John — I’d go for it. I like the red soles too, and while I generally get 10″ it’s only because they’re a bit cheaper than the 12″. I would be curious whether the red soles are the same gum material as the standard beige soles. If so it could affect traction, which isn’t great on slick surfaces and tree trunks. The red could grip better. Only reason I didn’t get a pair when I saw the add was that I just bought a new pair last year and they’re barely broken in, and at my age it doesn’t pay to stock up too far ahead with expensive gear.

Two suggestions: order by phone so that you can request speed laces. They don’t cost extra but you have to ask for them, a well-kept secret. And if it were me, I’d tell them to keep the free can of SnowSeal because it doesn’t hold a candle to Montana Pitch Blend. If enough folks reported that, maybe Bean would check into it and switch loyalties. I first learned of MPB from Schnee, another leading outdoor boot company, which recommends only that on all their boots. And be sure to get a bit large so that you can double up on heavy socks in winter.

John i bought the red sole boot and put a few miles on them this season. Awesome!!!!!! I took Dave’s advice and ordered them with the speed laces. All i can say is I’m sold and enjoy your boots.

Merry Christmas

Good question, John, and when you call in your order the voice from Maine should be able to explain it. All I know is that when I can find them I usually wear 10.5 boots but always get 11 in Beaners. I am fine with “loose shoes” (and all the rest of it from the old song) so don’t mind the extra roominess when I wear them in warm weather, as they come with no insulation. But when it gets really cold I want to be able to wear really heavy wool socks to compensate, thus the half-size extra, which is cheaper than another pair of boots. I think the sizing issue will sort itself out when you talk to the Bean phone rep (and I suggest ordering by phone so you can request speed laces): he or she will tell you what size to order based on your usual boot size, then if you want room for big socks add a half-size to that. I wear the Beans for ALL sneaky or wet hunting in warm and modestly cold weather, then graduate to lightweight Schnee “Outfitter” boots, which have scent-proof rubber welded uppers like the Beaners, but with Thinsulate liners. But I’ve had endles problems with Schnee’s rubber on the uppers cracking long before the rest of the boots wear out. And compared to Beans they are really heavy. So next time I think I’ll get a second pair of Bean boots with Thinsulate liners for colder weather, as I’ve never had a problem with them prematurely falling apart. Also, as with Schnee and other top-end boot makers, you can return them when the soles wear out, which takes many years, and for a modest charge they’ll rebuild them for you. Thus I think of them as my Terminator boots.

May Santa be nice to you later tonight. 😆

Yes, Dave, the gum material is the same. (I work for LL Bean here in Maine.) The 100th Anniversary Maine Hunting Shoe has the red sole because Bean’s thinks this is very similar the what LL’s original boots looked like. Great boots all around. I say go for them, and not just because I’m an employee. I, like LL Bean, stand behind this product.

I just contacted Bean and speed laces are not available on this centennial model boot. I understand they are trying to replicate the original–the leather in the uppers, for example, is unfinished–but a boot is not something you put in a display case, and I have always found the eye lacing holes the single downside of this otherwise favorite boot. Others may not care, but it were me I’d save a few bucks and get the regular Maine Hunting Shoe in 10″ with speed laces; utility over nostalgia.

Ha! Like Dave I don’t like to spend hard earned cash that I don’t have to, and I was all set to order the hunting shoe this year, then my son – who is in the Marine Corp. – gave me a pair of military boots made by Danner. So far they have served me extremely well. As much as I REALLY want a pair of these boots, now I have to wait for the Danners to wear out… 🙁

Let us know how you like your hunting shoes when you get them and after you use them a while.

Have a great new year all!!!!!! 😀 todd

I ordered the anniversary boots back in August and had to pay 1.50 for the speed lacing hooks to be added. I just told them that if I couldn’t have the hooks I didn’t want them. I used them for my back country elk hunt and they held up quite well. These are my second pair, so here is my penny and a half of thoughts, if you don’t wear a whole size in regular boots I highly recommend to Oder the next half size down, say you wear a 9.5 order a 9 it will leave room for a pair of heavy socks but won’t be to loose with light weight hiking socks. If your feet move around in them, I recommend a tighter fitting boot for steep rocky terrain or your toes could get a rug burn from slipping around in them. (I had to tape my toes toward the end of the hunt so i could hunt all day). For hunting at home I use them exclusively until the temps get down below 10 degrees then switch to my schnee extreme packs. What ever you decide these boots give plenty of arch support,(extremely high arches may need to change out the removable insole) and the ankle support is good.

Good luck

Troy

Thanks, John. I reckon this proves that the Bean customer service person I spoke with hadn’t done her homework and you can get speed laces on these Anniversary replicas. Thus, you’ve just cost me some $140 as I’ll now have to order a pair, even though I have only a couple of years on my current pair. I’m wondering with the higher uppers made of unfinished leather, which I presume and appears in your photo to be softer, if the uppers might not sag down and wrinkle after some use. Let us know. I’m pleased you are pleased, so far. I try to recommend only things that have proven their worth to me over many years, and better yet if I’ve had dealings with the manufacturer–happy resolutions to customer service issues. But even then, feet and tastes differ so it’s always a bit risky. But in this case, many others here also wear and recommend the Maine Hunting Shoe, so we are on fairly safe ground.

Dave,

The uppers are actually a bit stiffer with the unfinished leather. I have a pair of the 10″ and a pair of the anniversary boots and after waterproofing 3 times the uppers soften up very well especially in the high movement areas, but, they don’t seem so sag at all. Once the uppers were broken in I have noticed I actually prefer to wear these over the 10″ for a long day of pheasants or deer hunting, I can’t seem to figure out why that is. Maybe it’s just that I used them on my back country elk hunt and just like to wear the gear I used for that hunt.

Luck