Oak Street Bootmakers Lakeshore Boot

Five years ago, I wore New Balances and didn’t know cordovan from a horse’s ass. Now, after having completed my first Thunderdome, I can confidently say that I know more about horsebutt than most other people. My feet have been wrapped in it for a majority of this competition and I have marveled at its transformation as I cared for these boots. I chose the Oak Street Lakeshore Boots mainly for their ability to move from a business casual workplace to a night out at the bar or a friend’s house. I wore them almost continuously, taking breaks only when they were wet and needed to be dried out (such as walking a mile home in the pouring rain on New Year’s Eve). In fact, though it was one of the rainiest winters ever here in Southern California, the boots held up beautifully. My care routine involved brushing the boots 3-4 times per week and conditioning with Bick 4 as needed. Watching the TPR finish erode to reveal the bare leather underneath was particularly exciting; these high-wear areas took on the color of everything they came into contact with, as if they were actively recording my own journey. Now, as I run my fingers along the leather, I can almost see the last five months flash before my eyes. It was a fun fall and winter, on most days at least one person remarked on my stylish footwear or a friend asked how the Thunderdome was going. Nights were typically spent in bed browsing the Stitchdown Discord with my cat and my partner by my side while my boots, stuffed with shoetrees, awaited the next day. I traveled halfway around the world, through countless airports where TSA agents glowered impatiently as I struggled to untie tight bootlaces. They even protected my feet as I crawled into the interior chamber of the Great Pyramid of Giza! I’m not sure if the last five months was the very best of my life, but the time certainly was made more fun by having joined the Thunderdome and for that I am grateful. Plus, I got a great pair of cool-looking boots out of it!