Wednesday, March 30, 2011

School Supplies: Navy Waxed Canvas Bean Boots

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-I was ready to post some spring content, but then the weather extinguished my preemptive enthusiasm and dropped some flood-warning inciting rain, forcing me back to my bean boots after a few weeks of Vans and Sperrys.
-When L.L. Bean Signature first launched their waxed-canvas hunting boots, I saw a lot of people talking about wanting them, and I saw a few people who picked up the tan pair, but I hadn't seen many people talking about the navy. To me the navy option jumped out immediately just because it's not in the same brown/tan tonal range that we're used to seeing on beans. Washington is more wet than it is cold, so the waxed canvas has worked fine in place of the heavier versions of the boot.

DSC_2336-Bean boots, and L.L. Bean in general, inspire a sense of nostalgia in a lot of people; but not me. Despite growing up in the perpetually rainy Northwest, I never saw bean boots as a kid, or if I did, I didn't notice them. I think the first time I ever heard of the name L.L. Bean was on one of those bean Subarus they used to have, and even then I probably wasn't aware of what the company actually was until sometime in high school. Despite a lack of history with the product, I've fully embraced this pair. The purchase, and the aesthetic attraction that precluded it, was definitely influenced by things I read and learned on the web. You could call that being "dressed by the Internet." I call it making an informed purchase. Traditions have to start somewhere. 
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6 comments:

trip said...

I'm glad you like the boots, but I wonder, how do you feel about the lack of contrast when wearing them with jeans? To me they kind of look like they're made of denim. I kind of think they might look better when contrasted against something like khaki.

Angelo said...

I never really thought about a potential blue/blue clash. In full light, the navy canvas is a pretty true blue—it's a bit lighter than most of me jeans so I think it looks fine.

Foster Huntington said...

nice photos, bra

Rhon Bell said...

Love the boots, even better pics. I've wondered how the canvas holds up to precipitation compared to leather, any feedback thus far? Great blog. Love the style.

Angelo said...

I can't make a comparison to the leather because this is he first pair I've owned, but these boots managed a very wet PNW winter without any problems.

Anonymous said...

I got these last year in January. By now, many threads have popped. Also, since LLB is the absolute king of cutting corners, they used incredibly thin waxed canvas, and these leak like a sieve through the upper. But don't worry, the rubber bottoms are solidly impenetrable- especially with perspiration. Bottom line: I have more pairs of boots and shoes than anyone, so I'm qualified to say these kind of suck. But they do look nice. P.S. Nothing says "Wilderness Lookbook Shot" like a freakin Mazda in the background. Ha.