We love seeing our shoes in print, the cherry on top is when they are showcased as “A buy worth your time and money! (They) will help you look and feel fabulous.”
Woman’s Day tester Brittany shared, “The print is to die for, and the built-in comfort pads made my feet so happy.”
We must agree, our Total Motion 75mm pointy toes are extremely comfortable heels that get us through our craziest days- from sales conferences to trade shows, these are the go-to style for many of our Rockport ladies. We are so excited that Woman’s Day and their panel of testers agreed that these are “All-Day Heels!”
Afraid of commitment? All new arrival purchases made through the end of the month (February 29th), come with Free-Shipping AND Free Returns, so try our comfortable dress shoes for women with no long term restrictions. See homepage for details.
Valentine’s Day is upon us, and whether your plans include a fancy dinner or brunch with the girls, we rounded up some versatile pieces for any occasion.
Of course, you’ll want to be comfortable, which is why we chose these pale pink ballet flats. This color is everywhere right now, and it’s the perfect hue for this holiday. We especially like the combination of pale pink and navy for an unexpected touch.
Pair these flats with a classic jacket, like this tweed one from J Crew. You can wear it over a sleek shift for an elegant night out or throw it over jeans and a tee for a more casual look.
Kick your outfit up a notch with accessories like a statement necklace or chic clutch. Wherever your day takes you, we hope it’s filled with love and comfort!
And one of the things we love the most about New England, is its history. A rich history of real people. Making real things. With the same passion their father did, and his father before him. It’s inspiring to watch, and it’s a privilege to be counted among them.
So, when our product team had the opportunity to develop a new men’s boot collection from scratch, they decided they wanted to build a boot inspired by the people of these New England coastal communities.
For inspiration, they paid a visit to Marblehead, MA, an active fishing village that was settled in 1629. Interestingly enough, in the late 19th century this was also once also a huge shoe-making town.
Win-win for us – we were also able to discover so many shoemaker’s treasures while we were there.
We met some amazing people. People who make their living in this small community, who brave the New England winters here on the water, and who have known, and been a part of each others lives for generations.
It wasn’t long before we made our own friends… Joe, one of the last people in New England still making wooden lobster traps by hand, Jay, and his son, Carter, who took us out on their fishing boat.
One minute we’re walking up to introduce ourselves to these people and the next, they’re inviting us out on their boats—sharing their time and their stories.
Inspired is an understatement. The attention to detail, the tradition of the craft. Deal done. We’d be making a boot that paid tribute to these people and the history of the New England fishing town, The Boat Builder. One full of the features and functionality (think: waterproof, slip-resistant, stability control) needed when braving the elements, putting in a hard day’s work, or just enjoying some time at the end of the day with some friends and family.
It would feature materials inspired by the tools and raw materials they saw, ones that would stand the test of time, to keep them safe and comfortable, built to withstand the daily abuse of building, boating, living.
And every detail would be one of thought and purpose.
Like any labor of love, we didn’t want the fun to end. So, we headed back to Marblehead and put together a little video to share with you the story of how the Boat Builders boot came to be. We hope you like it as much as we enjoyed every single step of the process.
Marblehead… we’re sort of in love. Thank you.
Just as we were finalizing this blog post we saw an article in Marblehead Home and Style Magazine featuring Doug; not building boats, but instead putting his talents to be used on water in a different form… building toboggans, in his Boat Builder Boots no less! For more information on Doug’s boat building business, check out his company Redd’s Pond Boatworks.
The “lover’s holiday” is upon us, and we believe getting a little something for that special someone is always a good idea. Stumped on what Valentine’s gift to get for your love this year? We’ve got you covered with our Gift Guide for him and her, including little treasures in a wide range of price points.
If you just can’t choose, we say new shoes are always a good idea!
Jared Graybiel, contributor at Busted Wallet.com is a runner, special education teacher, and firm believer every man’s wardrobe should be a balance between comfort and style. He stands by the philosophy that being on trend doesn’t mean trading in your favorite pants for skinny jeans. Finding the right fit that is comfortable and on trend can be a challenge, a challenge that he is up for! And always ready to best answer any questions regarding fit, style, and current trends on every day men’s clothing.
Dark gray clouds. Snow in the forecast. The inevitable is here. Without the right gear, it is hard to be motivated to be anywhere but under a pile of blankets during the long winter months. The Rockport Trailbreaker Waterproof Alpine Boot is just the motivation I need to hit those winter trails. The Trailbreaker Alpine’s Hydro-Shield™ combines its waterproof leather and soft sheepskin lining with a waterproof insole keep my feet dry when venturing out into a snowstorm. The rubber grips on the sole prepared me for those rugged hills and ice. Even though the boot is tough enough for a hike, it is also a nice boot to wear out to your favorite brewery when paired with a dark, tapered denim jean.
My hesitation when buying a product like this in store or online is the weight of most boots. Clomping around loudly in a restaurant or on a downtown sidewalk is not a good look (or sound). Rockport has designed a boot tough enough for vigorous hikes but lightweight enough to be worn to any winter happy hour. Past boot purchases seem to “tire out” my feet quickly. The Trailbreaker Waterproof Alpine’s lightweight design lends itself to alleviate my common winter boot foot fatigue troubles.
This boot is comfortable. One of my favorite features of this boot is the heel cushioning sports technology that provides maximum heel cushioning and shock absorption to keep my feet, legs, and hips comfortable throughout long hikes. The soft lining adds to the overall comfort of the boot.
Among the waterproof leather and insole, the gusseted tongue of the boot keeps moisture totally out. What makes the tongue “gusseted” is the triangular material that attaches the tongue of the boot to the inner lining. This small piece of leather material is the key when keeping moisture totally out…and it certainly did its job with this boot!
The Trailbreaker Waterproof Alpine Boot has minimal “flair” when it comes to style, which will work for the average man in the winter. I like the look of the soles and the color around the outside on the heel. However, the plain black design can be worn with almost anything.
On a recent 6 mile snow shoe hike, my Trailbreaker Alpine’s held true to all the above. My feet stayed warm and dry throughout my journey. Not an ounce of moisture was came through the boot. At times, the trail was rugged and my hike became more vigorous than expected. My feet stayed comfortable and warm without overheating. I also did not experience the foot fatigue I often do on long hikes.
Choosing to wear these boots on a less snowy but more vigorous hike proved to be the right decision as well. Scaling the tall, icy dunes along Lake Michigan was challenging to say the least. Digging the toe into the sand allowed me grip and climb these next to impossible dunes. The view of Lake Michigan on top of the dune was well worth the hike!
View from the top of the dune overlooking Lake Michigan.
Finally, a company to understand the equation of style + comfort! After these hikes, I have full faith in Rockport products. I finally found a pair of boots strong enough for my active lifestyle but comfortable enough to wear all winter long. I can’t wait to purchase a more “streetwise” shoe from Rockport.
Jared Graybiel of Busted Wallet
This Port71 guest blogger received compensation in exchange for his post. All opinions are the blogger’s own.
Afraid of commitment? All new arrival purchases made through the end of the month (February 29th), come with Free-Shipping AND Free Returns, so try our comfortable dress shoes for women with no long term restrictions. See homepage for details.
![FullSizeRender[1]](https://port71blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/FullSizeRender1.jpg)
View from the top of the dune overlooking Lake Michigan.
Jared Graybiel of Busted Wallet