Lakeshore Jump Boot

The boot draws its design inspiration from the 1941 'Paratrooper Boot' standard for ergonomics, durability, and presentation, while adapting these principles for civilian use across multiple applications. Oak Street Bootmakers produces the Lakeshore Jump Boot in multiple leather options and with specialized sole configurations that include vintage deadstock components.

The Lakeshore Jump Boot employs Hand-Lasted Goodyear Welt Construction with a heavy-duty midsole and structured toe design. The boot features a partially-structured cap-toe with hand-brogueing, distinguishing it from plain toe service boots. Construction details include full calfskin lining paired with a Barbour Storm Welt that is hand-stained and finished.

Hardware specifications include tone-on-tone enameled brass eyelets and speedhooks, designed to complement the leather color selection. The boot uses round waxed cotton laces and incorporates tone-on-tone stitching throughout the upper construction. Following Oak Street Bootmakers' manufacturing philosophy, the Lakeshore Jump Boot is designed to be 100% recraftable, allowing for multiple resolings throughout the boot's service life.

The construction methodology shares design objectives with the original 1941 paratrooper boot, emphasizing ergonomic design through the Lakeshore Last geometry, heavyweight midsole construction, and structured toe box for protection and durability.

Oak Street Bootmakers offers the Lakeshore Jump Boot in three primary leather options. C.F. Stead Classic Calf Leather provides a traditional English leather option with fine grain characteristics. Badalassi Carlo Garret Cotto Leather represents Italian vegetable-tanned leather construction with natural aging properties. Seidel Trail Crazy Horse Leather offers American oil-tanned leather designed for heavy use applications.

Each leather option is selected based on Oak Street Bootmakers' commitment to sourcing from established suppliers with heritage tanning processes. The leather selection supports the boot's intended versatility across professional and casual applications while maintaining the aesthetic characteristics associated with American heritage footwear.

The Lakeshore Jump Boot incorporates a Black Vibram 705 Half Sole as its primary outsole component. The Vibram 705 features oil-resistant properties designed for demanding environments and applications. This half sole is attached atop 14-iron leather and includes a steel shank for structural support and comfort enhancement.

A distinctive feature of the Lakeshore Jump Boot is its Stacked Leather Heel paired with a deadstock Cat's Paw Twin-Grip Heel. Each boot sole is hand-fitted to Cat's Paw Twin-Grip Rubber Heel components that have been stored in climate-controlled conditions for approximately 50 years. These deadstock heel components represent limited inventory, as the Cat's Paw parent company Biltrite has discontinued production of the Twin-Grip design.

The sole construction includes hand-tapped brass tacks reinforcing the attachment between the Vibram half sole and leather midsole components. This traditional reinforcement method aligns with Oak Street Bootmakers' emphasis on heritage construction techniques while providing enhanced durability for the sole attachment.

The Lakeshore Jump Boot is constructed on Oak Street Bootmakers' Lakeshore Last, which is designed for professional shoe applications requiring versatility from workplace to formal settings. The last provides what Oak Street Bootmakers describes as precision fitting with durability characteristics suitable for extended daily wear.

Oak Street Bootmakers recommends true-to-size fitting for their Goodyear Welted footwear, including the Lakeshore Jump Boot. Customers measuring a specific size on a Brannock device are advised to purchase the same size in the Lakeshore Jump Boot. This sizing approach differs from some heritage boot manufacturers that recommend sizing down from Brannock measurements.

The Lakeshore Last exhibits a narrower profile compared to Oak Street Bootmakers' Elston Last used for casual footwear. For customers with regular D width feet, true-to-size fitting is appropriate. Customers with wider feet measuring E or EE width are advised to consider sizing down one-half size to accommodate the additional width within the Lakeshore Last's narrower profile.