This is easily one of the strongest roundups we’ve had in a while, so settle in: we’ve got a new Iron Ranger model in Oro Legacy courtesy of Franklin & Poe, some lightening ship Nicks with a whole array of leathers and customization options, more than one pair of Alden loafers to choose from, and of course lots more…
As usual, you’ll find all our previous roundups 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.]
Franklin & Poe x Red Wing Iron Ranger 8000 in Oro Legacy: $360
Here’s the deal: Red Wing’s Iron Ranger? One of their heritage line’s flagship models—a Red Wing icon, no questions asked. Oro Legacy? An iconic S.B. Foot leather with a very long history. But the two have never been combined. Or rather, the two had never been combined, until the release of the 8000 model, which sets both atop a 270˚ flat welt and 430 Mini-lug outsoles and then sends them off in search of some reg-orange patina. (Two words—Dome Boots).
Viberg Navvy Boot BCT in Snuff Janus Suede: $1,380
C.F. Stead’s Janus Calf Suede has long been a favorite for Viberg, turning up somewhere or other in just about every seasonal release of the last few years, and it’s back once again to start off A/W ’26. The first fall drop contains four models, all of which—except for these brogued cap toe Navvy Boots on the Cantilever last—appear in two shades of suede. The aforementioned boots are available in Snuff…
Viberg Uplands Boot in Dark Chocolate Janus Suede: $1,300
…while the rest of the release—which includes the Uplands chukka, the Navvy cut shoe, and the Bristol loafer—are available in both Dark Chocolate…
Viberg Uplands Boot in Snuff Janus Suede: $1,300
…and Snuff. All of them have 270˚ flat welts and Dainite outsoles…
Viberg Handsewn Bristol in Dark Chocolate Janus Suede: $1,365
…but the drop is notable for being the first to include a version of the Bristol with handsewn aprons. Check out the whole release here.
Nicks Odds & Ends Lightning Ship: $669 (Made to Order)
Nicks is clearing out a whole bunch of leathers to make room for whatever schemes the future holds, the upshot of which is you get some very customizable boots that nevertheless ship in 6-8 weeks (which, we’d note, is a lot shorter than the six to either months you might typically expect on a custom configuration boot). So which leathers are available? Quite a few: Whiskey Predator; Light Grey or Color #8 Cypress; Cognac, Tobacco, or Green Shackleton; Spokane Steel; Pacific Chromexcel; and Acorn Aspen.
Freenote Cloth x White’s Boots Grizzly Engineer in Black Brown Chromexcel: $880 (Pre-order)
Here’s a Chromexcel color you might not have seen before. Freenote is calling it “Black Brown”, which is a little ambigous, but in this case means the color is a brown so dark you might mistake it for black. Nuances of upper color aside, the boot itself is an Engineer built on the medium-arched 1970 last, with hand-sewn stitchdown construction and Vibram 269 Westerner outsoles. Plus, $100 from each boot will be donated to the H.O.M.E. fire relief fund (you can also donate directly here) to help provide support in the wake of the Spokane Complex Fires.
Freenote Cloth x White’s Boots Paratrooper Boot in Brown Waxed Flesh: $850 (Pre-order)
Freenote also had a second White’s release this week, intended to be a PNW inspired take on jump boots, complete with the brogued cap toe and tall shaft. Like the Grizzly, they use a relatively uncommon last—the 9338 Swing last. It’s an orthopedic last with tons of room in the toe and ball, so these should be plenty comfortable if you really do end up skydiving in them (or for whatever else you’re up to). They use single row hand-sewn stitchdown and Vibram 430 Mini Lug half soles. One again, $100 is donated to the H.O.M.E. fund for each order.
Franklin & Poe x White’s Boots LTT Oxford in Brown Dress: $815
Franklin & Poe just so happened to have their own White’s project in the works, in the form of an LTT work “oxford” on chunky 2060 wedge soles with a single row (machine sewn) stitchdown construction. The uppers are clicked from Seidel’s Brown Dress and they ship with an option kiltie in case this still isn’t enough boot for you.
Leffot x Alden Walter Boot in Black Shell Cordovan: $1,025
If you’re looking for straightforward, clean Alden releases (and great product photos) Leffot pretty much has you covered. And since their 15th anniversary penny loafer dropped, they’ve been playing around with chunkier crepe-soled makeups quite a bit, a theme that returns on the new black shell Walter boot. They use a simple plain toe pattern on the Barrie last and hold everything together with 360˚ split-reverse welts.
Alden Madison Flex Penny in Brown Calf: $724
As the Great Loafer Rush continues, Alden Madison is trying hard to keep up, and these new Copely-last pennies in brown calf are part of that effort. Built out with 270˚ flat welts and flex leather soles.
Brick + Mortar x Alden Leisure Moccasin Penny Loafer in Chocolate Suede: $708
And Brick + Mortar is more or less attempting to do the same, in this case Van-last penny loafer and a 260˚ flat welt, on the same flex leather outsoles.
Frank’s Boots 10th Anniversary Boot in Buck Brown: $635 (Made to Order)
This year marks a decade of Frank’s boots, and they’re marking the occasion with two anniversary boots: one in Buck Brown, with a Black Waxed Flesh backstay…
Frank’s Boots 10th Anniversary Boot in Denim: $635 (Made to Order)
…and the other the Denim colorway of Wickett & Craig’s double stuff tannage. Both have double row stitchdown construction, slightly lowered heels, and a unique, scalloped single piece backstay.
J.M. Weston 180 Anniversary Loafer in Black Calf: $1,553
After talking a whole lot about J.M. Weston last week, the French shoemaker decided it was time for the 180 loafer to turn 80, and (of course) get an anniversary release its own. We’ve got the same pattern and 270˚ flat welts as ususal, with two major changes: the sole is a special two-tone design, with custom brass toe taps, and the leather is a special calfskin from Tanneries du Puy that’s described as having a “Glass-Ball” finish. Our best guess would be that they’re finished on a glazing jack—a machine that compresses and smooths leather using a glass cylinder attached to a reciprocating arm—but strictly speaking a cylinder is not a ball, so they might just be aggressively rubbed down with a prescient crystal orb?