Get ready to lace up for the most rewarding six months in footwear.
The 2026-27 Stitchdown Patina Thunderdome will officially begin on Oct 1, 2026 and run through April 2027 continuing the tradition of the premier global boot-aging contest. Whether you’re entering a fresh pair of service boots in the Open Dome or putting very serious leather to the test in the Work Dome, the objective remains the same: to wear your footwear as it was meant to be worn, and care for it properly along the way.
The 2026-27 competition will once again comprise four categories: Open, Work, Pre-Worn, and our freshly minted Leather Goods Dome, inviting you to showcase the evolution of wallets, belts, bags, and more alongside your footwear.
New, unworn footwear is required to enter the Open and Work Domes.
As always, all Patina Thunderdome contestants must be members of the Stitchdown Premium community—get more info here about SDP and all its benefits, including access to our private Discord.
Once again we’ll have an incredible array of prizes—stay tuned for more on that soon. But to gain a better sense of the contest and what’s on the line, get a look at the prizes and rules from the last Thunderdome.
For now, getting on our newsletter list below is the best way to stay updated.
And to get a taste of what’s to come and start planning your attack, see EVERY SINGLE winner from previous Patina Thunderdomes below…