In the past year, Saddleback Leather has gone from making leather slippers that were a footnote on their website to offering genuinely impressive boots. The Officer and Huntsman share a lot on paper, including their price, materials, and overall level of craftsmanship.
In practice, though, these are two very different boots. The same thing that might be the core reason you buy one might very well be the reason why the other may not work for you.
The Officer is a more refined take on a comfortable, anatomically shaped boot. The Huntsman trades some of that dressier character for a more rugged design. Having reviewed both individually, I wanted to take a closer look at what separates them. And, more importantly, which one makes sense for you.
Full Reviews:
Disclaimer: Both the Saddleback Officer and the Saddleback Huntsman were provided for purpose of review. However, this is not a sponsored review and everything below is true to my own opinion.
Similarities:
Before we dive into the similarities, let’s focus a bit on what makes a Saddleback boot a Saddleback boot.
Both the Saddleback Officer and the Saddleback Huntsman come in at the same $679 price, and both are made in the same unnamed Italian factory. They also both come in sizes 6-15 (half sizes through 12.5), with wide options available in each labeled size.
Finally, both boots come with very similar vegetable tanned uppers. The leather selection is fantastic; however, the shared leather does mean the formality of the leather is going to be similar – for better or worse. Chromexcel patina fans may not have a dog in this fight.
These are great ingredients to start with, however these boots were far more different than I expected.
Design:
Let’s begin with what the sharp-eyed could probably already tell from the pictures, the visual changes.
The most visually striking change is the swap from a leather sole to a rubber one. Even Saddleback agrees – this is the feature that is most highlighted on the Huntsman’s marketing. The black rubber sole doesn’t just add a different color, its chunky, multi-layered design gives a completely different silhouette to the boot.
Other changes might be less noticeable, but still impact the visual identity of the boot.
The first is a grouping of changes that switch the visual weight from the front of the boot to the back. The heel on the Officer is low, with a slight angle – a distinct difference from the high and flat heel on the Huntsman. Further, the Huntsman’s larger heel sits below a multi-layered leather heel cup compared to the Officer’s svelte, single panel construction.
These changes are not exclusive to the back of the boot. the Officer gets a brogued toe-cap, while the Huntsman is smooth leather.
Dive in deeper and you’ll find some really small changes that really highlight the use case for each boot – and my favorite part of each.
The Officer maximizes its business casual design. Here you will find delicately rolled edges neatly tucked behind the lining, glass smooth polishing along the midsole, and rope laces more akin to a dress shoe than anything else.
The Huntsman, however, clearly puts usability as a higher priority. Leather backing behind the eyelets help protect the tongue during long hikes, an angle-skived loop in the back allows for easier use while retaining durability, and flat laces that are much better at holding a knot.
Fit and Comfort:
This was the area that surprised me the most about the two boots – they are built on very different lasts, even if I think you’ll probably want to order the same size in both.
The Officer boot takes the comfort-first approach in last shape to an extreme. The toebox to heel width difference is the largest on any piece of footwear I own. The heel is also low – barely a half inch of rise beyond the standard outsole. This results in a much flatter boot – there are sneakers like the New Balance 991v2 have a bigger drop than these boots.
At the same time, the Officer boot has a very thin outsole, with little to no impact protection. You’ll find them quite flexible – at least as far as boots go. While I’m sure the folks over on r/barefootrunning will ban me for saying it, the Officer boot is about as close as you can get to a barefoot shoe while also being a goodyear welted boot.
The Huntsman takes a very different path. The last that this boot uses is much closer to something you might find from other brands. The toebox is still on the wider side, but noticeably narrower than the Officer.
The rubber outsole and high heel also make these feel more like a traditional boot. The rubber offers a bit of squish, and the higher heel is stabilizing – controlling your foot movement rather than letting it move freely.
Ultimately, the feel underfoot of these two boots is very, very different though it’s hard to say one is better or worse.
Who is Each Boot For:
At the end of the day, both of these boots are great, but are designed for different use cases.
The Officer is essentially a high-end dress shoe in boot form. It’s designed for someone who wants exceptional finishing without accepting all the compromises that typically come with a dress shoe. The wide, anatomically shaped last and low heel make it an interesting alternative to more traditional dress boots, while the rolled edges, polished midsole, and brogued toe cap give it the refinement to work with business casual clothing and, sometimes, a suit.
Of course, that refinement comes with trade-offs. The leather sole offers limited traction in poor conditions, and there’s not much between your foot and the ground. If you want a boot for regular outdoor use, the Officer isn’t the obvious choice.
That’s where the Huntsman comes in. It retains the exceptional finishing and attention to detail that made me like the Officer in the first place, but adds a rubber outsole, a taller heel, and a more rugged design. This is for the man who wants a rugged boot but won’t accept the idea that imperfect finishing is simply a fact of life in work boots.
That doesn’t mean the Huntsman is a replacement for a dedicated work boot or hiking boot. It isn’t designed to offer the same level of protection as a purpose-built work boot, and its rubber sole doesn’t magically make it the best option for every outdoor activity. What it does offer is a thoughtful middle ground between rugged footwear and the sort of craftsmanship you’d expect from a much dressier boot.
Ultimately, I wouldn’t call either one better than the other. The Officer is the boot I’d choose when appearance and a low-profile, natural-feeling fit matter most. The Huntsman is the one I’d reach for when I want something more casual and versatile underfoot.
Both are excellent examples of what Saddleback is trying to accomplish with its footwear. The important thing is to decide what you want in a boot before spending $679.
