Steal the Style – Ralph Lauren Ransley Boot

Ralph Lauren Ransley Boot – $495.00 | Palladium Pampa Hi Leather – $85.00

With work boot/blue collar/lumberjack style making a full blown renaissance, it’s not too surprising that Ralph Lauren is offering a $500 made in Italy luxury boot that will be worn by men who wouldn’t know what to do with an axe in their hands.  But the fact that a high end designer has made an almost virtual copy of a widely available and much cheaper alternative is something of note.

Would Ferrari make a knock off of the new Ford Fiesta?  Probably not.  But hey, Porsche does make an SUV.

The cheaper alternative is made by Palladium.  And they’re the company that invented this style of leather, canvas, and rubber sole desert boot.  Originally made for the French Foreign Legion, the rubber bottoms were durable enough for a lot of marching, and the canvas sides let the wearer’s feet breathe.

The pair you see at the top of the page is the all leather version and available for $85.00.  Want something that’ll breathe better?  Go with the Pampa Hi Canvas for $55.00.  Or if you want the direct canvas/leather combination that has inspired the R.L. Ransley, the new Pampa Hi II is also now available for $75.00: