Lanx Boots / Shoes
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Just curious if anyone has had experience with Lanx boots and shoes?
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I’ve bought two pairs of their boots this year and I have mixed feelings. I bought the Garstang Chelsea boot and the Alston boot in black.
The good: I’ve got Grenson and Loake boots and shoes and these seem to be in the same general quality range. Quality control and materials seem good. Design-wise, the Alston is a little odd, as are their sizing, at least for me. I’m a 9.5 G in a UK boot and both is these claim to be a G fitting. They seem broadly ok, but the both seem suited to a dress sock at best for me. I wore Red Wing cotton rag socks with both and got blisters on the heels with both. Also, the tongue on the Alston seems over-padded to me and has a tendency to slip off to one sode. There’s no stitch to secure it as on some boots, or ready made slits in the tongue to thread the laces through to help keep it in place. I wanted dressier black boots for the Alston so wearing a thinner sock isn’t a problem, but I’m not sure they’re for me. The Garstang has the look of a more rugged Chelsea’s boot, but I’ll have to wear a thin sock, which I surprised about. I should say sizing up would
Make both styles far too long for me.I will likely dig both pairs out in the spring and try them again, but so far the blisters and sock options have put me off a bit. I would like to try their more rugged work boot styles and likely will. If they ever have my size in stock. I’m in the North and want to support a proper Northern company. Oh, they have a shop in Manchester if you’re passing by. That and Rivet and Hide are both in the Northern Quarter.
As a last comment, I recently got two pairs of the discontinued Loake Hebden boots and they are to my mind awesome. Very sad they are no longer being produced.
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@michaeljcr Thanks. Sounds like they are good boots but have some little things keeping them from being great. I might try the 365 model for work and see how they do, then try one of the more casual boots.
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@joephoto I just yesterday ordered the 365 brogue boot. I’ll post picks when they arrive - should be tomorrow.
Regarding their other boots and my experiences, I should note I have very awkward feet. I’ve lost count of the number of shoes and boots that tear my heels up. It’s definitely me in many cases. I just ordered a pair of Thursday boots as well, the shorter lace up with a Cuban heel. They look fun for the money.
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@joephoto Well, the boots came today. Very interesting. Overall reallly interesting. Rugged and well made it seems. The leather seems fine for the price. Not the best I’ve seen, but again for the price they seem good. Two major things I’d change on a boot of this kind:
First, no bellows or gusset tongue, which seems odd for a boot aimed at wet and winter weather. It basically means if you go in a deep puddle it’s going to leak.
Second, there’s a slightly padded footbed that seems to be stitched in. I’d much prefer a more ‘outdoorsy’ removable footbed so I could swap in a top quality one.However, these aren’t really walking boots, despite the outdoorsy photos on their site. They’re winter city or low level country walking boots. They’re roomy on me in the toe (which I like) as they don’t do half sizes, so I went up to a 10. A 9 would be too small for me (wide feet). Room for a winter or more substantial boot sock.
If they had a bellows tongue I’d be buying a pair in each colour. The Chelsea boots might be more waterproof, but I don’t like the Chelsea boot styles they’re offering as much as my all terrain Blunnies. I’ll wear them in and see how it goes. Interesting for sure.
I’ll report back when I’ve worn them in.
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Yesterday I tried the Lanx boots on again in the house - properly this time! - and decided they’re not for me. They’re wide in the toe, which I like, but tight across the top of my foot where the tongue starts, by the bottom lace holes. There’s a fair bit of roughy material in the lining there, and with the slightly thicker sock I wanted to wear with these they just aren’t for me.
So, my revised opinion on these is they’re a nice idea, poorly executed around the tongue and slightly odd in their sizing. I really wanted to like them, but back they go…
Update: decided not to send them back and took them out for a spin. The vibram sole is excellent, I went around a local cemetery (not too weird, lots of people go for a walk there) and there’s a lot of mud and big puddles this time of year. Overall no issues. No heel slip, or heel rub (two problems I have), the built in insole seems ok and the leather stood up to puddles (below the tongue at least). The toe box is generous and that’s a big plus for me. Time will tell how they last.
