As the seasons change, we look to sturdy footwear options to protect us from the elements over the coming months. The Goodyear welted boot is a staple in the Barker Autumn / Winter collections with several boot styles recommended including the Chelsea boot and hiking shoes or boot.
The iconic mens brogue boots is an English outdoor shoe staple that features in many Northampton shoemaker ranges including the Barker Country collection. The Calder brogue boot is highly recommended and is made on the last from premium calf leather with a British Dainite rubber sole.
A popular boot silhouette for the colder months is the mens chelsea boots as it can be worn formal or casual depending on the occasion. Made on the 486 last from grain leather and burnished suedes with a choice of full leather of British Dainite rubber sole, Mansfield is the perfect Chelsea boot addition to your shoe rack. A new Mansfield colourway for the Autumn / Winter 2020 season is Cherry Grain.
A dress version of the classic black chelsea boot features in the Professional collection and is called Bedale. Made on the 469 last from high grade polished leather with a single leather sole, Bedale is ideal for the long-awaited return to the office following the COVID-19 pandemic.
A firm favourite in the Barker Country collection is the Glencoe, a functional hiking shoes or boot designed by Barker head designer Steve Topping and inspired by the Scottish Highlands. Made on the 29 last, Glencoe is available in a choice of grain leather and burnished suedes on a lightweight Vibram Vi-Lite sole for durability and comfort. Features of the Glencoe hiking boot include a Goodyear notch welt construction, D ring lacing system and a authentic bellows tongue which helps to keep water out in wet weather.
A comfortable boot style is the chukka boot for men, a form of the Desert boot which was worn by British soldiers in the Western Desert Campaign of World War II and was popularized in the 1950s by UK shoe company C. & J. Clark. The Barker Connor is a typical Chukka boot design made on the 29 last from premium soft suede uppers and a lightweight crepe sole. The Barker Orkney is another mens chukka boot favourite from the Country collection made on the same last at Connor but is constructed from premium grain leather with a Dainite rubber sole.
Other notable Barker leather boot styles from the Country collection that come highly recommended include the Foley Donegal styles which feature Goodyear welted constructions and are made from calf and grain leathers with double leather or high quality stitched rubber soles.