Chris Crat, a previous manager and long-time employee for Crockett & Jones, in London, and an avid fisherman has shown what good quality can give you. His Instagram feed is filled with shoe selfies or fishing posts and until recently I never noticed that all the while, Chris wears the Snowdon derby boot by Crockett & Jones for nearly all of his fishing adventures over the last 7 years. He seems to rotate between those (above) and a Coniston boot, shown below.
One might not think much of that, assuming that he fishes on occasion, but let me assure you unless Chris is recycling pictures it would appear that it is either a weekly weekend adventure or at least bi-monthly. Either of which involves a lot of fishing and subjecting one’s boots to very rough elements.
I am not one to allow my boots to get to a level of ruggedness displayed in the top pic but when I saw that picture, there was a manly, rugged attractiveness about it, mainly because it showed how a quality product, built to last, can stand the test of time even when subjected to harsh environments. And if you follow Chris’s page (@muddy_fishing_boots on IG) you will see that he is no stranger to harsh environments and putting to good use these boots.
I realized that there are some cultural differences here in my statement of ‘never allowing my boots to get like that’ and seeing an Englishman wearing English-made boots to accomplish his rugged activities. I think that most Americans wouldn’t dream of wearing their ‘prestige’ Goodyear welted boots that might have cost upward of $700, or more, for any kind of actual strenuous activity while the Englishman buys them to do just that: Wear in the countryside through sludge and the like and use for rugged activities. In the US, we might wear a Red Wing or Timberland or something we don’t feel worried about ‘ruining’ per se. It’s hard to describe but am sure if you are from the US you know what I mean.
I quite like that the English think differently. In reality, I feel that over the years, I am starting to gravitate toward the same thinking. The more I wear my ‘city hiking boots’ and get them all scuffed up, the less bad I feel about continuing to wear them for hard-wearing activities. The less I feel the need to polish them up and make them look ‘perfect’. The more I wear them for practicalities sake and less for sartorialism.
By Chris wearing these Crockett & Jones Boots the idea is proven that when you spend a bit more upfront you get something that actually saves you money in the long run. If your mentality is to buy cheap because you want to spend less, in the long run, you actually spend more as cheap shoes will always be made from cheaper materials, and less craftsmanship put in that keeps the product in-tact. Due to those aspects, your product breaks down faster and you have to spend again, while a shoe/boot more expensive (read: better made) would have still been going strong and thus saving you money.
So next time you are in the market for a pair of shoes or boots, do understand that spending that extra $150-$300 can sometimes save you double to triple that in the long run, not to mention almost always look and feel better at the same time!
Read more about Crockett & Jones here.
Learn more here: https://www.crockettandjones.com
—Justin FitzPatrick, The Shoe Snob
Shop · Marketplace · J.FitzPatrick · Patreon
Justin,
I realised after reading this that 5 of my 10 pairs of boots are C&J, so evidently they are doing something right.
I think the sale is over though (at least the guy on the phone at the store I talked to said so) but would encourage anyone on the fence to buy at full price anyway. They’re still great value in the long run, and clearly all businesses can do with the support right now.
Thanks for sharing Sam. Lets hope they update their website as it still said ‘On Sale’ on the maim banner. But yes good to support anyway!
My Snowdons are nearly 10 years old and I wear them almost exclusively for hikes with my dog. Yes, they can take a beating, for sure. Almost waterproof, although I wish they had a full bellows tongue. The leather is quite unique: waxy Nubuk, scratching very easily, but it only takes a brush and some polish to remove any blemishes � and with some patience you can even polish them to a high shine. Great boot.
Thanks for sharing Winston!
Four pairs of C&J boots later over the last six years, they are undoubtedly the toughest boots I own. And the more I wear them the better looking and more comfortable they get. I�ve hiked in them and walked all day for several days on pavement without ever experiencing foot or ankle fatigue.
Thanks for sharing Riyadh!
Hey Justin!
On the topic of boots, what are your thoughts on the emerging hand welted boot brands coming out of Indonesia and China to the likes of Onderhound Handmade and Flame Panda?
Their quality looks great but as I am not crazy about that style of boot/shoe I dont follow their work. I prefer the brand Txture who I have nnboxed in a video (on here and my YouTube) as they seem a little less heavy, a little less bulky
Great story, J. I will offer my own anecdotal contradiction to your statement about Americans not wearing their prized boots as-designed. As an American, I used to fall in that lane. When I first became privy to Goodyear/stitchdown/Veldt footwear at 22, $200+ was a ton back then. I destroyed my first Red Wings and vowed the next pair would have an easier life. Fast forward 13 years, I’ve got about 13 pair currently, some sold over the years. But my rugged stuff – A beloved pair of Radnor IV Russian Grain C&J’s, a MTO pair of kudu Trickers, a pair of White’s 350 Cutters and (now Wohlford) Dayton service boots, my Ttituee has completely changed. I wear them anywhere and everywhere and as often as possible so long as they get a day in between to breathe on the trees. I’ve learned the art and balance of TLC, the behaviors of different leathers and it makes the hobby so much more enjoyable to “chill out” and use as-intended. Now, for my sanity, my attitude with my dressier stuff is opposite. Wear often, but I’m selective depending on the weather and polishing frequently is a must. I’m all business and take my appearance seriously at work, but come the weekend, it’s fun to scuff up the hardier stuff. And I love Chris’ approach to this, as well.
Thanks for sharing Nick. There are many American’s who are similar to ‘us’ but it is not in our culture to first think like that. We have to be educated to understand it and if often takes a while to get there for many.