Bean Boots and L.L. Bean
Penobscot Marine Museum
On the hundredth anniversary of the creation of the Bean boot, outdoors retailer L.L. Bean rolled out a new version on the classic rubber and leather “duck” boot that Leon Leonwood Bean famously invented in 1911 as an antidote to having cold, wet feet when he was hunting. The new boot looked much like the original but this one came with wheels, as in the base of a truck. At 13 feet tall, 20 feet long, and 7 feet wide, the Bootmobile would be a size 708 if it were an actual shoe.
L.L. Bean’s original Maine Hunting Shoe had up-to-the-knee leather uppers and the same kind of rubber soles found on rain boots. Ninety of the first 100 he sold were returned when the single-line stitching tore through the rubber soles causing the soles to separate from the leather uppers. But Bean had offered a 100% money-back guarantee – and he honored it. He also improved on the design, which made them nearly an instant success.
They – and the company built on them – are still a success today. In the century-plus since L.L. Bean began selling his boots through a mail-order circular, the company has grown into an international brand known for its 24/7 flagship store in Freeport, canvas boat and tote bags, a generous return policy, and distinctive catalog covers. Yet the Bean boot remains its signature product. Worn by hunters and fashion-conscious city dwellers alike, Bean boots don’t just keep feet warm and dry; they have become a state ambassador of sorts, symbolizing inventive practicality, quality, and the state’s outdoor traditions.
Author: Stephanie Bouchard
