Suffice it to say I’ve met a fair number of archeologists, wildlife-biologists, and other people who get a lot of wear out of their boots (my life is weird!). Two observations: none of them were wearing Alden Indy boots (sorry), and most of them would probably have enjoyed an upgrade. Read on for a few options for them, plenty more for town life, and a whole lot more.
Previous shoes, previous boots, and previous weeks can be found 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.]
Y’2 EB-01 Engineer Boots in Olive Eco Horse: $873
East West Apparel always keeps up the steady march of Japanese boots, and this week’s are a pair of Horsehide engineers from Y’2 Leather in Osaka. The last (arguably the most important thing on an engineer?) has a Munson-inspired rounded toe and a bit of extra volume, a trend that continues through the instep and up to the widened shaft. A 270˚ flat welt attaches the Eco Horse uppers to the V-bar half soles and heels. They’re available in Olive…
Y’2 EB-01 Engineer Boots in Black Eco Horse: $873
…as well as Black. Y’2 recently announced that they’ll be rolling out a price increase in April, in case you’ve been on the fence about something specific.
Russell Moccasin Forester in Weathered Oak Timberjack: $775 (Made to Order)
The Forester is a variant of the Bird Shooter designed for, well… foresters, and everyone else who spends a lot of time tromping through the underbrush. As such it’s spec’d out with a 9″ shaft (protect your shins), a Vibram Montagna lug, and a double vamp construction. The uppers feature surprisingly soft looking roughout on the plugs and vamp, with the smooth side of the same Weathered Oak Timberjack on the shafts.
Russell Moccasin x Stitchdown Fishing Oxford in Seidel British Tan Double Shot: $700 (Pre-Order)
Sunday 2/16 is the last shot to pre-order out latest collab with Russell Moccasin, with whom we put together a Wonderful Wisconsin Story by teaming up with Milwaukee’s Seidel Tanning to make our fourth Fishing Oxford collaboration. Which means there must be something good about these things. Here’s the Ben Take, just hawking his own shit a couple of days ago in our Discord:
“They’re not as flashy or striking as some of the others we’ve done, and I think that’s exactly what’s drawn me into them so hard. They are SO damn versatile, go with just about anything you can imagine (not like suits but you get it), and yet still have the distinctive Russell funkiness, which is accentuated by the Gumlite sole which is good solid chonk and also just a nice sturdy platform especially for off-piste stuff. And the good hearty Double Shot leather has just been perfect for them in terms of comfort and all the molding-to-foot stuff.
And I swear I get more compliments on them from both shoe people and regulars than just about anything, including my other Fishing Oxfords. There’s just something about them, how they’re ‘normal’ shoes but also not. Anyway! They’re great.
Oh also the boots are good too haha.”
Russell Moccasin x Stitchdown PH Boot in Seidel British Tan & Sesame Double Shot: $750 (Pre-Order)
Our “good too” boots referenced above are also a story of Wisconsin manufacturing, with Russell deploying two variations of Seidel Double Shot—the same British Tan of the Fishing Oxfords, and also a lightly colored Sesame (in lieu of the historically fabric quarter panel) that should patina like absolute mad while the Brit Tan holds down the fort. Both pairs take advantage of a nice chonky Vibram Aspen Gumlite outsole that’s quite capable in various situations, and have one of the better hard-wearing/long-lasting to comfortable/bouncy quotients we’ve found.
Feel free to shoot Ben an Instagram DM or email with sizing questions or anything else!
Crockett & Jones Chelsea 11 in Seaweed Suede: $700
Despite being fairly plain as naming conventions go, Chelsea 11 still sounds like either a spy or a heist movie—the boots certainly wouldn’t look out of place in either context. This limited run model is built on the rounder and more voluminous 335 last, with a 360˚ split welt and rubber outsole.
Alden Madison Penny in Madison Brown Calfskin: $702
We can’t promise you that Alden Madison’s Madison Penny in Madison brown calfskin isn’t some kind of twisted subliminal advertising for the state of Wisconsin (that’s our Russell collab above, bwahaha), but we’ll happily assure you that they’re a solid loafer. Alden’s emphasis on shell cordovan mean’s calfskin can fall out of the limelight at times (everyone’s best selling “fancy” shoe seems to be a color 8 LHS), but the shine and depth of color here is pretty terrific. They’re built out on the Leydon last with single leather soles and a 270˚ flat welt.
Brick + Mortar x Alden “Edmonds” Chukka in Suff Suede: $755
Alden…Edmonds! If you’re a person who wears Indy boots in the winter and Indy shoes in the summer, Brick + Mortar is here to complicate your footwear calendar—with and Indy chukka. Sporting six eyelets and a cut down snuff suede upper, the Edmonds are equipped with a 270˚ flat welt and a commando outsole.
Meermin Penny Loafer in Burgundy Heritage Shell Cordovan: $310
Meermin is now offering their newer, SWAY last penny loafer in Heritage shell cordovan. They’re finished with a 270˚ flat welt and a single leather sole. The ivy-style pattern is dead on as far as we’re concerned, and even though it’s not the aforementioned Horween shell, what you get for the money from Meermin remains incredible and unmatched in the space.
Crown Northampton Everdon Wholecut Mid in Gaucho Naked Kudu: $474 (Made to Order)
Strong, soft, and casual, C.F. Stead’s Gaucho Naked Kudu maps neatly onto Crown’s Handstitch line, and it’s finally back after supply chain disruptions during Covid substantially reduced the available supply. Available on the Everdon Wholecut…
Crown Northampton Harlestone Derby in Nutmeg Naked Kudu: $447 (Made to Order)
…and Harlestone derby in four colorways: nutmeg, gaucho, snuff, and chocolate truffle.
Easymoc Scout Boot in Peanut Grizzly: $425
Easymoc’s Scout Boot is a short, aggressively stanced chukka that’s handsewn in Maine. The peanut Grizzly version is a warm orange brown and sports a Vibram Christy wedge sole.
Truman Service Boot 56 in Seaweed Crazy Cow: $480
Truman has two new shades of C.F. Stead’s Crazy Cow: one on the sleeker and narrower 56 last with a cap-toe, 270˚ flat welt, and a Eugene outsole in Seaweed…
Truman Service Boot 79 in Overcast Crazy Cow: $480
…and the other on the more aggressive 79 last and commando sole combo in overcast.