A marathon shoe, forty years on
Bolton Harriers wore a version of this shoe to the New York marathon back in 1981, and the Ensign has barely paused since. This Universal Works edition keeps that running pedigree, pairing 600D nylon fused with thermal-regulating velvet on the upper with a pigskin collar lining that breathes properly, while a Freudenberg midsole and Vibram NEWFLEX outsole bring real flex and cushioning underfoot. Over four decades of refinement land in something that still feels built for the road rather than just borrowed from it.
- Runs small — size up from your usual for the best fit
- Freudenberg midsole technology adds flex without losing structure
- Hand-finished EVA midsole and Vibram® NEWFLEX outsole for durable, energy-efficient cushioning
- Breathable pigskin collar lining for added comfort against the ankle
- Pig Suede
- 600D reinforced nylon upper fused with thermal-regulating velvet
How to measure
Place your foot on top of a sheet of paper with your heel next to the wall and mark the point of the farthest most toe, then measure the distance from the wall. Repeat this procedure for the other foot and compare the measurements against our table.
The "last" is a technical term referring to the length from the heel to the longest point of the foot, usually the tip of the big toe. This measurement plays a key role in determining the shoe's overall fit and structure.
Please note: This shoe runs small. We recommend choosing one size larger than your usual size.
| UK | US | EU | LAST (CM) | LAST WIDTH (CM) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 4 | 36 | 22.3 | 8.102 |
| 4 | 5 | 37 | 22.97 | 8.26 |
| 5 | 6 | 38 | 23.63 | 8.418 |
| 6 | 7 | 39 | 24.3 | 8.576 |
| 6.5 | 7.5 | 40 | 24.96 | 8.734 |
| 7 | 8 | 41 | 25.63 | 8.892 |
| 8 | 9 | 42 | 26.3 | 9.05 |
| 9 | 10 | 43 | 26.96 | 9.208 |
| 9.5 | 10.5 | 44 | 27.63 | 9.366 |
| 10.5 | 11.5 | 45 | 28.23 | 9.524 |
| 11 | 12 | 46 | 28.96 | 9.682 |
| 12 | 13 | 47 | 29.63 | 9.84 |
In 1971, a Bolton cobbler dropped a bead of EVA into a shoe mould and, by most accounts, invented the modern trainer sole. Norman Walsh had already made running shoes for the 1948 Olympic team and boots for a Cup-winning Bolton Wanderers, but it was watching runners struggle across the Pennines that pushed him to build something genuinely new: the Walsh PB, made with fell-running pioneer Pete Bland in 1970, is credited as the world's first purpose-built fell shoe. Sir Chris Bonington's team wore Walsh boots on Everest. Don Ritchie set a 100km world record in a pair of Tornados that stood unbroken for forty years. None of it made Walsh a household name — it just made the shoes very, very good.
That quiet obsession with getting the details right still runs through the brand today. The silhouettes are the same ones Norman drew decades ago, updated with a sharper colour palette and the odd unexpected material — British Millerain waxed cotton, Yorkshire melton wool, Ventile. Walsh has become something of an open secret among people who've done their homework: worn on the fells, in Wembley finals, and now on the feet of anyone who wants proper English shoemaking heritage without the shouting.