AE's New "Rugged" Line. What do you think?

[chogall]

If by hard wearing you mean durable you don't necessarily need lugs. Lugs are for rough terrain, and it follows that on uneven ground I would want ankle support as well. It's also more balanced from an aesthetic point of view. Just my opinion.

It's perfectly fine to prefer country style boots like Tricker's Stow over country shoes. But commando/danite/lug soles on shoes do serve very good purposes...

So they took a strand and added some work boot soles? At the same time they don't offer a proper formal shoe anymore. Interesting priorities.

Sounds like Alden to me.

 

[cptjeff]



So they took a strand and added some work boot soles? At the same time they don't offer a proper formal shoe anymore. Interesting priorities.

They're just following the market. Fewer and fewer guys are wearing formalwear, but there are more and more guys starting to dress well, albeit casually. AE is trying to make stuff to appeal to the guy looking to upgrade from the sneakers he's wearing with jeans.

They're still making the shoes that have been their bread and butter, and still maintaining quality on their stuff. They're just reaching out to the americana/workwear crowd, which, according to all the fashion people, is 'in' this year.

 

[TomAlso]

Personally I had been looking for something like this from AE. I like the Kiowa the most
These pictures don't tell much though. Is this collection fresh new? I can't seem to be able to find anything else on the internet.