The OPEN DOME is where it all started. This is for NEW boots/shoes that don’t fall into the Work Dome.
The WORK DOME is for any NEW boots/shoes that will undertake a serious beating over 6 months.
The PRE-WORN DOME is for boots/shoes that are NOT new—as long as they want to get much better over 6 months.
The LEATHER GOODS DOME is NOT for boots! Belts, wallets, watch straps, jackets, etc. All leather goods must be be NEW at the contest start.
All Thunderdome contestants in any category must be a member in good standing of our Stitchdown Premium community for the entirety of the contest.
While most contestants opt to enter just one pair, each SDP member/Thunderdome participant can enter up to TWO pairs of boots in ANY category, along with one leather good.
How to Enter: Rules and Timing
The 2025-26 Stitchdown Patina Thunderdome will begin on Wednesday Oct 1, with initial entries closing on Sunday Oct 5th at 11:59pm Eastern Time. All Open, Work, and Leather Goods Dome boots and goods must be NEW at the start.
A late entry period will be open from Saturday Nov 1st through Wednesday Nov 5th. No entries will be allowed following Nov 5th. All Open, Work, and Leather Goods Dome boots and goods entries must be NEW when photos are submitted—with a secret code we will provide—between Nov 1st and Nov 5th.
Contestants can ONLY enter the Thunderdome, in any category, in the entry windows stated above.
All footwear in the Open and Work categories, and all leather goods, MUST be new (tried on inside is ok) upon entry. On Oct 1st and Nov 1st, we will provide a “secret code” that must be included in entry photos, which will serve to verify said new-ness.
To enter and remain eligible for the contest and prizes, each month throughout the Dome contestants must submit a series of photos in our partner Patina Project app. More info will be coming about required photo angles and quantity for each category—but you can see all previous Thunderdome contests in the PP app to get an idea.
Again, all Thunderdome participants must be members of the Stitchdown Premium community for the entirety of the contest. If you haven’t done that yet, take care of it right here. And I very sincerely hope you check out our SDP Discord server—participation in it is not required for the Thunderdome, but damn if it’s not an amazing place full of amazing, similarly (wonderfully!) afflicted people as yourself. I think you’ll love it.
How to Pre-Register for the Thunderdome in the Patina Project App
Beginning today, contestants can pre-register their footwear and/or leather goods for the 2025-26 Patina Thunderdome in our partner Patina Project app.
Registering now does NOT mean the contest is beginning. Pre-registration is simply to get ahead—and it’s a huge help to the Patina Project team.
To pre-register, just download the Patina Project app if you haven’t already, and follow the prompts on-screen.
Full 2025-26 Patina Thunderdome Prize List
Our prize list, once again, is completely out of control. Currently we have over 70 prizes spread across the Work, Open, Pre-Worn and Leather Goods Domes—although that list will likely increase before the finish. Very sorry, about the even more prizes.
HUGE thanks to our incredible sponsors for contributing these prizes and making this list possible. Support them! However you can. They’re the best.
BEST IN OPEN DOME GRAND PRIZE
- A Trip to Tokyo (airfare + 5 nights lodging) + a pair of Clinch Boots
OPEN DOME PRIZES
- Wesco – 1 Black Horsehide Hendrik Boot
- Wesco – 1 Mystery Engineer with leather of Chris Warren’s choice
- Withered Fig – $1000 gift card
- Tricker’s – 1 pair of in-stock Trickers
- Tricker’s – 1 pair of in-stock Trickers
- Sagara – 1 MTO pair in Arborwax leather
- Sagara – 1 MTO pair in Arborwax leather
- Sagara – 1 MTO pair (no shell cordovan)
- Sagara – 1 MTO pair (no shell cordovan)
- Sagara – 1 leather tote bag
- Iron Heart – 1 pair of jeans + 1 shirt (not leather)
- BHHB – 1 custom pair of Bob Henderson Handmade Boots
- Unsung House – 1 pair of custom Unsung House boots
- Willie’s – 1 pair of custom Willie’s Handmade Boots
- Caswell – 1 pair of in-stock Caswell boots
- Fortis – 1 pair of MTO Antasena ziper boots
- Fortis – 1 pair of Yudistira Engineer boots
- Devito Boot Co – 1 pair of DeVito Boot Co logger boots
- Brooklyn Clothing – 1 pair of Wesco Boots
- Grant Stone – 1 custom pair of Grant Stone shoes or boots
- Grant Stone – 1 pair of in-stock Grant Stone shoes or boots
- Grant Stone – 1 pair of in-stock Grant Stone shoes or boots
- Briselblack – 1 pair of MTO laceless boots ($600-$900 value)
- Briselblack – 1 pair of MTO laceless boots ($600-$900 value)
- White’s Boots – 1 pair of MTO White’s Boots
- White’s Boots – pair of MTO White’s Boots
- White’s Boots – pair of MTO White’s Boots
Open Dome prizes will work as such: whichever contestant is determined by the judging panel to be the first-place winner will select their choice of any of the above prizes. The second-place winner will be able to select any of the prizes other than what the first-place winner selected. And so on…
Somewhat obviously, certain sizing restrictions will apply (if you’re a size 19 and your preferred prize is from a sponsor who doesn’t make size 19, it’s somewhat hard for them to get you a size 19). But you can rest assured that all winners will leave quite happy.
BEST IN WORK DOME GRAND PRIZE
- $5,000 cash!! Courtesy of Nicks Boots
WORK DOME PRIZES
- 2nd Place: Nicks MTO Boots
- 3rd Place: Nicks MTO Boots
- 4th Place: Nicks Stock Boots
- 5th Place: Nicks Stock Boots
- 6th Place: Nicks Stock Boots
- 7th Place: Nicks Stock Boots
- 8th Place: Nicks Tool Belt
- 9th Place: Nicks Tool Belt
- 10th Place: Nicks Tool Belt
- 11th Place: Nicks Belt
- 12th Place: Nicks Belt
- 13th Place: Nicks Belt
- 14th Place: Nicks Ultimate Boot Care Kit
- 15th Place: Nicks Ultimate Boot Care Kit
PRE-WORN DOME PRIZES
- Bedo’s Leatherworks: $400 max resole
- Dimar Shoe Repair: $400 max resole
- DeVito Boot Co. $400 max resole
- DeVito Boot Co. $400 max resole
- Wyatt & Dad: $400 max resole
- Awl Together Leather: $400 max resole
(Prizes are still rolling in for all categories but especially Pre-Worn—we’ll have at least 10 cobbler prizes and hopefully 15-20, so don’t let the current numbers discourage you)
LEATHER GOODS DOME PRIZES
- Nicks Leather Goods Wickett & Craig 3-Pack (Heritage Belt, Heavy Duty Work Belt, Snap Wallet)
- Nicks Leather Goods Shell Cordovan Wallet + Key Clip
- Nicks Leather Goods Appaloosa Gunslinger + Shade Case
- Nicks Leather Goods Appaloosa Gunslinger
- Nicks Leather Goods Heritage Belt
- Nicks Leather Goods Heavy Duty Work Belt
- Nicks Leather Goods Classic Work Belt
- Nicks Leather Goods Classic Work Belt
- Nicks Leather Goods Classic Work Belt
- Nicks Leather Goods DeltaArch Combo Set
- Carmine Jack J&FJ Baker Oak Bark leather belt
- Carmine Jack J&FJ Baker Oak Bark leather belt
- Carmine Jack J&FJ Baker Oak Bark leather belt
- Carmine Jack J&FJ Baker Oak Bark leather belt
- Carmine Jack J&FJ Baker Oak Bark leather belt
- Harker Leatherworks Blue Ridge Billfold handsewn biker-style wallet in natural veg-tan, brass or woven lanyard ($375 value)
- Harker Leatherworks natural veg-tan 5-panel cap, sewn in-house ($250 value)
- Harker Leatherworks Build-a-Belt bundle. Choice of hardware, leather color, construction embossing art (Up to $220 value)
- Harker Leatherworks Build-a-Belt bundle. Choice of hardware, leather color, construction embossing art (Up to $220 value)
- Black Lotus Leather shell cordovan Tracker wallet
- Black Lotus Leather buttero Tracker wallet
- Black Lotus Leather Pueblo card wallet
(Plus MORE prizes to come!)
Full 2025-26 Thunderdome Schedule
10/1/25-10/5/25: November submissions open; last chance to enter
11/1/25-11/5/25: November submissions open; last chance to enter
12/1/25-12/5/25: December submissions open
1/1/26-1/5/26: January submissions open
2/1/26-2/5/26: February submissions open.
3/1/26-3/5/26: March submissions open.
4/1/26-4/5/26: FINAL submissions open.
Two weeks after that, if all goes well??: All Work and Open Dome winners announced!!!!
To complete the Thunderdome and be eligible for prizes (and be able to look at yourself and all your wonderful jawnz in the mirror), all contestants must submit each month of required photos, every month they participate in the contest.
Can’t Wait to Get This Dome Started on Oct 1!!
In summation:
- We’ve got two new categories—and all contestants can enter up to TWO pairs of footwear in any category, plus one leather good.
- You can pre-register in the Patina Project app starting today. But the contest starts between Oct 1st and Oct 5th, 2025—and all Open, Work, and Leather Goods Dome entries must be new at that point.
- All contestants must be Stitchdown Premium community members in good standing. More info on SDP here.
- DO NOT WEAR YOUR NEW OPEN OR WORK FOOTWEAR, OR START USING YOUR NEW LEATHER GOODS YET!! We’ll let you know when it’s time, I promise.
- Our sponsors are incredible and we have only them to thank for our ridiculous prize list—support them however/whenever you can!
- Any questions can be asked in the #patinathunderdome channel in the SDP Discord, or directed to ben@stitchdown.com.
Thank you so much for considering participating in the most sane contest in existence. It’s gonna be a good one.