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IN STOCK: Rider for Stitchdown—Maryam Toscanello Horsebutt Fritz Chelsea Boot
IN STOCK: Rider for Stitchdown—Maryam Toscanello Horsebutt Fritz Chelsea Boot
IN STOCK: Rider for Stitchdown—Maryam Toscanello Horsebutt Fritz Chelsea Boot
IN STOCK: Rider for Stitchdown—Maryam Toscanello Horsebutt Fritz Chelsea Boot
IN STOCK: Rider for Stitchdown—Maryam Toscanello Horsebutt Fritz Chelsea Boot
IN STOCK: Rider for Stitchdown—Maryam Toscanello Horsebutt Fritz Chelsea Boot
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IN STOCK: Rider for Stitchdown—Maryam Toscanello Horsebutt Fritz Chelsea Boot

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Ron Rider knows a whole lot about boots (we've got the podcasts to prove it)—including how to make one of the great Chelsea boots we've ever worn. 

So it was only a matter of time before we collaborated with Ron and his Italian partner factory Cortina to create our own custom Fritz Chelsea boot, which is available for pre-order as of right...now. 

The magic of the Fritz is how it manages to find that perfect balance between...everything, really. It earns its keep by sitting perfectly in the middle of so much, and making zero apologies about any of it.

It's not overly dressy, but it certainly isn't ready to hit the job site. The pattern may not be a wholecut, but it's too well-executed to really matter all that much. The Rapid construction makes for a boot that's beyond sturdy but not overly weighty. In terms of what you can wear it with, it's a stylistic chameleon—which can be nudged in one direction or another thanks to the two sole choices we have on offer. And it's just a wildly comfortable boot for just about any wearer. 

THE LEATHER

We've had an absolute blast working with Italy's Conceria Maryam in past collaborations, and turned to them again to source the exact right vegetable-tanned Toscanello horsebutt, one of the world's most rightly lauded horse leathers for footwear. Our selected Vachetta tannage—an unfinished article that lacks the TPR coating you'll sometimes see—has a wonderfully soft hand, responds to brushing beautifully, and thanks to the shell membrane present in the leather, breaks across the vamp on a properly sized boot like absolute dark magic. 

Veg-tan leathers are sought after for how they age and patina far more dramatically over time than chrome- or combination-tanned leathers. One of Maryam Toscanello's other bits of magic is how it picks up EVERYTHING it encounters over time, but manages to corral it all in a beautifully subdued way. You need to look pretty close to see each individual spot of water, or oil, or whatever it may be. But backed out a touch, it's all just one wonderfully aging piece of leather with endless character and personality.

Maryam Toscanello horsebutt can uncharitably be called "brown", but as a full veg-tan leather, its instincts are to darken over time. While each hide comes out of the tanning process differently (definitely something you need to prepare yourself for), Toscanello's natural state after being worn hard is an impossibly rich caramel, with a beautiful natural sheen and reminders throughout of each wearer's journeys.

THE LAST

We find Rider's 60 last to be about as handsome and versatile as casual Chelsea lasts get. It's not over-reliant on hard angles and elongation, while also avoiding being overly round and bulbous. We'd call it "approaching almond" in the best possible way. Especially with the thinner Vibram Stresa half-sole, it projects a damn classy silhouette. Fit properly, it's also as comfortable as lasts get, while still maintaining the prominently defined toe shape that any great Chelsea boot needs. 

THE OUTSOLE: VIBRAM MORTARA

An Italian-made half-sole featuring Vibram's famed Carrarmato lug pattern, but chilled out in terms of depth (and weight!) from the full-lug hiking version. Wildly capable in various conditions—the grip has proven excellent—while still presenting a very handsome profile. Just a ton to love about this sole.

THE FULL SPECS

-Rider Boot's 60 last

-Maryam Toscanello Vachetta veg-tan horsebutt upper (or as Ron says "the kind without all the shit on it")

-Italian-made Vibram Mortara (Carrarmato lugs)

-Veg-tan leather lining

-Veg-tan leather midsole and outsole

-Veg-tan leather insole with removable cushioned insole

-Rapid construction 

-Hand-cut storm welt

-Rear pull loops

-Made in Italy by Cortina

HOW TO SIZE THIS BOOT

This boot is available in two widths: D and EE.

That said, the last is quite forgiving and we recommend customers with D- and E-width feet take a D width and go 1) .5 sizes down from their Brannock in length for a snugger (but likely not crazily tight) fit to wear with thinner socks, or 2) true to Brannock length for a roomier fit, or to wear with thicker boot socks.

C-width feet could likely also do great with the .5 down advice if thicker socks are in play. 

EE widths are slightly more limited (sizes 8-11, including half-sizes), and should be treated as a true EE width up front, but with a combination-last B heel fitting. Trust us you'll love it. Again, we recommend going .5 sizes down from Brannock on length unless your volume/instep is known to be quite high, in which case true-to-size is in play.

All boots feature a veg-tan leather footbed, but also a removable leather-topped cushioned insole with some slight arch support. The boots can be worn with or without the insole, whether that decision is driven by underfoot feel preference, or dialing in fit. I actually keep mine in and wear thin socks; they feel fantastic and really lock in the fit. Simply removing the insole also makes using orthotics or other inserts an absolute snap.

If you have any sizing questions at all, please get in touch with ben [at] stitchdown.com or probably even better, Ron Rider via the @riderbootco Instagram account.

PRE-ORDER DELIVERY TIMELINE

Yes the world is crazy these days, so things always might happen—but the expected delivery date on the pre-order iteration of these boots is no later than October 2023.