Maine Guide Ox with Lug Sole - D Black

Yuketen's Maine Guide collection draws inspiration from the early wilderness guides of New England, who in leading European hunters and traders into contact with indigenous North Americans brought about a cultural synthesis most aptly reflected in the boots these guides wore. The close-fitting, stitched wrappings of pliant leather worn by early natives reflected necessity laid bare by the bitterness of winter and the silent tread of the autumn hunt preceding. Modernization of the West brought lasts, dies and outsoles, applying durability to moccasin comfort. Rendered in a higher profile, the classic 'American' guide boot was born, and it is in tribute to the propulsive spirit of the boot's earliest owners that Yuketen has approached a new frontier in its design.

Each pair of Yuketen’s genuine moccasin-construction footwear is handcrafted in our factory in Maine, USA. The shoes benefit from their construction using only the best components and materials such as the combination of the Horween’s nubuck leathers. The leather is chrome tanned and then fully re-tanned with both vegetable tanning liquors and waterproof agents. The result is a leather with silky feel, a velvety nubuck and full waterproof attributes.

To closely mirror the incongruence of the human foot and deliver a molded fit, multiple pieces of leather are hand-sewn and hand-lasted on Yuketen’s proprietary last, which was developed in the 1950s and was known as the best shoe last for an American-made moccasin. In addition, the base of the vamp has been cinched to further ensure an integumentary fit.

The Italian made soft compound Cortina lug sole complements the dense eight layers of rubber and leather underfoot. This lug sole was made to commemorate the winter Olympic Games of 1956 which were held in the Cortina district of Italy and was created to offer the best balance of grip and durability to maintain consistent performance, even in freezing environments.

Our distinctive midsole component, constructed from composition rubber and 100% vegetable-tanned leather which has been air-dried in a 90-day process, is Goodyear-stitched together before being directly stitched to the vamp leather. Steel shank reinforcements increase fitting in the arch and heel, forming a stable bridge between the heel and ball of the owner's foot which causes weight to be distributed more evenly across the foot. This results in reduced foot fatigue and improved comfort. Our Yuketen signature tucks and full leather insoles are also made from 100% vegetable-tanned leather and will naturally accommodate the distinct shape of the wearer’s foot over time.

  • Genuine moccasin construction

  • Horween nubuck leather upper

  • Italian-made lug sole

  • Handcrafted in the U.S.A.