I've worn boots for a large portion of my life. I started with Speedlace combat boots, went to Red Wings, and now that I'm not in construction, I have a new favorite boot. The most comfortable I've ever owned. The leather is thin, while mine are steel toed, I don't know if these would take proper hard use. I do put in miles though.



I've known loads of Doc owners, but never myself worn them. They didn't even offer the boots I wanted anymore.. so I went Solovair.

What are your proper go to boots?

The crazy lacing is ladder lace. I'll never lace another boot any way but this.

i like Schnees and Zamberlan

Those look like a quality take on the classic Corcoran jump boot. I'm intrigued.

I have a set of Red Wing loggers I bought off a forum member for work in the machine shop about five years back. The steel cap never fit my feet right. I have goddamn duck feet and I'm convinced nobody makes a decent safety toe boot for people like me. I've tried.

My current go-to is a set of surplus Bates USMC DuraShocks I picked up. They're incredibly solid, but I picked up the cold weather model and well... Azizona. They were great in Washington with the Gore Tex liner, not so much here.

My serious boot is Danner Ft.Lewis. Rocky for just futzing around..

quote:

Originally posted by P220 Smudge:
Those look like a quality take on the classic Corcoran jump boot. I'm intrigued.

They no doubt influenced the Corcoran.

I’ve got a pair of ~10 year old Frye combat boots that are on their third set of soles and keep trucking. They are the only pair of boots that I can put on at 6AM and they don’t come off till 12 hours later and my feet do not hurt. They aren’t steel toe, but they fit like a glove and keep performing.

I have a pair of Asolo boots I never wear. I have a Pair of Hoka shoe/boots that are decent.
The next pair of “boots” I will get will be a pair of Vans Crestline.

I guess dine we are talking about boots, it’s worth mentioning that I gave a pair of Nocona and a pair of Lucchese boots, but those are cowboy boots.

Tell me more about the ladder lacing. I suspect that it's easier to adjust the tension from the toe up. Is that the case?

quote:

Originally posted by SPWAMike0317:
Tell me more about the ladder lacing. I suspect that it's easier to adjust the tension from the toe up. Is that the case?

You pull out to the side above each set of eyelets, with each row holding the lace tension. It's fussy to do, but you won't be adjusting it during the day.

As I understand it, ladder lacing does come from jump boots, and of the lacings I've tried, it's the best.

I go through boots pretty quick at work.
Not many have gone longer than a year.

I've had a boot allowance at work for a long time so the ones that are still wearable I take home.
I don't do lace up boots anymore and prefer slip on's, easy on and off.
Perfect for doing yard work and stuff when you need to go in for a second and don't want to track grass and mud all over.
I forget the style of those ones.
I wore Redbacks for years and they were very durable and stayed together until a few years ago, then they just fell apart in a year and myself and everyone else stopped buying them.
The tool guys also carry Blundstone so I tried a pair, two years later they are still going.

Longest lasting work boot that I still wear I bought in 2000
Georgia Boot logger type, Gore-tex and Thinsulate.
Still pretty much waterproof even with one sole taped on, I need to drop them off at the boot store and get them re hooved one of these days..

Also have a set of Bates with a zipper that I retired after a year that I bought in 2018 that have been my daily wear boot.
No good for wet brush though, feet get soaking wet almost instantly.

I started with Doc, then went to Danner Acadia and Ft.Lewis, now I’m at either Nick’s or White’s. It’s hard to beat ones made from custom measurements.

If you want some detail on ladder lacing, or just want to kill time: https://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/lacingmethods.htm

I’ve been meaning to try it. I use Iron Laces. They have Kevlar and last a long time.

Redwing gets the nod for work, tough, comfortable but heavy. If I’m doing something involving walking it’s going to be a Zamberlin day, comfortable, very supportive, rocker type construction just propels me forward.

I've become a fan of Jim Green boots. I've purchased a pair of AR8's, 719's, and Numzaans in the last year and a half. Hand made in South Africa, rugged as hell, and not terribly expensive.

Jim Green footwear

Red Wing 202's forever and ever. I don't need steel toes. The soles don't fill up with snow in the winter and then melt out on customer's floors.

Arc, you have a link for those laces?

I’m a fan of Wesco boots. Whites are OK, but Wesco wins out.

I wear Red Wing because my job pays for them. I have noticed that Red WIng soles will consistently fall apart after 2 years. If my job was not paying for them I would try another brand, but I like the way Red Wings fit.

quote:

Originally posted by Appliance Brad:
Arc, you have a link for those laces?

Kaleidescope paracord

Yes but, are they made for walking?

I've been wearing the same pair of Bates Tactical Side-zip since 2018 with no issues, but am not doing anythng heacy duty.

Lately I've been wearing several pair of those "surplus" (intentional overrun) Danner RAT boots. Hard to beat for $80-100. Which reminds me I need to order a couple more pair while I can still get them. I'm hard on boots.


Looked at the Solovair site with great interest, only to see no width options. Oh well.