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Rambler - Black Waxed Calf
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Rambler

Black Waxed Calf

$750

Our most rugged boot - Shearling lined for the coldest of climates, featuring iconic midcentury styling and robust watertight construction

Size

Made to last with exceptional materials. A promise we stand behind.

Maker Story

Mr Paolo’s artisanal workshop outside the town of Empoli in Tuscany makes our most rugged chukkas and boots, and has been operating since the early 1960s. Using both antique and ultra-modern machinery, they specialize in Goodyear and Tirolese construction, along with Blake and Rapid methods. Supported now by his two daughters, Francesca and Federica, Mr Paolo says that their strength lies in their artisan traditions: “The innovative machinery we use is important, but the production techniques remain manual and everything is completely done in-house, enabling us to be prompt, flexible and have constant control of production.” Patterns are still drafted by hand, leather cut by hand - every process guided by decades of skill and experience.

Material Specifications

Uppers in full grain Waxed Calf, vegetable tanned by the Maryam tannery, thick at 2.2mm but supple. Shearling lined upper, with a full length shearling footbed. Norwegian welted with a Vibram ArcticGrip outsole for outstanding winter traction. Stainless steel hardware throughout, along with custom made laces

Care Guide

August Special shoes are crafted with great care, and like any meaningful investment they call for just a little attention to maintenance. We offer a range of Saphir products specially curated to care for the August Special collection. Use cedar shoe trees after each wear to preserve shape and absorb moisture, allowing 24 hours between wears. Brush away dirt and grit daily on both leather and suede shoes and boots, paying attention to the welt area. For leather shoes, gently wipe the exteriors clean with a barely-damp lint-free cloth, and use conditioner sparingly—only when the leather appears dry. Apply cream polish occasionally for color restoration, reserving wax polish for when a higher shine is required. For suede shoes, gently use a suede brush to clean the surface, being careful not to over-brush as this can cause the nap to become shaggy. They can be sprayed with Saphir 'Super Invulner' to provide protection and waterproofing. Following this routine, your August Special shoes will develop a custom fit and should last decades with periodic resoling.

The Anatomy of the Rambler

The Rambler combines traditional and modern materials, with the timeless luxury of shearling, into a formidable winter boot - confidently at home from Cortina to Gstaad. Utilizing the watertight Norwegian* construction, this method allows for the outsole layer alone to be replaced, as well as the entire sole section to be removed and recrafted.

The upper is made with a stout, 2.2mm vegetable-tanned Waxed Calf from Conceria Maryam, treated with organic oils and waxes to provide years of reliable cold-weather service. The Shearling-lined tongue has a large paneled gusset that opens wide for an easy on-and-off. Each pair also ships with red laces.

The ArcticGrip outsoles from Vibram use specialized polymer-compound lugs engineered to grip wet ice where conventional rubber fails. This proprietary material has a distinctive gritty texture that maintains reliable traction on slippery surfaces, whilst temperature-sensitive lugs change color from white to blue as conditions approach freezing. Designed for frozen-climates, they deliver confident footing on icy sidewalks, wet surfaces, and challenging winter conditions.

The Rambler Last is carved with a full volume to accommodate heavy winter socks, and enough room in the toe box to allow the toe movement that is essential for comfortable hiking in cold climates. Drawing from the classic proportions of traditional Alpine boots, the Rambler is also perfect for relaxing après.

Row of leather boots displayed on a stand with a patterned floor in the background.

*"Interestingly, the factory sample-makers refer to this construction simply as Norwegian, but elsewhere it is also referred to as Tirolese.

Tirolese is a less common assembly method, in which an external welt is stitched around the entire lower edge of the boot and then turned outward. A leather intersole is then stitched to the welt using the Rapid machine, eliminating any points of entry for water.

The custom made lightweight EVA foam midsole and a Vibram ArcticGrip outsole are then attached to the intersole, completing the bottom."

Joseph Pollard, Founder & Creative Director

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