I have always wondered what a pair of boots that cost $1,100.00 looked like... :O
Lobb and Peel, if still making shoes, probably charge that for regular dress shoes. They were made to measure and the lasts kept there for future orders.
(Those are separate companies, not a partnership.)
They retired the lasts if they saw an obit. in the London Times.
Asked what happened if the customer wasn't a, Times reader or his family didn't read the paper, one gentleman replied, "My dear fellow, all of our clients read, The Times."
The London Times is the newspaper of the gentry.
I first knew of Russell's boots through Robert C. Ruark's books and articles. He recommended them for safari use, and showed a pair in his excellent safari article in a famous magazine that appeared the year of his death, 1965. Ian Fleming had died the previous year, and I'd lost my two favorite authors.
Anyway, I ordered a pair of Russell's while in Newfoundland in 1966. Because the terrain was somewhat mountainous and rocky, I specified the extra cost Vibram soles, about which I'd read good things. In retrospect, I wish that I'd gotten their regular, lighter soles. And I scuffed those handsewn moccasin toes a lot in the woods. The boots are good for what they're designed for, upland bird hunting.
I later bought L.L. Bean boots that I think were maybe Herman Survivors made under the Bean name. They had normal toes and also had those Vibram soles, which helped me to stomp through crusted snow for a firmer step. It was a good combo.
And I bought a pair of Timberland boots that they advertised as a premium model that needed a silicon liquid to maintain. They are fairly heavy, but a good boot.
Rocky boots provided a lightweight, very nice model that were good even in fairy cold weather. The sole looked like Vibram and may be, but of a lighter material.
The best boots that I found for warmer weather that'd still fare well in all but really cold weather were a pair of Danners. I think Danner makes really good boots. If I buy another pair, it'd likely be from them.
I also have a pair of Russell's chukka boots for casual wear. They have been good, but dry out too much if you don't keep the recommended Pecard leather paste on them. Same for my Birdshooter boots. Russell's offers several leathers, as you can see in the link above. I haven't seen their catalog in years, but if they still use Norwegian Krymp leather, that might be a good choice. I've not seen their kangaroo boots, but they and other makers say they're tough and light. But the moccasin toe is not, in my opinion, a good choice for hiking in heavy brush, rocky areas, and dense forests. The seams scuff too much. I also prefer heel counters, an extra cost feature from Russell's.
My son still wears boots that he got while in the Army in Iraq. He says they're very comfortable.
Frank says above that you need to go to a Russell's dealer to be measured. I used the sketch order blank that they sent, and fit was fine. But if you can see a dealer, that's probably best. The only Russell's dealer I ever found was the old Abercrombie & Fitch. They 're now gone, but were the premier outfitter, once patronized by Theodore Roosevelt and Ernest Hemingway and (I think) Robt. Ruark. The A&F name is now owned by The Limited and sells women's clothing. What was the name of that song played by the British band at Lord Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown? "The World Turned Upside Down." I thought of that when I heard what became of the A&F name.
