Durable shoes
Re: Durable shoes
Ten minutes on the buffing wheel of my bench grinder.
-
- Posts: 1744
- Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2018 3:42 am
Re: Durable shoes
Well now, those look like some damn nice shoes!
Re: Durable shoes
really good work ego, congrats on your new awesome boots
Re: Durable shoes
Thanks guys. I am happy with how they turned out. I conditioned them with some mink oil. I will have to find a pair of the correct orange and gold shoelaces.
-
- Posts: 401
- Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2020 12:54 am
Re: Durable shoes
Powerful.
Excellent buy.
Excellent buy.
Re: Durable shoes
Wow those really came back to life. I have an old pair of redwings. Really great boots. $5 is an amazing price. I’m surprised you got a shine out of them. Mine clean up but they are permanently scuffed up and look matte.
-
- Posts: 197
- Joined: Sun Sep 01, 2013 11:40 am
- Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Re: Durable shoes
Nice boots!
I scored a pair of very lightly used White's Smoke Jumpers for $90 off of eBay a couple years ago. $530 retail price. They are absolute units. 8oz leather.
I scored a pair of very lightly used White's Smoke Jumpers for $90 off of eBay a couple years ago. $530 retail price. They are absolute units. 8oz leather.
Re: Durable shoes
I think the mink oil glossiness will fade soon.
Last night I was wearing the boots for a walk through the park. While they are nice, they feel like I am wearing bricks on my feet.
Last night I was wearing the boots for a walk through the park. While they are nice, they feel like I am wearing bricks on my feet.
Re: Durable shoes
I wore mine last weekend while I snaked a drain in the basement. Stood in 1” of water for hours with no leaks. Red Wings are really awesome work boots. They take awhile to get used to. I got my first pair with a “boot allowance” from my first job that required safety toe shoes. The older guys told me to wear them everyday day and night for a couple of weeks to break them in after oiling them. One of the guys suggested heating them at low heat in the oven before oiling. Having new boots was a ticket to hazing in that job.
I wear mine for yard work now. Very durable shoes. I prefer the USA made not the Irish Setter line made overseas.
I wear mine for yard work now. Very durable shoes. I prefer the USA made not the Irish Setter line made overseas.
-
- Posts: 804
- Joined: Fri Feb 01, 2019 8:40 pm
Re: Durable shoes
Did your wife end up getting a pair of Merrell Wilderness boots? How did they turn out?
EDIT: Ah whoops, I should've read all the comments in the post. No, Merrells.
Last edited by mathiverse on Sun Feb 07, 2021 5:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
- Posts: 804
- Joined: Fri Feb 01, 2019 8:40 pm
Re: Durable shoes
I'm in the market for some boots appropriate for walking a few miles through snow/slush.
I had a question about boots in general though, are women and men's boots differently shaped? If there is the same model of boot with a men's version and a women's version what differences would one expect between the two of the same size (eg both EU 43)?
I had a question about boots in general though, are women and men's boots differently shaped? If there is the same model of boot with a men's version and a women's version what differences would one expect between the two of the same size (eg both EU 43)?
Re: Durable shoes
You might look into Sorel Caribou boots. They're somewhat heavy, and not sports-oriented, on top of not being all that fashion-y, but for walking in snow, slush, water, crud, etc., they should do the trick alright. The bottom part is rubber and so it is completely waterproof. Like rain boots. Sorels are kind of pricey, but you can probably find similar boots at Walmart (or Canadian Tire if you're the right country). Those boots usually come with a liner like that (https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com ... UY395_.jpg) and they are warm.
I have a pair of boots like these. They're Kamik. I paid like 40 (Canadian) bucks on sale 15 years ago. They are still my main and only winter boots. They are in palliative care now -- the sole was worn to the point where there were holes, so I contact-cemented new "soles" (bike tires) under them last year -- but... still working.
If you want to do winter hiking though, it's probably better to get some hiking-specific boots (which will be lighter with a gaiter on top to prevent snow from getting in), even though Sorels would obviously work. They're just more heavy.
I have a pair of boots like these. They're Kamik. I paid like 40 (Canadian) bucks on sale 15 years ago. They are still my main and only winter boots. They are in palliative care now -- the sole was worn to the point where there were holes, so I contact-cemented new "soles" (bike tires) under them last year -- but... still working.
If you want to do winter hiking though, it's probably better to get some hiking-specific boots (which will be lighter with a gaiter on top to prevent snow from getting in), even though Sorels would obviously work. They're just more heavy.
-
- Posts: 5406
- Joined: Wed Jul 28, 2010 3:28 am
- Location: Wettest corner of Orygun
Re: Durable shoes
2021 update. Just switched to the second pair after wearing through the heel stitching of the first pair. The soles were just about done, too, so it's time.George the original one wrote: ↑Tue May 14, 2019 10:41 pm2019 update. I'm buying two new pairs of the Georgia Boot Company's Romeos. My quirky right foot, the one with a large bunion, has caused the leather to crack and I'll probably wear through pretty soon. The rubber soles have continued to hold up. So lifespan is easily double what I was getting with Merrell shoes.
-
- Posts: 265
- Joined: Thu Jan 07, 2021 7:45 pm
Re: Durable shoes
I have a pair of Ecco shoes that I bought in 2008 that are indestructible. They will probably last another 5 years! Paid $150 back then and well worth it. Sole / footbed construction is more like a boot, but no ankle support. Maybe these were still made in Europe at the time. I’ve bought many pairs of Ecco since then. They last a long time. Unfortunately in the past five years or so they’ve also started to move Manufacturing to lower cost countries, so not sure quality is still the same. I believe their HQ is in Jacob’s home country?
I have a pair of EMS hiking boots from 1994 - still in great shape. I just put in good insole inserts as needed. Those were made in USA. They haven’t been used often enough, so low miles. An important reason to get retired soon!
In 2012, I bought a pair of Italian made Lowa hiking boots. They cost euro 200 and fit like a glove. Those will last a very long time as well.
I have a pair of EMS hiking boots from 1994 - still in great shape. I just put in good insole inserts as needed. Those were made in USA. They haven’t been used often enough, so low miles. An important reason to get retired soon!
In 2012, I bought a pair of Italian made Lowa hiking boots. They cost euro 200 and fit like a glove. Those will last a very long time as well.
-
- Posts: 952
- Joined: Fri Aug 03, 2012 9:05 pm
Re: Durable shoes
Hopefully they do. However, I had a pair of Lowa Ronan GTXs fall apart after less than a year of use.Married2aSwabian wrote: ↑Fri Oct 22, 2021 7:58 amIn 2012, I bought a pair of Italian made Lowa hiking boots. They cost euro 200 and fit like a glove. Those will last a very long time as well.
YMMLV
Re: Durable shoes
Following Jacob's post about the Hanwag boots, and after some research, I ordered myself a pair of Gruntens.
Got them yesterday and started wearing them right away. Followed the advice on how to properly lace them up.
Oh man....
I've never worn anything so comfortable. And I mean anything (not just footwear)! These are the Ferrari of boots.
I'm going to take damn good care of these guys. Got the waterproofing sponge bottle and some wax. Also will try to keep them dry and not too hot or cold. Great to hear that some have lasted half a lifetime.
Hats off to the makers! And to Jacob for this tip.
Got them yesterday and started wearing them right away. Followed the advice on how to properly lace them up.
Oh man....
I've never worn anything so comfortable. And I mean anything (not just footwear)! These are the Ferrari of boots.
I'm going to take damn good care of these guys. Got the waterproofing sponge bottle and some wax. Also will try to keep them dry and not too hot or cold. Great to hear that some have lasted half a lifetime.
Hats off to the makers! And to Jacob for this tip.
Re: Durable shoes
I wear the most neutral colour Ecco goretex shoes 99+% of the time. Other than that:
- a pair of nubuck/goretex mountaineering/trail shoes. They're not comfortable when cycling. I hardly wear these.
- a pair of shoes for marriages or similarly formal occasions. Last time I wore those was at my brother's wedding.
- a pair of cheap old boots. They're at our summer house. I use them when working.
I'm thinking of getting a pair of Hanwag Grünten shoes for when these fail. I wonder how suitable they are for cycling though. Are they flexible enough for that?
- a pair of nubuck/goretex mountaineering/trail shoes. They're not comfortable when cycling. I hardly wear these.
- a pair of shoes for marriages or similarly formal occasions. Last time I wore those was at my brother's wedding.
- a pair of cheap old boots. They're at our summer house. I use them when working.
I'm thinking of getting a pair of Hanwag Grünten shoes for when these fail. I wonder how suitable they are for cycling though. Are they flexible enough for that?
Re: Durable shoes
Yeah good question - while comfortable to wear, they do feel solid as a brick when walking, so I'm guessing maybe not the best option for cycling. But you could probably get used to cycling with them if you really wanted them to be your "everything" shoe. Also the toe feels extremely firm, so I guess toe protection is probably a plus when cycling a lot.loutfard wrote: ↑Mon Jan 22, 2024 5:29 amI wear the most neutral colour Ecco goretex shoes 99+% of the time. Other than that:
- a pair of nubuck/goretex mountaineering/trail shoes. They're not comfortable when cycling. I hardly wear these.
- a pair of shoes for marriages or similarly formal occasions. Last time I wore those was at my brother's wedding.
- a pair of cheap old boots. They're at our summer house. I use them when working.
I'm thinking of getting a pair of Hanwag Grünten shoes for when these fail. I wonder how suitable they are for cycling though. Are they flexible enough for that?
Personally I don't cycle much - more a fan of walking and trains.
Re: Durable shoes
The Hanwag Grünten are B on the ABCD scale. That's a heavy boot but still suitable for general use. A trip to work or the city should be fine. They do not look suitable for if you want to cycle as fast or as far as you can. Lower boots (which do not cover the ankle) are better for cycling.
What type of cycling are you thinking about?
Last edited by delay on Tue Jan 23, 2024 7:27 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Durable shoes
A few km to/from the train station, 10 km occasionally.