    
Introduced in the 1950's, Thorogood's No. 685 Boot was billed as the Job-Fitted Work Shoe for Farm Wear. Epaulet is proud to re-introduce this classic boot as an exclusive collaborative style! Using the original styling, we've updated the details with a few modern twists and created a rugged, handsome, long-lasting, and affordable piece of true Americana. Outside of its great history and lineage, we're confident that this boot delivers more value than all of the similar products at this price point.
Each piece is meticulously crafted in Wisconsin with a rich brown Horsehide leather from Chicago's famous Horween tannery and a Goodyear-welted cork-filled Neoprene sole. 144 units are available for Fall 2010 - all of which are exclusive to Epaulet. This boot will age beautifully over time and last for years. Its rich horsehide exterior will develop a unique patina that gets better the more you wear it. Here's all the details:
Genuine Horsehide Upper
Our custom Thorogood for Epaulet No. 685 boot is crafted in handsome and durable dark brown horsehide leather from Chicago's Horween tannery. This full-grain horsehide (taken only from the top portion of the hide) is smooth, strong, and naturally water-resistant. It's a bit tough at first, but will eventually soften into one of the most comfortable materials you have ever worn. Compared to cow hide and calfskin, horsehide has a rich character and slightly irregular finish (darker in some areas, lighter in others) that ages beautifully and develops a signature patina. Each hide is vegetable tanned for an oily finish, and a gorgeous deep color. In order to preserve its natural character, this full-grain hide has not been buffed or corrected - so your boots may have small scratches or other imperfections. Don't sweat it, you'll soon add plenty of wear and nicks on your own. The horsehide can take whatever you can dish out. It's already very water-resistant, but a little bit of waterproofing wax or mink oil will further seal it against snow and rain.
Goodyear Welt & Neoprene Cork-Filled / Rubber Sole
The Goodyear welt is a method of attaching the sole of a shoe to the upper. Charles Goodyear Jr. introduced a machine to mechanize this step, and the process is his namesake. The Welt, is a strip of leather sewn onto the interface between the upper and the sole. Heavy stitching attaches the welt to both the top and bottom of the boot, increasing water resistance and ensuring that the sole is securely attached. The sturdy work sole is a combination of oil-resistant cork-filled neoprene with a thick industrial rubber heel. It's extremely comfortable and durable. The Goodyear Welt will allow you to easily and inexpensively replace the sole once it has been worn out (which will take a quite a while).
Two-Part Shock Absorption Insole
Each boot contains a soft gel insole that is removable and washable. Beneath the insole is a permanently affixed Poron® urethane strip which acts as another layer of cushioning and draws water vapor and perspiration away from the foot. With these two in place, this boot is extremely comfortable to wear.
SIZING RECOMMENDATION - PLEASE NOTE
The No. 685 boot runs true to size. Please order the same size that you typically take in a dress shoe.
If you're familiar with the Alden "Barrie" and "Tru-Balance" last, then it's very consistently one half size smaller. So if you wear a 9.5D in the Alden Barrie (ex. Shell Cordovan Longwing) or Tru-Balance last (ex. Indy Boot), then we recommend ordering a 10D in the Thorogood No. 685.
If you own a pair of Clarks Desert Boots, we'd recommend ordering the same size (ex. buy a 10D Thorogood if you wear a 10D Clarks Desert Boot).
And please note, this boot is available in Medium ("D") width only.
About Weinbrenner & Thorogood
Since 1892, Weinbrenner Shoe Company (manufacturer of the Thorogood brand) has been a leading manufacturer and pioneering force in the American footwear industry, initiating many of the significant safety and job-fitted design elements that are common today. Originally founded in Milwaukee, and now located in Merrill, Wisconsin, Thorogood footwear is the most trusted brand in the uniform and work industry. They manufacture boots for police, firemen, postal works, the NYFD - you name it. As an employee-owned company, Weinbrenner craftsmen work hard to provide hardworking men and women with the best, most comfortable boots and shoes around.
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