About
The TENDER Moctoe Boots are moc toe work boots manufactured by KIND Supply Co., featuring Goodyear welted construction and Italian vegetable-tanned leather. The boots are built on the KMW last with a width between D and E, utilizing a Vibram Christy Morflex sole for durability and comfort. Available in multiple leather options including Italian vegetable-tanned leather and Horween variants, the TENDER represents KIND's commitment to combining traditional construction methods with contemporary materials at accessible price points.
About
The TENDER Moctoe Boots are moc toe work boots manufactured by KIND Supply Co., featuring Goodyear welted construction and Italian vegetable-tanned leather. The boots are built on the KMW last with a width between D and E, utilizing a Vibram Christy Morflex sole for durability and comfort. Available in multiple leather options including Italian vegetable-tanned leather and Horween variants, the TENDER represents KIND's commitment to combining traditional construction methods with contemporary materials at accessible price points.
KIND Supply Co. has been a boots supplier for Red Wing, Wesco, Thorogoods, and Danner since 2014, bringing manufacturing expertise to their own branded products. The TENDER Moctoe Boots demonstrate this heritage with double quarter-inch leather midsoles and Goodyear welt construction, manufactured in Vietnam.
Construction
The TENDER Moctoe Boots utilize Goodyear welt construction, a method that provides durability and allows for resoling throughout the boot's lifespan. The process begins with an insole made from the thickest vegetable tanned leather, to which the upper is stretched and nailed to mold the boot's shape. A leather welt is then stitched through the upper into the leather insole for structural integrity.
A steel shank is added along with a cork footbed that shapes to the wearer's feet over time. The outsole is cemented and hand stitched to the welt, completing the construction. This method extends the boot's lifespan by enabling professional resoling when the outsole wears through.
From December 2021 forward, KIND standardized double layer Italian leather midsoles on the TENDER boots. These double quarter-inch leather midsoles provide substantial support and structure beneath the foot. Users report that the fit and finish are generally excellent, though minor manufacturing variations such as slightly uneven soles can occur.
Materials
Leather options
The TENDER Moctoe Boots are available in three primary leather options. The base model features Italian vegetable-tanned leather, priced at $317 (reduced from $329). A Horween Predator leather variant is also offered. The premium option uses Horween Horsehide Teacore leather, available in Black and Olive colors, priced at $635 to $647.
Vegetable tanning process
Vegetable tanning uses natural materials including oak and spruce bark, quebracho, tara pods, olive leaves, rhubarb roots, or mimosa. This process results in thicker leather with more body and character compared to chrome tanning methods. The leather develops a rich patina over time and carries the classic leather smell associated with traditional tanning methods.
The vegetable tanned leather's color changes from natural tones to pink, then to reddish tones with sun exposure. The leather becomes softer and more comfortable with use. Areas that rub or are frequently handled darken more rapidly than less-contacted areas, creating a unique patina pattern specific to each wearer's usage.
Design features
The TENDER Moctoe Boots are built on the KMW Last, which provides a width between standard D and E sizing. The Vibram Christy Morflex sole offers cushioning and traction while maintaining the wedge sole aesthetic traditional to moc toe work boots. Brass speed hooks are available as a customization option for easier lacing and adjustment.
References
"KIND's Veg Tanned Leather TENDER Moctoe Boots". KIND Supply Co. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
"Review: KIND TENDER Moctoe Boots". Patina Project. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
"The Art of Ageing: Full Grain Vegetable-Tanned Leather's Patina Transformation". Tanner Bates. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
"MAINE MOC TOE BOOT - NATURAL WEDGE SOLE". ORIGIN. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
