Game Changer

The boot features lace-to-toe construction with 13 eyelets, built using Goodyear welt methods with top-grade nubuck leather. Production was limited to 60 pairs per style, with prices set at approximately $480 per pair. The design reflects Dr. Sole's manufacturing philosophy of prioritizing vintage aesthetics through hand-stamped patterns rather than modern precision techniques.

The Game Changer employs lace-to-toe construction with minimal ornamentation, featuring 13 eyelets arranged along the full length of the boot. The design draws directly from 1920s sports boots used for boxing and basketball, incorporating elements from what Dr. Sole founder Lin described as a "monkey boot" aesthetic simplified to minimalist form.

The upper consists of lightweight, top-grade nubuck leather with canvas lining throughout most of the boot. The toe area features leather lining and an unstructured design that collapses naturally with wear. All patterning, materials sourcing, and welting are completed in-house at Dr. Sole's Taipei workshop, with each pair bench-made by artisans.

Construction uses the Goodyear welt method, allowing the boots to be resoled and recrafted. The outsole consists of Dr. Sole's #1220 Supergrip full sole, paired with the #1230 Original Half Heel. Three colorway options were produced: black nubuck with off-white sole, white upper with off-white sole, and black nubuck with black sole. A special edition for retailer Withered Fig featured black nubuck leather with black edge dressing, released on April 5, 2023.

The boots are built on Dr. Sole's Pioneer last, which appears slim, narrow, and flat but provides efficient interior room. The last profile plays a role in recreating the aesthetic of vintage sports boots through its lace-to-toe design.

Sizing is available in US sizes 7-12 including half sizes, offered only in D width. Dr. Sole recommends sizing up half a size from Brannock measurements for D width feet. For comparison with Red Wing sizing, the recommendation is to go up half a size for D width or wider feet, while C width or narrower feet can select the same size. E width and wider sizes are not available.

Released in November 2021, production was limited to 60 pairs per style. Half of the production run was available as ready-to-ship stock, with the remaining half offered as made-to-order. Retail price was set at approximately $480 per pair. The boots were manufactured in Taiwan at Dr. Sole's workshop in Taipei, with most materials including leather and hardware sourced directly by the company.

The Game Changer marked Dr. Sole's entry into complete footwear manufacturing after successful collaborations with established brands including Viberg, Russell Moccasin, White's Boots, and Unmarked. The company, founded in 2011 by Lin and his wife Betty, had previously focused on creating outsoles and providing resole services beginning in 2014.

Dr. Sole founder Lin emphasized vintage aesthetics over modern precision in the Game Changer's production. Patterns are created through hand-stamping on molds rather than computer-aided methods, producing what Lin described as an "attractive" imperfection characteristic of vintage pieces. While the workshop uses CNC carving and 3D printing capabilities, these techniques are applied selectively, with hand-stamping preferred for maintaining vintage authenticity despite increased time requirements.

The manufacturing team consists of four people including Lin, who dedicates 70-80% of his time to resole work. Lin prefers hiring inexperienced staff to avoid what he considers entrenched methods from established footwear manufacturing.