The day that I finally realized I needed a new pair of boots was not a comfortable one nor a good one. It was December 2015, and the morning weather report was as expected for New York City in December, “temperature in the mid 20’s with a 70% chance of precipitation” (by the way, it was already snowing outside, so 70% seemed like an overly conservative forecast). I did what you do in the winter, dug through my drawer for my last pair of long socks and a thermal to put on under my work cloths, and threw on my Timberlands to start my morning commute. All was well throughout the day until lunch rolled around and it was time to trudge through about 10” of snow, which in NYC is mostly grey/brown slush that looks closer to something that came up from the sewer drain as opposed to falling from the sky. That’s is when I realized I had a problem. That grey/brown slush had found a way to permeate my boots and soak my feet. It was time. I either had to invest in a new pair of quality leather boots or come to peace with the fact that my feet would no longer have a warm, dry space to call their own.
I quickly got online and started my search for a new pair of boots. My list of wants was not long, but I wanted something that checked all the boxes.
- Made in America
Brooklyn Boot Rough Lands in Grey Grizzly
- Durable enough for both snow and rain
- Fit within my business casual work attire
- Priced to not hinder my ability pay rent this month
After digging through a bunch of fine USA made bootmaker brands, I finally found one a pair that looked like it could cross all the items off my list, Brooklyn Boot Company’s Rough Lands boot. Brooklyn Boot was made in Pennsylvania, used high quality materials and construction, fit my style needs and was surprisingly priced within my budget.
Brooklyn Boot checked off all my needs by using a business model that was dependent on me taking a leap of faith; they could hit my price-point by using a direct to consumer business model. This meant that while I got a great price, I also couldn’t see them in person or try them on before ordering. With my feet not getting any warmer, I decided to take the plunge and use their Size and Fit guide to order what I hoped would be the right size.
Now it’s January 2017, and I have yet to have another cold foot catastrophe. With a little help from my annual application of Sno-Seal water proofer, the leather and stitching are holding up just like the day I got them; the Vibram sole is also no worse for the wear, with the tread still going strong.
So the moral of my story is, Brooklyn Boots are indeed fine USA made boots.
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