8" Bean Boot

The boot is handcrafted in L.L.Bean's Maine factories in Lewiston and Brunswick, where craftspeople are trained for 26 weeks to master the signature triple-stitch construction technique. First created as the Maine Hunting Shoe in 1912 by Leon Leonwood Bean, the design has remained largely unchanged for over a century. The 8" shaft height provides protection from water and weather while allowing ease of movement.

Leon Leonwood Bean created the Maine Hunting Shoe in 1912 as a solution to cold, soaking shoes encountered on hunting trips in western Maine. Working in his brother's basement, he manufactured and sold 100 pairs of his new design, offering a 100% satisfaction guarantee. However, 90 of the first 100 boots were returned due to a design flaw where single-line stitching tore through the rubber, separating from the leather upper.

Bean refunded customers and borrowed $400 from his family (roughly $13,000 in current dollars) to create an improved version. He sourced more durable rubber and introduced triple-line stitching that securely joined the rubber to the leather. This construction technique has remained unchanged and is still used in Bean Boots today.

By 1917, L.L.Bean had sold enough of the Maine Hunting Shoe to open a dedicated shop in Freeport, Maine. By 1951, the flagship store operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week, a tradition that continues today. Around 1992, the company formally adopted the name "Bean boot" for the product line, reflecting the informal name customers had used for decades.

The 8" unlined Bean Boot weighs 2 pounds 12 ounces per pair in men's size 9, and 2 pounds 10 ounces in women's sizes. The shaft measures eight inches in height, making it the most popular height option. The boot features six sets of brass eyelets in a lace-up design.

Available sizes include men's 7-14 and women's 6-11, each in narrow, medium, and wide widths. The unlined version retails for $149. The boot is waterproof to just below the stitching line on the rubber shell.

The boot features a waterproof full-grain leather upper that sheds rain and snow. The leather is updated high-quality supple material that develops character with time. The waterproof rubber boot bottom keeps feet dry, with an iconic chain-tread outsole made from longer-lasting rubber that provides reliable traction in rain, mud, and wet conditions.

Triple-needle stitching joins the rubber shell to the leather upper, providing long-lasting durability and preventing separation. The boot includes an upgraded dual-density insole for enhanced comfort and cushion throughout the day. A uniquely shaped foot form offers comfort and stability, while a steel shank adds support.

For regular or light socks, customers should order one full size down from their normal size (half sizes should order 1.5 sizes down). For example, those who wear size 9 or 9.5 should order size 8. With heavyweight socks, whole sizes should order their normal size, while half sizes should order one size down. For the 8" fleece-lined versions, customers should order one half size down from their normal size.

The 8" Bean Boot is sewn one pair at a time by expert craftspeople in L.L.Bean's factories in Lewiston and Brunswick, Maine. Stitchers undergo 26 weeks of training to master the triple-stitch technique. As of 2016, the Brunswick factory employed more than 450 people making products by hand.

Since the mid-1980s, boot stitchers have included custom notes with each pair, adding a personal touch to each boot. The company has been resoling well-loved Bean Boots for over 100 years, reducing waste and extending product life.

When L.L.Bean updated the Bean Boot design, the company spent more than six years on development, including the largest field test in company history. The updates maintained the original quality, appearance, and commitment to using materials sourced from within the United States.

In 2017, the company hired 100 new employees and created a third shift at their bootmaking facility to meet demand, with backlogs sometimes reaching 100,000 boots. Some Bean Boots have been documented lasting 60 years or more while maintaining their appearance and function.

The 8" Bean Boot is considered part of prep fashion due to its classic design and association with elite prep schools in New England. The Official Preppy Handbook describes Bean Boots as "the second most important shoe (after Weejun loafers) in the preppy male's wardrobe."