Transitional seasons call for a truly versatile wardrobe, with footwear perhaps the most important piece of apparel to get right. With the arrival of spring, one could be forgiven for breaking out the suede loafers in eager anticipation of summer days ahead, only to be left with soggy feet after getting caught out in an April shower. The coming months are notoriously erratic weather-wise, and you’ll thank yourself for taking a prudent approach to your footwear choices. Enter the tried-and-tested Galway boot from British shoemaker Edward Green.

An elegant Derby boot with a rugged sole, the Galway is smart enough to pass as formal wear, comfortable enough to stomp around city streets, and robust enough to take you off-road on a springtime hike.

Edward Green has been making the Galway, its most popular boot, since the 1930s, when it was a leading producer of officers’ boots for the British military. The original design is crafted from a hardwearing, burnished calf leather that gains character as it ages, and rubber ridgeway soles for a strong grip. It is constructed using the Veldtschoen method, where the upper is pulled out over the top of the welt for an especially weather-resilient finish, and features a comfortable rounded toe, watertight bellows tongue and added height to accommodate walking socks.

Newer variations of the style are constructed using the handstitched Goodyear welt method, renowned for being reliably waterproof and durable. An array of fine leather combinations and toe-shapes makes it easy to find a Galway boot that speaks to your personal style, all featuring its distinctive curved-chevron stitching detail on the side.

‘We offer a collection of Galway boots, each with their own personality,’ advises Euan Denholm, Edward Green’s head of brand and business development, ‘but they all share the same practical, considered detailing as in the original field boot.

‘This season we’ve brought out a Galway on our new rounder 303 last, made from supple, textured London Grain calf. The rounder toe works well with the slightly wider trousers that people are now wearing. While I’d pick a country calf classic for a walk in the wilds, the 303 makes for a versatile boot, and the calf has a really handsome finish.’

Customers looking for something bespoke can opt to have the Galway’s ankle shaft made from a contrasting leather. ‘This season we have a boot with a burgundy cordovan vamp – made from Chicago-tanned Horween leather – and aubergine London Grain for the shaft, which is so supple and tied around the ankle. That’s just the kind of imaginative make-up that our made-to-order customers go for,’ explains Denholm.

Style connoisseur Jeremy Langmead, former editor of Wallpaper*, Esquire and The Sunday Times’s Style magazine, as well as author of Vain Glorious: A Shameless Guide for Men who Want to Look Their Best, is a fan of the versatile design. ‘Since I split my time evenly between the Lake District and London, I try as much as possible to maintain a wardrobe that works practically and aesthetically in both locations. Ideally, I need something that will look and feel as good on a Cumbrian fell as it will on a London street. Edward Green’s Galway boot – my favourite is the rosewood country calf finish – ticks both boxes. The reddish-brown printed calfskin contrasted with the rugged Goodyear rubber sole gives the boot a sophisticated town and country vibe. It feels as right as I step on to the train at Oxenholme station in Cumbria as it does when I step off again at London Euston.’

Sam Galsworthy, co-founder of London gin-maker Sipsmith, also appreciates the design: ‘The Galway are definitely my work boots. When I travel internationally, I pound leather, so I need something with relatively thick soles, something to support, something that makes me feel really good and confident and strong’.

Based in Northampton, the historic home of shoemaking, Edward Green’s team of over 60 artisans handcraft a maximum of 350 pairs of shoes a week, meaning you can rest assured that each and every pair has received expert attention to detail. “Excellence without compromise” was the eponymous founder’s mantra, an ethos that remains at the heart of the company to this day. The finest French and Italian calf leathers are hand-cut and finished to achieve Edward Green’s signature antiqued patina, while handstitched soles promise longevity and unparalleled protection from the elements.

The Galway boot offers form, function and comfort in equal measures, making it the perfect transeasonal addition to your footwear collection. If you’re planning to make the most of the upcoming bank holidays with some on-foot adventures, from city breaks to countryside escapes, these versatile boots may well be the only footwear you’ll need to pack. L

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