Casual Leather Boots

On the back of the nice shirts thread, I’d really like to get some nice leather boots this winter. Ideally something that will last for ages (with care) and have a decent grippy sole. Something that can be laced up as I can’t stand shoes that slide around (like I imagine Chelsea boots are). Would be nice if they were available to try on in an actual shop (Edinburgh would be convenient) but having tried already, that might not be possible.

What do people think of Lanx? Worth the money? That would be very top of my budget but am open to ideas.

Lanx have a factory shop. If you’re spending £200 it’s worth the trip down to Lancashire

Lanx do look kind of nice. I saw some in a store near the craft centre in Manchester
https://lanxshoes.com/ I was tempted.

If that’s your budget then try William Lennon? https://williamlennon.co.uk/

The Field boots I bought are great. True to size and comfortable from the get-go. YMMV. Very traditional design and manufacture. Maybe a bit ‘country-style’ for city casual unless you’re historically Timberlands, jeans, and check shirt casual?

Cheaper options – Clark’s desert boots? Not very winter-suitable due to lightweight sole and leaky upper but fine for city/town use. Solovair have a few styles. Fairly hard wearing ime so far.

Someone will be along to say ‘Loakes’ soon I expect. Not me.

Enjoy choosing.

I’m curious about the same thing and I’ve also come across Lanx and Solovair. I haven’t bought anything yet.

I’ve watched lot of videos on this channel https://youtube.com/@roseanvil

It’ll explain all the jargon and different material types and dig into the build quality. It gives you a really good idea what’s worth paying for and what’s a waste of money (Dr Martens).

I’m amazed at the amount of hand made leather boots that don’t have a bellows tongue.

Check for that.

Thursday boots are really good. You can usually find them on UK Amazon to save shipping/import fees.

Solovairs, made in Northampton:

https://uk.nps-solovair.com/collections/mens/Chelsea-Boot

I’ve a pair of solovairs, bought for my wedding. Great quality boots. Made in UK, no shop to try unfortunately, but measure your foot properly and you should be ok with their measurements. They will need breaking in, though.

They used to make the original Dr martens before they went to a cheap supplier.

If that’s your budget then try William Lennon?

I’ve got 2 pairs and if the industrial style is to your liking then they are awesome. Unfortunately if you order them today, you won’t be getting them this winter. Well maybe towards the end of it in Edinburgh, but definitely not the beginning.

I have the William Lennon tan leather boots and just received a pair of their hill walking shoes. Great bit of kit and again comfortable from the get go. Sizing is accurate too. They are very well made and both my boots and shoes are solid and heavy – very heavy. Hand made in Derbyshire if that is of interest. I suspect with care they would outlast me they are that solid.

I was seriously tempted on a pair of the field boots for the more grippy sole. They can also slightly customise boots and shoes too – my hill walking shoes were different to their stock model – half last instead of full. I did have to wait the full twenty weeks though.

IIRC they were doing boots for Hebtroco but obviously without the hipster tax.

If you want off-piste hipster style; Fracap boots from Italy.

This is an excellently timed thread, as I too am after some boots. Trying to find some that my thin, flat feet don’t rattle around in is always a challenge though.

Love my Blundstone boots, super comfy and lightweight for daily wear

I have 2 pairs of NPS/Solovair (plain black shoes and some brown boots). They’re excellent

Dr. Martens. Massive range of styles, colours, and will last well.

Another +1 for Lanx, I was treated to a pair for my birthday. They do need time to break in but are very well made, have a nice grippy sole and still look good 1 year on having been used for all sorts from Rock City to country walks. I occasionally treat them with mink oil (I’ve no idea how you get oil out of a mink).

They offer free returns so recommend ordering 2 pairs and sending one back.

I’m hovering over buying a pair of their trainers having been disappointed that a cheap pair look crap after less than a year. I’d much prefer to spend money on a well made something rather than several cheap somethings

Camper do some nice boots, some rather funky, some not so much, I’m a bit addicted to their shoes as they suit my very wide feet, sizes seem very uniform so a ten is really a ten, all their shops are in London tho so mail order only.

Do chealsea boot feel like they will fall off your feet?

I’ve only tested worn some Redback’s in a shop, but they seemed to have really high heel and didn’t feel that secure. That said I have some laced Blundstone that I dislike as there awkward to get in and out without undo the laces really loose.

Dr. Martens. Massive range of styles, colours, and will last well.

Ahem… Doc Martens are pretty crap nowadays and are quite narrow. You’re far better off with Solovair – they’re still made here and are much better quality !

Have some Blundstone Chelsea boots that are the comfiest things ever (with decent socks), no slippage at all, but obviously that depends on your foot shape. I have weird short but high volume feet and they seem to work well.

I quite like the look of some of the Lanx stuff and the William Lennon field boots.  I really want some Redwing Moc toe but that’s a pricey right now and id quite like to try a pair on first.

Chelsea boots are my favoured style, but how secure they are does depend on sizing. You are right to want to try whatever boots you get on in person, IMO.

I have some Clarks Batcombe chelsea boots which have been magnificent, so I’d suggest looking at the lace up version of those if still available.

Here, found it on Amazon.

I know that makes it hard to try them in person, but hey.

I like the Sorel Chukka’s, soles are hard-wearing and grippy. https://www.sorelfootwear.co.uk/c/mens-boots

I went to buy a pair of smart-ish boots for a wedding in the spring and came away with a pair of these from Grenson (which didn’t fit the bill at all. Had to go and buy something else a few months later).  They’ve taken some wearing in but they’re becoming really comfortable now. Good leather and full leather lining does make a difference (though more than anything it’s finding something in a last that is the shape of my foot).  Supposedly for the best ‘resolabilty’ you want good year welted construction – some (but not all) of the Lanx are.  Solovair are. Most DMs are but NOT the ‘industrial’ chelsea boots K bought a few years back…

https://www.grenson.com/vincent-mens-derby-boot-brown-russia-grain-leather-commando-sole

List price is way more than it was when I bought and they were on sale at Lanx sort of prices.

Do chealsea boot feel like they will fall off your feet?

My “smart” shoes are RM Williams chelsea boots – had them for the best part of 20 years now. No they do not feel like they will fall off your feet – its a proper sit down, 2 handed heave job to get them on, then they’re very definitely staying put.

I know their quality has gone down lately, but I have a pair of DM soft leather Chelsea boots that I bought about 5 years ago and they have been excellent. No breaking in required, they don’t wobble about on my feet and regular waxing keeps them waterproof.

Have a look at this youtube channel.

He literally cuts various brands of boot in half to see what they are actually made of.

https://www.youtube.com/@RoseAnvil

Redwings. Expensive but last forever. I have a pair  of 8886 moc toes. They’re nearly 6 years old. Original soles were black crepe Christie’s.  I had them resoled last year at a cost of £70 with Vibram mini lugs.

Doc Martens are pretty crap nowadays and are quite narrow.

IYO…

I’ve got 4 pairs including Chelsea boots and a pair in the soft worn leather and zero complaints here. Also have wide feet and they all fit perfectly.

Thanks all, some good shouts – I’ll investigate. I’ll admit I’ve never actually tried Chelsea boots but just assumed that they would fit loosely given there’s no means to tighten them. I have small feet and often feel casual shoes in particular are huge for the given length.

They used to make the original Dr martens before they went to a cheap supplier.

No, they made boots with Dr Martens patented soles under licence which was owned by R Griggs at the time sold as “Dr Martens by Solovair”.

Lanx are great. See also Loake, Barker, Tricker, Grenson, though they’re perhaps a bit more spendy still

How do people get on with the soles on DMs?

I’ve had a few pairs over the years and have worn out the grips in what seems like no time all.

This was fine when we were kids back in the 80s and DMs were cheap footwear from your local Army Stores*, but not at the premium price they are now.

(*pretty much every kid wore Docs).

Frontier on William Street Edinburgh sell Red Wing boots.

This was fine when we were kids back in the 80s and DMs were cheap footwear from your local Army Stores*, but not at the premium price they are now.

I was telling my GF the other day we used to pay about £30 a pair… they appear to be £150-200 now.

So 50%+ of that price increase is pure marketing cost eh.

I vote blundstones, definitely want to try them on though

, Grenson, Loake, Barker or go the whole hog and get some RMWilliams.
https://www.rmwilliams.com/uk/mens-outdoor-boots.html?lang=en_GB

I vote blundstones, definitely want to try them on though

I like my blundstones but theyre unlined  with a cheap, non replaceable, sole.  I think when I picked up my first pair in Oz they were about half the price of DMs (when DMs were cheap). At current RRPs a £170 DM (!) is a way better boot than a £150 Blundstone.

I have to admit to a level of disappointment this thread isnt about thigh length patent leather boots.

…I only wear thigh length patent leather boots at the weekend. Not for casual wear – I’m sure that’s the case for others!

Iv got a pair of those Clarks Batcombe boots posted a few ago and they are really rather good. Iv had compliments on them and would definitely recommend if you can get for a decent price.

I’ve got DM winter grip boots which are also lined. Keep feet pretty snug and the doors are much harder wearing and grip nicely on icy pavements.

I agree they’re a rip off though, I’m one who’s been wearing them since primary school in the 80’s!