White’s revamps their engineer lineup, Viberg runs rugged boots once more, and three great shops release their take on Alden’s plain-toe boot…all that and more down below in this week’s roundup.
Check out the shoes and boots of weeks past in our roundup archive here.
[Ed Note: while we never choose anything specifically because of them, some of these recommendations contain affiliate links—the price is the same for you, but Stitchdown gets a small commission if you make a purchase. It’s essential to keeping the site alive, so we really, really appreciate it.]
Division Road x Easymoc Rambler in Brown Chromexcel: $385
Division Road’s latest release centers around blending Ivy and workwear—a combination that’s been pretty foundational in menswear for a while now. The footwear component of that release is a three-eyelet boat shoe, Easymoc’s Rambler model. Christy wedge soles make these just a little reminiscent of a certain shop-floor-classic moc toe, and brown Chromexcel is basically the poster leather for the modern service boot/casual boot genre. Combine that with the preppier associations and you’ve got a really flexible shoe that you don’t need to think twice about wearing to just about anything.
White’s Nomad in Black Waxed Flesh: $750
Spokane legend White’s Boots just announced a slew of changes to their engineer lineup. On the Nomad, their hand-sewn stitchdown version of the engineer, the patterns have been tightened up and narrowed in the shaft to reduce heel slip. The previously rounded strap-ends have also been replaced by a tapered point design, and the buckles are now solid brass (nickel plated on some variants). Available in seven shades of Chromexcel and Horween waxed flesh, the Nomad retains its 12″ shaft.
White’s Cykel 10″ in British Tan: $650
The pattern and hardware modifications made to the Nomad have been incorporated across all of White’s engineers, including the brand new 10″ Cykel model. The Cykel is White’s machine-sewn stitchdown engineer, previously available only at a 12″ height. The shorter version also expands the leather options available, forgoing standard work leathers in favor of Black Chromexcel, Cinnamon Waxed Flesh, Brown Voyager Roughout, and the British Tan shown here.
White’s Cykel 4014 in Cinnamon Waxed Flesh: $650
The other new model is a version of the Cykel on a the Christy wedge sole, also cut to a 10″ shaft height. It shares the same pattern, and leather options (except for the Voyager) with its sister model. All White’s engineers use the 1970 last, which has a medium arch-height (in between the Northwest and 4811 Smokejumper) and a round, sprung-toe. This is one of the highest-arched lasts that the Christy has been successfully applied to without the addition of a heel tuck or equivalent intervention.
Viberg Roper in Natural Cypress: $1,160
Viberg’s Roper is a short-shafted take on the pull on, with a stitchdown construction and Vibram Morflex outsoles. They’re the first of three releases in a limited release collection of rugged and casual makeups clicked from Horween’s Natural Cypress…
Viberg 145 Oxford in Natural Cypress: $910
…alongside a 145 Oxford on the triple-E 110 last, with Dr. Sole half soles and a stitchdown construction…
Viberg Service Boot 2045 BCT in Natural Cypress: $1,060
…and a brogued cap-toe service boot on the Munson-based 2045 last. These are definitely the chunkiest boot Viberg has released in a while, with some heavy duty commando outsoles and an appropriately wide shelf where the uppers flange out and attach to the midsoles.
Viberg Service Boot 2030 BCT in Color 8 Shell Cordovan: $1,980 (Pre-order)
Last but not least (on the Viberg front anyway) another round of brouged cap-toe service boots are available for pre-order in Color 8 Shell Cordovan. The makeup uses dressy, blind eyelets and is constructed on the 2030 last with Ridgeway outsoles.
Franklin & Poe x Oldspeed MFG Keystone Boondocker Boot in Navy Traditional Harness: $750 (Pre-Order)
Gotta say we love this one. Philly’s premiere Very Good Heritage Etc-Type Stuff Shop Franklin & Poe teamed up with Oldspeed MFG bootmaker Dave Corey—after meeting at our Boot Camp event last October…next one’s Nov 8 2025 in Chicago, clearly only the best things happen there—to take Dave’s hand-lasted stitchdown Boondockers in a very blue direction.
The Wickett & Craig navy tradtional harness is full veg-tan, as all W&C leathers are, and the the contrast triple upper stitching plays really nice with the flecked Dr. Sole corded soles. It’s basically impossible to find a legitimately handmade boot from a solo maker at this price.
HAVEN x Regal Shoe & Co. Tyrolean GORE-TEX in Black Cowhide: $545
Tyrolean shoes, originally a practical outdoor and work pattern, are now firmly established within the realm of fashion—but Vancouver’s Haven teamed with storied Japanese shoemaker Regal Shoe & Co. to put together a Gore-Tex-lined version that brings them back to their utilitarian roots. The new model pairs multi-paneled water-resistant uppers (just don’t go swimming!), with Vibram’s Mega-Grip outsole and a 360˚ storm welt. There are two colorways on offer: an all black version…
HAVEN x Regal Shoe & Co. Tyrolean GORE-TEX in Black Cowhide: $545
…and a colorway called “Clay” that sits somewhere in between grey, brown, and green. Both versions use a combination of grain-out/smooth cowhide on the vamps, with roughout on the padded collars and shrunken cowhide on the mudguard.
Russell Moccasin Traveling Sportsman in Walnut Timberjack: $725
The Traveling Sportsman is one of Russell Moccasin’s shortest boots, a five eyelet ankle height affair designed—at the request of Sporting Classics Magazine—to take up as little space as possible in a suitcase. They use the same double vamp construction, Walnut Timberjack upper leather and Vibram Roccia outsole as many of their full height boots—basically, you’re not losing any comfort or durability by stepping down to a smaller boot. The addition of a padded collar soaks up some of the pressure that would otherwise be dissipated over a longer shaft.
Nicks Gamebreaker in Spokane Honey Smooth: $629 (Made to Order)
Okay so this isn’t a totally new boot—these options have been available at Nicks before—but this particular combination of specs was a feature from Nicks “Boots on the Line” series of behind the scenes videos, and you can now order it pre-configured from their website. With the lace-to-toe pattern and Sierra outsole, they look sort of like souped-up Italian style hiking boots or an upgraded version of modern combat boots. Spokane is a variant of Horween’s Chromepak that gets a vegetable retannage. These should come in with a little more patina potential than straight Chromepak but a toucher tougher and more matte than Chromexcel. The contrast tongue and padded collar are a nice touch.
The 2 Monkeys Vaudeville in Black Horsehide: $980
Before founding 2 Monkeys, Michiya Suzuki helped turn Red Wing Japan into the behemoth that is today. His wide-ranging knowledge of historical and archival work boots is on clear display in the 2 Monkeys lineup. The Vaudeville uses a high toebox, multi-paneled upper design with close quarter, and a thin horsehide upper, all details drawn from a range of American and French boots from the 1910’s. The construction is also unique in todays market: a 180˚ Goodyear-welt at the forefoot with a McKay stitched waist and heel. Just be prepared for the uppers to wrinkle a lot—they’re designed to. Available at Franklin and Poe.
Franklin and Poe x Alden Plain Toe Boot in Earth Reverse Chamois Reverse: $734 (Pre-Order)
Franklin and Poe has also opened pre-orders on a plain toe boot (from Alden) in Horween Earth Reverse chamois. There’s some great synergy going on between the crepe outsole and the dark color and oily texture of the chamois. Otherwise, they’re constructed with 360˚ split-reverse welt and matching hardware on the Trubalance last.
Stuf|f x Alden Plain Toe Boot in Brown Calfskin: $906
Stuf|f (Stephen, Thomas, and friends | fine goods…obviously) just dropped a dressier take on the Alden plain toe boot, this one clicked from brown calfskin and built on the 379x military last. A single leather outsole keeps things slick.
Ealdwine x Alden “Olshan” in Arabica Lux: $745 (Pre-Order)
The final Plain toe boot of the week splits the difference between the two. It’s on the Trubalance last with a split reverse welt, but it uses shiny, tumbled Arabica Lux leather for the uppers and commando half soles.
Crown Northampton Woodford Desert Boot in Sand Kudu Suede: $334
Crown Northampton’s just made the bulk of its stitchdown line available in C.F. Stead’s Kudu suede, which they had used previously until supply shortages made it unavailable during the pandemic. The terrifically spongey leather is now back in navy, sand (shown here)…
Crown Northampton Grove Desert Shoe in Brown Kudu Suede: $322
…and brown on their desert shoe and desert boot models, both of which use a 360˚ stitchdown construction with vegetable tanned midsoles and crepe outsoles. If you’re checking these out (and you live in the States) make sure to order from U.S. website, where you won’t have to pay VAT.
Rancourt Casco Derby in Cognac Bison: $378
Rancourt’s latest model is the Casco Derby, a two eyelet boat-shoe-esque model. It’s an endearingly funky combo of binding on the mouth, rounded quarters, and textured bison uppers. There’s a hand stitched chevron detail just below the quarters, and a machine stitched detail inside the hand-sewn apron that’s distantly reminiscent of a pie-crust stitch.