The Boot

For those unfamiliar, Bruce Chatwin was one of the great travel writers of the 20th century. His books, including The Songlines, are internationally acclaimed for their mix of true accounts and dramatization that allows the reader to visualize the obscure subjects that he wrote about. Bruce was enchanted by the customs and history of people groups in some of the most remote places on earth, including Patagonia, Australia, and Nepal.

Though we don’t know when or where Bruce purchased his first pair of Russells, we do know he used them almost exclusively for his travels and expeditions. Bruce owned a pair of 9" Bird Shooters and an iconic pair of customized Safaris. It is clear from the photos we have found, that he favored each for different circumstances.

The pair of Safaris that he owned were unique because unlike the standard version of the Safari at the time, his had both a Double Stack Midsole and a Vibram Montagna outsole. Such a combination is more typical of the Bird Shooter variant called the Mountaineer (Precursor to the Backcountry), yet still maintained the Scottish Twill Quarters. The combination, though highly specialized, results in a packable, heavy duty hiking boot for hot, rocky environments. Our team has put together a modern version of Bruce’s pair that has several upgrades to make them even more capable.

The Leather

Weathered Oak Timberjack is highly water resistant, patinas beautifully, and is a wonderful balance of performance and good looks.

The Construction

The Expedition Boot is made with our famous Double Vamp Moccasin construction. You can learn more about this unique two-layer moccasin construction on our Process page. The Expedition Boot is 7" tall with Army Studs and a pull loop.

The Sole

The Vibram Montagna is one of the most accomplished mountaineering outsoles. Famously, it was used by climbers to conquer Mt Everest in 1965. The difference between the Montagna, and is little brother, the Roccia, can be summed up in their translations: “Montagna” (Italian for “mountain”), “Roccia” (Italian for “rock”) .

Specifications

7 inches tall
Double Vamp Construction
Hand molded oak leather heel counters
18oz Scottish Twill Quarters
Pull Loops for easy on
Eyelets over the instep for security
Army studs for easy lacing
Lightweight and water-resistant

Russell Chukka

Russell Chukka Sale

Russell Footwear runs large - see size guide for details

The Shoe

The Leather

The Construction

The Sole

Russell Chukka - 7 / D

Customer Reviews

Russell Chukka^Sale