My friend Ben excused himself for wearing revolting hiking boots with his shorts to brunch today by saying that it was rainy outside, and his boots were waterproof. Hmmph, I say. If he were really concerned about his boots being waterproof, he would have been wearing something like the Crockett & Jones Snowdon boot pictured to the left. It's made with Veldtschoen construction, which means that the upper is turned out instead of in to the welt, that the tongue has a bellows construction, and that there are very few seams on the upper that could possibly allow water into the boot. The term, and the shoemaking technique it describes, originates from the Boers. It used to be a common construction method for British country shoes back when most Britons still cared about quality; but with the advent of cheap, disposable shoes, it has become rarer and rarer. The Snowdon is one of probably less than 20 Veldtschoen models left for the Northampton shoemaking firms. One frequently sees veldtschoen shoes and boots made from Scotch grain leather, but these are made from a waxed oxhide that is virtually impermeable to water. They're about as impermeable to weather as it is possible for boots not made of rubber or plastic to be, and they're a damn sight more attractive than those monstrosities that he was wearing. Although I wouldn't recommend these for wear with shorts, either.
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Just For You, Ben
My friend Ben excused himself for wearing revolting hiking boots with his shorts to brunch today by saying that it was rainy outside, and his boots were waterproof. Hmmph, I say. If he were really concerned about his boots being waterproof, he would have been wearing something like the Crockett & Jones Snowdon boot pictured to the left. It's made with Veldtschoen construction, which means that the upper is turned out instead of in to the welt, that the tongue has a bellows construction, and that there are very few seams on the upper that could possibly allow water into the boot. The term, and the shoemaking technique it describes, originates from the Boers. It used to be a common construction method for British country shoes back when most Britons still cared about quality; but with the advent of cheap, disposable shoes, it has become rarer and rarer. The Snowdon is one of probably less than 20 Veldtschoen models left for the Northampton shoemaking firms. One frequently sees veldtschoen shoes and boots made from Scotch grain leather, but these are made from a waxed oxhide that is virtually impermeable to water. They're about as impermeable to weather as it is possible for boots not made of rubber or plastic to be, and they're a damn sight more attractive than those monstrosities that he was wearing. Although I wouldn't recommend these for wear with shorts, either.
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2 comments:
$571! How many years do you think these would last given daily or every other day wear? (Which is how Ben wears his boots...)
With proper maintenance (shoetrees, resolings and reheelings as necessary, etc.), 20 years or more.
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