LL Bean Maine Hunting Shoes/Bean Boots. Sz. Mens 10, 11; Ladies 7, 10.

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LL Bean Maine Hunting Shoes​

In 1911 Leon Leonwood Bean became tired of his feet getting cold and wet while he was hunting the Maine woods, and so persuaded a local cobbler to combine the lower foot box of a pair of rubber boots with a sturdy leather upper.

Bean was so pleased with the boots that in 1912 he formed a company--guess which one?--to market them. Unfortunately, the first set of 100 was not a success, as the uppers did not adhere well to the foot box. Undeterred, Bean contracted with US rubber to make a foot box with the express aim of using rubber than could be attached to leather. This worked wonderfully, and the Main Hunting Shoe was born. It only underwent one change: The addition of the now classic chain tread in 1947.

Contemporary Maine Hunting Shoes are slightly different from the very similar Bean Boots, in that they have a slightly more flexible sole--and so are closer to the original hunting shoes of LL Bean, where the ability to feel the ground beneath one's feet was an advantage.

Both Hunting Shoes and Bean Boots are now extremely fashionable, harkening back to their heyday of the 1980s when the Official Preppy Handbook called them "the second most important shoe (after Weejun loafers) in the preppy male's wardrobe." And, unlike many "heritage" brands with currently fashionable products (I'm looking at you, items from Fossil-owned Filson!) Bean has stuck to its old-school production values--these shoes and boots are all still hand-stitched in Maine using precisely the same techniques as always.Given that these shoes and boots have consistently sold out before Christmas for the last few years, Bean's commitment to maintaining its quality is laudable.

1) Maine Hunting Shoes

A contemporary pair of Maine Hunting Shoes, these are in excellent condition, and just $40, OR OFFER, boxed, shipped, and insured in the USA. They're a Size 10 CM, and so would work well for a size 10 or 10.5 shoe.





2) Bean Boots. Size 11.

These are in Very Good condition. They have some discoloration and minor creasing to the uppers and some minor wear to the chain-tread soles.

Asking just $39, or offer, boxed and shipped in the USA.

 

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3) LL Bean Maine Hunting Shoe

Size 10 L (Ladies)

These are in excellent condition, with only very minor surface scuffs to the uppers and little to no wear on the soles.

Asking just $39, or offer, boxed and shipped in the USA.





4) Bean Boots moccasins by LL. Bean.

Size 7 L (Ladies)

These are in Very Good/Excellent condition, with no scuffing to the uppers and little to no wear on the soles. These are in the very, very dark navy blue colourway--the very preppy alternative brown!

Asking just $35, or offer, boxed and shipped in the USA.





5) Bean Boots by LL Bean.

These are in Very Good/Excellent condition, with only minor scuffing to the uppers are little to no wear to the soles.

Please note that there is no size marked on these. However, they comfortably (if snugly) fit a size 11 men's foot in thin socks, and so would be best suited for a US 10 or 10.5.

Asking just $39, or offer, boxed and shipped in the USA.

 

[tweedydon]

(1) is sold.