Monthly Archives: July 2022

If you've looked at our different boot models, you've probably noticed some boots are made in roughout leather - if you don't know what it is, it looks a little fuzzy - or smooth. Some even have both. 

Is there a difference? Which should you get on your work boots? 

It depends on what you want in your work boots. Roughout leather is literally the same leather as smooth, so you aren't losing a thing by having a boot made entirely or in part with roughout. So what's the difference between roughout and smooth leather and why does it matter?

Roughout leather is literally the same as smooth leather. It just hasn't been split and is turned fluffy side out. 

Leather is made from

Resoling and rebuilding a pair of leather work boots are related, but are different. The former is a simple procedure that doesn't take too much time; the latter is much more involved. As you can guess...that also affects the expense. 

What's the difference? Which do you need? When should I have my boots resoled, and when should I have them rebuilt? Could I end up needing both?

You will most likely need your work boots resoled long before you need them rebuilt, but it depends a lot on what you do for work. Some people need a rebuild more often than others - we'll talk about that - and some will need their boots resoled more often than others. 

So...let's talk about rebuilds and resoles. 

What's used to tan leather? Generally, there's vegetable-based and mineral-based compounds for tanning. The tanning method does affect the end product, so that's why "chrome-tanned" and "vegetable-tanned" leathers can be very different in appearance and feel.

Tanning is just one step in the process of making leather, as the process in and of itself is just a chemical treatment of skin to preserve it.

But...what does this have to do you with you and the pair of leather work boots or heritage boots you want to buy? How the leather is made impacts how your boots look, feel and what you need to do to keep them in top condition.

If you're going to invest in a seriously great pair of boots, you should get leather that looks how you want, feels how you want, and that you'll be able to keep for a very long time. So let's learn a little more about tanning.

"Quality" is a funny thing to talk about, because everybody has different aspects of quality in mind for different things, including leather goods. What's the best leather for shoes or boots?

It really depends on what kind of boots or shoes you're making with them. If you took the absolute best leather for making work boots and made a pair of dress shoes, a lot of people would think they were hideous.

If you took the best leather you could possibly get to make dress shoes and made a pair of work boots out of them...they wouldn't work all that well and no one would buy them.

That said, there are certain things that anyone in the leather goods industry agrees on as far as the best quality leather for making footwear or anything else.