Want to buy or sell something? Check the classifieds
  • The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

Aero boots: How good are they?

Shin

Familiar Face
Messages
87
Hi

I am looking for a tough pair of boots. I'm wondering what do you think about Aero boots as far as craftsmanship and quality go? How are they compared to say, Red Wing, Viberg, Truman and the likes?
 

Bfd70

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,049
Location
Traverse city
I have never seen them, but i’ll throw my $.02 in anyhow. If you want a good jacket, go to a jacket company. If you want a good pair of boots....
 

Harris HTM

One Too Many
Messages
1,802
Location
the Netherlands
Are you looking for dress boots or work boots? It is not fair to compare aeros to lets say vibergs pricewise.
Owing a pair of Jarrow Marchers my advise for similarly priced boots is: if you're looking for dress boots then get a pair of Loakes; if you're looking for tough, sturdy and indestructible workboots then go for William Lennons, owing three custom pairs I cannot but praise them.
 

Shin

Familiar Face
Messages
87
Are you looking for dress boots or work boots? It is not fair to compare aeros to lets say vibergs pricewise.
Owing a pair of Jarrow Marchers my advise for similarly priced boots is: if you're looking for dress boots then get a pair of Loakes; if you're looking for tough, sturdy and indestructible workboots then go for William Lennons, owing three custom pairs I cannot but praise them.

Work boots that can take lots of abuses. Working in the mountains, working in the rain etc. Preferably something European made since I don't want to pay 20% VAT tax and whatnot
 

Edward

Bartender
Messages
24,789
Location
London, UK
I have a pair of the Aero Town boots; they're every bit as good as my Redwing Iron Rangers, though the Aeros have the advantage of being slightly dressier for wearing to the office. I'd buy the Aeros over the RedWings now, not least given the saving at UK prices. I don't think I'd wear them as hiking boots, but then my William Lennons (avariation on their B5 model, with triple sole and shiny black leather upper) aren't really something I'd wear hiking in the hills either. My Aero boots compare favourably to my Lennons as well. A few years ago, Aero actually did a run of boots made by William Lennon; I don't think it's Lennon make them now, but it is another Northampton specialist bootmaker does them for Aero.

If you want a dedicatred hiking boot then I don't think I would recommend any of the boots I own - they're all great quality, but none of them are designed for that purpose. Some of William Lennon's more agricultural boots ith the heavy,cleated rubber soles would be better suited to serious hillwalking. Around town, the Aeros are fine.
 

GHT

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,347
Location
New Forest
Work boots that can take lots of abuses. Working in the mountains, working in the rain etc. Preferably something European made since I don't want to pay 20% VAT tax and whatnot
Unless you have your own business and you are VAT registered, you will pay VAT. In the UK it's usually incorporated into the price that you see, so you are not even aware of the 20%.

Try doing a search, I typed in robust men's work boots and the results were far to many to mention. Prices ranged from £40 up to many hundreds and in one case, thousands. But by and large most are affordable.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=r...ome..69i57.14271j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
 

Harris HTM

One Too Many
Messages
1,802
Location
the Netherlands
Out of curiosity I built a custom 1000 mile boot, all in Horween #8 Shell Cordovan. $425. Compared to the usual brands, this seems too good to be true. Am I missing something?
Horween Shell Cordovan at that price? Seems a bit suspicious to be honest. Are you sure it is shell cordovan and not steer no.8?
 
Messages
10,989
Location
SoCal
I dont think the shell cordovan is that cheap. Their limited editions were $750 or something...I think you ordered cordovan color #8 Horween steer.
 

Harris HTM

One Too Many
Messages
1,802
Location
the Netherlands
I dont think the shell cordovan is that cheap. Their limited editions were $750 or something...I think you ordered cordovan color #8 Horween steer.
I recently bought a pair of Alden boots in Shell Cordovan (no8) for almost 900e. Here in Europe I'm aware of 2 other brands (probably there are more) who make boots out of Horween Shell Cordovan, Crockett and Jones and Carmina. They both sell at around 900e.
I also own a pair of William Lennon's mad of no8 Horween Steer. Lovely leather but (as expected) not comparable to Shell.
 
Messages
10,989
Location
SoCal
Yep, $895 here in the US
IMG_6404.jpg
 

sunzisheng

New in Town
Messages
20
If you want shell, go for alden, cheapest and good craftsmanship. Wolverine isn't a brand I would consider. It uses every bit of leather, even those on the belly. Midsole is made of compressed paper. Red wing beckman is certainly a superior choice. wolverine's shell is incredibly expensive considering they are made by allen edmonds, also secondary quality.

For cowhide boots, depending on your budget, I would rank (cheap to expensive ones) red wing--wesco, white's, alden, --- viberg. But generally red wing is good enough.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
107,269
Messages
3,032,685
Members
52,737
Latest member
Truthhurts21
Top