M.F. Boot Co
Service Boot
As someone who had been watching MFBootCo's progress over the years, I was always joking about having him make me a pair, hoping it would one day happen. That day finally came and I decided to do something close to his style with a bit of a fun touch— hence the American beaver tail backstays, which are from The Leather Guy. My original plan was to have them built with brain tanned deer hides, but I was warned by The Leather Guy's super helpful staff that the results might not be too great.
I purchased a last from Lisa Sorrell and modified it myself. There are some changes I'll need to make for the next pair, but it is pretty close.
The experience was simple and smooth! It started with sending some messages, talking for a while, deciding what to make, and then he painstakingly crafted both boots by hand with no machines. He's a beast!
Although I didn't end up mapping as much this winter season as I usually do, they still got some decent miles. I mainly wore them hiking at one of my favorite local semi-secret spots, so the soles still have tons of life remaining. They've seen a lot of rain, water, and mud, but cleaned up extremely well.
This was a leather I had never seen before, but he suggested we use it for both of our pairs and I really love it! The leather was pretty stiff at first, similar to W&C Latigo, but it became extremely soft and pliable rather quickly. For care, as with all of my other pairs, they were brushed after every wear to get as much dirt and grime off as possible, then they were conditioned with Bick4, Saphir, or Blackrock whenever they needed some love.
This is a last that I'm gathering more and more experience with as time goes on and I already know some subtle changes I'll be making for my next pair.
These are completely hand made with no machines! There are a few spots here and there where you can tell something got goofed, but it's a totally handmade boot, so that adds to the charm and connection he had to the pair while they were being made. The design is all him except for the addition of the beaver tails as backstays.
These soles are tanks, and getting them to flex and soften up was quite the experience for the first month and some change. The soles didn't really move, flex, or form to my feet until I was in a rain storm and they got completely soaked all the way through. After that point, the soles and insoles felt way better and began to form. There is the insole, the midsole, a leather half sole, and a rubber topy held on with brass tacks and glue. Beasts!
If MFBootCo decides to make more pairs in the future, you should definitely try to get a pair from. him if you like completely handmade boots. They are a super unique pair in my collection, even though they are technically a "simple" boot.