Maine GuideGuide Ox DB

• • Opera’s Bandana Printed Suede + Full Grain Flesh-Out Leather Tanned in Toscana, Italy

  • Leather Insole + Leather Tuck + Shank + Memory Foam + Arch Support

  • Outsole-Grade Leather Midsole + Rubber Midsole + Vibram’s USA-Made Christy Sole

  • Genuine Cow Hide Leather Shoelace

  • Hand-Cut, Hand-Lasted, and Hand-Stitched

  • 9 Layers of Leather, Rubber & PU Compound Bottoming Unit

  • Double-Bottomed Spec

  • Genuine Moccasin Construction

  • 1950’s Most Beloved Moccasin Last

  • Handmade in USA

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 soft and silky full-grain flesh-out leather and a bandana printed suede from Opera Leather from Tuscany, Italy who have been specialized in making flesh-out leather and suede since the 70s. The leather is described as ‘flesh-out’ as it is full-grain leather that is flipped so that the flesh side of the leather faces outwards. The advantages of using full grain, flesh-out leather rather than split suede leathers are two fold; full grain leathers retain their structure, thickness and durability for long-lasting strength and the smooth grain side of the leather wears pleasantly against the skin, negating the need for additional liners. This way, the wearer enjoys the benefits of full grain leather and the pleasant aesthetic of the nappy, suede-like flesh side of the leather.

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.

A Vibram’s oil-resisting morflex sole complements the dense nine layers of rubber and leather underfoot. Full vegetable-tanned leather insoles and midsoles, and tucks with steel shank reinforcements increase fitting in the arch and heel as well as lessen foot fatigue by 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. Yuketen’s signature tucks are made from 100% vegetable-tanned leather and will naturally accommodate the distinct shape of the wearer’s foot over time.