I’m looking for some boots that are available in the UK, with a similar aesthetic to the standard 6” Timbaland leather ankle boot, but not rubbish. Suitable for wide toes would be a massive bonus, as would available to try on in a shop outside of London.
Having had two pairs of tims just plain fall apart on me, I’m really looking for a plain simple leather ankle boot with a softened top for day to day wear. I live in the countryside so I want them to be actual functional boots, not just a fashion statement.
Jim Green boots are a good option, particularly for wide toe box in some of their lasts. No shops for trying on though. But they are made with quality leather, and they contribute to a good cause.
Their boots are made with stitch-down construction, which can be resoled by any cobbler.
I’ve heard good things about Altberg. Apparently they make boots for the police. I heard of them from a friend who was on the police, and loved her boots so much she sprung for their bespoke service.
I don’t have a good suggestion for you, but I do have those Timberland boots. Timberland really is a fashion choice above all. Their products don’t really stand up to rough use.
Have a look at Hanwag Doublestitched. In general look for welted / resoleable / doublestitched construction. Depending on your age you can expect the uppers to last the rest of your life if cared for, but not the soles. It may run expensive, but consider how long it’s amortized over, see also Vimes Boots Theory.
Grenson, the Radley WP boots look great and are basically what everyone wishes the Timberlands still are.
There is a guy on YouTube who cuts boots in half, (Rose Anvil) a good option for research. I think I heard about Grensons from him.
Edit: I’ve just seen Trickers do boots, if you are near Northampton that may be a good option although they are expensive, they will list your lifetime and your children’s. I’m still wearing my Trickers Oxfords I bought 25 years ago.
I don’t know how available they are in the UK, but I’m a big fan of Danner boots. Most, if not all of their styles are available in wide, a lot of them are retractable so the sole, shank, heel counter, and liner can be replaced either by sending them back to Danner or by a competent local cobbler. They have a lot of options and I’m pretty sure at least one of them is somewhat similar to a classic timberland.
I have a pair of Danner lights with some hard miles on them hiking and close to daily wear. I got about 4 years out of them before it was time for a resole and the uppers are still in pretty good shape, and I expect to get at least another 4 years out of them.
IMO, no shoe is truly BIFL if you wear them regularly, especially anything that’s going to get put to serious use and abuse. Keeping them clean, the leather conditioned, letting them dry and rotating your footwear will go a long way towards extending their usable lifespan, and getting quality retractable boots, while a bigger upfront cost, will save you money in the long run.
quality retractable boots,
I think Danner calls it “recraftable”. Each item on their website has a page and in the details it will list if the footwear can be recrafted. A few of their shoes cannot be (but a lot can).
I think RedWing also has a repair service (for Red Wing + Irish Setter brands), but it’s a little more confusing about which of their models can and can’t be resoled.
IMO, no shoe is truly BIFL if you wear them regularly, especially anything that’s going to get put to serious use and abuse.
I think it’s at least possible in a Ship of Theseus sense, if you want to have a cobbler keep replacing individual parts.
I doubt that it’d be economical.
