Oak Street Bootmakers
Camp Boot
555 Last
US Men's Brannock: L 7E, R 7.5E
555 Last: 7
Advice from maker is to size down 1/2 size from Brannock measurement. Offered in just one width.
Oak Street Bootmakers
As a woman who has developed bunions, I have taken to finding comfort in shoes made for men. I am also someone who spends a lot of time outdoors in casual clothes and “activewear.” These camp boots reminded me of “Ivy Style” shoes that I wore as a high school student in the 1980’s, and I think it’s a relatively unisex style. They are rugged enough for many of the activities I regularly engage in, without being “too much.” I like the ankle protection/coverage provided by the boot style, as I frequently walk through areas with thorns and other things that could scratch me.
The 555 was described as one which offered a broad toe, which is what I was looking for. The online guide recommended going down 1/2 size from Brannock measurements to allow for the stretching of the leather. This has proven to work well for me.
I believe these camp boots first caught my eye when I saw them featured in an article on Stitchdown.com which is dated February 8, 2023. It was August before I pulled the trigger and bought them, and they were somewhat discounted. Before I bought them I phoned the company to ask some questions, and was favorably impressed by the friendly employee who answered the call. Shipping was quick, but they sat in my closet for a couple months until October 1.
I have worn these camp boots in my leisure time. They have been just the ticket walking along river banks and the seashore. I have done yard work in them, and worn them around the docks at my rowing club. I have also worn them for day trips into NYC. They are not fancy, and I could only wear them to my workplace on the occasional days when office attire wasn’t expected. Cold, wet winter weather isn’t where these boots shine: This was not a surprise. But we had a fairly mild winter, and I was still able to wear them with pleasure every week. I will likely get at least as much wear from these in the upcoming 6 months as I have in the past 6 months.
Break in was easy with these. The color darkened, as I had anticipated. Regular brushing off of dirt and salt was the only care these seemed to need. There are visible scratches on the boots which I have not tried to disguise. They have certainly taken on the shape of my weird feet!
The comfort is good, and my toes don’t feel pinched. They have stretched, and I can wear them with or without socks. They don’t offer much in the way of arch support: I am okay with that.
I am very happy with the the durability. I have worn these a lot, and they been subjected to a fair amount of dirt and rough conditions. The integrity of the stitching is solid. The leather laces are no longer stiff. The design feels classic.
The sole is definitely showing wear, but is far from needing to be replaced. Worked well for me both on uneven terrain and on city sidewalks. Never once have I slipped in these.
The price per wear for these camp boots has been minimal. I can’t compare them to similar styles from other makers, but would not hesitate to buy from Oak Street Bootmakers again: In fact I have already bought a different style from that maker.