Boot Rant
 

What's the world coming to? By the time I was twenty (this was around a quarter-century ago), I had paid the princely sum of $55 for a pair of "waffle stomper" hiking boots to wear through the slush of University of Idaho winters. Apparently, my feet have grown a half-size, making them probably too small. Darn shame, since it appears that boots of this quality and construction are unavailable now in our Solar System.

It looks like the best of the best of the best hiking boots available.........are lined with that bull**** "antimicrobial" fabric lining. Nobody.........and I mean NOBODY seems to make a fully leather lined hiking boot. Nobody.

I should take pictures of these boots. They're admirable things. The padding between the leather outsole and leather insole is still supple, as is the padded, elasticized, wrinkled-leather ankle cuff. I'm not sure these boots even COULD be worn out. Maybe I'll take them to a shoe guy and see if he can make the toe area roomy enough. Since modern society appears to have forgotten how to make a quality hiking boot.

Fill them with bags of water and stick them in the freezer.

expensive, but you get what you pay for.

http://www.hikingbootshandcrafted.com/

a little yellow tag on the bottom..
'Vibram' & weigh 20 lbs..
yup..they don't make those anymore..

Rika

post a pic supe..you got me curious.

have a pro give them a stretch. not sure they can get a whole size, tho.

Whoa! Eight months wait, and $1,600. Gulp.

Yup.

I think I will take their portrait. And yes, I think I will take them to a shoe guy and see what can be done. They need new soles anyway, which might stiffen them and straighten out the curve they've developed over the years. They're only a teensy bit too short........maybe.

i've had soles replaced. it has never worked well for me. the soles get all new and "leveled" but the insoles are still angled from my wacked out gait. it feels weird, and i end up tossing them.

pics please:)

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1285006779.jpg

Supes would be smooth leather,

these things are heavy..

Rika

Red Wing Shoes


do some scrollin'

http://www.redwingshoes.com/productresults.aspx?ProductType=Work%20Boots

You'll have to go with something a little more modern and they ain't $55.00

651 CERVINO Field Boots | Norwegian Welt | Zamberlan | Made in Italy

Yes, they are very much like these, except in smooth leather. Where did you find the picture, Rika? These have the leather collar at the top, suggesting that they might be close to what I am hoping to find.

Yup, this looks like a good boot. Glad I posted. There may be options.......

Thanks. Scrolling worked. There may be hope.....

sent PM..
Rika

::: MEINDL ::: Shoes for Actives ::: http://www.kenetrek.com/products.asp?dept=7 http://www.hermitshut.com/koalhu.html

You can also put on some thick socks, get boots wet, walk until they are dry.

Freezer trick is not as good. You can put rice in a sock, put it in the shoe, add water and that will stretch them too, but can split the seams easily too.

Limmer Boot Inc.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1285013258.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1285013282.jpg
"The Mid-Weight is a balance between the durability of the Standard and the day-long comfort of the Light Weight."

Use: off-trail; ideal for those who plan multi-level hikes on a variety of terrains

Outer: 3mm top grain, chrome-tanned outer upper, crafted from a single piece of leather

Lining: breathable all leather lining

Shank/Innersole: full-length nylon shank and leather innersole

Midsole: 5.5mm partially expanded rubber cushion midsole layer

Outsole: 8mm Yellow Label sole

Construction: Norwegian Welt (double stitch)

Average weight per pair: 3.75 lbs

Available sizes:
Women's sizes 5 - 9.5,10
Men's sizes 5.5 - 11.5,12,13,14,15,16
Men's wide sizes 5.5 - 12,13,14,15,16

I used to have a pair of Limmers - got stolen tho.

BTW - he only (makes/used to make) them to fit one foot - so choose your larger foot.

I was a Red Wing fan, but no more. There must be better boots than those. However, RW is better than anything else that is commonly available.

I think that's the key, "Commonly available."

I've been reading about Limmers for the last 1.5 hours. Very interesting.

Red Wings are pretty much all I wear. They are great boots.

My old mountainering boots were Piveta 8's. Not that was some kind of great boot.

Whites are highly thought of around here (for farming work boots).

Those are some serious boots at serious prices!

I still have my Vasque Hiker II's I bought ages ago. Fit like a glove and great in the winter.

Backpacker - Google Books

Men's Outdoor Shoes at B.A. Mason.com

Largest mail order boot company in the USA

yup, well, they are doing serious work in the wet & muddy

I don't own a pair - I ain't serious.

Interestingly, Whites started in my small hometown. Eventually moved to Spokane. Some say they make the world's best logging boot.

Okay, someone asked for pictures. Of my boots. Good thing they didn't ask for pictures of my underwear. Here are the boots:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1285093292.jpg

Beauties, eh?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1285093323.jpg

This wrinkled leather collar is padded and elasticized. The padding and elastic are still working fine.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1285093378.jpg

The interior of these boots are 100% smooth, durable leather. The ankle area is padded, and still soft. Again, these boots were purchased new around 1976. The older I get, the higher quality stuff I buy. And quite frankly, I think that if a guy were going to be a cheapskate in every area except one, he should buy quality footwear. MHO.

stuff sold today..
= for folks that want to look like hikers..
and real hikers..

you can see the quality in Supes..
take the eyelets ..
todays Academy special ..one hard pull...pfft..

I've got an old pair of boots for sale for 10 million dollars.

They must be the best boots ever made for that price! ;)

Steve has been wearing Redwings for about 25 years. Always thought they were the best work boots out there. He usually resoles twice, then discards as the uppers begin to get funky. They aren't cheap, but when you add in a couple of resoles for each pair, well, then they aren't so bad.

This last time, he decided to try something different. He went to an Army Surplus store and bought a military style boot made by Danner. He's had them a couple of weeks now and absolutely loves them. They were cheap too, only about $100 a pair. They definately look like army guy boots, but they are incredibly comfortable. We'll see how they hold up.

That's the problem with alot of the less expensive stuff - doesn't hold up. Superman's boots are a good example of "getting what you pay for" when you step up to a more expensive boot.

angela

Somebody mentioned "Limmer" boots, and I am increasingly intrigued. Here is a pic, and the instructions for measuring your foot. This would be for their "off the shelf" stock boots. About $300. They also make custom-made boots, which are much more spendy and take a LONG time to fabricate.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1285100558.jpg


Oops. The measuring instructions are PDF. You trace around your feet, and also measure the circumference of your feet at five different locations. I say that's pretty cool for a "stock" boot that is all-leather (including leather lined), one-piece construction (one seam, not located behind your heal), Vibram sole, etc., for $300.


Angela, I'm guessing that if Steve had two pair of these boots, he'd be good for at least 20 years.

Aw heck Super - he's already been good for a LOT longer than that!!! ;)

angela

I wear boots everyday at work and have tried many. The best and most comfortable that I have found are the Oakley SI boots. They are about $200 and worth every cent.

Oakley S.I. ASSAULT COMBAT BOOTS 8 INCH | Oakley Store

Another old company that makes great boots. I sold them 34 years ago and wore them as well. http://www.chippewaboots.com/

these look "old school".... Men's Merrell Hiking Boots / Merrell Vintage Alpine Hiking Boots— <br />an Orvis Exclusive! -- Orvis so do these.... http://www.schnees.com/product/Vasque-Sundowner-GTX-Mens/boots-shoes

Had a great pair of Vasque hiking boots that I wore summer and winter (very breathable and dry) for 10 years..

They were $200 a pair, 12 years ago. The same model (but the leather is not the same) is now about $160..

Yes, these are those!

Schnees BTW, makes excellent PAC boots.