In case you we’re wondering we are absolutely back this week. Beckmans are back! Bandung is back! Tall boots? Back (with a vengeance)! You’ll find Red Wing and Sagara goodness, new in stock boots from Nicks, Role Club at Brogue, and more, in this weeks: Shoes ‘n’ Boots of the Week!
You can go back (to previous week’s roundups) here.
[Ed Note: while we never choose anything specifically because of them, some of these recommendations contain affiliate links—the price is the same for you, but Stitchdown gets a small commission if you make a purchase. It’s essential to keeping the site alive, so we really, really appreciate it.]
Red Wing Beckman 6″ Boot in Cigar Excalibur: $400
After a six year hiatus, the Beckman is officially back. The model—named for Red Wing’s founder Charles–is slightly dressier take on a 6″ lace-up boot, with the No. 244 last present but much softer bump toe and tighter silhouette as compared to the No. 8 last used on Red Wing’s iconic Iron Ranger. They feature leather insoles and midsoles (technically Red Wing says it’s an outsole), topped with Gro-Cord half-soles and heels produced by Vibram. The leather of choice here is Excalibur, a soft and waxy pull-up leather tanned by Red Wing’s own S.B. Foot, which on paper should speed up break-in compared to the Featherstone on pre-discontinuations versions. The new Beckman is available in Cigar…
Red Wing Beckman 6″in Black Excalibur: $400
…Black…
Red Wing Beckman 6″ in Black Cherry Excalibur: $400
…and Cherry. Now we’re just waiting for a flatbox version—hear that, Red Wing?!?
Role Club x Brogue Boondocker Boot in Horween Dark Cognac Shell Cordovan: $2,650 (Preorder)
Brogue is doing a special run of Boondockers from Role Club, which are made by beyond outstanding LA custom builder Brain the Bootmaker (who will be at our major Boot Camp event this October 12-13!!). The uppers are cut from Horween Dark Cognac shell cordovan, while the outsoles are Role Club’s custom corded Dr. Sole full soles, all joined on the 1940 last with a (hand-welted) 270˚ storm welt. Components and providence aside, the big sell here is the wait time—these are expected to ship by mid-December, whereas the wait list from custom orders is currently well over a year long.
Sagara Cordmaster in Domestic Black Teacore: $455
Sagara’s ready to wear line just gained a new addition and these things are absolutely dripping with style. Built on the Cordmaster lace-to-toe pattern using a domestic (Indonesian) combination tanned leather finished in house to give it a teacore effect. They use Sagara’s “Norwegian Stormwelt” construction, and cork half soles and heel from Dr. Sole. Visually, the real standout is the orange stitching on the welt, upper, and sole, which gives these some punch without going too crazy. Oh yeah, and they have a linesman’s patch, because why wouldn’t you want more chonk.
Brogue x Alden Cavalry Boot in Black Shell: $955
We’ll always that Brogue for keeps up the steady drip of shell 379x makeups; this week’s variant is the Cavalry Boot. It’s a blacked out cap toe boot, with a 270˚ flat welt and commando half soles—simple, but the four lines of cap toe stitching are starkly visible against the shiny shell, at least while they’re new, and that small addition helps them lean hard into the military influence while still remaining incredibly versatile.
Alden Madison Indy in Color 8 Shell: $986
If you still need your Alden shell fix, Alden Madison has a new commando half-sole equipped Indy makeup in color 8, and this is as good a chance as any to point out how good the raised apron stitching on shell Indys (this is the apron non-shell variants worry about). These are built on the Trubalance last with a 270˚ storm welt.
Crown Northampton Harlestone Derby in Tan Shinki Shell Cordovan: $716* (Made to Order)
Crown Northampton just opened up a limited run of sneakers in Shinki shell, which are simultaneously the first run of Harlestones to use Shinki uppers, the 10th shell cordovan limited run, and the 20th leather option currently available. The “tan” is actually a quite warm but slightly desaturated brown, and you can get it on your choice of white, gum, or black Lactae Hevea cup sole. These sneakers are side wall stitched, with oak bark tanned heel and toe stiffeners, cork fill, and a veg-tan insole.
* this is 25% less than the listed price, because plenty of our audience is American, who will have VAT automatically deducted.
Nicks BuilderPro in 1964 Brown: $589
Nicks has always made a concerted effort to ensure that its boots are available relatively quickly to people whose jobs actually need this much boot—hence the trades program and other such efforts. Now they’re beginning to offer some of their models in stock, starting with a BuilderPro makeup in some smooth over roughout 1964. Between the V100 lug sole and the 10″ shaft these are incredibly serious about the whole “work boot” thing, and guess what: they ship within the week. Currently available in sizes 7-12 on the 55 last, with more common sizes offering a EE width variant in addition to the standard D.
Franklin & Poe Jump Boots in British Tan Domane: $695
A new run of Wesco jump boots just landed (I’ll be here all week) at Franklin and Poe, and true to form they’ve taken a 65 last Warren service boot and cranked the shaft height way up to 10″, in addition to adding a brogued cap-toe and V-bar half soles and heels. Available in British Tan Domane.
John Lofgren Desert Boots in Sand Suede: $530
Franklin & Poe have also stocked up on Lofgren’s extra-beefy take on the desert boot, which combines the classic tan-suede and crepe sole combo with steel shanks, a leather footbed, and a thick leather midsole.
Truman Upland Boot in Mahogany Shrunken Bison Upland: $520
Truman’s latest release is a shrunken-bison-clad version of the Upland, their 8″ service boot (they sport plenty of speed hooks), built on the bump-toed 20 last. Constructed with a 270˚ flat welt, the makeup emphasizes the casualness of the bison with a (proprietary) rubber lug sole.