Company History
DaVinci’s closing shop with a blowout sale after struggling business during the pandemic unfortunately, so I thought I’d give my thoughts on their Lapworth boots before their final sale ends.
Designed in Los Angeles and made at Gran Barón in Léon, Mexico, these resoleable luxury barefoot boots are made with stitchdown construction and hand-finished leather. There’s an impressive focus on sustainability, using recycled coconut husk and rubber soles, and designing them for durability and easy repair by a cobbler. Their shoe boxes are designed to be shipped directly to cut down on packaging waste. DaVinci boots used to be made in a conventional standard width, but they’ve since added an additional revised design with much more width.
Feature Highlights:
360 Stitchdown Construction (Resoleable)
Leather and Coconut Rubber Soles
Full-Grain Suede Leather
Zero-Drop Heel
~10mm Stack Height
Foot-shaped Standard Width Toebox (Wider Toebox Versions Exist)
Lightweight for a Boot, Somewhat Weighty for a Barefoot Shoe
Styling and Comfort
The DaVinci Lapworth really nails that luxury boot look. The stitch detailing and thick full grain leather paired with the stichdown construction, leather midsole and leather outsole section all come together to give these their luxe appearance. The tan laces matching the tan sole are a nice flair, lending these black suede boots a fair amount of versatility. They match similarly to brown or black boots while still being a great statement piece, though a dark brown smooth leather boot will still be more versatile if that’s your biggest concern. Still, if you’re willing to swap the laces for a set of black laces, you could effectively have two pairs of boots for the price of one.
The suede is a great quality, well suited to the blucher derby cut and leather midsole for a standout smart casual boot. Relaxed and rugged enough for streetwear in slim cargo pants, but still dressy enough for wool pants and a button-up shirt. I think the detailing and leather midsole are even nice enough for fashion forward styling with suit styles. That said, waxed leather is more workplace friendly for formal boots. The suede is bolder and leaves a stronger impression as a casual boot. Overall, I feel sharp dressed when I put these on!
The leather lining is very supple and comfy despite no cushioning. There are no protruding seams of any kind on the interior of the Lapworth, and the stitchdown construction means there’s no exposed stitching inside the boots. Nothing in the ankle of these 5 inch boots resists my movements or digs in anywhere, and the upper puts no pressure into the top of my feet and doesn’t pinch my toes. There are some traits that make these less barefoot than some comparable brands however. The stack height is 1 cm with materials that are stiffer and denser than the equally tall IBR outsole of my Lems Chukka. DaVinci’s sole is a little less flexible and a little heavier, which does mute ground feel quite a bit (only outdone by my 2.3 cm Altra Solstice). It should be quite durable and insulating from extreme weather, and the leather midsole may break in and become more flexible with some wear, but the added heft is apparent.
Their standard width is narrow for barefoot shoes, though wider than my ANI sneakers. The boots don’t taper at the big toe and the foot shape places the widest part of the boot at the widest part of my feet, so there’s no issues with the foot shape itself. My left foot was fine, though close to the edges, but my right foot is a little larger. I’m not patient with breaking in leather, so I ended up stretching the right boot a bit by wearing a few layers of socks and putting my weight on it with careful heating using a hairdryer. There was an immediate difference, likely due to the more open stitchdown attachment of the leather to the sole, but it’ll take time to see if they break-in even more with regular use. If your feet are moderately wide, you’d likely want their wider option, while narrower foot types may find their standard width to be perfect.
Value
My personal expense for these was only ~$125, gotten as a final sale sample pair from their Instagram using their size chart as a guide. For that price, these boots were a steal, as their style and construction quality are notably luxurious. Depending on the model, they may double as a business shoe on top of their casual usage. Even for retail price, I think the Lapworth justified the premium as a luxury boot built to last. They’re currently available on the DaVinci Footwear Instagram, and they also plan to hold local and website blowout sales.
There’s nothing on the market with the same leather sole and stitchdown construction combo, but I’ll list some alternatives for people who may find this review after DaVinci has closed shop.
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning I receive compensation if you choose to make a purchase through those links at no extra cost to you. I am not affiliated with DaVinci, and all opinions expressed are my own.
There’s the upcoming Carets Ares Derby Boots (affiliate) if you want something just as stylish with their signature hollow faux heel. Resoleable options that look great are also in the bespoke barefoot shoes market, like Gaucho Ninja, though they have a premium price. You won’t find any of the same boot styles with similar aesthetics for under $200, but the SoftStar Hawthorne Chukka does have a comparable enough vibe for under $200, and Lems (affiliate) and Groundies also have casual boots for $150 and under that I like the look of.
Foot Friendly Fashion 