Nochaway Cavalier ^Sale

Since its launch in the 40's the Russell Cavalier has been the undisputed "Vitruvian Man" of plantation boots. Its design can be summed up in the words of one of our 1943 advertsisements,

"Russell's Cavalier is a sporty, dressy looking boot for the sportsman who wants something that can be put on and taken off quickly. It is designed for riding and hunting."

The distinctive ankle buckle provided plenty of security for the flat ground hunting of the South and the tall quarters protected the legs against the sea of briars that is quail habitat. In 1950, advances in brair pants made a shorter boot more desirable and the boot was split into two models. The original tall Cavalier became the Bullhide Snake Boot, and a shorter Cavalier was introduced.

This shorter Cavalier boot is, perhaps, what Russell is best known for, and it was the forefather of the wildly popular Zephyr model. To celebrate our 125th anniversary, we thought it fitting to create a unique version of this boot that would incorporate the best of our techniques and materials. Named for the famed Ichawaynochaway creek that runs through the heart of the most historic quail hunting land in the south, the Nochaway Cavalier builds on the history of the original model.

The first improvement was an upgraded Double Vamp construction. We chose our classic full grain Red Maple Oil tan leather for it's balance of durability and good looks. In-between the vamps we have added a hand molded leather heel counter and a Poron slip sole. The heel counter helps prevent heel walkover, while the Poron provides comfort and shock protection. The classic oak-leather midsole is stitched to a rubber midsole, creating an ideal bonding surface for our British Dainite studded sole. This unique double midsole combination ensures that we can resole the boot with ease for many decades to come. The Dainite sole was chosen because of it's unique tread pattern, which provides plenty of grip, but doesn't cake mud like more aggressive soles. The true leather stacked heel nods to the formal hunting environment this boot is designed for, and allows the boot to be worn under pants with a similar look to a loafer.