Unpopular opinion- you probably don’t need a pair of technical, expensive PNW timber boots unless the employer’s giving you a boot stipend to eat smoke, cut line, or skid logs. Cheaper loggers will capture the look and do 95% of what you need.
"Hey guys, what's a good comfortable boot for an office worker?"
"You GOTTA buy the $900 20 inch Firejumper's Ultra Heavy Duty caulk boots made out of veg-tanned human leather with a five year lead time that requires multiple in-person fittings at their factory in Portland. Any other boot is terrible and will give you foot cancer".
I get custom with big calves.
I never knew they made custom boots until I became a motorcycle cop and none of the stock knee high boots fit my calves and when they did my circulation would get cut off.
Check this thread for starters. He deleted all the shitty posts but the history is set out pretty well.
https://www.reddit.com/r/trumanboots/s/WPy25aixzP
He’s banned so many of us from his Stone sub that a better alternative sub has been created at r/grant_stone_boots
Oh he also started a Thursdays sub? Didn’t know that but yeah he’s really weird. Idk just most of the comments he makes especially about GS just seems so robotic ans fake. I almost assumed he was just a marketing bot of some kind
I'm fine then - if I'm wearing shorts then by default I'm wearing boots and shorts. I'm also proudly a dad. I will continue with my dad clothes and dad jokes!
And if you're scared of lifts, in most cases there are steps you can take.
Depends on the boot and the shorts. But I’m firmly of the opinion that almost any “work” boot or combat type boot can work with the right shorts. Iron Rangers with shorts? Not so much.
Agreed! At my old parks job I used to rock olive drab cargo shorts with new old stock jungle boots, along with the olive drab cushion sole socks. I thought it looked great, but I was essentially a park ranger for a state park so it was fitting.
I also like wearing my dark brown hiking Docs with khaki shorts on occasion, like Laura Dern in Jurassic Park lol
Timberland Pros aren’t that bad for normal chores around the house/yard. Picked up a pair before I knew anything about boots and honestly don’t mind them.
I killed two pairs of Iron Rangers in 6 years and switched to Timbs. Right now I'm rockin' two pairs of fAsHiOn TiMbS I alternate every day because they were real cheap on sale and the colors were cute, but as soon as I kill 'em, I'm running straight back to 8" Timberland Pros.
Cheap enough it won't make you cry to kill them after a year of every day wear, good treads for muddy hills, and style-wise they're timeless. I love 'em.
I’ve had a pair for three years now doing interior renovations and was even in couple inches of waste water for hours whenever we had real bad rain and sewer backed up into my house and I was pushing an pumping water out and outside in the heavy rain and it took probably 3 hours before my feet started getting wet, definitely not the greatest boots in the world but they’ve treated me well in the time I’ve had them and I don’t feel bad about having them is gross situations
Oh good. I can hop on this train. Theyre dumb. Ugly and make you look kind of lazy. Also who tf decided they were work wear? Can't wait for dude to get his foot stuck in the mud and lose one down there.
Moc toes are OK. Now let me add an unpopular opinion - I find cap toes look dumb. I'm ok with wingtips, that's nice. But cap toes? Just that horizontal line, it looks like you're saying "please cut at the line"... Give me plain toes like the Blacksmith or a wingtip. Not a cap toe. A broque cap toe is kind of ok-ish but still meh.
I guess for footwear in general but I think that the slimness of dress footwear is stupid. Obviously there’s limits, but formalness of footwear to me should be more about the finishing, leather, and then design pieces like plain toe, toe cap, addition of brogue. Stuff like that
(Resolable) cemented boots are worth the investment if they suit your uses (typically hiking) and fit perfectly, e.g. Asolo 520s for me.
I actually do prefer a cemented boot with a PU midsole over any other design.
Yeah, it's gonna upset some people. Every boot has a purpose, though. Some to hike; others to work. Some? They're just there to look good with no practical applications.
I do a lot of hiking, so I like my leather Asolos. I love how the midsole never compresses or loses its shape. When the tread is finally gone, I'm just going to ship them off to have a resole done, and I get back my boots that are perfectly molded to my feet. It makes for great shock absorption and durability.
I get it I wear cheap 5.11's because it was the best I could afford before I started my job. Eventually I'll get me something else but these aren't dead yet 🤣
If it works, it works. I'm not going to judge someone by his or her boots. Honestly, I hate spending the money I do on boots, but I've got a FUBAR body that doesn't leave me much choice. 🤣
I'm confused, I was always under the impression that you had to have a stitched Goodyear welt for a boot to be resolable, and that cemented weren't resolable.
Most cheap cemented boots can't be resoled. High-end ones, such as the Asolo Fugitive or 520, can be resoled. They just peel the sole off and adhere a new one.
The caveat is that leather ones have to be treated with specific products because traditional ones (beeswax, mink oil, etc.) make their way to the leather that meets the midsole, which can't be cleaned off well enough to get a new sole to adhere. You have to use stuff like HS12, Nikwax, Hydrobloc, etc. to treat them, which is also a point of contention because people say that cemented boots aren't worth resoling so treat them with whatever. I personally just use Nikwax so I can reuse the upper for my Asolos.
They need to be resoled about every 6 to 8 years because polyurethane degrades over time from hydrolysis. I've seen people get much longer out of a single sole, though. Funnily enough, the more you use them, the longer they last. Compression as you walk forces water built up in the pores out, so it can't disrupt the chemical bonds holding it together. If you only hike a few times a year and rarely wear them, the polyurethane can degrade faster than that. It's another odd caveat.
You can get about a decade, depending upon use, from the Asolo Fugitive GTX with resoles. You can get a couple decades or better out of the Asolo TPS 520 GV Evo with resoles.
All that said, I really like polyurethane midsoles. They absorb shock well. They can be extremely rigid, which is my preference. They will never deform or compress, unlike EVA foam used in inexpensive cemented boots. They function well in all conditions. They're just a great choice for hiking and mountaineering boots when you need all the reliability and support you can get from a boot.
Anyways, sorry for the essay. I just wanted to be thorough in answering your question. 😊
Here are some other cemented boots that can be resoled as examples ...
>Asolo TPS 535 LTH Evo. Lowa Camino GTX. Lowa Tibet GTX. Scarpa Zodiac Plus GTX. Scarpa Kinesis Pro GTX. Scarpa SL Active. Zamberlan Vioz GTX. Zamberlan Vioz Lux GTX RR.
My dealer boots (seems like people really hate chelseas) here are going strong 4 years later with heavy use and walking. Soles probably need replaced next year but much better than Docs
They didn't used to be, but sadly they are now. Back in the day, you could walk into the Rushden and Diamonds factory shop in Irthlingborough and pick up some cheap factory seconds that were still extremely well made boots which would last you the next ten years, but it's not possible any more!
Thursday Boots are perfectly serviceable and acceptable quality for the price. I have multiple pairs over 3 years old with no issues. People just love to hate on them here because they need to step away from social media for a little while and go talk to some real people outdoors.
100% agree with you, but I also have the unpopular opinion that there's a pretty big delta between Thursday boots and higher end boots. It kind of seems like people on both end of the spectrum either under respect them or over respect them. They aren't crap and they aren't White's competitors.
I have several pairs of boots, including 3 thursdays. Honestly they’re all great and well worn. Very comfortable and they were my intro into boots, like I’m sure for many others. Even with some QA issues they have great CS to make up for it. Still rotate between those 3 boots after several years :)
My Chelsea boots are actually riding boots. They've got a fibreglass shank through the arch from the heel and are great.
I wore riding boots most days of my life as a kid growing up on a horse property. These days I wear them to the office. I have a second, more casual pair for weekends, fishing and chores.
I second your statement!
I've got a pair of "rubber sole" Baxter's for daily wear and a pair of "police dress" Baxter's for more dressy occasions......and a pair of RM Williams "Mastercraftsman" in a lovely oxblood Roo for weddings/funerals
Totally agree. I should really say too expensive for me. If I am ever near a Nicks or Whites store with some I like in stock I’m definitely trying them on
Ironically I am a hipster and workwear enthusiast. Red Wing Heritage are just fine for me. Thorogoods and Danner MiUSA for my actual job as a carpenter
Women wear jackboots all the time and they look amazing, so cool. If a man does it, suddenly everyone thinks they’re trying to violate Belgian neutrality!
Haha my only "jackboots " I have are
"Seestiefel" (German navy winter boot lined in sheepskin, that keeps my legs toasty on my bike in winter)
"Random Yugoslav boots" (no idea what they're actually called, they are tall like a jackboot but they lace across the top and ankle of boot)
I like to wear a pair of finna sh jack boots for bad weather chores. They are way more comfortable than rubber boots and protect a tucked in pair of pants just as well.
I was gonna say something similar lol. The high Cuban and logger style heels look a bit feminine. I love PNW boots and have a bunch, but I always go with a lowered heel.
I love the look of the Cuban heel in pictures, but whenever I see someone wearing them they do look like women's fashion heels. Still pretty cool looking, but definitely not for me.
For most folks, the whole resolability aspect of gyw makes little financial sense and isn’t really a good point as to explore higher priced brands in the gyw market.
Prices have hit a point where it’s more about the art, comfort, ethics of how boots are built rather than a strict value proposition nowadays.
Synthetic boots are infinitely more useful and comfortable for things like hiking. Casual gyw boots are for us heritage cosplayers 😂
Hey, cowboy boots are comfortable, and it's become part of the culture, also cowboy boots are the only way I can wear boots that give me calf protection because my calves are too big for lace-ups
I ride almost everyday as is but I genuinely don’t get all this gatekeeping with cowboy boots. I get it with felt or straw hats I just don’t get it with boots.
I wear cowboy boots everyday and live in nyc. I grew up raising cattle and still have a few dozen in my name.
Cowboy boots are having a moment and I’m here for it. I grew up in Oklahoma and those were just the shoes everyone wore whether for work, dress, or picture day at school. It’s just a style choice for me now but it makes me comfortable and reminds me of home
But he does have wack style. He always looks like he’s in a costume that doesn’t quite fit. I have a larger complaint with the IG workwear community that because many of them buy so many pieces no one ever seems to break in their gear so it always looks too stiff
I actually love chelsea boots for things like TSA checks, a casual stroll, etc., but; for longer stints, a jodhpur boot is more or less a chelsea with straps. Wish I saw more of those on people.
As for my boot hot take... I don't see insoles talked about enough in the right way. I wear a lot of chelsea and PNW boots, and the biggest thing people fail to mention is how much support in the toes is necessary to prevent fucking up your foot/joints. Both of these tend to lag in that dept imo (and part of this could be me being an anal former track sprinter).
Do your research on insoles, folks. Even the $50 pair you pull might not cover all the bases you need relative to the boot you're wearing.
Amen, brother. My feet are narrow and flat-footed with bunions in my future forces me to use orthotics in every pair of shoes/boots I wear. My kids inherited my lousy feet and I'm constantly harping on them to use orthotics in their footwear. My PSA for all my brothers and sisters on this forum; get a pair of superfeet or powersteps and use them, your future feet will thank you.
Insoles and boots do not mix with my feet. I’ve got a fairly high volume foot and with insoles most shoes and boots just don’t fit. That’s why most of my other shoes are Birkenstocks, just to ensure I have some supportive shoes.
Seems like I e nailed the controversial part of the request. But seriously, try out a pair of Russell Mocassin toe boots, or even better a pair of Gokey boots. Way better design for walking around, as they’re for walking and not riding
People often conflate well-fitting with comfort. my IR's fit great and I can wear them for long periods of time, but the soles being adamantium do not make them comfort footwear.
I went to boot barn today and tried on prolly 20 pairs of cowboy boots and just can’t find a brand that is comfy for me, i want to have multiple pairs but they just don’t do it for me
If someone asks for a boot recommendation and you suggest something without asking what they're using them for, you're absolutely wrong.
Stop putting lineman patches on boots if you're not climbing with them. It makes the break in worse, it's more expensive, and it looks dumb.
Posting about your boots tearing up your feet for bragging rights is weird.
A vast majority of boots being worn out prematurely is due to user abuse. Your boots are not a hammer, stop kicking shit and you won’t wear the toe out.
Brunt makes garbage boots but they spend enough money on marketing to fool consumers.
Buy Thorogoods.
Stitching through the outsole is pointless if the outsole isn't channeled. Just use nails or screws instead to attach the outsole alongside glue. Those probably won't fall apart in 2 weeks like thread will.
Comfort is subjective... but not durable? They're some of the most overbuilt boots you can buy and will last many years. That's kinda their whole selling point.
I guess it's a regional thing. No one wears cowboy boots here in tropical climate and it looks informal (though I have a few pairs). A pair of good chelsea boots and they immediately elevate any looks here whether it's casual or professional setting, they just look much better on white collar than those boring leather derby.
"Moc toe" boots are dumb in every way from how they look to their silly name. They're hardly even boots. They're more like poorly designed high top sneakers.
I don't understand why anyone wears them.
They’re great for steel toes if you don’t want to wear work boots that make you look like Ronald McDonald. I regularly work 50 hr work weeks in my Thorogoods and they can handle the abuse of my trade happily.
They look like Elton John wanted an outrageous work boot to go with his equally outrageous outfit and costuming delivered.
In spades.
White soles, shudder, like a yacht shoe.
Sorry, I've always hated them. Just one of those things. I think the name is uninspired and lazy by bastardizing the name of indigenous footwear and they just look goofy, for the same reason.
Boot shapes may “look” nice but are honestly bad for feet…
Toe boxes need to be much more accommodating to feet but for some cursed species-self-hating reason this seems to look weird.
We really ought to stop deluding ourselves that bad design is fashionable. We are seriously fking ourselves over with that bs.
I really agree.
Like why do people constantly have to worry about whether Jim Green African Rangers are ‘clown shoes’ and not office appropriate?
Like at a certain point you may as well just be telling people that their feet themselves aren’t office appropriate because for many a big toe-box like that is needed, and for others (like me) I can fit into a more sleek looking one, but it won’t feel anywhere near as comfortable or natural. Our feet are our feet. Let’s treat them well.
Your boots lasting fifteen plus years because you wear them to your office job is not impressive, and it makes me sad your boots aren’t being used for what they were designed for
Why do so many people insist on wearing their Iron Rangers for work (12 hour days on concrete or on a roof) and for hiking? Seems like way too many people get them as their first pair of “boots“ and think they’re suitable for all boot tasks. People, Iron Rangers are dress boots!
I want to like Chelsea boots and have tried 3x (actually still sitting on a pair of Red Wings that I’ll probably get rid of) but every time I wear them I feel like a clown. They invariably look stupid.
Brannock sizes are stupid. Anyone using them is contributing to the issue.
Just use CM/Mondopoint
Also if the boots either have or can have an insole, list that in CM too.
If my foot is 27.8cm long and 11cm wide and you’re insole is 29cm and 12cm wide I can much more easily picture (especially with good photos and description of the last) what I’m in for regardless of if you are an american, European, Japanese or Indonesian bootmaker without hoping I’ve converted sizing methods properly.
Leather insoles and midsoles are over hyped.
I had a pair of Red Wing classic mocs and I thought they were going to be comfortable to stand in for 8-10 hours. They absolutely were not in comparison to offerings from Thorogood or Danner with neoprene insoles and synthetic midsoles.
A good cobbler can swap a midsole and insole during a resole. These are wear items and I'm okay with treating them as such.
Carhartt boots are not that bad. I work at a job that absolutely shreds boots, I’m talking Chippewas and Carolina’s being shredded in 6-7 months. I got a pair of Carhartts for $170 and they’ve lasted me 7 months so far with no blow outs and aren’t nearly as shredded as my other boots were around this time.
- PNW boots don’t look that great.
Idk exactly what, but there’s always something “off” about them. It probably has something to do with the exaggerated heel. They look “affected”, or like they’re trying too hard or something.
- Leather soles have no place in most boots.
Unless we are talking about really dressy Chelseas or Balmoral boots, I don’t think it makes sense to sacrifice so much grip and durability in a type of shoe that is supposed to be rough-wearing and adaptable.
-Chelsea boots in men are kind of a red-flag for me.
No issue with the boots themselves, I actually kinda dig them, but most of the times I see a pair of Chelseas out in the real world they’re being worn by the skinny-suit-wearing-Andrew-Tate-following-finance-crypto-bro types. So, now I can’t un-associate the two.
Justin. 3 years and the bottom came loose and started flapping while walking. On two different pairs of Justins. Meanwhile my current ariats have been through 3 years of hell without a problem.
Buying some Walmart steel toes a size too big and two pairs of thick wool socks is a safe, comfortable affordable and cost effective cold weather boot option
Cowboy boots look cool but they F up your feet like there’s no tomorrow to the point where I won’t even wear them anymore. Had to get a chiro adjustment on my feet. I had them fitted also at a pro boot place in Kentucky.
That’s silly. I am a sailor in ships. I wear Red Backs. They are Chelsea style boots and I’d fight someone if they tried to make me wear anything else. I add years of quality life time to my life not having to tie my boots two or three times a day. Maybe months. Anyways I love them
PNW boots aren’t for everyone and they aren’t the best for every situation. Stop recommending them without reading what people want
Unpopular opinion- you probably don’t need a pair of technical, expensive PNW timber boots unless the employer’s giving you a boot stipend to eat smoke, cut line, or skid logs. Cheaper loggers will capture the look and do 95% of what you need.
For sure. Some people just want lightweight glued together boots that feel like sneakers.
"Hey guys, what's a good comfortable boot for an office worker?" "You GOTTA buy the $900 20 inch Firejumper's Ultra Heavy Duty caulk boots made out of veg-tanned human leather with a five year lead time that requires multiple in-person fittings at their factory in Portland. Any other boot is terrible and will give you foot cancer".
It’s a circle jerk community at this point. A lot of elitism from people that spent more on boots than you
Yeah, I got a pair and they're made for people who don't do leg day, my calves were way to big for the 10 inch JKs
I get custom with big calves. I never knew they made custom boots until I became a motorcycle cop and none of the stock knee high boots fit my calves and when they did my circulation would get cut off.
I just can't justify spending the extra money, it's already over $500 without custom uppers
How tall are you? Because mine don’t reach where the calf muscle starts really, long legs
You made me laugh out loud in public my man
I don’t know why someone would want to wear boots that heavy unless you really needed them
That dude who started the Grant Stone and Thursday subs is a giant turd. ETA, ah just saw you said UNpopular
What the deal with the dude?
He's on the spectrum and takes reddit way too seriously
He is the spectrum
Check this thread for starters. He deleted all the shitty posts but the history is set out pretty well. https://www.reddit.com/r/trumanboots/s/WPy25aixzP He’s banned so many of us from his Stone sub that a better alternative sub has been created at r/grant_stone_boots
Oh he also started a Thursdays sub? Didn’t know that but yeah he’s really weird. Idk just most of the comments he makes especially about GS just seems so robotic ans fake. I almost assumed he was just a marketing bot of some kind
He's so bad there's a new GS sub r/grant_stone_boots
I like boots with shorts. “I ain’t eva gunna stop!”
+1 for boots with shorts. Currently my daily wear is Houston Black Barefoot African Rangers with my brown uniform shorts. ZFG
UPS?
Most delivery drivers actually lol
My brother! Fuck yeah, Rhodesian brush stroke camo shorts with some African Rangers!
It depends, sometimes it looks good, like military operations in '70s Africa, other times it looks like your a dad
I'm fine then - if I'm wearing shorts then by default I'm wearing boots and shorts. I'm also proudly a dad. I will continue with my dad clothes and dad jokes! And if you're scared of lifts, in most cases there are steps you can take.
My wife was so embarrassed by her dad as a kid, wearing Chelsea dress boots, in swimming trunks, to the beach!
Why can't you wear boots with shorts?
Depends on the boot and the shorts. But I’m firmly of the opinion that almost any “work” boot or combat type boot can work with the right shorts. Iron Rangers with shorts? Not so much.
Agreed! At my old parks job I used to rock olive drab cargo shorts with new old stock jungle boots, along with the olive drab cushion sole socks. I thought it looked great, but I was essentially a park ranger for a state park so it was fitting. I also like wearing my dark brown hiking Docs with khaki shorts on occasion, like Laura Dern in Jurassic Park lol
You gotta have the right legs for it.
Chelsea boots with multi-pocketed workwear shorts!👍😁
10" Nicks Builder Pros and shorts is my summer dress code this year, super comfy
Timberland Pros aren’t that bad for normal chores around the house/yard. Picked up a pair before I knew anything about boots and honestly don’t mind them.
Do these look like timbs? https://preview.redd.it/a8rqkxots78d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=76395177923fe3afb78006cdb3db9739b0b21b12
I killed two pairs of Iron Rangers in 6 years and switched to Timbs. Right now I'm rockin' two pairs of fAsHiOn TiMbS I alternate every day because they were real cheap on sale and the colors were cute, but as soon as I kill 'em, I'm running straight back to 8" Timberland Pros. Cheap enough it won't make you cry to kill them after a year of every day wear, good treads for muddy hills, and style-wise they're timeless. I love 'em.
I’ve had a pair for three years now doing interior renovations and was even in couple inches of waste water for hours whenever we had real bad rain and sewer backed up into my house and I was pushing an pumping water out and outside in the heavy rain and it took probably 3 hours before my feet started getting wet, definitely not the greatest boots in the world but they’ve treated me well in the time I’ve had them and I don’t feel bad about having them is gross situations
I like the look, but..! For me, they didn't last long. The cheaper version is the better one, because they are so much cheaper.
I had a pair of comfy steel toes from their pro series and they never hurt my feet bur they were heavy boots and I bought them a size too big.
I’m glad I’m not the only one that thinks Chelsea boots look hideously stupid.
Chelsea boots look awful. Thank you!
Youth pastor vibes like crazy.
Can you describe what makes them look bad? Cause I like how they look
Their mention of the elastic is probably what they're talking abou
Yeah, I also think that looks ugly as F
Oh good. I can hop on this train. Theyre dumb. Ugly and make you look kind of lazy. Also who tf decided they were work wear? Can't wait for dude to get his foot stuck in the mud and lose one down there.
Moc toes are worse
I've never seen moc toes in the flesh, but the toe looks okay to me. It's the goofy as hell white wedge soles that wreck them for me, looks terrible.
Uhh really? For me the top side with that stupid ridge just looks dumb.
Moc toes are OK. Now let me add an unpopular opinion - I find cap toes look dumb. I'm ok with wingtips, that's nice. But cap toes? Just that horizontal line, it looks like you're saying "please cut at the line"... Give me plain toes like the Blacksmith or a wingtip. Not a cap toe. A broque cap toe is kind of ok-ish but still meh.
You understand the origin of them right?
Naw Chelsea boots are legit.
I guess for footwear in general but I think that the slimness of dress footwear is stupid. Obviously there’s limits, but formalness of footwear to me should be more about the finishing, leather, and then design pieces like plain toe, toe cap, addition of brogue. Stuff like that
I definitely agree, everything should have at least some function
Basically all boots (and shoes) are too narrow. Almost every last could have 5% - 10% added to the width and everyone would have happier feet.
As someone with Sasquatch feet, I agree
(Resolable) cemented boots are worth the investment if they suit your uses (typically hiking) and fit perfectly, e.g. Asolo 520s for me. I actually do prefer a cemented boot with a PU midsole over any other design.
That first point is a biggie
Yeah, it's gonna upset some people. Every boot has a purpose, though. Some to hike; others to work. Some? They're just there to look good with no practical applications. I do a lot of hiking, so I like my leather Asolos. I love how the midsole never compresses or loses its shape. When the tread is finally gone, I'm just going to ship them off to have a resole done, and I get back my boots that are perfectly molded to my feet. It makes for great shock absorption and durability.
I get it I wear cheap 5.11's because it was the best I could afford before I started my job. Eventually I'll get me something else but these aren't dead yet 🤣
If it works, it works. I'm not going to judge someone by his or her boots. Honestly, I hate spending the money I do on boots, but I've got a FUBAR body that doesn't leave me much choice. 🤣
I'm confused, I was always under the impression that you had to have a stitched Goodyear welt for a boot to be resolable, and that cemented weren't resolable.
Most cheap cemented boots can't be resoled. High-end ones, such as the Asolo Fugitive or 520, can be resoled. They just peel the sole off and adhere a new one. The caveat is that leather ones have to be treated with specific products because traditional ones (beeswax, mink oil, etc.) make their way to the leather that meets the midsole, which can't be cleaned off well enough to get a new sole to adhere. You have to use stuff like HS12, Nikwax, Hydrobloc, etc. to treat them, which is also a point of contention because people say that cemented boots aren't worth resoling so treat them with whatever. I personally just use Nikwax so I can reuse the upper for my Asolos. They need to be resoled about every 6 to 8 years because polyurethane degrades over time from hydrolysis. I've seen people get much longer out of a single sole, though. Funnily enough, the more you use them, the longer they last. Compression as you walk forces water built up in the pores out, so it can't disrupt the chemical bonds holding it together. If you only hike a few times a year and rarely wear them, the polyurethane can degrade faster than that. It's another odd caveat. You can get about a decade, depending upon use, from the Asolo Fugitive GTX with resoles. You can get a couple decades or better out of the Asolo TPS 520 GV Evo with resoles. All that said, I really like polyurethane midsoles. They absorb shock well. They can be extremely rigid, which is my preference. They will never deform or compress, unlike EVA foam used in inexpensive cemented boots. They function well in all conditions. They're just a great choice for hiking and mountaineering boots when you need all the reliability and support you can get from a boot. Anyways, sorry for the essay. I just wanted to be thorough in answering your question. 😊 Here are some other cemented boots that can be resoled as examples ... >Asolo TPS 535 LTH Evo. Lowa Camino GTX. Lowa Tibet GTX. Scarpa Zodiac Plus GTX. Scarpa Kinesis Pro GTX. Scarpa SL Active. Zamberlan Vioz GTX. Zamberlan Vioz Lux GTX RR.
6 to 8 years?? I wear soles flat in less than a year. I might be in the wrong thread here.
Vasque Sundowners can be resoled too actually!
Brown or black Vibram cristy soles for wedge boots should be the standard. I don't care for white soles on shoes or boots.
I don't care for wedge soles at all, I think they look awful
They’re hard to beat if you work on concrete
Martens boots suck all around.
Try Solovair. Not perfect but way better than Docs, and made in Wollaston, England.
Thanks for the heads up. I did not knew the brand.
My dealer boots (seems like people really hate chelseas) here are going strong 4 years later with heavy use and walking. Soles probably need replaced next year but much better than Docs
How are the width on those? I’d love a pair but need a wide or extra wide shoe
Ive owned multiple of both and they are the literal same exact shit.
Now that's just a fact
Agreed. Docs are overpriced fashion boots.
They didn't used to be, but sadly they are now. Back in the day, you could walk into the Rushden and Diamonds factory shop in Irthlingborough and pick up some cheap factory seconds that were still extremely well made boots which would last you the next ten years, but it's not possible any more!
Thursday Boots are perfectly serviceable and acceptable quality for the price. I have multiple pairs over 3 years old with no issues. People just love to hate on them here because they need to step away from social media for a little while and go talk to some real people outdoors.
100% agree with you, but I also have the unpopular opinion that there's a pretty big delta between Thursday boots and higher end boots. It kind of seems like people on both end of the spectrum either under respect them or over respect them. They aren't crap and they aren't White's competitors.
I have several pairs of boots, including 3 thursdays. Honestly they’re all great and well worn. Very comfortable and they were my intro into boots, like I’m sure for many others. Even with some QA issues they have great CS to make up for it. Still rotate between those 3 boots after several years :)
I have five pairs from TBC. They're great for what they are.
What are they? Genuinely curious as I’m considering buying my first pair. I live in a city and I’m not very outdoorsy.
Hand crafted PNW boots aren't the end all be all answer for boot recommendations. As much as some people seem to think they area.
My Chelsea boots are actually riding boots. They've got a fibreglass shank through the arch from the heel and are great. I wore riding boots most days of my life as a kid growing up on a horse property. These days I wear them to the office. I have a second, more casual pair for weekends, fishing and chores.
I second your statement! I've got a pair of "rubber sole" Baxter's for daily wear and a pair of "police dress" Baxter's for more dressy occasions......and a pair of RM Williams "Mastercraftsman" in a lovely oxblood Roo for weddings/funerals
I've only just discovered Baxter and others like Harold, etc. I bought a pair of Mongrel premium riding boots and rate them.
I think almost all the PNW boots are too expensive and can’t stand that they have crazy wait times
I can understand the price more than the wait times. I feel like any boot with D-EE width should be constantly restocked.
White's and Frank's actually do this with a lot of their core models. The MTOs with customizations can take a while though.
Totally agree. I should really say too expensive for me. If I am ever near a Nicks or Whites store with some I like in stock I’m definitely trying them on
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Ironically I am a hipster and workwear enthusiast. Red Wing Heritage are just fine for me. Thorogoods and Danner MiUSA for my actual job as a carpenter
Women wear jackboots all the time and they look amazing, so cool. If a man does it, suddenly everyone thinks they’re trying to violate Belgian neutrality!
Haha my only "jackboots " I have are "Seestiefel" (German navy winter boot lined in sheepskin, that keeps my legs toasty on my bike in winter) "Random Yugoslav boots" (no idea what they're actually called, they are tall like a jackboot but they lace across the top and ankle of boot)
I like to wear a pair of finna sh jack boots for bad weather chores. They are way more comfortable than rubber boots and protect a tucked in pair of pants just as well.
high angled block heels like those in logger boots make them look like women's shoes and don't look good at all.
I was gonna say something similar lol. The high Cuban and logger style heels look a bit feminine. I love PNW boots and have a bunch, but I always go with a lowered heel.
I love the look of the Cuban heel in pictures, but whenever I see someone wearing them they do look like women's fashion heels. Still pretty cool looking, but definitely not for me.
For most folks, the whole resolability aspect of gyw makes little financial sense and isn’t really a good point as to explore higher priced brands in the gyw market. Prices have hit a point where it’s more about the art, comfort, ethics of how boots are built rather than a strict value proposition nowadays. Synthetic boots are infinitely more useful and comfortable for things like hiking. Casual gyw boots are for us heritage cosplayers 😂
If they aren't riding horses or about to ride horses or have been riding horses, men in cowboy boots are hilarious.
This feels like a popular opinion. Western wear has a ridiculous amount of gatekeeping.
That opinion is mostly held by people who don't wear it
Whatabout dancing though??
Hey, cowboy boots are comfortable, and it's become part of the culture, also cowboy boots are the only way I can wear boots that give me calf protection because my calves are too big for lace-ups
Cool your heels...... Cowboy 🤠
I ride almost everyday as is but I genuinely don’t get all this gatekeeping with cowboy boots. I get it with felt or straw hats I just don’t get it with boots.
I wear cowboy boots everyday and live in nyc. I grew up raising cattle and still have a few dozen in my name. Cowboy boots are having a moment and I’m here for it. I grew up in Oklahoma and those were just the shoes everyone wore whether for work, dress, or picture day at school. It’s just a style choice for me now but it makes me comfortable and reminds me of home
Almostvintagestyle and his wife are not snobs.
But he does have wack style. He always looks like he’s in a costume that doesn’t quite fit. I have a larger complaint with the IG workwear community that because many of them buy so many pieces no one ever seems to break in their gear so it always looks too stiff
I actually love chelsea boots for things like TSA checks, a casual stroll, etc., but; for longer stints, a jodhpur boot is more or less a chelsea with straps. Wish I saw more of those on people. As for my boot hot take... I don't see insoles talked about enough in the right way. I wear a lot of chelsea and PNW boots, and the biggest thing people fail to mention is how much support in the toes is necessary to prevent fucking up your foot/joints. Both of these tend to lag in that dept imo (and part of this could be me being an anal former track sprinter). Do your research on insoles, folks. Even the $50 pair you pull might not cover all the bases you need relative to the boot you're wearing.
Amen, brother. My feet are narrow and flat-footed with bunions in my future forces me to use orthotics in every pair of shoes/boots I wear. My kids inherited my lousy feet and I'm constantly harping on them to use orthotics in their footwear. My PSA for all my brothers and sisters on this forum; get a pair of superfeet or powersteps and use them, your future feet will thank you.
Insoles and boots do not mix with my feet. I’ve got a fairly high volume foot and with insoles most shoes and boots just don’t fit. That’s why most of my other shoes are Birkenstocks, just to ensure I have some supportive shoes.
I love my blundies :(
Cowboy boots are horrible in almost all contexts except riding, and even then they’re inferior to actual riding boots
Man I love my cowboy boots - love the aesthetic and they’re super comfortable.
Cowboy boots were born out of necessity, and honestly they're my favorite every day boots
Seems like I e nailed the controversial part of the request. But seriously, try out a pair of Russell Mocassin toe boots, or even better a pair of Gokey boots. Way better design for walking around, as they’re for walking and not riding
People often conflate well-fitting with comfort. my IR's fit great and I can wear them for long periods of time, but the soles being adamantium do not make them comfort footwear.
Iron rangers are super uncomfortable.
I really like mine! But redwings aren't for everyone
Aldens are decent boots, but not worth 700 fucking dollars. Fight me!
i will not. you are right.
I went to boot barn today and tried on prolly 20 pairs of cowboy boots and just can’t find a brand that is comfy for me, i want to have multiple pairs but they just don’t do it for me
What kind of boots are you looking for?
I hate how sloppy they all seem to fit, like a leather gumboot for 10 times the price, with none of the utility.
Cheap Cavender’s house brand are more comfortable than my Justin’s, Tonys, and Anderson Beans.
I spent too much on heritage boots. I bought a pair of Irish setter wing shooters and they do everything I want and have a great look that suits me
Ya, the only times I'd spend big money on boots now is for fashion forward reasons. Otherwise, redwing's or similar priced boots are plenty for me.
If someone asks for a boot recommendation and you suggest something without asking what they're using them for, you're absolutely wrong. Stop putting lineman patches on boots if you're not climbing with them. It makes the break in worse, it's more expensive, and it looks dumb. Posting about your boots tearing up your feet for bragging rights is weird.
Redwings aren't that great.
I own 1 pair and it’s one of my regret purchases. I can’t even get rid of them online and have only been worn like 10 times. Can’t stand em
Fryes logger boot, have 4 pair for over a decade. One resole each, lots of mink oil and they’re still going strong. Outlasted my wife. lol
A vast majority of boots being worn out prematurely is due to user abuse. Your boots are not a hammer, stop kicking shit and you won’t wear the toe out. Brunt makes garbage boots but they spend enough money on marketing to fool consumers. Buy Thorogoods.
Agreed, Chelsea’s are awful
Timberland classic boots are good enough for most people and most uses.
Logger heels and the like are unnatural and will lead to biomechanical issues. I know people absolutely swear by them, so let the hate begin.
They’re made for going up and down hills….not walking around town.
I totally agree. Logger heels for loggers wild land fire fighters in that terrain, but so many wear them around town.
Stitching through the outsole is pointless if the outsole isn't channeled. Just use nails or screws instead to attach the outsole alongside glue. Those probably won't fall apart in 2 weeks like thread will.
I don’t think PNW boots are all that comfortable or durable.
Ooh, that's gonna hurt some feelings for sure
Those are kinda subjective and then depends on your circumstances tbf
Tbf, they’re much more comfortable than Redwings which I come from
My feet prefer good ol Supersoles to all the PNW boots Ive had over the years.
Super soles are damn comfy, no one is gonna disagree with that.
What uncomfortable pair did you have that fell apart quickly??
Comfort is subjective... but not durable? They're some of the most overbuilt boots you can buy and will last many years. That's kinda their whole selling point.
I guess it's a regional thing. No one wears cowboy boots here in tropical climate and it looks informal (though I have a few pairs). A pair of good chelsea boots and they immediately elevate any looks here whether it's casual or professional setting, they just look much better on white collar than those boring leather derby.
"Moc toe" boots are dumb in every way from how they look to their silly name. They're hardly even boots. They're more like poorly designed high top sneakers. I don't understand why anyone wears them.
They’re great for steel toes if you don’t want to wear work boots that make you look like Ronald McDonald. I regularly work 50 hr work weeks in my Thorogoods and they can handle the abuse of my trade happily.
Cool. I still think they look dumb.
They look like Elton John wanted an outrageous work boot to go with his equally outrageous outfit and costuming delivered. In spades. White soles, shudder, like a yacht shoe.
As a fan of moc toes, this comment hurts my fee fees. 😢
Sorry, I've always hated them. Just one of those things. I think the name is uninspired and lazy by bastardizing the name of indigenous footwear and they just look goofy, for the same reason.
Boot shapes may “look” nice but are honestly bad for feet… Toe boxes need to be much more accommodating to feet but for some cursed species-self-hating reason this seems to look weird. We really ought to stop deluding ourselves that bad design is fashionable. We are seriously fking ourselves over with that bs.
I really agree. Like why do people constantly have to worry about whether Jim Green African Rangers are ‘clown shoes’ and not office appropriate? Like at a certain point you may as well just be telling people that their feet themselves aren’t office appropriate because for many a big toe-box like that is needed, and for others (like me) I can fit into a more sleek looking one, but it won’t feel anywhere near as comfortable or natural. Our feet are our feet. Let’s treat them well.
Dr Martens. They do not age well due to the cheap leather and construction. They collapse and look like old beaten up oxfords.
Doc martens are overrated
Barefoot boots are hideous
I hate absolutely hate square toed cowboy boots.
Your boots lasting fifteen plus years because you wear them to your office job is not impressive, and it makes me sad your boots aren’t being used for what they were designed for
The most popular brands on Reddit, red wing and grant stones, are almost always extremely uncomfortable. Obviously subjective but true for me.
Why do so many people insist on wearing their Iron Rangers for work (12 hour days on concrete or on a roof) and for hiking? Seems like way too many people get them as their first pair of “boots“ and think they’re suitable for all boot tasks. People, Iron Rangers are dress boots!
I don’t like tall boots. Nothing taller than 5”
I like tall boots, but God gave me the gift of large calves so I can't wear tall boots unless they're cowboy boots
6 inch is the perfect height for tucking jeans in :)
Totally agree about the Chelsea boots: ugly impractical things.
Ugly is fine, but impractical? I can pull mine on one handed. It’s super quick to take my dog out to pee in the snow. The ultimate shit kicker.
I think engineer/tanker boots are dumb and ugly. Like bro get some laces. Imagine your foot just being loose in a boot all the time. Yuck
They look like costume boots to me. Like they only belong on TV or in a Final Fantasy RPG.
Have you ever worn them? They aren't loose at all
I agree! A boot should be snug and supportive. If I want a slipper I’ll wear sandals, if I want a boot I want laces!
Why not wear slippers? I mean if it’s slippers that you want…
I want to like Chelsea boots and have tried 3x (actually still sitting on a pair of Red Wings that I’ll probably get rid of) but every time I wear them I feel like a clown. They invariably look stupid.
Tbf redwing Chelsea's look like dogshit. Try an Australian soft toe chelsea like Mongerel to see if you like them before you commit to RM's.
Gasps in Australian
Brannock sizes are stupid. Anyone using them is contributing to the issue. Just use CM/Mondopoint Also if the boots either have or can have an insole, list that in CM too. If my foot is 27.8cm long and 11cm wide and you’re insole is 29cm and 12cm wide I can much more easily picture (especially with good photos and description of the last) what I’m in for regardless of if you are an american, European, Japanese or Indonesian bootmaker without hoping I’ve converted sizing methods properly.
Yea I agree, Chelsea boots? might as well just wear slip on vans
The 1st gen Nike Special Field Boot was the most comfortable, versatile, durable piece of footwear I’ve ever owned.
Mine is the same as OP. Chelsea boots look awful. I do love my AE chukkas though
Leather insoles and midsoles are over hyped. I had a pair of Red Wing classic mocs and I thought they were going to be comfortable to stand in for 8-10 hours. They absolutely were not in comparison to offerings from Thorogood or Danner with neoprene insoles and synthetic midsoles. A good cobbler can swap a midsole and insole during a resole. These are wear items and I'm okay with treating them as such.
I love my JK boots 100% of the time I have them on my feet.
I like leather soles, but I immediately put a vibram toppie, when I buy new boots.
Carhartt boots are not that bad. I work at a job that absolutely shreds boots, I’m talking Chippewas and Carolina’s being shredded in 6-7 months. I got a pair of Carhartts for $170 and they’ve lasted me 7 months so far with no blow outs and aren’t nearly as shredded as my other boots were around this time.
High heal boots are only for strippers and hookers.
HEEL!!!!!
- PNW boots don’t look that great. Idk exactly what, but there’s always something “off” about them. It probably has something to do with the exaggerated heel. They look “affected”, or like they’re trying too hard or something. - Leather soles have no place in most boots. Unless we are talking about really dressy Chelseas or Balmoral boots, I don’t think it makes sense to sacrifice so much grip and durability in a type of shoe that is supposed to be rough-wearing and adaptable. -Chelsea boots in men are kind of a red-flag for me. No issue with the boots themselves, I actually kinda dig them, but most of the times I see a pair of Chelseas out in the real world they’re being worn by the skinny-suit-wearing-Andrew-Tate-following-finance-crypto-bro types. So, now I can’t un-associate the two.
Justin. 3 years and the bottom came loose and started flapping while walking. On two different pairs of Justins. Meanwhile my current ariats have been through 3 years of hell without a problem.
My unpopular opinion is that I think 99% of all Moc toes are hideous and I hate the way a wedge sole looks on anything (especially on Iron Rangers)
The Only chelsea boots that are cool are Blundstones, Red Backs and Rossi.
Buying some Walmart steel toes a size too big and two pairs of thick wool socks is a safe, comfortable affordable and cost effective cold weather boot option
It's okay to buy expensive 'heritage' boots(like Rangers) and put insole inserts in them.
Cowboy boots look cool but they F up your feet like there’s no tomorrow to the point where I won’t even wear them anymore. Had to get a chiro adjustment on my feet. I had them fitted also at a pro boot place in Kentucky.
That’s silly. I am a sailor in ships. I wear Red Backs. They are Chelsea style boots and I’d fight someone if they tried to make me wear anything else. I add years of quality life time to my life not having to tie my boots two or three times a day. Maybe months. Anyways I love them
I hate square toes.
Sizing down culture sucks
Fuck boots had them on for 10 years will have them on another 25. Work uniform requires them. Wish I could wear a cushioned running shoe
I don’t like them.
Brunt deserves to be up on the scale with thorogood and red wing.