August 2017, Harley-Davidson Footwear came out with a new line of boots for the fall. Their Riding Footwear collection featured designs one might expect out of the Harley-Davidson brand. Some had that rough and tough look, some an understated traditional tall motorcycle boot, while others went a bit more casual - nearly shoe like.
Later in October 2017, their Britford boot was made available and filled in a missing piece ... a word that means something in this industry: tactical.
It's nearly winter writing this, and most bikes in my chunk of the country have been winterized and sitting in cold storage by now. That doesn't stop the reminder that the plant is near by and that the customer base is as loyal as ever. That's the magic of Harley's brand; customer's are proud. Leather jacket with large logo on back? Hats? Sweatshirts? No problem. I even think there's a little collectible teddy bear you can get.
And that is where the Britford stands out.
If your department has a uniform code but you're still on the hook to purchase your own duty apparel, check to see if these fit the bill. The "Harley" branding is down to a minimum. There's a black removable fob in the front held on by the shoelace. It serves no purpose other than adding a point of design. I kept anticipating this catching on things but never had. While it may not have been intended, it does give a little wear protection from that first exposed strip of lace. This, the tongue, and a stamp on the side of the boot are all that's branded. There are a couple of buttons with "H-D" on them but 99.9% of the Britford boot is black - so it's probably not much of an issue there.
That stark design continues with the leather. Take a look at your shoes. Chances are they have some decoration on top of the toe. These feature a solid piece of leather. Making the boot's look angle towards a friendly image instead of a cliche militaristic boot. While wearing them I was quite comfortable, aside from the aggressive Vibram sole for traction in inclement environments (carpets really didn't pose a challenge), you wouldn't be able to tell my boots apart from dress without close inspection. That's one of the best features of this boot: the lack of features.
The soft leather was also a choice to fulfill the wants of customers wishing to not have such a shine on their shoes. This low-level of "flash" is a decision I appreciate. However this does allow scuffs to appear. My time wearing wasn't all that rough on them, but I got 'em good and dirty - even crawled underneath a house for some repair work. There's small scuff marks, but you'll have to be looking for them. A good wash and buff should help.
'Buttons' you say?
Two of them actually. There's a side pocket integrated in the outside of both boots. It'll fit your credit card, the majority of a slim smartphone, a folded knife, spare cash for when your wallet is inside your coat deep beneath layers ... USB drives, I guess. I'm not here what you can store in your pockets. The pocket itself runs about 3 inches across and roughly 4.25 inches deep.
The full height of the Britford boot is solid. Fully waterproof straight up to the third lace hole from the top where the tongue stops connection to the rest of the boot. I'd say it's about 7-inches up. The "patches" of mesh act much like your vehicle's crumple zones for extra flexibility and adds that much more to your comfort. This mesh isn't permeable though, the boots are 100% waterproof.
On the opposing side of this pocket is the 7-inch long zipper for quick donning and doffing. There's a piece of leather behind to keep the water out. I found it most comfortable to fold it to one side then zip it up. The flap here is large enough to let the boot open wide for your foot but if not tucked in a comfortable way it can pinch a bit.
Wear Test
The last time I went "shoe shopping" it seemed every one had this massive arch lump that wore down overtime to match your foot. The Britford doesn't have that. It's there but not this massive lump in your boot. This made breaking it in that much quicker. This made it that much more comfortable to allow your foot to react naturally as you step, stand, and sit.
The inclusion of my phrase" aggressively stable" in the headline was on purpose. A strong plastic in the heel supports your ankle very well. It did take a bit of getting used to (however that might be coming from low- to mid- shoes to something 11-inches tall). Once you do take note of your posture. Stand tall. Sit straight. I'm no ergonomic expert but that support is a positive addition.
All said, these were meant to move not sit at your desk working on a computer inside. And move you can, with confidence. The deep tread on the Vibram sole made walking in the grass, dirt, and snow put any concerns of slipping at ease.
Forgive the paradox I may present here ... never before have I been more aware of my ankle while wearing the most amount of "boot" and thinking about my foot the least.
The dealer-exclusive Harley-Davidson Footwear Britford boot runs around $200 MSRP. If you find them on the shelf, try them out.
