Vanguard · Barefoot Riding Boots · Sheepskin Crazy Horse (X-Wide)
Inspired by Spanish riding boots from another era, but with the feeling and functionality of barefoot. The Vanguard are tall barefoot boots, laced to below the knee on an extra-wide last. Goodyear welted, fully resolable, zero drop. Sheepskin-lined winter option.
Three lasts
Find your size and last
Measure barefoot, standing, weight on both feet, heel against a wall. Measure in the evening — feet run larger by the end of the day. Feet differ; enter the longer one.
Every figure is a last measurement — the form the boot is built on — and equals the maximum internal dimension when new. Vegetable-tanned leather gives with wear. A starting point, not a rule.
Pickup available at THE LAURELS PARK
Usually ready in 24 hours
the lacing is a ritual
The Vanguard
The front rank.
The Vanguard (Advanced Guard) is the unit that goes first.
This boot does the same - the tallest boot in the Sacred Geometry collection, its full height laced with eyelets and studs to add ritual to your dressing. Ceremonially closed at the top with a snap tab embossed with the Gaucho Ninja shuriken (Ninja throwing star emblem).
Full-height lacing is not decoration. It is how a tall boot should fit a leg: open it all the way to enter, then close it to snugly embrace the precise shape of your calf. This boot bends to the will of your body; not the other way around.
Black is a smooth leather on nickel hardware - the quieter, darker of the two styles, with a little punk edge. Veg tan leather from thick, durable American hides.
The brown Vanguard option is lined with a double-faced sheepskin, with Crazy Horse brown leather and brass hardware. A natural, more earthy boot. Inside you feel the soft wool of the sheep; outside, the suppleness of the suede. A winter boot that can resist extreme cold temperatures down to -20°F (-29°C). Perfect for adventuring through the snow in search of werewolves, lost lovers, or shelter for the night. Or just a cold day in the city. Your choice.
Because double-faced sheepskin utilises both sides of a single hide- retaining the natural wind-blocking leather on the outside and thousands of insulating, hollow wool fibres on the inside - it provides an incredible natural thermostat. No sweatiness with these natural materials.
Both options are Goodyear welted to below the knee, over a Sacred Geometry sole. They have zero drop, a wide toe box and the full height of a riding silhouette with none of its discomfort.
Inspired by the Spanish riding boots from another era, but with the feeling and functionality of barefoot footwear.
Product information
-Anti slip rubber soles based on Fibonacci's Sacred Geometry
-Extra Wide Lasts. Splay your feet
-Tall shaft to below the knee · full-height lacing over eyelets and studs · snap-tab collar embossed with the GN shuriken.
-Re-solable and repairable by any cobbler in the world
-Removable 4.5mm insocks (1.5mm wild yak leather + 3mm foam). If you need more volume, remove it to gain more space
-Veg tan leather insoles
-Veg Tan leather, ethically sourced from the United States, traditionally tanned with bark of trees without the use of heavy metals
-Sheepskin: double-faced sheepskin lining throughout. Contains animal shearling — not vegan
-Zero-drop winter boots
-Stack height: 13mm + 4.5mm removable insole
-Wide toe box for natural toe splay
-Completely flexible once broken in. Allow 3-5 days for complete flexibility
-Fully breathable. Naturally no sweat or odor
-Unisex fit
-Designed in the UK
-Made in limited runs
-Weight : Based on a single shoe in size: EU 42 | UK 8 | US 9
778 gr.
Size and Fit
Built on the X-Wide last, EU 37–48, unisex.
Shaft height 35 cm from the sole at EU 42.
Calf circumference at the collar 35 cm, adjustable through the full-height lacing.
A tall boot fits at the calf before it fits at the foot. Measure your calf at its widest point and compare it to the figure above before ordering. \
The lacing runs the full height, so the Vanguard adjusts across a wider range than a standard, zipped tall boot.
Sheepskin fits more snugly.
The double-faced sheepskin lining takes up volume in the foot and the shaft. Wear a thin sock. If you are between sizes in Sheepskin, take the larger.
If you are between sizes in Black, the removable 4.5 mm insole is your best fit adjustment.
We highly recommend you measure your feet before buying. Measure them by placing your heel against a wall, measure a line in cm from the centre of your heel to your biggest toe whilst barefooted. Please insert this value in our size guide to know exactly your EU size. Our lasts are unique to us. Contact us if you need support about your size.
Shipping Info
Quality like this takes time. Nothing is rushed.
All orders placed outside the UK and EU will be subject to duties and taxes that depend on the destination of the parcel. Customers might have to pay their taxes once they receive their order.
MATERIALS
-Black - smooth vegetable-tanned leather, from US hides
-Sheepskin: double-faced sheepskin and crazy horse leather.
-Veg tan Insoles
-Natural leather lining
-Natural rubber Sacred Geometry sole
-Waxed Cotton laces
-Heavy duty solid brass eyelets and hooks
-Cork filler under the insole
Made by one of our artisan workshops in China.
CONSTRUCTION
The Vanguard, like all in our Sacred Geometry collection, is Goodyear welted. A leather welt is stitched to the upper and insole in a single loop; the sole is stitched to the welt, never to the upper. The sole is replaced at the welt and the upper is untouched.
Tall boots are almost universally cemented, because the height makes welting slow. This one is welted to below the knee and can be resoled by any cobbler, repeatedly. A boot for years, not seasons.
Lacing hardware - eyelets and studs - can be replaced individually.
CARE Instructions
Vegetable-tanned leather develops a rich patina over time and is designed to age with you.
- -Clean regularly with a soft brush
- -Use a natural saddle soap when needed
- -Condition sparingly using our organic plant based leather conditioner
- -Avoid direct heat when drying
Proper care allows the leather - and the boot - to improve with age.
the pattern of movement.
Fibonacci's Concept
6mm Anti Slip Rubber
Specs
Winter elegance
Wearing the Vanguard
Under a wide trouser. The lacing disappears and the boot is a clean line to the knee. Wool, denim, linen - the trouser must be wide enough to fall over the shaft rather than rest upon it.
Over a slim trouser. Now the lacing is the whole garment. Tuck a narrow trouser or a legging in and let the full height show. This is the version that needs nothing else - the boot will speak for itself.
With a skirt or a dress. The measurement that matters is the gap between the hem and the collar of the boot. A hand's width of leg reads as deliberate; two inches reads like the hem is an afterthought. Midi lengths and above-knee both work - mid-calf does not. This boot clamours to be shown off.
Under a long coat. Wool or shearling to the knee, boot collar just showing beneath. The subtlest way to wear it.
Black takes charcoal, navy, black and oat, and is the pair that works in a city - day or night, for work or play.
Sheepskin takes heavy wool, shearling and all other natural materials. It is warm enough to dictate the rest of the outfit, so treat it as a winter boot rather than a year-round one.
With the lacing. Set the lower two thirds to your calf and leave them. Loosen only the top third to get in and out. Lacing tension is also how you stop your heel lifting - see the fit note.
What it disagrees with. Mid-calf hems, tapered trousers that stack on the shaft, and in Sheepskin, a thick sock. Let the boot do the talking - display it in its entirety where possible.
On sizing Sheepskin. Double-faced sheepskin occupies volume in the foot and the shaft. Wear a thin, long sock (bamboo is ideal) and read the size and fit note before ordering.
Craft over speed
The Heritage
'People often ask why I still use these old methods.
It’s because 100 years ago, my family in Argentina didn't just work with leather; they made items to ensure their safety and comfort. A hundred years ago, a Gaucho’s saddle was key to his work. Today, I’m bringing that same lineage into the Sacred Geometry collection. We aren't just making footwear; we’re honoring a century of craft.
In a world of fast fashion, we choose to go slow. We only produce in limited runs.
Why?
Because quality like this takes time, and we respect the materials too much to waste them. When you order, you’re not just buying a shoe - you’re allowing us to prioritise craft over speed, and quality over quantity.'
CEO & Founder, Lisandro Serra Delmar
Frequently asked questions
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Because the Vanguard laces rather than zips, it adjusts across a wider calf range than a zipped tall boot, and it will take a calf that a zip will not close over.
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No. The Vanguard laces its full height over eyelets and studs, closed at the top with a snap tab. The lacing is the closure and the adjustment.
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Not with normal stirrups.
Traditional riding boots have a raised heel and a smooth sole, both of which stop the foot sliding through a stirrup. The Vanguard is zero-drop with a lugged sole and is not made for stirrup work.
If you want to ride in flat boots, do not change the boots—change the stirrups. Use Safety Stirrups: caged stirrups or toe stoppers. These feature a protective guard around the front of the iron that prevents flat-soled boots or sneakers from slipping through, keeping you perfectly safe. -
No. Sheepskin is lined throughout in double-faced sheepskin. The Black version is leather-uppered and also not vegan.
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Instead of tying your laces, insert them in the eyelets at the top and that will lock the laces giving them a very neat look. The cover tab will help locking them in place.
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The double-faced sheepskin lines the foot and the full shaft, so it is a proper winter boot.
Proper care allows the leather — and the shoe — to improve with age.
Leather Care Kits
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Designed by nature. Engineered for renewal.
Sacred Geometry Sole Replacement
Every Goodyear Welted Gaucho Ninja is built to be worn, lived in, and restored.Our Sacred Geometry Sole Replacement allows you to extend the life of your boots while preserving the philosophy beneath every step.
6mm of pure connection.
Our signature Sacred Geometry rubber sole — designed for natural movement, balance and longevity. One size fits all. Ready to resole your Goodyear Welted pair when the time comes.