What does any boot lover want? More boots, right?
True, but there’s a good chance if you love boots, you’ve also got a few other items on your wishlist.
I split this guide into two different categories: things I think most guys who love boots will like (if there are already too many boots in the house), and toward the bottom are some of my favorite boots that you may not have heard of yet.
Happy shopping.
Guys Who Like Boots Also Like These
Made in the USA from Merino wool, these work socks really are something else in terms of quality. They feature compression through the arch and calf which helps your feet recover after a long day. Plus, because they're Merino wool, they're breathable and help reduce foot sweat.
When the legendary White Oak Mills closed down their denim mill, Raleigh Denim Workshop went searching for the best alternative. They found something strikingly similar---now their raw selvedge jeans from the Nihon Menpu mill in Japan are my favorite jeans to pair with boots.
They age beautifully and the break in is surprisingly easy for raw denim.
Made with 100% French cotton, this overshirt is thick and has a rich texture, which makes it a perfect complement to any boot lovers wardrobe.
The Tailored Tee from L'Estrange is flattering through the arms, chest, and shoulders, but leaves some room in the torso. It's one of the best fitting tees I've tried.
If you like a slimmer, more modern style, the L'Estrange 24 Trouser is an excellent choice. I like to pair these with my Thursday Boots.
Taylor Stitch is one of my favorite brands to start shopping with for clothes that complement my boots.
This minimalist wool coat is what dreams are made of.
After testing 10 of the most popular leather conditioners, Venetian came out as my top pick because it nourishes leather, doesn't change the color, and actually adds a decent amount of weather resistance as well.
With 200m of water resistance, and built with a USA-made quartz movement and a domed crystal, the VAER D4 is one of my favorite affordable watches on the market.
Outerknown is a fantastic brand, especially because of their community values. Their Blanket Shirt is thick, textured, structured, and soft. You'll want to wear it every day.
The PEET Original 2-Shoe and Boot Dryer is the easiest, most reliable, and most hands-off dryer we've found. You just pop your boots on the dry ports at the end of the day and forget about them until they’re ready. It doesn’t use a lot of electricity, so you don’t have to worry about unplugging it when it’s done, and it’s completely silent.
The Ramble is my favorite insole that I've tried from Tread Labs. It offers plenty of cushion for the ball of my foot, and the extra flex in the mid-foot boosts the stability of my boot without affecting my arch too much.
The Heavyweight from Camel City Mill is the best work sock you can get for a steel toe boot. The padding is heavy in the heel and toe, but since it's made with Merino wool, this sock is also very breathable and won't make your feet sweaty.
I highly recommend a quality set of cedar shoe trees for any boot you want to take good care of. These Strattons are the best I've found. The spring is firm, but not overly so, making them easy to take out, and the design means they'll fit a wide range of your boots and shoes.
Boots
The Thursday Captain is an excellent deal. Made with Thursday's Chrome leather from Le Farc tannery (often compared to Horween Chromexcel), these boots are still holding up well after five years of wear. When (if?) these ever wear out, I’ll be getting them again.
Made with buttery smooth full grain Italian leather, the Elliot Balmoral boot offers a restrained brogue pattern and a formal closed lace construction.
The Grant Stone Diesel is a no-frills mid-weight boot built with superb attention to detail and materials. The quality is comparable to other boot makers who retail for $450-600, but the Diesel is much less expensive. It’s one of the better price for value buys you’ll find.
The Velasca Resegott is an outstanding boot and the price is very fair for the quality. The double-stitched stitchdown construction, heavy Vibram lug sole, oiled suede, and fully gusseted tongue make for a virtually waterproof boot that looks great and can tackle tough terrain.
The Wolverine 1000 Mile Boot is like an all-star team of America’s best boot-making materials. The Horween Chromexcel leather and Vibram heel cap offer rugged durability that can easily go for 1000 miles---or a decade, whichever comes first.
