Crowd-funded brands can raise an eyebrow or two, offering questionable “rewards” for chipping in a lot of money they need for supplies and labor. Crary Boots is not one of those brands.Bill Crary, the son of the founder of Danner Boots, worked at his dad’s shop most of his early life until he decided to start his own custom boot making business in 1978. Now fast forward to 2016, where Bill and his team have prepared their first full line of boots to be made available to consumers worldwide.
Since going live on Kickstarter, Crary Boots have generated over $65,000 (exceeding their set goal of only $20,000), with still a month left to go. The money received so far acts as a pre-order for the five new models of boots they are releasing. Crary’s business model aims to cut out unnecessary retail markups while simultaneously creating a product out of higher quality materials with great attention to detail.
At first glance, these boots may not have you drooling. The simplistic, relatable designs produced in classic colorways won’t blow your mind, and Crary knows that. They have included several diagrams literally cutting their boots in half, breaking down the materials and methods used in the production. That’s where the shoes pull away from the competition.
Included among the five new boots being released with this campaign are four styles of men’s boots as well as a single women’s boot. The Mount Hood boot may remind you of a Danner boot (not surprising really) made with a half inch foam padded tongue, full leather upper and liner, steel shank and Vibram outsole. The Badlands boot is reminiscent of a desert boot style, with three metal eyelets and offered in two colorways. Covering all the bases, the Burnside boot is Crary’s take on the classic American moc-toe, offered in two different brown leathers. Finally, the Pacific Crest is the highest priced boot, and looks like a taller version of the Mount Hood with more ankle cushioning and support.
Available for pre-order now for $225-$350 at the Crary Boots Kickstarter.
