Post-Production Military Boots

It’s been a while since my last post, but...

Today, I’d like to introduce the Post Production Mil-Boots, which arrived in October.

First released last fall/winter, this is the model’s second release. It’s our first time carrying it at the store.

They have a simple look, with a straight cap toe, but this pair is packed with details that designer Kai-san has carefully considered.

 

First, the elastic panels—the defining feature of Chelsea boots—are made wide to make the boots easier to put on and take off.

Thanks to this design, getting your foot in is smoother than you might expect from the boots’ appearance.

The pull tab is positioned along the back so it sits neatly. It won’t get in the way when you’re wearing pants.

It’s a subtle detail, but details like this matter.

Post Production shoes are just as meticulous in their sole construction.

After the sole is attached, decorative stitching is added along the welt. You can’t see this once the shoes are on, but it’s a reflection of the craft’s aesthetic ideals.

The heel is finished with a bowl-shaped profile. The black part of the top lift is rubber, which helps prevent slipping when you walk.

Post Production loafers are mainly made using the McKay construction method, but these boots are Goodyear welted.

Goodyear welt construction means that a row of stitching, known as the welt stitch, runs along the welt (the edge of the sole), securing the outsole to the shoe.
Because the sole is stitched to the welt, replacing it puts less strain on the shoe, allowing you to wear it for a long time. If repeated repairs eventually damage the welt, the welt itself can also be replaced.

Some of the most common questions we get about leather shoes are whether to add a rubber sole protector and whether to add a steel toe plate.

My personal recommendation is: “Add a rubber sole protector to McKay-constructed shoes, and add a steel toe plate only to Goodyear-welted shoes.”

One characteristic of leather shoes is that the sole gradually flexes. As it develops this flex, the shoe molds to your foot and becomes more comfortable.

These are my own Mil-Boots. Can you see how the toes curve upward? That’s the sole’s natural flex.

Adding a rubber sole protector makes the sole stiffer, which affects comfort as well.
McKay construction allows the sole to flex easily, so a rubber protector has less impact. And since a full sole replacement is only possible a limited number of times, adding one should be fine.

With Goodyear construction, adding a rubber protector stiffens the outsole and makes it harder for the sole to flex, taking away one of the method’s key benefits. For that reason, I generally don’t recommend it.

The toe tends to wear down quickly when you first start wearing the shoes, so adding a steel plate there helps prevent wear.

One final note: if you look closely at the heel, you’ll see a tiny pinhole-like mark.

If you don’t know what it is, you might think it’s a defect, but it’s a mark left by the nails used to secure the upper (leather) to the last.

The nails hold the leather firmly to the last during construction. Shoes made by hand by a skilled shoemaker will have these holes.

So these tiny holes are proof that the shoes have been carefully handcrafted; they are not defects, so please don’t worry.

Finally, here are my Mil-Boots after about a month of wear.

These are highly recommended boots for the heart of winter. How about treating yourself as a reward to close out the year?

Post Production “Mil-Boots”
COLOR : BLACK
SIZE : 5 (25 cm), 5H (25.5 cm), 6 (26 cm), 6H (26.5 cm), 7 (27 cm), 7H (27.5 cm)
PRICE : ¥108,900 (tax included)