Description
Made to order, please allow 20 working weeks for delivery.
As standard, the Mark V specification is:
Leather: Dark brown English tanned full grain leather
Collar: No collar, one-piece full height leather counter loop
Tongue/Overlay: Full bellows tongue for maximum resistance against water ingress
Thread: Tan
Eyelets: 4 Antique brass eyelets, 6 speed hooks and rivet detail at the quarter/vamp seam
Toe: Polycarbonate reinforced toe-box
Last: Army semi-sprung
Shank/Counter: Wooden shank, polycarbonate counter for extra rigidity at the heel
Sole finish: Leather to resin throughsole with heavy duty Vibram rubber unit, screwed at toe & heel
Laces: Brown leather
A Canadian Sapper –
I’m glad to say that the boots pictured here are ones that I had specifically made for myself. May very well be the ones I wear daily.
I wear these as an active duty Combat Engineer with the Corps or Royal Canadian Military Engineers. They’ve been through sand, swamp, lakes, rivers and snow. I have scuffed them, burned them, spilled bleaches and acids on them. I once wore them for 72 hours straight in the rain only stopping to change socks.
As a garrison boot they are unparalleled in fit comfort. Of course, following an arduous break in period of about 40-60 hours. Standard with any well tailored leather boot; It takes time to soften and contour to your feet. Everyone stops to ask me where I got them and how to get some and I always direct them here and to Libs. Four soldiers I work with have purchased them. Non-com and Officers. I own three pairs and plan for more.
As a field boot/marching boot: They are heavy. Modern combat boots weigh in at several hundred grams a pair. These weigh in at about double that. A boot.
What you give up in weight you gain in ankle support, comfort, sole, just-for-you luxury. These are Black(brown) Cadillacs. Are designed to take you somewhere in style and comfort at the cost of gas and maintenance. These aren’t for your Nijmegen March or your Iron Warrior race. They’re for dismounting in style.
While these are leather, that only gets you so far with water. Without a proper coat of oil and treatment, you have about 15 minutes of standing in calf deep water before they soak through. You’ll want to try them off properly and slowly after that or risk damaging them. That said, I have treated one pair with some thick Mink oil that has given these a fatty, matte and dark finish. Perfect for winter and the insole wore through to the screws before the vibram did. Though I think that has to do with my treatment of them rather than manufacture.
A friend of mine stacked on over 9000km of marching before badly needing a resole. Mine gave way at 5000km.
Solid boot, solid company with solid employees and workmanship. Really find your proper size and wear these in. Get them in a colour you like and care for them. The CAF gives me $380 a year to buy boots. I intend to make every pair purchased from William Lennon with that money last a lifetime with these.
Christopher Kavanaugh (verified owner) –
I am a field archaeologist
and hiking-bushcrafter in
California. I need three season boots for environment s from redwood forests ,desert
coastal beach and hard
chaparral . These are superbly made.
I have two minor comments. There is NO
W L maker’s Mark! In a industry of swooshes and monograms I have to tell people who made these.
The leather laces are excellent and hold a knot.
If you tie a double lace at the eyelet- speed hook for different tension, a double wrap at the boot top they are to short. A minor point.
FIT: I bought U.K. 11
My US size is a 11.5EEE and European 45.
With merino liner socks
( Finnish MO5 issue) the fit is perfect; .5” beyond toes in the box and the ankle allows for flexing. The last is very comfortable. The US Army Munson last used in WW2 paratroopers is similar, but lacks the roll. I love how it assists my gait. I look like a Victorian Sargent Major quick marching in a Monty Python skit. So said my
Backpacking group on their introductory hike through Malibu Canyon to the beach.
My size is probably pushing the limit for fit. If you wear heavier socks and a smaller US-European size no problem.
Jakob Radus (verified owner) –
I got these boots in a size 9 UK and am wearing them with orthopedic insoles.
Though the break in process was rather painful (the boots were sitting to tight thanks to the insole) they wore in very nicely after a week or so and have been supremely comfortable ever since.
The leather is thick and made the impression of being heavily treated with oils, after working in some leather fat and shoe polish of my own, the boots not only gained a nice matter brown shine, but are also surprisingly water resistant for a leather boot that does not advertise itself on that front (water will seep through, but neither fast nor in great quantities, I would still avoid entering deeper water in them).
The leather laces can not only withstand as much pulling force as any normal boot lace, but they also hold extremely firm both on the speed hooks and eyelets, and in the knot, allowing the wearer to really tighten the boots for a secure hold.
The leather also scars and creases easily, which in my opinion gives the boots a nice patina, though both scars and creases can be worked out really easily with a bit of lather fat or even just rubbing the spot with a finger for a bit.
The Vibram sole performs as expected of a Vibram sole.
All in all an excellent outdoor boot for most occasions and surprisingly pretty and fashionable with the right care and tricks, the long wait time was worth it!
Tim Sturgess (verified owner) –
Have recently received these boots, so this is more of a first impressions review at the moment. I absolutely love them. Stunning looking boot; I don’t think that the stock images do it justice. A gorgeously textured and coloured brown leather, in a very robust looking boot. You can really see the craftsmanship on these. I can’t go back to certain other brands of boot now! I found them surprisingly comfortable from the outset, and can’t wait to wear them in properly. I must also add that the customer service from this company (thanks Libs!) was first class, and I am now planning on getting another pair in a different colour already. Just perfect.
Thomas Hankinson (verified owner) –
I’ve had these boots for a few weeks now and felt I could give a proper review. After a few days breaking them in I can now say they’re the most comfortable boots I own and by far the best made. They are the first I have had from William Lennon and I can honestly say the quality surpasses anything else I’ve owned. They’re well built and are holding up well to daily use at work, I would highly recommend!
Crispin Willis (verified owner) –
What an amazing pair of boots! I’ve bought boots for decades and have had some great pairs but these are next level! I’m so delighted with them as they have surpassed my expectations and finally matched the dream I’ve always had when thinking of the perfect boot!
The craftsmanship and quality are extraordinary and frankly and I believe they could easily be twice the price with total justification.
Very comfortable and the perfect last for me too, a lovely rounded toe.
I live in eastern Scotland and the weather chucks all sorts at us and the terrain is rough. These boots can handle it all. A pleasure to go out!
Matthew Hornby –
Well I can’t match some of the previous hardcore reviews for sturdiness reports, (dog walking, desk driving and a bit of gardening are more my footwear abuse level) but I can report on the custom options and general wearabililty.
I plumped for a lower leg version of the standard boot, 3 speed hooks instead of 6 which likely gives a bit less ankle support, but still plenty for my daily use, and they are supremely comfortable after a couple of weeks breaking in. I also chose a different, less utilitarian and slightly softer leather, which is beautiful looking, but ultimately not as tough as that my older work boots, (78TC) are made from, I managed to bark the toe on my toolbox very first wear 🙁 My fault, no complaints.
So in summary, theses are brilliant boots for my use. I’ll definitely stick with the speed lace options on future, (not sure how many more pairs I’ll need mind, I’m 50 years old, these 2 may outlast me if I look after them!) over all eyelets and will recommend them to anyone who admires them, which happens more often than I expected. If you’re really going to batter them, go for the standard leather option and with a bit of polish and the occasional re-sole they will probably be the best value boots you ever bought.
Caspar Sloan (verified owner) –
Best boots you can get especially for the money, well worth the wait. Nothing more comfortable once they’re broken in, very well made, high quality leather that can take anything you need it to.