While I enjoy leather boots for their style and class, many have a limitation: they lack weather protection. A pair of western-style boots with buttery leather can fall victim to a single water droplet, leaving a dime-sized stain that mars the finish. Smooth leather soles might dampen the pavement and provide a satisfying clack, but they’re of little use when the snow falls.
With that in mind, I tested out the Allen Edmonds Powell boots, a design that blends weatherproof Horween Chromoexcel leather, a toothed outsole, and a strong silhouette.
A boot that looks at home in winter weather and city streets alike
As winter inched toward the Shenandoah Valley, I began wearing the Powell boots on my walks through Old Town Winchester, Virginia. I encountered a range of temperatures, from the low 50s to a 2-degree wind chill, and focused on comfort, style, and traction. The boots surprised me from the start, and kept delivering as the days passed.
My favorite feature was the Horween Chromexcel leather. Despite its tough appearance, the leather required no break-in, with effortless strides from the first wear. Then there were the looks. The jet black, waxy sheen imparted an almost military-style attitude that was sleek and strong. The material was also comfortable in varying conditions, from 50 degrees to a 2-degree wind chill.
The sole was reminiscent of a motocross tire, with a deep tread that provided a pleasant cushion. It was also grippy. One morning, a thin layer of ice covered the asphalt, and the sole provided a reassuring stick. It’s an outsole that I’d feel confident with walking through a storm or shoveling snow.
As the miles passed, the Horween leather upper and leather lining kept softening, imparting a weathered patina and comforting step-in. Instead of something off the shelf, the boots morphed into a storyboard of walks, weather, and living.
While I enjoyed the Powells, they were slightly heavy, with a silhouette reminiscent of a combat boot. In comparison to Chelsea boots, they took more effort to put on and a little more muscle to walk through town.
A boot that walks the line between grit and grace
Over the past month or so, as temperatures dropped, I awoke to ice on my windshield, and snow flurries fell, the Allen Edmonds Powell boots offered timeless style with the reassurance of a weatherproof build. When I wore them, they felt protective and had the elegance only leather boots can offer.
What made these boots such a style standout? For me, it was the contrast. The deep sheen of the upper met the chestnut-toned Goodyear storm welt before transitioning to the knobby outsole. All at once, the boot went from elegant to engineered to rugged. That’s what made the boot a dress-up or dress-down solution, wherever I found myself.
Still, these are $550 boots. Are they worth it? Here’s my take: I don’t find myself wanting a “better” pair of boots, and I enjoy wearing them everywhere. They evoke a refined yet adventurous attitude, and they’re also recraftable, meaning you can keep them for years and have them re-soled. For the style-conscious and function-driven, these boots are worth a try.
https://www.allenedmonds.com/product/mens-powell-weatherproof-apron-toe-boot-3031942/black-chromexcel-leather-ec4502220
