2026-27 Stitchdown Patina Thunderdome Rules, Timing, and Signup

The 2026-27 Stitchdown Patina Thunderdome begins on Oct 1, 2026.

Here’s everything you need to know about the 6th edition of the world’s greatest judged footwear and leather goods aging and patina contest.

FOUR Categories to Enter

Thunderdome Six will feature four distinct categories. 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.

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 Register

As in Thunderdomes past, official contestant registration and monthly photo submissions will be made on our partner Patina Project app. Pre-registration will open on September 15, 2026.

Pre-registration is NOT the start of the contest, which begins on Oct 1, 2026. However it’s very helpful to pre-register, both orient yourself in the app, and potentially add any new information on makers, leathers, and other specs for your entry.

All Thunderdome contestants in any category must be a member in good standing of our Stitchdown Premium community for the entirety of the contest.

How is This Contest Judged?

Check out the Shoecast episode below for a look behind the curtain. It’s an older episode but all still highly relevant.

It’s also very worth taking a look at our top winners from the 2025-26 Thunderdome to get a sense of what truly impressed our judges.

Hop on the Patina Thunderdome Newsletter, Never Miss an Update

How to Enter: Rules and Timing

–The 2026-27 Stitchdown Patina Thunderdome will begin on Thursday Oct 1, 2026 with initial entries closing on Saturday Oct 10th 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 Sunday Nov 1st through Tuesday Nov 10th. No entries will be allowed following Nov 10th.

-Contestants can ONLY enter the Thunderdome, in any category, in the entry windows stated above.

–We’ll keep saying this, but 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 Thunderdome, contestants must submit a series of photos in our partner Patina Project app. More info to come on required photo angles for each category—but you can see all previous Thunderdome contests in the PP app to get an idea.

-Pre-Registration on the Patina Project app will open on Sept 15, 2026.

–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, you can take care of it right here. And I very sincerely hope you check out our SDP Discord server—Discord participation 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.

2026-27 Patina Thunderdome Prize List

The Patina Thunderdome can be entered with any footwear or leather goods (including self-made! We love self-made entries). But our amazing sponsors are the lifeblood of this contest in so many ways. We urge you to support them in whatever way you can during the Thunderdome, and year-round.

Open Edition

GRAND PRIZE: 1 trip to Tokyo courtesy of Standard & Strange (round-trip flight + 5 nights lodging)
1 pair of Peter Limmer & Sons Benchmade boots
1 pair of custom Grant Stone shoes or boots
1 pair of in-stock Grant Stone shoes or boots
1 pair of Iron Boots x Østmo boots
1 custom pair of Bob Henderson Handmade Boots
1 pair of in-stock Russell Moccasin boots
1 stock pair of Easy Moc shoes or boots
1 stock pair of Easy Mocs
1 in-stock pair of Parkhurst boots
1 pair of in-stock Tricker’s shoes or boots
1 pair of in-stock Tricker’s
1 $500 gift card towards MTO White’s Boots via Baker’s Boots
1 $500 gift card towards MTO Frank’s Boots via Baker’s Boots
1 $500 gift card towards MTO Wesco Boots via Baker’s Boots
1 pair of in-stock 1918 Moc-Toe Drew’s Boots from Baker’s Boots
1 pair of in-stock 1918 Moc-Toe Drew’s Boots from Baker’s Boots
1 in-stock pair of boots or shoes from Franklin & Poe
$1,000 gift card from Withered Fig
1 pair of MTO Sagara Bootmaker boots or shoes
1 pair of MTO Sagara Bootmaker boots or shoes
1 head-to-toe fit from Standard & Strange: jeans or chinos, 2 t-shirts, Italian worsted wool beanie, socks
Plus more to come…

Work Edition

$5,000 cash!! Courtesy of Nicks Boots
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 Leather Goods Heritage Suspenders
9th Place: Nicks Leather Goods Heritage Suspenders
10th Place: Nicks Leather Goods Heritage Suspenders
11th Place: Nicks Leather Goods Belt
12th Place: Nicks Leather Goods Belt
13th Place: Nicks Leather Goods Belt
14th Place: Nicks Ultimate Boot Care Kit
15th Place: Nicks Ultimate Boot Care Kit

Leather Goods Edition

Iron Snail Man o’ War, Primordial tier belt
Iron Snail Man o’ War, Leaf tier belt
Harker Leatherworks Blue Ridge Billfold, 6 slot config, natural veg, $375 value
Harker Leatherworks Gunslinger stitched belt, $190 value
Harker Leatherworks embossed art belt, $120 value
Harker Leatherworks Holdfast belt, $75 value
Harker Leatherworks secret mystery prize tbd by Mr. Harker, very secret value
$100 gift card from Maverick Leather
$100 gift card from Maverick Leather
$100 gift card from Maverick Leather
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 Belt+ Shade Case
Nicks Leather Goods Appaloosa Gunslinger Belt
Nicks Leather Goods Heritage Belt
Nicks Leather Goods Heritage Suspenders
Nicks Leather Goods Classic Work Belt
Nicks Leather Goods Classic Work Belt
Nicks Leather Goods Classic Work Belt
Nicks Leather Goods DeltaArch Combo Set