The Ultimate Oak Street Bootmakers Review (Trench Boot vs Field Boot)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- Check out Oak Street's boots: ktku.co/jU
Full article + pics stridewise.com...
For American made boots like this, you might be surprised to learn that Oak Street Bootmakers offers surprisingly good value. Sure, Red Wing boots cost a hundred bucks less, but smart casual city boots stand out for their array of. cool leathers and for the fact that they're hand lasted. Why does that matter? Here I explore my two pairs that I've been wearing for five years - and I break down what's changed about this brand since my first review in 2018.
00:00 Who is Oak Street Bootmakers?
01:29 Oak Street Trench boot vs Field boot
03:11 Oak Street Bootmakers leather quality
03:50 Oak Street's Chromexcel
05:52 Oak Street bootmakers price
06:21 Oak Street vs Red Wing
07:56 Sizing Oak Street Bootmakers
10:00 How Oak Street boots have changed
10:59 Oak Street Boots: The Pros
11:50 Oak Street Boots: The Cons
12:58 wrapping up
OSB rocks!!! Love to see you covering them again Nick 💪
Great great boots. Love my two pairs and the way they’ve aged. And they’ve held up extremely well. Great video!
All but a couple of my welted footwear is from OSB (I live in Chicago), and I love them all so much. I always look forward to the new stuff they release because of all the new materials they can use.
Best video yet. Fact packed and not going at a million miles an year.
this is the year i get speech therapy to make videos easier to listen to, THIS IS THE YEAR
Like the trench boots, store in Chicago is limited in boot selection. My son wears the camp mix and black trench oxfords.
I would love to see a review with saphir greasy leather cream vs saphir medaille d'Or oiled leather cream for chromexcel vs venation shoe cream
I’ve had my trench boots in black chromexel for 6 years and they have gotten better every year. I’m planning to get a pair of the oxfords this year.
I have worn both. OSB is more comfortable out of the box. They however all had horrible grain break. I ended up donating the couple pairs I bought. The leather on the Red Wing is much sturdier.
Yes I agree. I have the field boot, trench boot and trench oxford. The back stay on my field boot is extremely flimsy. The back stay on my trench is somewhat flimsy but not too bad. My favorite footwear from oak street is their trench oxford. It’s like wearing a boot while merely wearing shoes if u take my meaning. I love my trench oxfords. Not bashing the field boot or the trench boots as I wear them frequently. I just wish the leather was a little sturdier like u said.
His looks great after several years. I wonder how consistent that is
I have both and like both. OSB Trench and Field are both awesome. Their limited edition leathers are also really cool.
Been wearing the natural rough out field boot for a few years now, pretty regularly, and I can’t recommend them enough.
I have been wearing OSB Trench in natural CXL for a couple of years and they are great. Comfortable all day and developing a nice darker color. I also have their dress oxfords and some loafers that are very nice as well.
Stridewis is the premiere TH-cam boot and gentlemen’s street wear channel. As such I’d love to see ya review some of Filson’s newer wool jackets. I used your review of the Mackinaw Cruiser to size correctly to buy mine.
I am a 91/2 EE on Brannock, I have trench boots in 9.5 and they fit just perfect.
Thanks Nick. I wish I lived in a place where I could try on a pair, but realistically I have enough pairs of this style of boot.
I am 9.5E Brannock and have 3 pairs of OSB - 2x Field and 1 x Trench boots. For all 3 I went side 9 and the fit is perfect, quite possibly the most comfortable boots I own. In context I have White's, Wesco, Truman, Viberg, Tricker's, Red Wing and others. I find OSB to be bang on for the money and definitely a step up from Red Wing. The word everyday boot is spot on for OSB............ I love them!
The only major improvement for OSB I would like is arch support, but then I am spoilt with my White's! Oh and ditch Dainite studded soles, they are a pet hate of mine, no grip in the wet and very uncomfortable
I've got 3 pairs of the trench boots and they are amazing. The best thing about them is they are comfortable. Sometimes if you are patient and wait you can get them on sale for very fair prices. Also their camp mocs are underrated
I picked up a pair of their Camp boot in natural cxl about 3 months ago. Kinda had to go out on a limb though because there’s basically no info about it anywhere besides their website! Otherwise I was considering Rancourt.
It’s become my favorite pair though. Really happy with them.
Oak Street Boots used to occupy a section of the market of where it was a very good deal, and looked better than the boots that were cheaper and a little better than other boots around the same price like redwings. Now they are a lot more expensive than redwings and the boots they now compete with in price look much better like Trumans and Parkhurst.
Nice to know about the width, I'm a EEE and I shy away from non-wide marked shoes, been burned too many times. Will consider them like Jim Greene and Ecco as shoemakers that have a wide toebox without being marked wide.
Bordon makes up to 6E
@@PiloSil Jesus I didn’t know that
@@jonuiuc I said MAYBE going a half size up could fit eee… seems like they would…
@@Stridewise lol don't worry I won't blame you if it doesn't fit.
I’m in the camp that you should size down. I went with my bannock size and need a small insole to get a good fit. These boots were much more comfortable, sooner, than my grant stone’s. Supposed to be the same CXL leather but the Oak Streets are much softer. Maybe it’s the lack of a liner, but they shaped to my foot quickly. Great follow up review!
It feels like a sign because these are in my cart waiting for me to checkout. Can I ask what watch you're wearing in this video? It looks great
The toe shape for these boots are my favorite. I've bought quite a few service boots from different brands and some will be to almond shaped or too bulbous, but these are just right. 👌🏻
I have the cap toe trench boot in natural chrome xl and they were comfortable right out of the box and true to size with a roomy toe box. I would have preferred a more aggressive and soft wearing sole than the dainties but that's what was on sale and I wear them out on the town so it works OK.
Come on you release this after I bought them?!?! But seriously, I love my field boots. The natural chromexcel definitely does stretch but they’re extremely comfortable for a traditionally made boot
Another awesome video Stride wise.
I have 2 pairs currently and I forgot how great they are on foot after wearing some of my clunkier, heavier PNW boots. They are more streamline and the Dainite soles are really a nice change compared to the heaviness of my other boots
OSB is one of those brands I always knew about and had my eye on but just never pulled the trigger. Either I read too many bad things about the brand online, or something else. But I really think if I get another pair of boots it will be from them
I don’t own any of their boots, but I own too many lol. I did but the OSB trail moc in natural CXL. Something about that leather that’s amazing. You could mink oil that rough out leather. It will darken up, but lighten over too. In case you need the extra protection. It’s funny the comment you made on the cork shortage. So many brands were impacted by that and the boot reviewers or cobbler-tubers were so mad lol.
When was this video shot? It looks unseasonably warm in Philly.
There is often get a discount on sale , I got my boodocker just like 320$.😀😀
Great looking boots, just wish they made them in bigger sizes. I’m a 14 Brannock and it looks like they only go up to 13.
I love their last. Such a roomy toe box!
I was a plumber/pipefitter for 32 years and rough out boots ended up smooth in wear areas.
I have a pair of the cap toe trench in natural and leather sole.. they’re pretty lightweight in almost every way which is what it is but the weird thing about them is I like the way they look until I put them on my feet. It’s actually been bugging me cause I can’t put my finger on exactly how they’ve accomplished this impressive feat of subtle unattractive-ness.. something with the thin unlined leather upper being capped on this almond-adjacent round toe last flat-welted to a slimmer leather mid and sole combo? I dunno but it’s wild how elusive the answer to this riddle has probably been the reason I have yet to send them on they’re way.
Not sure if there's a difference, but the leather laces might technically be rawhide laces. I could be wrong. Any which way, mine broke also. They're strange...not like other leather laces...springy, stretchy. 2:05
I'm starting to look at more rounded toes. I haven't gotten boot since 2019 after spending $900 on a suede Viberg on a 1040 last. Was somewhat disappointed in those. Do you have any other boot recs that have a rounded toe?
Almost like the boots that Spike Spiegel wears?
I get wear in that same inside heel area on the right boot - on all my pairs. I think it's from knocking into the other boot occasionally. The lakeshore boot is on a different last - one that's better for D width / lower volume feet. I actually had a few lakeshore pairs but they didn't work great for my feet. I'm a 10 on the lakeshore but 9.5 on the other last. I think it's interesting that Oak Street rarely uses storm welts - not a deal breaker, but I'd think the trench and field would look better with them, and it would make more sense functionally, right? Overall a really cool company. thanks for the vid! Both your pairs look great
maybe size down with field or trench (I did!), but DO NOT size down on lakeshore
Greetings.🎉 Great content, love the channel.
Where in the USA are these made now? Seems like they have moved factories and used to be made in the P.W. Minor factory but haven’t seen any information as to where they are made now.
Don’t quote me on this but I believe it’s a factory in northern NY.
@ yeah that was the P.W. Minor factory, but that has closed now. They were located in Batavia New York.
@@pumpernickel2985 I’ve asked but they keep it a secret
I've heard somewhere in the northeast
@@StridewiseI've heard it's somewhere in the Northeast.... I'm 99% sure their moccasins and loafers are made in Maine
Oak Street are true to size. I have 2 size 11, but true to size for me is 10.5 and that's the size I should have got
I don’t own any OSB, but I have been curious. However, the price seems significantly higher than say Parkhurst or Grant Stone, and I’m not seeing any particular increase in value from either of those. Does anyone have any insight?
Get them on sale. OSB also uses a lot of really unique leathers and soles.
Grant Stone is made in China, so they have a distinct labor cost advantage. Parkhurst uses foreign materials, but are made in Buffalo. OSB uses US leathers from Horween in Chicago (unless it's a custom special) and are made in Chicago. So their costs are higher. But as others have said, they go on sale several times a year (July 4th, Black Friday, etc.).
ahh Parkhurst was made in Buffalo until COVID nuked the factory. Now they're made in Spain and Portugal. OSB.... No one really knows exactly where their GYW shies and boots are made in the USA, some think its somewhere on the east Coast, more northeast, some even say west coast.
Would you buy a pair if you already have Grand Stone Diesel and Allen Edmonds Higgins Mill?
I'm being a silly boot guy here but the wider toe really does make a difference! But like, even I'm embarrassed to tell someone to get a third plain toe service boot. But the look IS different, and these are made differently too. But I'm also cognizant that to the average person there isn't much of a difference haha
@ thank you for the response!
8:03 my vote is true to size. I'm 11.5 in most, and this brand is included.
My bannock is 12
Have 4 pair, trench, field, summit and camp moc. Trench boots is my favorite by far. Not a fan of the lakeshore last for my feet.
5:49 it's not from the inside, you silly goose.
I'm one of the guys who complains about foam. 😁
OSB are too expensive to use foam and celastic heel counters. Celastic toes don't bother me (even Pacific Northwest brands use celastic toes) but heel does for the price.
Another con Nick didn't mention is poor WORKMAN (puckering).
agreed. If I want foam I will wear sneakers.
@@lt3880Truman used to use foam....
Fwiw they may not be using foam anymore and celastic works well enough for 98% of footwear with a structured heel on Earth. Leatherboard or full leather is great but not a requirement.
I will agree that the puckering is annoying so I try and only get OSBs with a split welt or.... Get toe pairs and keep the best one
I had a pair of OSB plain toe blucher and one of their insoles was delaminated after the first wear…their QC is atrocious. The lakeshore last is flat and boring and even my Alden loafers have way more arch support. Their only product that is worth purchasing is the shoe tree.
Looking to see them rise up as Vince seems to be shitting the bed with Truman. Elston sure as hell a better last than the 79.
Agreed. The Elston last was made for human beings
Nick is a heel knocker
Once OSB makes some wide sizes it's over for my wallet
I'd get the field boot immediately, except that I take such good care of my boots they last forever. Thank goodness! These are pa-ricey!
Why would anybody bring up the laces as a difference? Anybody can change the laces to what they prefer. Laces don't count. Imagine somebody going, "These boots look nice, but I would never buy a pair that come with leather laces."
I think the heel counter is a bigger deal than you make it to be, at that price level there really no excuse to cheapen out on something like that; they’re changing to steel shanks when that doesn’t really matter much but wont upgrade what matters. Truman, red wing and many other cheaper made in US brands use leather 🤷🏻♂️
What cheaper MiUSA brands? Besides red wing and Truman, no one cheaper (and with Truman that's really variable) use leather board heel counters. Celastic is ok. Not amazing but not awful
@ it is not awful but the point is these are quite expensive and the heel counter in celastic is just cheap and not great, it eventually crushes down over time as you pull your boot in and out. I dont mind the toe, if anything it keeps the shape better than leather toe puffs do. But there is absolutely no reason to use a celastic counter on a $500 boot. Leather board BTW is not great but it is better than celastic; still not good on an expensive boot.
@CarlosValentor celastic will deform if you stomp on it. Daily use shouldn't hurt it at all. Maybe if you're not opening the throat of the boot up and stuffing a foot on there it might get hurt too, although that would also hurt a leather heel counter too.
@ yeah I agree… still, 500 dollars for celastic? It’s like you work in oakstreet man. All I’m saying is: for 500 dollars they CAN do leather counters and decide not to. It’s the only thing cheapening out their boots and they still go for celastic. I don’t understand that logic and don’t agree with it, that’s all
@@CarlosValentor Lol I also wish it was leather or even leatherboard but it won't stop me from getting their boots or lace up shoes. You'd have to ask OSB why they use it. It could be their factory is familiar with it or they can't source leather counters easily and the factory can't make them.... I know Rios of Mercedes group uses them in all of their cowboy boots and might actually make them in house.
I’ve had 3 pairs of OSB boots, 2 of the 3 had the worst CXL grain break I’ve ever seen and the 3rd pair has some really questionable clicking with visible defects/holes in the leather. The lasts and boots are very comfortable and well built, but for the money you are petter off getting some White’s or shift to Grant Stone and save a bit for much better shoes.
Grant stone is now $435
Trench vs Field. What, no love for the Lakeshore style? I have the Trench and the Lakeshore. The Trench boot is for working around the house, but I REALLY like the Lakeshore boot for wearing to work and just casual wear.
I own Oak Street, Alden, and Grant Stone boots. And I have had some major foot and ankle issues over the last few years (3 surgeries!). I find that I need to wear a well-made lace up boot just to give my ankle stability.
Just on pure comfort for me, I would rank as follows.
1. Alden Indy boots - in their own category
2. Oak Street Lakeshore - maybe even rank them a 1b compared to Aldens
3. Grant Stone Diesel - excellent materials and workmanship, but after a long day they are less comfy than the Oak Streets
4. Oak Street Trench - there is absolutely nothing wrong with them, but they are not IMHO in the same category as the others in terms of casual style.
I am a big fan of Oak Street Bootmakers. I appreciate their made in US aspect, and are willing to pay the premium (see, e.g. my Aldens). Add to the fact that the Lakeshore style just simply fits my foot shape .
P.S. I also have a pair of their beef roll penny loafers. Another excellent quality shoe.
I appreciate that OSBs isn't afraid of a sale 2-3x a year