The Bean loafer is indeed El Salvadorian & I believe made by the same guys over there who now do Sebago. Obviously the Bean product is a much lower end product. I have a pair which I never polish or look after and after 8 years they have a certain charm. New they do not.

Flicking the Bean, I often think this makes Land's End look trendy. But I've got three pair shoes of them and can't complain. Their international client service is great and alway on, it seems.

* Pair of rubber mocs. Really great for walking in snow/mud, commuting under difficult circumstances or when you just have to slip something over to go in the garden or the dustbin. I like their alien look and I am sure that I am the only one in a radius of 100km who own a pair. Maybe I am the only who wants a pair, anyway.
* Eastport blucher mocs. I wanted something with a real camp sole which wouldn't cause too much customs charge. I replaced the yellow laces with leather laces and after a while of getting used to them (4 eyelets!), I really like them
* Upland hunting moc toe boots for hiking and other real outdoor activties.

I think there are a few interesting things hidden in the world of Bean. The long version of the plastic rain jackets could be useful to be stored under the seat of a scooter.

Ha, I am STILL out of money, but I promised to accompany a friend there!!!

Alright!

JS judged mine 'worth the money'.  Wear 'em & beat 'em up. The little bitches like it rough ! 

Got some great trousers/pants/strides from Bean last year.  (Just as well - I find trousers impossible to find.)  All sold out now though, so don't get excited. 

Aside from that, I'm not impressed with Bean today.  The cords I bought last year are too thin, meaning they crease up very swiftly.  (I may even return them, if I can find something to replace them with.)

Last edited by Yuca (2013-03-06 12:00:44)

A few things on the website look okay but judging from the reviews probably aren't. If your average shopper who isn't looking at old photos or album covers for cues is still complaining that the fits are huge and quality is bad, it doesn't bode well. There's a heartbreaking tale of a man who is quietly shamed by a young woman in the supermarket line for his subpar chamois shirt in the reviews of their classic chamois. No one dast blame this man, whose only sin was to want to dress in a manner befitting a timeless american lifestyle, only to be sold short by one of the very legends of this lifestyle.

Their shetlands were still decent for the price 5-10 years ago but they haven't been offered recently.

I don't suppose that's much of a problem in the UK, where no-one has heard of L.L.Bean.  With me, in the small, dull town that I live in, the average person will just see an ageing guy wearing chocolate brown cords and think - if they think at all - he's dressed rather boringly.  That's about it really.

Any port in a storm. I understand.