Need boots. Looking for suggestions.

Mayabird · Post by **Mayabird** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:49 pm

I'm working in parks maintenance right now, and my shoes aren't cutting it. I need some work boots that can keep out water and handle a moderate amount of abuse (hiking, outdoor work) and will last a while (at least a couple years) after this job ends as well. Something that I could wear around for usual errands (groceries, etc) would be nice as well. I'd also like to keep costs down as much as possible. Any suggestions?

Rukia · Post by **Rukia** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 11:49 am

I know you can get hiking boots at walmart for pretty cheap. Steel toed if you need em.

Cpl Kendall · Post by **Cpl Kendall** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 1:05 pm

How much are you looking to spend? Marks Workwear World has some excellent work/hiking boots with a built in orthotic sole.

If your not adverse to spending around 200$ than go get some Magnums (best boot in the world).

Mayabird · Post by **Mayabird** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 1:51 pm

I don't mind spending up to around $200 for boots if they can stand the abuse and last a long time (a few years at least). I don't want to buy some crappy Wal-Mart boot that'll fall apart within a year, even if cheaper. I'm not absolutely hurting for money now so I can afford to invest in something that'll save in the long run (the ol' Vimes Boots thing).

That being said, how well do the Magnum work boots hold up to lots of damp and outdoor work?

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 3:13 pm

If they're the ones I'm thinking of, Dad had his for 10 years of trodding around mountainsides, fighting fires, slogging through mud, and getting scored by snake venom (never got thru the leather, but the leather was always a different color in that spot afterwards).

Mayabird · Post by **Mayabird** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 3:34 pm

LadyTevar wrote:If they're the ones I'm thinking of, Dad had his for 10 years of trodding around mountainsides, fighting fires, slogging through mud, and getting scored by snake venom (never got thru the leather, but the leather was always a different color in that spot afterwards).

I like the sound of that (although there are no venomous snakes around here, just a deadly poisonous newt). Also, turns out there are some dealers in town who sell them, so I think I'll try checking them out tomorrow. Thanks, everyone!

The Cleric · Post by **The Cleric** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 5:51 am

Make sure you get some really good cushy socks too. Boots tend to wear a lot harder on your feet than shoes, and if you're not used to them or in them all day you'll blister pretty bad.

And make sure you lace them up tight around your ankles; I've rolled mine pretty bad with loose laces.

Rukia · Post by **Rukia** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 9:19 am

I didn't know you didn't mid spending more.

Go to uscav.com

That's where Sharkbait gets his they last Forever!

Post by **B4UTRUST** » Sun Aug 24, 2008 9:20 am

As I'm sure Frigid will agree with, I'll tell you this as a person who gets new work boots every year with the military. Break them in prior to use. If you decide to break them in on your first day of work, you will be absolutely miserable and have blisters the size of your head. There are several methods to use to break them in and mold them to your feet. Find one you like and will work for you.

Jason_Firewalker · Post by **Jason_Firewalker** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 2:21 pm

I am a fan of the Vasque FoxTrots, a hiking book that also has a steel toe, so you might want to look for them, they are around 150 USD.

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » Mon Aug 25, 2008 2:42 pm

As I'm sure Frigid will agree with, I'll tell you this as a person who gets new work boots every year with the military. Break them in prior to use. If you decide to break them in on your first day of work, you will be absolutely miserable and have blisters the size of your head. There are several methods to use to break them in and mold them to your feet. Find one you like and will work for you.

He's right. When I got a new pair I wore them on off hours to help break them in. Walking up and down stairs for a while helped. Clean socks and dry feet help more on avoiding the blisters. Like I tell the kids deploying. Socks. You need good socks.

Shark Bait · Post by **Shark Bait** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 11:29 am

Absolute best way to avoid blisters hands down, two pairs of socks and a little duct tape... First know your feet where do they rub most often that's where you will get a blister first this for me is usually my ankle and between my big toe and second toe. If you put a strip of duct tape across the back of your ankle it wont rub your skin and thus a blister is avoided.

Next socks, clean dry socks are key and if you are going to be walking around a lot in hot conditions in water proof boots your best bet is to first put on nylon sweat wicking socks they sell them in the sporting goods section of some stores also sports authority and camping stores have them. These socks are great for pulling sweat away from your feet keeping your skin dry, but over them you want to put on some sort of absorbant cloth the two best are wool and cotton, but semi thick tube socks either way. This pair will do two things 1st it will absorb any moisture in your boot that the other pair pulls away from your foot. Second if you get a tube sock you can pull up you will get FAR less bug bites on your legs.

It sounds like a bit of work but remember even if your boot is waterproof if you step all the way into the water (over the top of the boot) water will get in and water does not leave a waterproof boot any easier than it gets in. I learned all this from wearing nothing but hiking boots for two years they were water proof and had poor ventilation and i got foot rot from not wearing the right socks. If you go with USCAV for boots i like Altama the ones with the caterpillar tred (looks like a ripple) last longer they lasted me for 3 years of constant use. If you buy hiking boots i like HItech I've had good results with them, and they last me for about 2 years of constant use.

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 3:10 pm

Any suggestions for boots that could at least pass for "period*" but can stand up to a beating?

*Keys here being that they can't have bright or unnatural colors, and rubber should be, ideally, restricted to the sole and not far beyond that point.

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 5:06 pm

Hotfoot wrote:Any suggestions for boots that could at least pass for "period*" but can stand up to a beating?

*Keys here being that they can't have bright or unnatural colors, and rubber should be, ideally, restricted to the sole and not far beyond that point.

Medieval Moccasins SCA Merchant, Scottish 'ghillie' shoes

Le Troll aux Trousses SCA/LARP merchant.

Turtle Island Moccasins THE boot merchant at Pennsic War.

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 3:13 pm

LadyTevar wrote:
Hotfoot wrote:Any suggestions for boots that could at least pass for "period*" but can stand up to a beating?

*Keys here being that they can't have bright or unnatural colors, and rubber should be, ideally, restricted to the sole and not far beyond that point.
Medieval Moccasins SCA Merchant, Scottish 'ghillie' shoes

Le Troll aux Trousses SCA/LARP merchant.

Turtle Island Moccasins THE boot merchant at Pennsic War.

Turtle Island has some good stuff, but holy cow that stuff is expensive, I mean, really!

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 4:01 pm

I have a friend that bought a pair of Turtle Island Mocs in 1995.

He's still wearing them.

Expensive because they're built RIGHT and built to LAST.

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 5:22 pm

Fair enough. Here's hoping they're built to my ginormous feets.

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 5:33 pm

Hotfoot wrote:Fair enough. Here's hoping they're built to my ginormous feets.

From their website:

We hope to have a video for internet orders, but prefer to do fittings in person.
Please see the Fairs Schedule so that I can hand measure your feet!

All of the footwear that I make is crafted from foot tracings and castings.

Hotfoot · Post by **Hotfoot** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 10:40 pm

Nearest is Ohio, won't be heading out that way for a while...

Well, we'll see.

Mayabird · Post by **Mayabird** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 7:09 pm

Thanks, everyone. I actually wasn't able to find any work Magnums (and I didn't want to order online without actually trying some on first), so I ended up getting some leather Red Wings, since my mom always wore them and I'd heard some good recommendation for them at work.

Anyway, I got some leather oil for them to maintain them and I've been oiling them on the weekends (one application, and then another about an hour later). Am I doing it too much, or not enough, and is there anything else I need to do to make them last longer?

LadyTevar · Post by **LadyTevar** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 7:44 pm

How often are you wearing them, as that will determine how often you need to oil them

If you wear them everyday, then you've about got it right. If you wear them only occassionally, you can clean and oil them before they go in the closet.

Mayabird · Post by **Mayabird** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 8:50 pm

I wear them on weekdays and sometimes the weekends, depending if I want to wear something that looks somewhat nice instead of my crappy old sneakers. Nice to know I'm doing it mostly right.

Any other tips for making them last longer?

Post by **B4UTRUST** » Mon Sep 08, 2008 9:03 pm

keep em clean, dry and well oiled, a good layer of polish helps maintain em too if it's the type you can polish. Other than that, nothing that I know of.

Cpl Kendall · Post by **Cpl Kendall** » Tue Sep 09, 2008 5:48 pm

B4UTRUST wrote:keep em clean, dry and well oiled, a good layer of polish helps maintain em too if it's the type you can polish. Other than that, nothing that I know of.

What he said. Plus if your in an area with harsh winter and lots of road salt, clean them twice as often (preferably a rub down with a damp cloth when you get home). That stuff is hell on footwear.

Mayabird · Post by **Mayabird** » Sun Sep 21, 2008 9:39 pm

I've been wiping off the dirt and oiling them on weekends. Just to make sure, is it fine that the boots are changing colors? They've gotten a lot darker since I started oiling them. Still look just fine, but I want to make sure I'm not somehow melting them or something.

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Need boots. Looking for suggestions.

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