From Town to Trail: How a Decade of Luxury Design and Passion for the Outdoors Created the Ultimate Sport Utility Boot

When we set out to build Busby Boots, we didn't want to create just another pair of standard hiking boots. We wanted to engineer something entirely new: the ultimate Sport Utility Boot. A boot that could effortlessly bridge the gap between technical, rugged performance and refined, timeless British style.

To celebrate our latest collection, we sat down for an informal chat with our founders—brothers Benjie Davis and Hugo Davis. In this exclusive interview, they share how their fourteen-year journey in luxury British fashion, combined with a lifelong obsession with outdoor sports, led to the creation of the ultimate active footwear.

Q: You’re both well-known for founding the luxury footwear brand Hugs & Co. back in 2012. What made you want to move from high-end driving loafers to rugged outdoor boots?

Benjie: It feels like a massive leap on paper, but to us, it’s a completely natural evolution. With Hugs & Co., we spent over a decade obsessing over the perfect fit, premium European leathers, and traditional craftsmanship. We learned exactly how a shoe needs to be built to offer lasting comfort and durability.

Hugo: Exactly. But as much as we love the refined elegance of a suede loafer, our personal lives have always been deeply rooted in the British countryside. We are massive outdoor sports enthusiasts. Whether we're hiking through the rain-soaked hills, standing field-side at polo matches, or navigating unpredictable winter weather, we found ourselves constantly switching between footwear. We noticed a massive gap in the market: you could either wear a highly technical hiking boot that looked out of place the second you stepped into town, or a stylish fashion boot that fell apart the moment it touched deep mud.

Benjie: We realised that our design and fashion experience, combined with our active lifestyle, put us in a unique position. We knew exactly what a high-performance outdoor boot needed to endure, but we also knew how to make it look exceptional. That’s how the concept of the Busby Sport Utility Boot was born.

Q: Let’s talk about that term, "Sport Utility Boot." What does that mean in practice?

Hugo: Think of it like a luxury 4x4 vehicle. It’s beautifully designed, incredibly comfortable on the inside, and looks fantastic parked on a city street—but it also features a heavy-duty drivetrain built to conquer snow, mud, and rough terrain. That’s our footwear.

Benjie: Every single pair of our boots is engineered for an active lifestyle. Take our signature silhouette: the Chelsea boot. It’s a classic, timeless design. But we’ve entirely re-engineered it. Whether you are looking at our men’s outdoor Chelsea boot or our women’s winter Chelsea boot, you are getting a piece of footwear that features a premium leather exterior, flexible elastic side panels, and our distinct red pull loops. But under the hood, it’s a purebred all-terrain machine.

Q: As outdoor sports enthusiasts, what were the non-negotiable requirements you insisted on during the development phase?

Hugo: Uncompromising traction and weather resistance. If you spend any time outdoors in the UK, you know that the terrain changes in a heartbeat. You can start on gravel, move into deep mud, and end up walking on slick, wet rock or snow. Because of that, we partnered with the best sole manufacturers in the world. Every pair of Busby boots is equipped with a genuine Vibram all-terrain grip sole. It gives you absolute confidence with every stride, no matter what nature throws at you.

Benjie: Another massive point for us was ease of wear. When you live an active lifestyle, you don’t want to spend five minutes wrestling with wet laces when your hands are cold. We deliberately chose the Chelsea architecture because you can just pull them on and go. But we spent months refining the internal structure to ensure your foot is securely locked in, providing the ankle support of a premium hiking boot without the bulk.

Q: Your website highlights the balance between the "urban jungle" and "the great outdoors". How does your fashion background influence the colour ways and materials?

Hugo: Our background from Hugs & Co. taught us never to compromise on raw materials. For Busby, we selected premium European leathers that age beautifully. The more you wear them, the more character they get. 

Benjie: We kept the core palette incredibly versatile. For example, our men’s outdoor Chelsea boot in brown leather looks incredibly sharp paired with raw denim or tailored trousers for a weekend in town. But because it's built with water-resistant leather and that rugged Vibram grip sole, you can head straight out into a downpour without a second thought. The same goes for our women’s winter Chelsea boot in navy blue leather—it adds a sophisticated pop of colour while offering total protection from the elements.

Q: Sustainable innovation was a huge part of your journey with upcycled tyre soles at Hugs & Co. Has that philosophy carried over to Busby?

Hugo: Absolutely. Sustainability isn't a buzzword for us; it’s a foundational design philosophy. When you spend your life enjoying the outdoors, you naturally want to protect them.

"True durability is the ultimate form of sustainability. We design our sport utility boots to last for years, resisting the wear-and-tear of fast fashion." — Hugo Davis

Benjie: By sourcing our leathers from environmentally accredited European tanneries and utilising world-class outsoles like Vibram, we ensure that a pair of Busby boots doesn't end up in a landfill after a single season. They are built to be repaired, loved, and worn to the absolute limit.

Q: What is next on the horizon for Busby Boots?

Benjie: We are continuously testing new designs out in the field. Because we live the lifestyle ourselves, our product testing happens every single weekend. We're currently expanding our exploration sections, looking into specialised footwear like polo yard boots, and experimenting with unique tactical tagging details that combine utility with high-end aesthetic appeal.

Hugo: Ultimately, we want to keep encouraging people to explore with no limits. The outdoors is yours to enjoy, and we want to make sure you have the absolute best footwear to get you there safely, comfortably, and in style.

Maximise Your Footwear Performance

To get the absolute most out of your premium leather sport utility boots, proper maintenance is vital. Follow our three-step care sequence to ensure your boots remain completely weatherproof and adventure-ready for years to come.