William Lennon spec boots

[wdw]

Chasseur, those look mighty fine, not to mention rock solid. I'm really impressed with what Lennon can do at the prices they charge.

Jimmer, both colours are non-standard but no-cost options. I was unsure about colours and hides, so they sent me I think 7 samples of black, brown and burgundy to choose from at no extra cost. They probably have even more. Their website is very basic and doesn't convey the amount of options they're prepared to offer.

The only extra I paid was £10 for the leather linings.

 

[simonc]

Bloody hell, great stuff guys. Scottish hill stalking kit in Hawaii now I've heard everything. Brilliant! I have images of you setting up an orphanage there, issuing vaccines and singing overtly loudly songs from the psalm book in a Waikiki baritone.

 

[simonc]

WDW you're all set for winter now.

 

[wdw]

Simon, yeah, rain and snow fear I not. I like the rubber soles so that I have the option to wear them in rain. I was wearing leather soles on damp streets on Friday and they still haven't dried out, which is why I veer towards rubber now. It's a pity Dainite isn't an option, as that would look a lot more subtle than the Vibram soles. Mind you, I haven't asked.

I'm very taken by your WW1 boots, though, and think that that would be my next buy.

 

[galopede]

Been checking the Lennon site and have noticed that my order for a pair of the trad work boots has just gone from Pending to Processing! The order went in 3 weeks ago tomorrow so fingers crossed I'll have them soon, just as the weather is getting more winter like! I'll be able to give the DM's a rest!

Gareth

 

[handymike]

What is a Hob Nailed boot? Sorry, but I've never heard that before, and I like the boot. Or is the Tug of War boot better for mild (California) climate?

 

[Sloan1874]

Here's a proper hob nail boot, from Aero:

 

[handymike]

Oh, can't have that on the wood floors!
Guess I'll go for plain soles.

 

[Sloan1874]

Fun for kicking sparks up and down the street, but I can think of few restaurants that would welcome you!

 

[galopede]

You can get the hobnail boots without the hobnails. Plain leather soles then.

Gareth

 

[Sloan1874]

Of course! Can you imagine if they'd only sold them with hobnails? You'd spend you're whole time taking them off and putting them on every time you walked into a shop/office/house/car etc etc.

 

[tropicalbob]

I was introduced to hobnails during the Scotland vs. England football match at Wembley in 1971. A skinhead on my right enquired of my team affiliation, and when I responded, "I dunno, Scotland, I guess. My mom's from there," I was treated to a demonstration of their effectiveness. Luckily, I was sporting my Carolina Engineers, or I'd probably have been crippled for life. To this day, I'm not sure if it was the country, my accent, or my mother he objected to.

 

[galopede]

My 78TC Traditional work boots have arrived, three weeks to the day I ordered them. Perfect fit and very pleased.

Gareth

 

[Edward]

I was introduced to hobnails during the Scotland vs. England football match at Wembley in 1971. A skinhead on my right enquired of my team affiliation, and when I responded, "I dunno, Scotland, I guess. My mom's from there," I was treated to a demonstration of their effectiveness. Luckily, I was sporting my Carolina Engineers, or I'd probably have been crippled for life. To this day, I'm not sure if it was the country, my accent, or my mother he objected to.

Jinkies. Yeah. Sounds like you encountered the far-right branch of the skinhead subculture (the only one the mainstream really remembers now, but far from the only one, and far from the original). Likely you got it for supporting the wrong team.... which could have been based on some sort of dimwit, far-right nationalism, or even more simple-minded tribalism. Especially in those days the soccer world was notorious for a gang element where the joy was not to be found in the sport, which was a mere sideshow, but in the ruck that could be had around it. Some of those folks just wanted a fight, and the reason didn't much matter....

Did the Engineers stop damage to your ankles, or were they the instrument of your defence?

Was that the game after which Scots ripped up the pitch, bringing an end to Scotland v England derbies at Wembley for decades?

My hobnails are an old pair of possibly 50s boots. Bought them on eBay a couple of years ago for very little, didn't really think it through. Not so easy to wear. I did however find them great when one day the heel fell off thed boots I was wearing and I happened to have them lying in the office - let me put the other boots in for repair the same day. Only thing was that with the tiled hallways the noise was full on... I sounded like half a dozen squaddies or an Essex hen night coming up the corridor.

 

[winterland1]

My 78TC Traditional work boots have arrived, three weeks to the day I ordered them. Perfect fit and very pleased.

Gareth

Pics?

 

[Gairdner]

Apologies for resurrecting an older thread but I thought I'd share the details of my first (and hopefully not last) Wullie Lennon custom boot order. Partly thanks to this thread and ogling the Lennon site, I've come up with a specified version of these lovely boots, no doubt ordered by an inspired gent on here:



The following was taken from the email I sent Dan at William Lennon to which he very quickly replied that all was do-able and wouldn't cost much more that the 78PTCs pictured on their site:

1. Commando soles, please.
2. As I am heavy chap and pretty hard on footwear in general, may I ask that you screw on the toe of the commando sole as well as the heel, please?
3. Where the leather is burgundy grain, I would like it to be a black Scotch grain if possible, please.
4. Where the leather is shiny black at the fore and at the heel, I would like this to be the standard dark brown waxy you show on your site, please.
5. Per the brass rivets on the uppers of the B5 WW1 boot, please may I have these fitted?
6. Please may I have dark brown leather laces fitted?
7. Where the leather through sole is mostly left natural coloured on most of these boots I've seen, could you dye these dark brown, please?
8. And lastly, could I have both boots fully leather lined (including the tongue) in a plain, natural veg tan or whatever you use, please?

I went for the commando soles as these boots will be used for trudging over and through soggy, filthy Scottish fields and woods as well as fording the occasional river. Very likely in all weathers too. I can also imagine they'll go in for a fair bit of mucky graft in the garden as well.

Opinions gratefully received, both positive and negative.

Thanks again chaps,
Graeme

 

[esteban68]

They ''ll age nicely...reminds me that I need to get another pair of Lennons ordered.

 

[oxfordgrant]

Nice combination you have chosen- I have a pair of 178s in a mix of black chrome excel/burgundy zug and I love the contrast of colour and grain. Have you seen a sample of the black Scotch grain- I have quite a few swatches from WL but not seen this particular leather- is it similar to the zug?

 

[Gairdner]

OG,

I have not seen a sample of the black Scotch grain but Dan seemed to know exactly what was required. I imagine it may be similar to the Zug or a pebble grain or possibly more like that used in certain military boots. Sanders make a dress, Highland brogue for our Armed Forces which may also be purchased by us mere civilians and the grain on that is perfection itself. Like the bed of a stream, so it is!

I might even send Dan another pesky email and ask if his Scotch grain is at all similar. At any rate, I'm sure I'll be delighted with what is used.

Graeme

P.S. I was going to use the local term 'burn' instead of stream but feared you would not understand the usage, good sir.

 

[Gairdner]

Here is a picture of the black Scotch grain Lennon's will be using to make the upper parts of my custom boots:



Just dandy as far as I am concerned! Big smiles.