Personally speaking, I had rather my money was spent in Britain on British-made shoes and boots thus keeping our own shoemaking traditions going and benefiting our own workers and economy. Both my Loake pairs (Otterburns and the Loake-made Herring Kendals) are beautifully made, especially the Otterburns with their lovely hand-burnished heavy tan leather and sturdy, welted Victory soles. As to C & J and Trickers, I have neither the money nor inclination to buy them. The Loakes are more than good enough for me.
Besides, a pair of Trickers boots may be quite wonderful but I'd rather a pair of William Lennon's at less than half the price. Trickers are undoubtedly extremely well made but there is just no way on Earth they can be as sturdy as a pair of brass-screwed and stitched Lennon's. Sure the finishing will be neater and fancier but even their Veldtschoen models can surely not take the same punishment as the Lennon oiled kip, reverse-tanned leather fell boots or B5 WW1 boots. The folks at Lennon's are also the last company in Britain making heavy boots the way they do and are absolutely brilliant at discussing customisations at all levels be it leather choices, sole construction and options, mixing styles, etc. Yes, the Trickers are much more the thing for a la-de-da, tweed shod, pheasant shoot with Lord and Lady muck but a blue collar fella like myself will be better served by the sturdy, workman-like, Peak District heavies.
In absolute sincerity, I wish you all the joy in the world wearing whatever boots and shoes you choose and thank you for your observations and experience but my path is clearly marked. I do however fancy a pair of Cheaney Tenterden's but as the leather is very similar in colour and grain to my Kendal's, I just could not justify the purchase. She'd ruddy kill me!
A' the best,
Graeme