The Poor Man's Alden Indy? Reviewing The J Crew Kenton Pacer Boot
I decided to give the J Crew Pacer boot a closer look. They’re normally $248 but we’re on sale for $100 after being on clearance so I snagged a pair thinking if I don’t like them I can easily return. I got a tip off these were on sale and was lucky enough to buy in my size before they sold out which happened really quickly.
These are in the natural/tan color but I’m not sure where the leather is sourced from. The website vaguely states “some of the best leathers in the world” which really doesn’t mean much to me. Out of the box, feels sturdy and stiff, not waxy or oily whatsoever. They are more of a business casual boot than a true work boot so I think the leather type fits the bill. There is no loose grain which i was glad to see.
The tongue is not gusseted which was a tad disappointing but not a deal breaker. Another disappointment is that although these are Goodyear welted, they’re made in China so you just don’t know how well they’re going to hold up. I’m curious if the community thinks China makes better GW shoes than say Mexico or Spain or if there’s really a way to tell for sure.
The sole is branded by Jcrew but looks and feels a lot like the vibram mini lug used by red wing, only a bit more rubbery. I like the red color and think it stands out nicely against the natural color.
My favorite aspect of these in terms of design is the curved heel - I’m not sure if there is a technical term for it but you can see in the video i posted that the strip from the back of the heel up to the collar is not straight like most boots but curved inward. For me this shortens the collar and makes for a more secured fit around the leg.
The interior of the boot is lined with what appears to be calfskin and the sole itself is leather though I’m not sure if there is cork underneath.
Overall, really love the styling and finishing of these and for $100 I believe definitely a great value and probably much better than Thursday boots that are double the price. What do you guys think?
