Stylmartin Marshall boots in taupe

 The Stylmartin Marshall has a higher shaft than many trainer-style boots, for better coverage of the ankle area.

 

It's made from what is known as a 'pull-up' leather. Pull-up leather is created by injecting waxes and oils into the leather via a process that is known as 'hot stuffing'. Pull-up leather is not coated, thus allowing the grain of the leather to show through. Over time, and with wear, the leather will lighten in certain areas, delivering a very natural and pleasing patina. You cannot do much to treat such leather, and certainly a boot like the Marshall will never take a polish.

 

Because of the oils and waxes impregnated into the leather, the boot's outer chassis will be naturally water repellant, but of course the real waterproofing on the Marshall will come from its waterproof, breathable membrane.

 

As you would expect, you get counters in the toe and heel. There are PU pucks in the ankles. Across the toe an extra panel of leather is sewn onto the outer to act as a gearchange pad.

 

The sole is pretty rigid, but not so stiff that it makes walking difficult. This is a boot you could walk around in all day. The tread on the sole is what Stylmartin calls its City Grip pattern, making it perfect for the urban environment for which a boot like this is so suited. There's also, of course, a replaceable, anatomic insole for comfort.

 

At the back of the boot in the heel there's some reflective material for nighttime visibility. 

 

Some of Stylmartin's boots come with 'dirty' edges to the soles for a slightly, grungy look. The Marshall boot doesn't; instead coming with 'dirty' laces, which seems a bit silly to us because it surely wouldn't take long for most bikers to dirty up a set of white laces without any help from anybody!