Lets talk about boots

[O,just,O]

G'day Rev & welcome.
The 2246 has the rubber pu sole that I asked about. How old are your 2246's ?
O.

[Evil D]

Here's the Hytest steel toes i wear....very very comfortable boots. Best shock absorption in a boot i've ever felt which is awesome if you work on hard floors.

http://www.hytest.com/Shop/detail.aspx? ... id=&stid=M

[Simple Man]

I have to wear steel toe boot for work. For me, Wolverines just do not hold together, they're comfortable, but do not last more than 6-8 months. Mainly soles crack or stitching comes apart. The bonded soles and much worse than the stitched soles.

I have come to really like Rocky boots, the waterproof ones really hold up and end up being pretty comfortable once broken in. I've got a pair of Redwings from 7-8 years ago that are tough, but I still haven't gotten them broken in enough to be comfortable. I'll wear them when I know I'll be abusing them, but not need waterproofing, leak like a sieve.

You can stand in a creek all day with the Rocky's and be bone dry that evening.

I order mine from BootBay.com They are based out of central TN and have live CS that generally pick up but have always gotten back with me within 1/2 hour when I left a message. They will price match almost any site on the web, ship free, and are quick. They are also good about returns if something doesn't work. It works real well ESPECIALLY if you know what you can wear ie. I know Rocky boot work for me.

[Rev. Chuck]

G'day Rev & welcome.
The 2246 has the rubber pu sole that I asked about. How old are your 2246's ?
O.

They are about 5 years old, I just drop by redwing from time to time to get them cleaned!

I'll take a pic later!

[Evil D]

Finally got myself a pair of Corcorans, and so far they're living up to their legendary hype. They're one of the most comfortable pairs of boots i've had on right out of the box and they should be awesome once broken in. They have a very soft step to them (as opposed to that "cowboy boot" hard thud you get when your heal steps down on some boots).

http://www.corcoranandmatterhorn.com/It ... egoryID=28

[Jay_Ev]

I had a pair of Red Wings and they served me well for many years. I replaced them with a pair of Chippewa boots seen in the pic below. The pair I have is made in the USA. They have since moved overseas & started making them in China.

[JNewell]

Having spent a lot of time one the wildland firelines I recommend Nicks & Whites boots. Nothing better when it comes to work boots and for those that spend a lot of time on their feet. I was also in the Army years ago and these boots where infinitely better than any military boots. Expensive - but worth every penny once you get them broken in. I personally favor the Nicks in the low-arch style.

http://nicksboots.com/

http://whitesboots.com/

As for hiking boots, these are the best in my opinion (also make pretty good work boots).

http://www.limmerboot.com/

All of these can be re-soled and repaired so they last much longer than average boots.

I have two different pairs of Limmers that I more or less live in, one made to order and the other off-the-shelf. They suit my feet better than anything else I've ever worn.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Wescos. Before my feet more or less disintegrated, I wore a pair of Jobmasters for many years with great satisfaction.

[jeep45238]

I have Doc Martin, Wolverine, and Red Wing. All are great boots, with the Red Wing being the newest. I prefer the Red Wing, then the old Wolverine, then the Doc's (made a mistake on my part, got a 6 inch boot, not the boot's fault). I'll be giving Doc another go here in a few months though. No matter the brand, 6 inch boots just don't work for my body build well and build up blisters badly on the calf, but 8 incher's don't. All of them can be resoled, and are safety toes, which is important to me (the later mandated by work).


I brush the set I wear the most down weekly with a shoe shine brush to knock the crud off, wash it with saddle soap, and apply mink oil paste by HAND every few weeks. The leather soaks it up like you wouldn't believe, makes it very soft, and gives it a natural shine. It also tends to water proof the leather and darken it a lot.

[rosconey]

when i posted earlier about redwing i forgot i had a pair of usa chippewa loggers-
they are my good winter boots,man are they comfy and well built-best part was the price-i think they were about 70 bucks,i remember the paper work for rebuilds cost more than the shoes-75$-
these arent seconds either,a local place called herb philipsons had them on clearance-

http://www.russellmoccasin.com/index.html

man these guys have some nice boots-love the thula thula mid cuts-

[JNewell]

They have since moved overseas & started making them in China.

And how do we feel about that? :eek: :o :D

[Evil D]

Corcorans are made in the USA too...which i really like. I'm not die hard against stuff made in China but it's like anything else, it's nice if it's made here at home.

I've had a few pair of Docs, and the one thing that will stop me from ever buying another pair again, is that after a year of wearing them both pair caved in the insole right under my big toe, right in the same place on both pair of boots and right at about a year of wearing them. The rest of the boot was hardly worn at all and this basically destroyed them. Aside from that, i can't stand the new tread pattern they use on most of their boots...it doesn't offer much traction at all. I also tried a pair of their steel toe boots once and they were terrible, at least for my feet anyways.

[tortoise]

I've got a pair of Red Wing 207's, had 'em more than ten years it must be. Great boots. I've worn them a lot; original soles, but they're all but smooth. They can be replaced. These are excellent quality, U.S. made boots. I tried a different model for work years ago, and found them much to hard on the feet to stand in all day.

I have a pair of Chippewa engineer boots. -Not so comfortable to walk in for long distances, but they saved my bacon in a motorcycle crash once. Well made.

I have a pair of Dr. Martens Flex Link shoes. Very comfortable, but the soles are super soft gummy-rubber, they wouldn't protect you from a nail or similar.

I wear Danners at work. I've worn Acadias, great but heavy; Strikers (2 pairs of 4.5 and an 8") great but not durable or repairable; and currently the Patrols, so far outstanding and my favorite of the bunch.

For restoring a great shine, I might think about sending them in to Red Wing for a repair. They'll tweak the leather so you won't be starting in such a hole to get the shine you want.

Good luck.

[O,just,O]

Well fellas I got a pair of Red Wing boots, the 875 with the crepe wedge sole in a 6". They fit well new, so will only get better. Apear to be very well made so they should last. Now just gotta get to breakin em in.
O.

[Evil D]

I've always heard the key to good fitting boots is to buy them a bit on the small side, and let them stretch and form to your foot. I had to argue with the salesman at the Redwing store because he wanted to put me in a 12, but there was a solid inch and a half of boot past my toe and i knew they were just way too big. I bought a 10.5 which is way smaller than what i wear, but they fit like a glove now.

You may wanna take the leap of faith and dunk them in water, drain them as best as you can and wear them wet for a whole day. That will break them in for sure and they'll shape to your foot.

[speedmaster]

My two pair are a ten year old pair of Timberlands that I just rewaxed with snow-proof.

And my Alden Indy 405s.

Review: Alden Repro "Indy" 405 Boots
"Remember the old computer science problem called the traveling salesman problem? I was thinking about it when wondering if there was a more direct route from Massachusetts (where Alden shoes are made) to Western, NY, one that didn't go through Honolulu. ;-)"
http://amateureconblog.blogspot.com/200 ... boots.html

[merthyrmafia]

I have been meaning to write a short little reveiw regarding a pair of hill walking boots iv'e been wearing over the past few months,I will tell you a little bit about myself, i'm what you would call a walking machine, I love walking and if you gave me a pair of modern day trainers even though i'm 11st 10lb I would give them back to you in three months ready for the bin, I have through the years owned Miendl boots, Brasher, Lowe alpine, you name them if they are top quality iv'e probably had them, but these last pair I would put them top of my list, for every award, supreme comfort and fit' flexabilty like walking on air toughness gortex of course the technical detail of the boot plus the finish is flawless, they are pricey, but you tell me anything that's good dont come cheap, got them from Cotswold clothing £145, wouldn't buy another boot after wearing these.


The Salomon Quest 4D GTX
The Quest 4D incorporates Salomon’s highly respected trail running technologies into a lightweight mountain boot. The 4D Advanced Chassis features dynamic cushioning and multi-directional stabilisation while the Contagrip sole gives plenty of grip. The GORE-TEX Performance Comfort lining keeps feet nice and dry and the protective heel and toe rubber caps guard against those annoying rock scuffs

[zed4130]

Ive had the same pair of brasher hill masters for over 12 years, i had them re-soled a couple of years ago by brasher, they are so comfy, they cost me £120 and that was a lot back then considering you can by possibly better for less now, i was in my local camping shop wed chatting about a new pair for the summer, im only going to pay around £40-£50 as there was a few there for this kind of price and there just for warmer weather, i wear my brashers everyday and not just for hiking, good leather boots can last years if well looked after, the onlt thing wrong with mne is where a mouse has eaten some of the inside lol, but they still keep my feet warm and dry,

paul



Dam mouse

[Evil D]

I haven't given up on my old Redwings for sure...they'll probably get new soles, but for $70 i couldn't justify the price right now and went the extra distance and put that towards new boots. It was half out of need and half out of want, just because i've always wanted a pair of Corcorans. Most boots have something about them that i don't like even if i love them...this is the first pair that is awesome all around. They're tight as **** around the toes still but they're breaking in quite nicely.

[Handwrecker]

I've been rocking the same pair of Rocky boots for almost 5 years now. This is the longest (by far) any pair of boots has ever lasted me. I wear these about 5-6 months out of the year all day everyday, and they just won't quit. Gore-tex, insulated, and awesome. They handle it all.



Imagine these, but way more worn and without the lace fringe leather piece at the bottom.

[Evil D]

I'm glad you like your Rocky's....i've had this pair for almost a year:


And, if they would fit into my garbage disposal, i would've fed them to it 6 months ago. Worst boot i ever bought. They were ok comfortable when i bought them but the more they broke in the worse they got up until the point that i just couldn't bring myself to wear them.