Customer Reviews
Rose Anvil on YouTube raved about Thursday Boots. So I bought the Hero boot that comes in only one width: D. I've always been a D and this boot was so narrow and with so little toe room/volume that I threw them out after 2 weeks of irritation. The only good thing about them, for me at least, was that they didn't have speed hooks and that I could reuse the laces.
I then tried Thursday's E Width Captain boots and they did fit better, but the boots were still uncomfortable in that they never felt fully integrated. The lug sole was doing its own thing while the rest of the boot was on to something else. And the speed hooks were a nuisance in that if you walk long enough they risk disengaging from the hooks and slopping about––a problem that I've had before, though others prefer them and that's fine with me.
I then went through every review on YouTube for bootmakers and then went to all their websites. The Caswell Shaw Last caught my eye. It offered a more generous D width and volume, a Danite sole, and of course the shape of the boot wasn't trying to make a statement. For me its proportions were just right. Again, others will have their own opinion. So, given wishful thinking, I purchased the boots.
After wearing them for 2 weeks:
The "Shaw" boot is about $165 more than the Hero. The quality of leather is superior than Thursday's and equal to that of more expensive boots, and it feels that way too. The sole and the top work as a unit so that when you walk it's not as if your sharing the boot with the sole or the uppers.
Now for the subjective: I happen to prefer this style of the boot; the matte finish and earthy color pair off very well, and the Danite 360° is just fine.
Concerns:
The matte leather can easily scrape. I would not wear these on the job or hunting. These boots fair well enough on city street pavements, but on stone or anything like that it can get slippery.
Concerning sizing:
The Brannock has me at a size 9, and bootmakers can claim all they want about using Brannock as their gold standard measurement, but none of them could measure a Tootsie Roll correctly. I ordered the 9.5. It's a tad roomy, but I only wear thick cushioned socks so the boots fit well enough, otherwise I'd go down a size and that would admit to Caswell being pretty close to Brannock. Something else, to note, is that the footpad in the Predator is slippery as an eel, which might make the boots feel larger.
Complaints?
The shoelaces that come with these boots are about as good as tying wet spaghetti, but again, I'm sure other folks like them fine. I threw mine out and used the Thursday boot laces which work well, especially since I loop-in the bite of the knot to keep the laces tied all day long.
I have since bought the Shaw Latigo as backup boots and are waiting for delivery. I do hope they fit the same way. If there's any difference, I'll let yall know in a further review.
This is my first Caswell product and I couldn't be happier! The Harris last has plenty of room in the toe box and a wonderful shape that supports in all the places it needs to without any pinching. I took my normal 10-D and can wear both regular and thick boot socks comfortably. The Whiskey Predator leather seems very plain at first, but upon closer look it has a ruggedness that I'm sure will come to the forefront with time. Overall, a wonderful boot and my only desire would have been some speedhooks, but I like speedhooks on everything so that's not Caswell's fault! :)
Upon first having them in hand I immediately was awed. The might not be the flashiest boots, but they complete an outfit. The leather is rugged and strong without being “beat up”. You should expect them to come with some scuffs and scratches, some scars and variations in color. But, that’s part of their charm. These are boots mean to be worn daily, worn hard, worn with love. The Harris last is great. They have a nice spring toe which makes breaking in a breeze, no need to worry about the toes wearing out prematurely during the break in. They have a nice amount of room in the ball while being night and secure in the heel and waist. There is even a nice space allotted for pinky toes which was a welcome surprise. This boot is fully lined with a soft yet thick lining. A great choice for someone looking for a daily driver.
