People looking for their first pair of boots often likens the process to an odyssey. They are consumed by their goal of finding their dream pair, and hours — days! — of their time are consumed with research, forums, and store visits. The most mind-boggling questions that first-time buyers have are: “Are expensive boots worth it” … Read more
Most people’s introduction to well-made footwear is usually going to be a pair of boots from Red Wing’s Heritage label. There isn’t really a mystery as to why: Red Wing just makes reliable boots that look good no matter what style you’re into. If you like a rugged look, you might buy a pair of … Read more
Far from the sexiest boot topics covered on this site (fire-treated leather comes to mind), boots soles are overlooked by many. There isn’t much point in having 500 Horsepower if the tires on your car don’t transfer the power to the road. Slippin’ and slidin’ all over the place doesn’t make for a safe ride, … Read more
Chukka boots are strange beasts. With their unstructured toes, low-cut uppers, and thin soles, at first glance they are more like a high-top sneaker than a burly boot. Many brands describe them as half boot, half shoe. And to many customers, that makes them the ultimate piece of footwear. When it comes to styling chukkas, … Read more
Depending on your background, Chelsea boots might be stylish urban boots, rugged riding boots, or footwear for manual labor. Variants of the Chelsea boot have gone from the feet of royalty — they were originally designed as Queen Victoria’s walking boots — to the feet of Australian stockmen to the Beatles themselves, who popularized the … Read more
After months of preparation, filming, and editing, it’s finally ready: How I Learned Bootmaking. In five days. In Guatemala. It all started when I visited the world famous Lefarc Tannery in León, Mexico, to learn how to make leather at a workshop. That’s where I met Mike Pelzer, the COO of Adelante Shoes, who had … Read more
Well, do boots run big or small? It’s not a terrible question, especially if you mostly wear sneakers, because most boots run about a half to a whole size bigger than your average sneakers. Most companies recommend sizing down about a half size, but it can be more complicated than the “size down a half … Read more
Steel toe boots are not only eye-catching but they also protect your toes from a variety of hazardous conditions. However, one of the most common challenges of owning and wearing steel toes boots is that they can be quite uncomfortable if fit incorrectly. And that’s a shame. Steel toe boots should actually be just as … Read more
Looking to buy the best-fitting steel-toe boots? When it comes to assessing the fit of your new steel toe boots, there are a good number of factors to keep in mind. We’ll check out some techniques you can use to find your fit and ensure you don’t waste your hard-earned money. Generally, your steel toe … Read more
I’ve been hugely fortunate to visit factories around the world, from London’s last jeans factory to Guatemalan shoe factories, and as much as I love meeting the artisans and experts who pour their hearts and souls into their product, I realized there’s one part of the process I’m still pretty ignorant about: the design phase. … Read more