The Black Beauty is Back. Limited Pre-Sale on Now! Don’t Miss Out
THE REBIRTH OF THE ICONIC BLACK BEAUTY
Dayton Boots stopped making Black Beauty boots for inventory more than 15 years ago. Wohlford & Company Inc. is currently only making the Beauty as a made to order (MTO) and current wait times are 14-20 weeks to get a pair made. And although we feel they are worth MORE than every penny we charge, an MTO’s pricing makes slipping into a pair of these magnificent boots somewhat aspirational for many of our fans. Wohlford & Co. wants to fix this by offering this exclusive pre-sale.
We’ve spent over a year reviewing materials and design in order to make the best Black Beauty ever for both quality and value. They will always be handcrafted but by making the Beauty in small standardised batches, we can cut construction time by 75% and reduce material costs similarly. We have commissioned an exclusive leather for the uppers and all components to our strict specifications. The fit and finish is exceptional. We want these Beauties to be the best they’ve ever been. Place Pre-Order Deposit
We Made Loggers Cool.
When Charlie Wohlford and his son Wayne founded Dayton Boots, they started with Logging and leather Ski boots. The boot line up was quickly expanded to include Lineman and other work boots. The Driver was worn by milk truck drivers on their local delivery rounds. The Fisherman’s Romeo was worn on the boats off BC’s coast and then could be shined up for a night on the town.
These boots helped your grandad get laid.
Seriously though, we’ve built some classic boots but the Beauty made us infamous. Originally, it was designed as a true Cowboy boot. Charles “Chunky” Woodward (of Woodward’s Department Stores and one of the original founders of Whistler Mountain) came to Wayne Wohlford wanting a ranch boot for himself and his hands on his Douglas Lake Ranch. In central British Columbia, it is still one of the largest cattle ranches in the world. He had two criteria; simple and black. Sturdy and functional with no decorative embroidery and a single seam on the outside of the shaft so as to not chafe the rider or horse. From this, the legendary Black Beauty was born.
We put the “FU” in functional.
Originally built with a traditional leather sole, the Beauty was quickly adopted by the motorcycle community. They started adding rubber tire tread for better traction and durability. Rubber soles also provided better protection and stability especially in wet weather. We started adding a Biltrite or Vibram soles which finalized the Black Beauty’s iconic look. The Beauty became part of the de facto uniform of several Motorcycle Clubs across North America.
Free beat down for every maple syrup joke.
Unfortunately, this legacy may have led in part to the Beauty’s bad boy reputation. It became very common for members of the more notorious MC’s to get rowdy and end up in fights. So much so that “No Dayton’s Allowed” signs were posted in many bars across the region. Fortunately, those signs have faded with time but they helped established the phrase “My Dayton’s” to describe our boots as the only boots to have. To this day, we have people bringing their “Dayton’s” into our original factory on East Hastings for service. Occasionally, we still have to tell some that we’re flattered but their boots aren’t Dayton’s. “My Dayton’s” became so popular in the PNW that often people just referred to their boots (any boot brand) as Dayton’s.
The Black Beauty may have developed a bad boy reputation but our customers kept coming back because of its functionality. It’s simply a great all around boot. It’s sturdy and provides safety and protection on a ride. Given a little time, they mould and shape to your feet for unmatched comfort. Basically, they get the job done. All that and we have generations of happy clients that think they’re the best looking boots period. The feeling wearing them is often described as being 10 feet tall and bullet-proof. There are plenty of musicians who think they are rock’n’roll. Plenty of women (often with a certain glint in their eye) describe their man as being completely different with their Beauties on (in a good way). Our boots are never described as “dainty” but most of those same women think their Beauties look pretty kick-ass with a sun-dress or skirt. They get no argument from us.
Tough as Nails. Mostly because of the nails.
Up until the Black Beauty, all Dayton’s where built using nailed construction. With the Beauty, we adopted the Goodyear Welt method. It makes for a very durable boot that is easy to re-sole and re-heel. We use a ¾ welt with a nailed heel. A steel shank adds a sturdy foundation and excellent arch support. Some might say we’re old fashioned but we know what makes a better boot. There’s a good chance your lower back, hips and knees might even thank us. Details are important. Maybe that’s why the phrase; “right down to the brass tacks” came from shoemaking. We take it literally.
‘Til Death Do Us Part’
We believe that these will be the best boots you’ll ever own. As such, you’ll have a full 30 day “no questions asked” money back guarantee. If for any reason you don’t want to keep your Black Beauties, just box them up a ship them back to us. Of course, we’ll want to know why just so we can get better but, you don’t have to tell us. We just have to receive them back in original packaging and in “like new” condition. We’ll refund your full purchase price. Alternatively, we’ll also exchange for size. If you feel your fit would be better in a different size, just ship us back the boots and we’ll work with you to get you a better fit. The only caveat her is that although shipping to you on the original order is free, you are responsible for any subsequent shipping. Further, we offer a limited lifetime warranty to the original owner on materials and construction. It is “limited” in that it doesn’t cover normal wear and tear. Regular cleaning, conditioning, and polishing will keep the leather in shape and you’ll be able have re-heels and re-soles done as needed. Our pricing for all these services are competitive and you’ll know they’ll be done right. We regularly have boots come in for repairs that are decades old. In addition, we have our “Previously Loved” program. We will always have a minimum cash value for your old “Daytons”. That amount is usually doubled or more if you use it as store credit or towards a new pair.
An MTO pair of Black Beauties start at $1495. They go up in price with any modifications. We have priced our Pre-Sale Black Beauties at $790 before taxes. (All Prices are in Canadian dollars)
We require a $295 deposit upon ordering. We will email you an invoice for the balance prior to shipping your boots. Each of these amounts can be spread over 4-6 payments using KLARNA at checkout. Please expect build times of 5-8 weeks.
Your pricing includes free shipping in North America. We will also send you an exclusive limited edition “No Dayton’s Allowed” t-shirt with your boots. We’ll confirm t-shirt sizing when we’re ready to send your boots.
Included in your Order:
- 5-6 oz full grain upper leather for fit and durability
- Goodyear welted construction for superior support, weather resistance, durability and easy resoling
- Leather lining, insole and heel counter stiffeners for fit and comfort
- Full length 1/4 inch cork fill for cushioning
- Steel shank for long lasting support
- Free Shipping to you.
- 30 day money back guarantee*
- Sizing Exchanges*
- ”til Death do us Part” warranty
- Commemorative “No Dayton’s Allowed” tee
The Beauty is made on our 8223 western last in E and EEE widths.