The Hollis

The boot incorporates design signatures of heritage work boots including a cap toe and rubber mini-lug sole, combined with refined details such as thin cotton laces and burnished hardware. The Hollis is available in six colors including Teak, Black, Brown, Olive, Sienna, and a Chocolate suede variant.

The Hollis uses Blake Rapid Stitch welt construction, a method exclusively employed by HELM Boots. This construction process stitches the midsole through the innersole, then uses a rapid machine to stitch an outsole to the midsole on the outside edge. The process is performed with a worker-operated machine and cannot be completed by hand, as the stitching is done on the inside of the boot.

Blake Rapid construction provides a sole capable of being resoled while using fewer layers of leather compared to Goodyear welted boots, resulting in a more flexible boot. The construction is less water-sealed than Goodyear welt construction, though all HELM Boots feature water-resistant properties. The manufacturer recommends applying protective boot wax to the outsole for inclement weather or extended water exposure.

The Hollis can be resoled, though the process requires specific machinery. The materials are designed to be easy to source, and HELM Boots maintains a partnership with online cobbler NuShoe, which stocks all HELM outsole materials.

The Hollis is constructed from supple full-grain Krumenauer leather sourced from Texas hides, combining work-boot styling with dress boot elements. The Chocolate colorway uses supple Rusan suede instead of leather. The boot features HELM's custom lug sole designed to offer traction and stability while maintaining a slimmer profile compared to traditional work boot soles.

HELM Boots sources leather from American companies including Horween Leather Company in Chicago and S.B. Foot Tanning Company. The boot includes thin cotton laces and burnished hardware, with a design that fits close to the ankle.

The Hollis is built on HELM's 415 last, which features a tapered toe profile and is more narrow in the toe compared to the company's other last offerings. The 415 last is shared with the Zind model, with these two boots representing HELM's most popular designs.

Most HELM boots run approximately a half size larger than common sneaker and dress shoe brands. The 415 last tends to be more snug than other HELM lasts. The manufacturer recommends ordering the wearer's normal sneaker size for a relaxed fit, or ordering a half size smaller for a snug fit that will break in over time.

The Hollis design combines cap toe and rubber mini-lug sole elements characteristic of heritage leather work boots with a tapered toe profile intended to create a more refined appearance. The boot incorporates thin cotton laces and burnished hardware, designed to fit close to the ankle.

The model is available in six colors: Teak, Black, Brown, Olive, Sienna, and Chocolate. The standard leather versions use Krumenauer leather, while the Chocolate colorway features Rusan suede construction.

HELM Boots manufactures its footwear through a process involving over 153 steps, performed by 14 master cobblers. The company's boots are designed in Austin, Texas and manufactured in Maine. The production process historically shifted from an original manufacturing location in Turkey to domestic production in Maine.

The company operates under a "Footwear For Life" philosophy and backs its products with a three-year craftsmanship guarantee and 100-day worn-in returns. Each pair of HELM boots provides 10 meals through Feeding America as part of the company's community involvement program.

HELM Boots was founded in 2009 in Austin, Texas by Joshua Bingaman, an Oklahoma native. Bingaman previously operated coffee shops and a coffee roastery in the Austin area. He studied Turkish footwear construction during a trip to visit family, which informed his approach to bootmaking.

Prior to founding HELM Boots, Bingaman operated Progress Coffee, which he later sold to what became Wright Bros. Brew & Brew. He used proceeds from that sale to establish HELM Boots. The company opened its East Austin storefront in 2013, located at 1200 E 11th Street.

HELM Boots has raised $2.52 million in funding over three rounds, with the first funding round occurring on July 31, 2012. The company has two institutional investors including IU Ventures and StartupRunner. HELM Boots has remained an independent company since its founding.

As of 2024, the Hollis in Teak, Black, and Brown colorways retails for $275. The Olive colorway has a regular price of $230. Pricing reflects the boot's positioning as a mid-tier heritage footwear option within the American-made boot market.