Blue is the new brown?

These didn’t arrive on my doorstep until November so they didn’t get to do the whole dome but 5 months of casual wear isn’t too bad. Even with thin socks they were warm enough for 30-40 degree weather. I really only wore them as city boots however.

These are my first horsehide boots. I knew with the dark color they wouldn’t change much, but I am pleasantly surprised by how the fat stretch marks have begun to be accentuated with time. The smell is kind of weird but they really did not need any conditioning despite over 100 wears and about 200 miles of walking this winter. The blue is so deep that in low light these could pass for black which makes them quite versatile with almost every color pant in my wardrobe.

All my other whites are the 4811 smokejumper last. These fit just the same but have a bit more elegant profile which makes them more versatile. The soft leather really conforms to my toe and I love the way these fit with both thin and thick socks. Once you get used to the arch in whites boots, it’s really hard to go back to anything else. They fit perfectly just like all my others.

While there were a couple scuffs from manufacturing (to be expected from a work boot brand) these are on par with all my others whites. Built like a tank! The clicking is excellent, the stitching is as perfect as hand welting gets. And the cream lining looks beautiful in contrast to the deep blue leather. No complaints here.

These still have a ton of life in them, the heel material has barely worn down… much more durable than the softer material of the Thursdays I also wore for the dome. It didn’t snow this winter so I can’t really say how they are on ice, but they handled wet sludgey streets just fine. They do feel a bit softer than the standard v100s which is welcome when walking on concrete all day.

I am so happy with these boots, I will be sad to put them away for the summer heat. I’m glad I went with 7-inch as that seems perfect for ease of movement but not being so low that my socks show when sitting down. The blue is so versatile, it rivals brown in its ability to match a wardrobe, and can even look black in dim light. They also stand out compared to brown, so the unique color really adds to my collection. I don’t have any other shiny boots like this horse leather, so I will keep them as city boots instead of true work boots. We have a concept at my Alma mater of wearing our “forester’s finest” to dinners and gatherings and these are definitely it! I want to keep whites in business as long as I can, but these will last a lifetime so I’m not sure how I can justify a 7th pair of whites! I honestly didn’t expect them to arrive in time for the dome and I’m glad they did… I really don’t want to wear anything else as long as temps are cool enough. The way they have molded to my feet and creases to match each joint in my foot just show the journey they have been on, and it’s really just getting started. The other plus is that my partner calls these my sexy boots and with the way these have evolved and creased, now she understands into the whole patina concept and wants to join the dome next year, so if these have the ability to convert others into “getting it” they are worth every cent! I have many boots that I could live without but these will always be a part of my rotation!