About
The Field Boot is a military-inspired ankle boot manufactured by Oak Street Bootmakers, an American footwear company. The boot features Hand-Lasted 270° Goodyear Welt Construction and is available in multiple configurations using Horween Chromexcel leather and various sole options including Vibram cork and rubber compounds.
About
The Field Boot is a military-inspired ankle boot manufactured by Oak Street Bootmakers, an American footwear company. The boot features Hand-Lasted 270° Goodyear Welt Construction and is available in multiple configurations using Horween Chromexcel leather and various sole options including Vibram cork and rubber compounds.
Oak Street Bootmakers designed the Field Boot as part of their commitment to preserving traditional American shoemaking methods while serving the heritage footwear community. The boot exemplifies the company's focus on recraftable construction and domestic manufacturing, with all models handcrafted in the company's Maine facility using domestically sourced materials.
Construction and materials
The Field Boot utilizes Hand-Lasted 270° Goodyear Welt Construction, a traditional method where the leather upper is stitched to a strip of leather (the welt) that runs around the perimeter of the shoe, which is then attached to the sole. This construction allows the boot to be resoled multiple times, making it what Oak Street Bootmakers terms "100% recraftable."
Leather materials
The primary leather used is Horween Chromexcel, produced using proprietary techniques developed over 100 years ago at the Horween Leather Company facility in Chicago. The Field Boot is available in several Chromexcel variants including Natural, Black, and Roughout configurations. The Roughout variant uses what Horween calls "Marine Field Shoe" leather, which presents the rough side of the leather outward for increased durability.
All models feature Calfskin Vamp Lining for comfort and durability. Additional leather options include Teacore Brown Cypress leather in select configurations.
Construction details
The boot features a Barbour Welt with Hand-Brushed Edge Stain and tone-on-tone stitching for a refined appearance. Hardware consists of Brown Enamel Brass Eyelets paired with Waxed Cotton Laces. Standard Field Boot models feature a Partially-Structured Toe, with unstructured toe construction available in specific configurations.
Sole options
Oak Street Bootmakers offers the Field Boot with multiple sole configurations:
Brown Vibram 700 Cork Sole with Hand-Tapped Brass Tacks
Black Itshide Commando Sole for enhanced traction
Black Dainite Rubber-Studded Sole for wet weather performance
Dr. Sole 1122 Raw Cord Sole in select models
Double Leather Sole with Hand-Brushed Antique Stain
Each sole type uses appropriate heel construction, with stacked leather heels and matching toplifts.
History
Oak Street Bootmakers was founded in 2010 by George Vlagos, whose father John was a Greek immigrant cobbler. John Vlagos opened his shoe repair shop in Wheaton, Illinois on the day George was born in 1982. George earned a master's degree from the University of Illinois and initially taught high school English before entering the footwear industry.
The company launched on August 31, 2010, with George creating boots he couldn't find in the marketplace. The initial launch sold out within 24 hours, establishing immediate market demand for American-made heritage footwear. The Field Boot emerged as part of Oak Street Bootmakers' commitment to military-inspired styling combined with traditional construction methods.
Manufacturing
Oak Street Bootmakers has handcrafted all footwear in the United States since its 2010 founding. In February 2017, the company acquired the Highland Shoe factory in Maine from Justin Brands Inc., saving the jobs of experienced Maine shoemakers who would have faced unemployment from the factory's pending closure.
The 7,500-square-foot Maine facility had produced shoes for Oak Street Bootmakers since the company's launch, making the acquisition a natural progression to control manufacturing quality. The factory employs shoemakers with over 20 years of experience and produces not only Oak Street's footwear but also private-label shoes for other companies, which accounts for approximately 20 percent of production.
George Vlagos was described as "aggressive in his bid" to purchase the factory, stating that "purchasing the factory and keeping the manufacturing alive was very much at the forefront of our desires." The acquisition represented the company's commitment to preserving American shoemaking traditions and supporting domestic manufacturing.
In addition to the Maine facility, Oak Street Bootmakers also utilizes a Goodyear-welt factory in New York state for certain production. The company sources all materials domestically, supporting American suppliers including Horween Leather Company and Maine Thread Company.
References
"Field Boot - Natural Chromexcel Roughout, Vibram 700 Cork Sole - Made in USA". Oak Street Bootmakers. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
"Oak Street Bootmakers Saved Jobs of Maine Factory Workers". Footwear News. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
"He transformed Greek cobbling heritage to a successful company". Ellines.com. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
"Oak Street Bootmakers Focuses on U.S. Manufacturing". Footwear News. Retrieved September 2, 2025.
