Bootblack's Eye View | Hunter February 2026

https://bootblackcub.com/blog/hunter-february-2026?=utm_source=mastodon

#bootblacking #leathermen #UKbootblacks #bootblacksEyeView

Well this was a Very fun night. I got to work on some new an interesting boots worn by a regular,

I got to talk through the process with someone who was clearly very interested in the process of producing a good shine.

And I got to do a full body gear moisturizing/massage to one of my favorite regulars @bearlthr.com!

So I realized I have not Posted any of the amazing people Ive had in my chair from the Winter Hunter nights.

Its Felt like a long winter, and a very exhausting January but with plenty of good memories.

So please enjoy this Photodump.

Bootblack Eye View for October's Hunter:

https://bootblackcub.com/blog/hunter-october-2025/

#bootblacking #leathermen #rubbermen #bootblacksEyeView #hunterLDN

Hunter October 2025 | Bootblack’s Eye View

There was something in the air for Hunter this month. Everyone seem that bit extra horny and that little bit free-er. Everyone Seemed to be able to more easily flirt and sparks were frequently flying.

It was thoroughly enjoyable. In the stand i got to do a few first-trimmers, as well as my beloved regulars whom I now look forward to catching up with each other on the past month.

I was particularly happy I got to work on a rubberman’s boots. First time working with rubber boots and I finally got to use the “unicorn cum” soap made by @SpankCake IMsBB2024 for rubber and vinyl gear. Its been sitting in my kit box for a year since the last European Take a stand. and as you can see from the photos it also lives up to its name.

#Bootblack #bootblacking #bootblacksEyeView #leathermen #rubbermen

Hunter Aug 2025 | Bootblack’s Eye View

This hunter was a fun one. I didn’t see a lot of regular faces. A lot of people were either away on trips of just not wanting to come out in the heat.

My chair however saw a lot of new faces/boots and i got to do more than a few peoples first time in a bootblacks chair.

I also got to do a first of my own: I got to do a conditioning of a puppies leather hood.

#bootblacking #bootblacksEyeView #HunterLDN

The Bear Code | Queer History

So I have gotten asked quite a few times what the string of characters labeled “bear code” is up on my mastodon profile.

This was an old, old bit of gay internet arcarna from before sending a photo through the internet was terribly time consuming and costly thing. Painstakingly waiting for a single jpg to download line-by-line over copper telephone lines.

The code was a shorthand way for people to describe themselves without images in small internet servers and chatrooms.

The code’s creation is attributed to Bob Donahue (Bear code: B5 c+ f s-: w t- r k?) and Jeff Stoner (Bear code: B6 f+ w sv w r+ k(+?) )

When they first published “the natural bear verification code”, it came with this explanation:

Because “Bears” mean so many things to different people,
because bears come in all shapes and sizes and have different sexual
proclivities, because classified ad prices are SOOOOOO expensive,
we (while eating lunch at a Boulder, Colorado, Wendy’s on Thanksgiving
weekend, 1989) came up with this incredibly-scientific system to describe
bears and bear-like men.

Since we both have interests in astronomy, we are well-versed in
star and galaxy classification systems, which use prototypes to set the
standards for describing things. Rather than just saying something is of
“Type I” or “Type II” (etc.), it is better to use natural features to describe
an object, in particular as a continuum of a range of features. Such is
the case with bears.

I Find the fact its inspired by the language we use in astronomy to describe stars a lovely idea.

The Bear Code was fast falling out of use even when I was a young Cub first exploring the Bear websites of the mid 2000’s as digital handheld cameras and slowly improving infrastructure made sharing pictures, as pixelated as they was,

Now it must be said, any time you try and boil humans down to small discreet categories you will always fail somewhat, we are analogue beings not made for simple categorization. It should also be noted that some terms used in the barcode have changed somewhat in modern contexts. for example “queer” is used interchangeably with “Queeny” and describes how fem a person is.

I will however applaud how flexible they tried to make it, and it exemplifies the proactively embracing of body and presentation types the bear community in a time when gay male culture was far, far more monolithic than it is now.

If you want to Create your bear code, the original usenet post is now archived here: link to archived alt.sex.motss usenet post

and a link to the web archive copy of the resourcesforbears.com article: Link to the web archive page

I’m not sure if it will ever see a revival of the bear code the way we are seeing a resurgence of the flagging systems we are seeing today with hankies and keys, but its a bit of history I hope more people learn about.

–Buck Moon (B4 f- t- w cd g k++ s++)

#BearCommunity #bootblacksEyeView #GayBears #QueerHistory

Hunter April 2025 | Bootblack’s Eye View

This Hunter was a lot of fun. I really wasn’t sure how busy it was, since it seemed like half of all London kinksters were in Berlin for the Folsom Easter weekend.

However it turned out to be a really nice crowed.

I also got to reconnect with some friends who I had not seen in a very long while and had some very interesting conversations with people on the bootblack stand.

I also had a challenging pair of boots. these were old army boots that had been used extensively on a construction site and were worse for wear. I was able to give them advice on what pair of boots to look for next for construction work. (see if you can guess from the photos who was the constriction workie)

I was even able to have some pre planed fun with some people in the darkroom after my shift.

#bootblacking #bootblacksEyeView #HunterLDN #leathermen

Hunter March 2025 | Bootblack's eye view

Photos from the bootblack chair.

https://bootblackcub.com/blog/hunter-march-2025/

#bootblacking #bootblack #bootblacksEyeView #hunterLDN #UKbootblackCollective

Hunter March 2025 | Bootblack Eye View

The times I get to work alongside other bootblacks are always a treasure.

This Hunter Bootblack Joshi was again visiting, and took the early shift this time so I had a wonderfull time chatting and getting to catch up with people.

I got to use my new setup with my new kitbox helping keep things a little more organised.

The new lighting setup using a neck light wasn’t such a success and I’ll be looking into getting a new hedband like like Joshi had on.

Tonight was extreamly sexually charged. I had a lot of hot men deliberately pressing thier boot’s in on my stomach and crotch while I worked on, and this was not unwelcome.

Also got to add in a few fun instances of boot licking with some friends.

#Bootblack #bootblacking #bootblacksEyeView #HunterLDN