Shoes 'n' Boots of the Week: Russell Moccasin Knock-A-Bout Returns, Fantastic Guidi Hikers, and More

September is officially here, and—though here in the mid-Atlantic I’m not anticipating a real break from the heat for a while—it will be fall before we know it.

In the world of boot nerds and heritage lovers, the coming of fall means the rubber (soles) can really hit the road. Looking forward to the friendly temps ahead, we’ve got two new White’s builds from Division Road (back-to-back with last week’s Nick’s release), even more Vibergs, a concise drop of Guidis at Blue Owl Workshop, and more…

Catch up on any releases you may have missed 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 White’s in Natural Waxed Flesh: $885

Everything old is new again. In this two-pair release, DR takes a new approach to some classic White’s patterns, bringing refined nonchalance to some traditionally rugged designs. The Semi-Dress in Horween’s Natural Waxed Flesh is built on White’s lesser-used C461 last, an archival sprung-toe last that mellows out the profile of the boot and gives it a polished, outdoors-y quality. Really great last that fits a ton of feet well. To round things out and max out the comfort, these boots are set atop Vibram 2060 soles, secured with a genuine hand-sewn welt. On the other hand…

Division Road x White’s MP-M1 in Brown Chromexcel: $885

…the MP-M1, in a rare turn of events, is built on the 5050 last. A typically sleek, serious silhouette, this change of last seriously loosens up the MP, and—with a wedge sole for added comfort underfoot—makes it more approachable, dare I say urbane? It wouldn’t be an all-rounder boot without an all-rounder leather, so these boots are, unsurprisingly, built from Horween’s Brown Chromexcel, a pretty hard leather to make look bad.

Russell Moccasin Knock-A-Bout in Walnut Timberjack: $650

Russell Moccasin lovers have wanted these back for a while. Releasing today for Russell’s Heritage Club members (more on that below), the Knock-A-Bout is an archival re-issue of the Berlin, Wisconsin brand’s 1993 “loafer” boot. They’re lightweight and comfy, like any good loafer (despite definitely not being a loafer), but with the added practicality, support, and boot-ness of a boot. The very first Heritage Club Archival release, the Knock-A-Bouts will be available to order through your Heritage Club membership from now until the end of the year.

In order to be Heritage Club eligible you must be a returning customer to Russell or get sized at one of their locations…we’d strongly recommend our Stitchdown Expo 2026 Chicago this Nov 6-7 for such purposes.

To stay true to the original release of the Knock-A-Bouts, Russell has opted for Walnut Timberjack leather and Vibram 2060 soles for support and cushioning underfoot.

Crown Northampton Yardley GAT Sneaker in Shinki Shell Cordovan: $914

Northampton, Engand-based Crown makes some of the best (resoleable!) sneakers in the entire world—even ones based on German Army Trainers, one of the best pure-use sneaker patterns adapted to the fashion world ever. And so why not deploy shell cordovan from Japan’s Shinki Hikaku for a solid 40% of the shoe? Chris and team see zero reason not to. These things are hot, limited, and moving fast.

Also if you want to see both Crown and Shinki’s products and people in person—and get expertly sized into Crown’s shoes of all types—Stitchdown Expo 2026 is kind of the place for you. See you in Chicago this Nov 6-7!

Crown Northampton Harlestone Handstitched Derby in Shinki Shell Cordovan: $1,167

And then of course Crown had to apply the Shinki to their (legitimately iconic at this point) Harlestone, the shell cordovan sneaker that started it all. Four colors are available, and as always the Lactae Hevea sole-color choice is customizable.

The Real McCoy’s N-1 Field Boot in Brown Steerhide Roughout: £1,350

Known for their obsessively researched and executed facsimiles of classic military garb, Japan’s Real McCoy’s lands at Rivet & Hide with a painstaking reproduction of the U.S. Navy’s WW2 N-1 Field Shoes. True to the originals down to the smallest details, the McCoy’s version are built from a veg-tan, rough-out steerhide that starts out a bit darker than some of the other Boondocker repros on the market, with custom made ‘RAW-CORD’ soles derived from a hand-painted design.

Viberg Service Boot 2040 in Black Waxy Commander: $1,300

Viberg has been absolutely cranking out excellent, older-school boots recently. They just hit us with a yet another leather drop, all built from C.F. Stead’s Black Waxy Commander. A uniquely rugged suede with a high level of weather resistance—thanks to the heavily waxed finish from which the leather gets its name—Waxy Commander has a serious patina potential (hint hint). Any skeptics in the audience can check our writeup on how Waxy Commander ages here. This release is Service Boot mania, including this one built on the anatomical-ish, Munson-esque 2040 last…

Viberg Service Boot BCT in Black Waxy Commander: $1,300

Then there’s the brouged cap toe Service Boot, built on Viberg’s most iconic last, the 2030, which always provides a sleek, almond toe silhouette. Rounding out the Service Boots…

Viberg Service Boot 1035 in Black Waxy Commander: $1,300

…we have the 1035-last version. Roomier than the 2030, but without the anatomical bump toe of the 2040, the 1035 is a classic round toe last with a bit more ruggedness to it compared to the other service Boot options. On theme of more broad-shouldered boots…

Viberg Scout Boot in Black Waxy Commander: $1,300

…we have the Scout, Viberg’s reinterpretation of their 1950’s logger and hunter styles. Built on the 2030 last, it’s got chunkier uppers, a 360° storm welt, and a tonal Vibram Christy sole, all working in tandem to create a silhouette with just the right amount of aggression.

Viberg Hiker in Black Waxy Commander: $1,340

The Hiker also gets the same Waxy Commander makeover. There’s something attractively high/low about the pairing of the Hiker’s chunky, vintage silhouette with more luxe leathers.

Viberg Chelsea Boot in Black Waxy Commander: $1,380

Rounding things out, the Chelsea dabbles in similar contradictions to the Hiker but in a sort of flipped way, pairing a classically refined silhouette with a more rugged leather.

Guidi 988 Back Zip Boot in Black Full Grain Horse Leather: $1,395

Seattle’s Blue Owl Workshop just got a new shipment from Tuscany’s Guidi, one of the most iconic tanneries in Italy that just so happens to make equally iconic, often avant-garde boots. This release includes the 988 Back Zip Boot—which is probably the brand’s most well known model—in black full grain horse leather. Known for the dramatic rolls, or “stacks”, developed through good wear, the 988s feature 360° welted construction and ship with Vibram rubber half soles that can be attached by a cobbler to protect the boots’ full leather soles. Love that. The 988s, like most of Guidi’s footwear (including the rest of this release), are object-dyed, i.e. the finished boots are dyed in a giant drum post assembly.

Guidi 19M Hiking Boot in Black Bison: $1,295

The second old-school hiking boot of the roundup, the 19M Hiking Boot is a super chunky variation on the theme, built from veg-tan bison leather with a craggy, highly pronounced grain and attached to Vibram lug soles with Norwegian welt construction. However you feel about Guidi’s more fashion-y designs, these things are absolute killers.

Guidi PL2 Mid Front Zip Boot in Black Full Grain Horse Leather: $1,495

Taking a brief sojourn away from laces, the wholecut PL2 places the zipper smack in the middle of the front of the shaft. Probably the most formidable boot in the collection, which is saying a lot following that bison behemoth, the PL2 has an aggressively sprung toe, and stocky stacked heel. If horsehide and bison aren’t exotic enough for you…

Guidi 992 Classic Derby in Dark Brown Full Grain Kangaroo Leather: $1,095

…the last pair in this release is the 992 Classic Derby, built from kangaroo leather and lined in calf. Like the other three pairs, these are object dyed and ship with Vibram rubber half soles that can be added to protect the leather sole.

Easymoc Old Port in Sand Suede: $450

Lewiston, Maine’s Easymoc just gave their Old Port boots an update, and released them in two leathers. Previously on a Vibram Mini Lug, these new Old Ports now rock a Vibram 2060 sole for extra cushioning underfoot. Built with a genuine hand sewn moc-toe and fully resolable Littleway construction, the Old Port now comes in American made Sand Suede…