A Boot Built to Impress: Dale Leather Works Reviews the Sharman

We recently had the pleasure of sending a pair of our Sharman boots to Dale from Dale Leather Works, a leather expert and trusted voice in the heritage footwear community. His review dives into the materials, construction, and experience of unboxing and wearing the boots and we’re proud of what he had to say.

Dale chose to review the Sharman in a special leather: Tochigi’s Kogashi, a richly dyed Japanese leather with a distinct texture and natural depth of colour. He noted how unique the leather is in both look and feel, noting it as one-of-a-kind.

He also highlighted several of the key design and construction choices that define the Sharman:

• Blake stitch construction, allowing for full resoling.

• Puritan triple stitch detailing, offering structure and strength.

• An overall build that balances ruggedness with refinement.

These aren’t boots built to sit on a shelf, they’re made to be worn, broken in, and eventually rebuilt and he discusses our rebuild service and the importance of sending back to the original crafter. 

Dale mentioned the help he received from Katie on our team, who advised him on sizing and leather selection. At GORAL, we believe in making every part of the experience personal, especially when choosing something as individual as a handmade boot.

He also called out the packaging, from the sturdy yellow box to the small details that make unboxing feel special. One feature that stood out was the inclusion of shoe trees, which come with every purchase to help maintain shape and structure from day one.

Whether you’re new to GORAL or looking to add something unique to your rotation, the Sharman in Kogashi leather is a standout and we’re grateful to Dale for taking the time to give it a proper hands-on review.