Barbour Belsay boots
Unless I’m wearing a suit, or at the gym, you’ll generally find me wearing a pair of boots. I find them far more practical for general meanderings than trainers.
I’ve had this pair of Belsay boots from Barbour since the middle of 2013, and I’ve worn them at least once a week ever since. They’re a traditionally-styled men’s Derby brogue boot in a really nice soft burnished leather with waxed fabric at the heel. Inside you’ll find a dark green soft leather lining with a classic tartan padded footbed.
Initially I was concerned with their lack of meaty tread, and of course in thick mud and slippery snow they’re not so clever, but they're surprisingly grippy and surefooted on wet tarmac and rocks.
Over the past couple of years they’ve been submerged in all many of gloop and mucky water and have always scrubbed up well, looking smart enough for a posh evening out with Muddy Madam.
They've been well worn in.
If I have any complaints, I’d say that the laces are far too thin for my thick fingers to tie on a cold day (but that’s seriously critical, and not even about the boots), and that they don’t have a gusseted tongue to keep muck and water out. Having said that, they’re not that sort of boot, they’re smart and casual, and in my experience can also handle some rough stuff too. Overall they’ve held up remarkably well, especially considering the type of abuse they've been subjected to, but they are Barbour boots at the end of the day.
Unfortunately, it appears that Barbour have stopped making the Belsay, however a quick Google search will find plenty of retailers who still have them in stock.
Price: £125.00
Website: www.barbour.com