![\"Brown](\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2016\/02\/aom_boots-e1456342395932.jpg\")
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Editor’s Note: This is a promotional post from the fine gents at Huckberry<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n Call us cynical, but our here-today, gone-tomorrow<\/em> economy is increasingly full of purchasing pitfalls. Especially in menswear. Ever heard of planned obsolescence<\/a>? It\u2019s real. That\u2019s why finding the perfect pair of boots is like unearthing buried treasure. Maybe they\u2019re not literally from another time, but they\u2019ll sure feel like it, because the right boots<\/a> are built for the long haul.<\/p>\n Leather boots were once standard footwear for blue collar laborers, soldiers, and outdoor ramblers. Today the basic designs haven’t changed all that much, and there are ones still appropriate for work<\/a>, those that are a little dressier<\/a>, and plenty that easily straddle both scenarios. That’s really the beauty of a good pair of classic-looking leather boots: they pair just as well with a t-shirt and jeans, as khakis and a sports coat. Get a pair and they’ll become one of the most versatile things in your closet.<\/p>\n To aid you in finding the right leather boots for you, here are three tips every discerning boot hunter should know, as well as a few of our own personal recommendations:<\/p>\n There are actually a lot<\/em> of differences between leathers. If the boot just says \u201cleather,\u201d it\u2019s potentially of much lower quality, so watch out. Instead, keep your eyes peeled for \u201cFull Grain\u201d leather, which is rugged, handsome, ages exceptionally well, and more importantly, is of top quality. (We\u2019re partial to Wolverine’s 1000 Mile<\/a> for its Horween leather.) On the opposite end of the quality spectrum, you\u2019ll find stuff like \u201cBonded Leather,\u201d which sounds neat, but is basically leather bits, dust, and shavings all pressed together. Leather branded as \u201cGenuine\u201d is great for leather suede, but not for a boot\u2019s high-stress areas like the toe. \u201cTop Grain\u201d is second best, just below \u201cFull Grain.\u201d It\u2019s durable enough to get the job done, but probably won\u2019t win any beauty contests.<\/p>\n If you want a pair that will run the gauntlet and still have some miles left for your grandkids, invest in resoleable boots. Yes, they\u2019re more expensive. Yes, you\u2019ll have to get them resoled a few times over the decades. But these are the highest quality boots out there. Period. Look for boots made with either the \u201cBlake Welt\u201d (Rancourt\u2019s Brunswick<\/a>) or \u201cGoodyear Welt\u201d (see: Red Wing’s Iron Ranger<\/a> and Wolverine’s 1000 Mile<\/a>). \u201cGoodyear Welting\u201d is actually the oldest (circa 1869), most labor intensive, and most durable way to construct a shoe. It uses a strip of leather or rubber that runs along the perimeter of a boot\u2019s sole, which is then lockstitched to the sole, upper, and insole. The benefits? It\u2019s easy to resole by hand or machine, while providing extra foot support and even a little bit of added water resistance due to the extra layering.<\/p>\n Look to the feet of America\u2019s bravest and most badass dudes for help. What were the lumberjacks and mountain men and construction workers who built this country wearing? Answer: a few brands that are still crushing it — Rancourt<\/a> (Est. 1967), Red Wing<\/a> (1905), Astorflex<\/a> (late 1800s), and Wolverine<\/a> (1883). The highest quality materials and construction don\u2019t lie. Heritage like this is living proof that \u201cif it ain\u2019t broke, don\u2019t fix it.\u201d<\/p>\n Alright, now that you\u2019re an expert on all things boots, here are some options for both work and play. They have our full blessing. Whichever suits your style, you get exactly what you pay for: the highest quality materials and construction from legacy brands. Win. Win. Win<\/em>. Below are three of our favorites for varying styles:<\/p>\n With an upper handcrafted from a water-resistant oil-tanned leather equipped, plus a Vibram Mini Lug sole, the Andres Boot<\/a> is ready for whatever the weather throws at you. Whether you\u2019re traveling, hiking, or just getting things done around town, you\u2019re covered. Its classic, old-school workboot silhouette cleans up nicely, so you can count on it for a dinner party or happy hour too, making it one of the most covertly rugged boots we’ve ever stepped into.<\/p>\n The Dean Boot<\/a> is crafted in a third-generation, family-run Portuguese factory with over 50 years of experience and expertise. Every time you thread the laces through the easy-on speed hooks, you’ll see the calf leather subtly aging with a handsome patina that makes them more uniquely yours with each mile you put on ’em. And when the miles really start to add up, that hard-earned patina isn’t going anywhere\u2014Blake construction means a cobbler will make short work of replacing the sole. Premium materials, best-in-class craftsmanship, fully resoleable\u2014in other words, this is a pair of boots you can depend on for a lifetime of service.<\/p>\n![\"Brown](\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/\/2016\/02\/Boots_ls2.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n1. Not All Leather Is Created Equal<\/h3>\n
2. Make Sure They’re Resoleable<\/h3>\n
3. Trust Heritage Brands<\/h3>\n
Our Recommendations<\/span><\/h3>\n
Built For Fridays: Nisolo Andres<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"Nisolo](\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2016\/02\/7CF551EF-9B63-44BB-8103-AF13815BCB0A.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nRugged Yet Refined: Rhodes Dean Boot<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"Rhodes](\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2016\/02\/0C16C5AB-0D03-4A71-A692-BCE9DD23E1D5.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nThe Everyday Wear: Astorflex Greenflex<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"Astorflex](\"https:\/\/content.artofmanliness.com\/uploads\/2016\/02\/56FA6C9E-C465-4B4C-A7CF-E3C4EB928936.jpeg\")
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