Dr. Sole is a name you may only be familiar with if you’re deep in the world of boot nerd-dom. So, don’t feel out of the loop just yet. For those of you on the outskirts of the boot world, Dr. Sole is a Taipei-based maker that won acclaim within the boot world for its excellent outsoles. The well-made outsoles are bought up by many high-end bootmakers, but until now, Dr. Sole didn’t make their own boots.
The Game Changer is The first boot from Dr. Sole’s in-house brand, Pioneer. Designed after 1920s lace-to-toe sport boots that pre-dated the first vulcanized sneakers, they’re made from lightweight, top-grade nubuck leather and feature 13 eyelets, canvas lining, and an unstructured toe. All these lightweight features allow the boot to break in and conform to your foot, just like sports boots of yore!
They come in 3 gorgeous colorways, each with its own flair and point of difference. The monochrome pair will work perfectly for those moodier looks, the navy will pair with just about anything, and the off-white has that suave flair that just makes your whole fit pop.
Each pair is made-to-order with Goodyear Welt construction, allowing them to be recrafted if you manage to wear through Dr.Sole’s revered outsole. And whatever outdated opinions you may have about goods made in Taiwan, you can rest assured that Dr. Sole know what they’re doing, and then some. They’ve been re-soling and recrafting boots out of their workshop in Taiwan for years, now, so this boot has been a long time comin’.
Available for $480 USD at Dr. Sole
