New William Lennon Derby Boot - Singular!

[Edward]

Gluing is normal. I have rubber halfsoles glues on all my lather-soled shoes, eventually. I don't from the off - I have them put on when the heels need redone for the first time. Helps in the Winter and when it's damp underfoot.

 

[jimmer_5]

Oh, I know - I just prefer when the half sole is stitched on as well. I have big feet and I tend to catch the front edge of my soles on the edge of carpets and such. I have torn half soles off before when they were just glued on. It's not a dealbreaker for me, but it's a lot nicer to just have it done at the factory.

Unfortunately, still no response from William Lennon on this. They used to answer e-mails. I could just go ahead with teh order on the website, but it would be nice to have some communication about the boots (especially since they are made to order).

 

[jimmer_5]

Well, I broke down a few months ago and ordered my second pair of William Lennons - I got the Tan Waxy 178 boots, and they are finally on their way.

I did make a subtle change of my own - I sent them a pair of Vibram Pavia 9 Iron (3/16") half soles and some thicker (7/16") vintage Biltrite heels. Added to the already stout triple layer leather soles, these should be pretty beefy. I was going to use a 12 Iron Vibram 705 half sole, but that seemed like overkill. Other than the sole and heel changes, these will be bone stock. They should be shipping today, so I expect to see them (one at a time) over the next two weeks I'll post a review once they arrive.

These are the half soles if anyone is interested: http://www.vibram.us/repair/repair_popup.asp?Product=63&style=HalfSoles

I also just discovered a really good article about William Lennon on a blog yesterday - it's worth reading, and gives a lot of insight into this historic company: http://loomstate.blogspot.com/2011/11/william-lennon-factory-stoney-middleton.html

 

[billyspew]

I love my Waxy Tan 178's.
I'm ordering a pair of their cycling shoes in waxy tan tomorrow as well (£10 extra) - one of the few classic looking cycling shoes under £100.

Edit: Fascinating article too, thanks for posting!

 

[Edward]

Does anyone know if they do their bootws in colours other than those on the website? Ordered a pair of the Marco boots on Amazon.com the other week, but they came back to me and cancelled the order because they no longer have them in black.

 

[Will015]

I'm curious how the arch is on these things. I have incredibly flat feet and just can't where a shoe with much of an arch in them for too long. I can where my Iron rangers with no insole for miles and miles, a few hundred yards in my new smoke jumpers and my feet kill.

Another question: Do these tend to run big or are they pretty true to size? I'm a half size and I need to figure out whether I need to size up or down.

Thanks for any input,
Will

 

[jimmer_5]

The arch is pretty flat in them - nothing like my Smoke Jumpers. I think they run a little large, but not so much in length as width. What I'm trying to say is that they didn't feel too long, but I put in a set of insoles and now they are perfect.

 

[Cooperson]

I also just discovered a really good article about William Lennon on a blog yesterday - it's worth reading, and gives a lot of insight into this historic company: http://loomstate.blogspot.com/2011/11/william-lennon-factory-stoney-middleton.html

Just spotted this. Thanks for the link jimmer - really enjoyed the read and pics. I can't believe that this place is just a short drive from me and I didn't know - must try and pay them a visit as soon as the snow clears.

 

[jimmer_5]

Well, my new William Lennon Tan Waxy boots have arrived, and I am super impressed. I'll poost the pics for now and get a review up later tonight. I sent them some different half soles and heels to use this time around, and I think it made them even better!

 

[jimmer_5]

A few Comparison shots with my orginal Lennon Derby Boots:

 

[esteban68]

I just called in the factory on the way back home to try on a traditional work boot with commando sole (for work) the 9 was a perfect fit for me, I ordered it in a darker brown Swiss? grain...I'll post pictures as and when..the factory it like stepping back in time and the staff were polite chattyu and very easy to work with.to be honesyt I can hardly wait.after these I intend to order a black Derby with a bit of brouging in a grain with a plain cap if possible?

 

[RFort]

I actually ordered a pair of the traditional work boots myself, in Dark Brown Latigo. Apparently they're in the mail. Jimmer, I was curious if you had any advice on care and maintenance. Your dark brown latigo derby boots look amazing after a few years of wear. Any info on treatments or what kind of wax you used would be super appreciated, if possible. Thanks!

 

[cookie]

A few Comparison shots with my orginal Lennon Derby Boots:

Can't see the attraction but...different strokes for different folks...

 

[johnnycanuck]

Was looking at a pair of Red Wings, but now seriously considering these. Can anyone comment on the thin rubber heel wearing out? How often does it need replaced? Better to go for the Vibram sole? Love the look of these boots.
Johnny

 

[Tomasso]

Can't see the attraction but..

To these particular work boots or work boots in general?

 

[esteban68]

I had a pair of lennons made in a with 'zug' grain and a toecap also had Vibram commando soles, I've worn them loads and they were comfortable from day one...I can recommend their service and quality...I did post a thread on them somewhere but cant find it!

 

[Edward]

Can't see the attraction but...different strokes for different folks...

They're not for everybody. I love them, but if I only ever wore a suit, for the sake of argument, I'd maybe be looking for something else. Horses for courses.

Was looking at a pair of Red Wings, but now seriously considering these. Can anyone comment on the thin rubber heel wearing out? How often does it need replaced? Better to go for the Vibram sole? Love the look of these boots.
Johnny

Personally, I'd go for the rubber heel and toe on leather sole approach- by far my preferred option on this sort of thing. If I was getting a second pair I might be tempted by the vibram soles for those really wet days where I'll be outside a good portion of the day. No direct experience with William Lennon, but those bits look very similarly proportioned to what I am used to on a dress shoe, having had them fitted in Timpsons or wherever. What I tend to find is that if I were to wear the shoes with great regularity (thinking especially of a time when I only had one pair of dress shoes - unthinkable now! - and wore them at least two or three times a week year round), I'd get maybe two years out of the heels before they needed redone, and much, much longer out of the piece on the front of the sole. I'm fairly light on my feet, though, it seems - my little brother, when e were kids, used to go through two pairs of shoes to my one, so this might be something that varies with the individual.

 

[Big Bertie]

The ones to go for, in my opinion, are the commando-soled zug-grain hill boots. They are very strong, but comfortable (I find). Not much good for anything but hill-walking, though; however, the leather is definitely top-quality. Lennon's method of construction, incidentally, is Blake, rather than the usual Goodyear; Blake allows for a trimmer welt, and I believe is more waterproof. I bought mine 5-6 years ago and they appear to be indestructible.

 

[jimmer_5]

Was looking at a pair of Red Wings, but now seriously considering these. Can anyone comment on the thin rubber heel wearing out? How often does it need replaced? Better to go for the Vibram sole? Love the look of these boots.
Johnny

Johnny -

If I could get a pair of Iron Rangers with the William Lennon style triple leather soles, I think I'd be in heaven...

As William Lennons go, the thin heel will wear out relatively quickly - there is also some variation in the thickness of the rubber half sole tht you can get on the Derby boot. If you have a large size like mine (13), you get the thin generic rubber sheet that the brown cap toe boots have in the picture above. For the tan boots (my second order), I went to a lot of trouble to source a half sole and heel that would be thicker, but would still be the proper thicknesses to not make the boot too tall in the front or back. I am much more pleased with this configuration, but I bought the parts myself and shipped them to William Lennon. All told, this probably cost me about $40 after shipping the parts. It was worth it, but it's definitely easier to use the stock components and have them repaced with better ones when the thin half sole and heel wear out.

 

[johnnycanuck]

Still debating what pair to buy
The cheepskate in me is leaning towards the 78TC Traditional Work Boot. But I don’t know how the sole will react to an Albertan winter. Dr. Martins are rubbish in winter here.
I really like the 178 Tan Waxy Leather Sole Boot. I like leather soles and I know they are not that bad in a Albertan winter. Not great but not bad.
The two thing wrong with the 78PTC derby is the toe is to fancy for me and the rubber covering the sole. I have a pair of Canadian parade boots (HH Browns) with rubber over the leather sole and they are rubbish in winter.
It’s a lot of money and I can’t decide.
Johnny.