Don't laugh.

I got the idea for this thread from another thread here about White's Boots.

I know there's a bunch of y'all on this forum who hunt, hike, go off-roading (+1), or just get out in the boonies to shoot. And I know you have a favorite pair of boots...maybe boots that you've had for years and years...boots that you'll never get rid of.

I figured it might make an interesting thread, so let's see your old faithful companions, and if you've got a story, a gun, or even your dog to go along with them, so much the better!

I'll start it off.

My first job when I got out of the service was working for the power company, building those big steel towers you see out in farmers' fields, up on mountain tops, and otherwise out in the middle of nowhere. I could tell you some stories about some of the people I met way back in the hills of Appalachia.

Anyway, I needed some boots. My old bring-home-spit-shined military jump boots were in tatters after just two weeks on the job. They were worthless in cold weather, and they'd slip off wet river rocks quicker 'n you could say, "Damn, that water's cold!" Take my word for it...you do not want to get your feet soaked in the creek when it's 10 degrees and snowing.

I bought these Herman Survivor boots in 1970. I can't remember what they cost, but they were ridiculously expensive back then...especially for me, since I was only making $2.40 an hour. They weren't made in China back then, either.

Forty-five years later, I still have them. Even the laces are original. After I came to my senses and left the power company job, these boots worked the pedals on a big Ford tri-axle dump truck and trudged through piles of sharp edged stone at the quarry. Even after I got a "civilized" job for the rest of my working life (less said about that, the better), these boots carried me up and down mountains in western North Carolina and Tennessee. Kept my feet warm in 14-inch deep snow in Pisgah National Forest, and kept me from busting my butt going down into Linville Gorge and back out. All this was back before hiking and rock climbing were "sports".

All that was a long time ago. I still wear the boots in winter here when I go up into the Smoky Mountains.

In this photograph, they still have some months-old dried mud on them from getting out in a mudhole to turn the manual hubs on my old 4WD truck.

Lots of memories associated with these boots, and they will probably outlast me. Get rid of 'em? Shoot. Not on your tintype.

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I had a great pair of Hermans that I bought while stationed in Germany. They lasted approx. 20 years . I wish they were still made in the states.

Boots
Here is my old Gokeys.
Snake proof, 40 some years old. Run all over Labrador, Canada with them
and was never snake bit once!

My Gokes, bought in 1972. Not snakeproof, but darn near bulletproof. I can't get into them any more, and if I did, I'd probably have to cut them off.

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Not in jail.

They barely look broken in.

this is my redwing collection, they all get worn regularly. except for the top row middle pair.

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A couple years ago I bought a pair of Dr. Martens "For Life" boots. they were right at around $200. When they wear out, they will repair or replace them for your lifetime. So after a couple of years I wore them out, and it was time to return them to Dr. Martens. It took about a week to get back to me once I sent them back, but after paying a $25 processing fee they mailed me a new pair. This will continue for my lifetime, at $25 a pop. Seeing how you cant buy a good pair of boots for less than a hundred bucks anyway, I figured I'd spend a little more. I think its a great deal. I even bought a second pair to alternate wearing
The top two pictures are of the replacement pair that cost me $25 plus shipping.


These two pictures are of my first pair after 2 years of hard wear, before I shipped them back to Dr. Marten.

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USAF AMMO

What do the rest of the boots look like?

Mine got left in someone's ***. No picture.

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Memory of Randy Freas-Rimfired

Good ol' made in Canada Sorel Pathfinders from the late '70s, best winter boots I've had.

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SWHF #448

I've been thinking for a good while about getting a pair of Martens. My hangup is simply deciding which style to get. I would probably go with a boot from their "Vintage" series, since they're still made in England using the original machinery.

They do run a little big, keep that in mind when ordering yours. The "For Life" boot only comes in the classic Dr. Marten look. Except everything is thicker/heavier duty. I think you can get them in different colors. Both my pairs are black, one is called Hardlife, and the other is called Hardlife smooth. It's the best boot I have ever owned, and it goes good with my lifetime guaranteed gun belt.

Sorry I reread your comment. Mine aren't the Vintage, but it's the same look. I went for the lifetime guarantee, although it would be nice to have some of the original ones made in England. Hard to believe the ones that are guaranteed for life are less expensive than the Vintage that aren't guaranteed for life.

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USAF AMMO

Old boots. I said before but now I have to say it again. NOW we have officially run out of things to talk about.

What about aglets?
Plastic or steel?

Iimberland hiking boots nothing fancy, just had them forever.

My 2 pairs of favorite boots. With my neuropathy, I need to wear something that supports my ankles without being too heavy.
The black 5.11 Tactical Boots get me teased by my wife. She calls them my tactical Frankenstein boots. They are light supportive and comfortable.
My brown Hi-Tech, waterproof, leather hiking boots have seen lotsa miles and I intend to put many more miles on them.

I gotta get some polish on those black boots. They were my work boots.

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Keep on Chooglin'

I discovered the Russell Moccasin company in Wisconsin maybe 20 yrs back. They do boots and shoes directly from measurements made of your feet.

I think I now own five pairs and finally sent a pair in to get resoled and rebuilt. Very light weight, comfortable from the first day and long wearing.

They do a warm weather boot called the African PH. Breathable, a few different types of soles and leather, etc. I live in mine most of the summer and fall.

Boots - Safari Boots - Russell Moccasin Co.

Take a look. If you have hard to fit feet due to an injury or whatever...these guys are a God send.

FN in MT

I have always wondered what a pair of boots that cost $1,100.00 looked like... :O

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USAF AMMO

I had many boots since I was 19, mostly Tony Lama, Justin and less expensive Rancho. The lizzard skin Lamas I miss for sure, so as the Buckaroos. But someone made me sell 'em for a quick buck.

Anyway, here's one survivor from back then. Bought in 2003 and brought me through all 4 seasons and lots of horse poop. A pair of Durangos...

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Jorge

Fancy living folks here, what can afford shoes and all.

These 'corks' aren't new, I just changed the worn nails recently.

Most cork boots are heavy leather & lace up over the whole calf, but no snakes in this country & being a rain forest, rubber WORKS & is easily cared for

I hunt the same territory so the boots are "all season".

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Well, see, I'm from Arkansas, and boots just ain't a common thing around here.

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- Change it back -

Not everyone in Arkansas is an Ozark hillbilly like Faulkner. We have flatland city-slickers, like myself. My dress boots--Wolverines, steel toed. (Helpful if you have ever had an ex try to run over your toes!).

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No school like the old school.

Wow. Thanks for that link. That's what I call some classy boots.

If you are serious with buying Russell's DO go to one of their Dealers to get measured. They also attend quite a few Sportsmans and SCI shows., A buddy did the measurements himself and had issues.


I bought a pair of their High Country Sheep Hunters for big game season way back when I spent 20+ days afield. In the past I thought blisters and leg cramps at night were simply part of hunting.

Same with their shoes. I can now stay on my feet all day long at a gun show, SHOT Show or similar....and not have to put up with all the pain I did in the past. I have the Art Carter Shooting chukka. VERY comfy all day long.

FN in MT

Lobb and Peel, if still making shoes, probably charge that for regular dress shoes. They were made to measure and the lasts kept there for future orders.

(Those are separate companies, not a partnership.)

They retired the lasts if they saw an obit. in the London Times.

Asked what happened if the customer wasn't a, Times reader or his family didn't read the paper, one gentleman replied, "My dear fellow, all of our clients read, The Times."

The London Times is the newspaper of the gentry.

I first knew of Russell's boots through Robert C. Ruark's books and articles. He recommended them for safari use, and showed a pair in his excellent safari article in a famous magazine that appeared the year of his death, 1965. Ian Fleming had died the previous year, and I'd lost my two favorite authors.

Anyway, I ordered a pair of Russell's while in Newfoundland in 1966. Because the terrain was somewhat mountainous and rocky, I specified the extra cost Vibram soles, about which I'd read good things. In retrospect, I wish that I'd gotten their regular, lighter soles. And I scuffed those handsewn moccasin toes a lot in the woods. The boots are good for what they're designed for, upland bird hunting.

I later bought L.L. Bean boots that I think were maybe Herman Survivors made under the Bean name. They had normal toes and also had those Vibram soles, which helped me to stomp through crusted snow for a firmer step. It was a good combo.

And I bought a pair of Timberland boots that they advertised as a premium model that needed a silicon liquid to maintain. They are fairly heavy, but a good boot.

Rocky boots provided a lightweight, very nice model that were good even in fairy cold weather. The sole looked like Vibram and may be, but of a lighter material.

The best boots that I found for warmer weather that'd still fare well in all but really cold weather were a pair of Danners. I think Danner makes really good boots. If I buy another pair, it'd likely be from them.

I also have a pair of Russell's chukka boots for casual wear. They have been good, but dry out too much if you don't keep the recommended Pecard leather paste on them. Same for my Birdshooter boots. Russell's offers several leathers, as you can see in the link above. I haven't seen their catalog in years, but if they still use Norwegian Krymp leather, that might be a good choice. I've not seen their kangaroo boots, but they and other makers say they're tough and light. But the moccasin toe is not, in my opinion, a good choice for hiking in heavy brush, rocky areas, and dense forests. The seams scuff too much. I also prefer heel counters, an extra cost feature from Russell's.

My son still wears boots that he got while in the Army in Iraq. He says they're very comfortable.

Frank says above that you need to go to a Russell's dealer to be measured. I used the sketch order blank that they sent, and fit was fine. But if you can see a dealer, that's probably best. The only Russell's dealer I ever found was the old Abercrombie & Fitch. They 're now gone, but were the premier outfitter, once patronized by Theodore Roosevelt and Ernest Hemingway and (I think) Robt. Ruark. The A&F name is now owned by The Limited and sells women's clothing. What was the name of that song played by the British band at Lord Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown? "The World Turned Upside Down." I thought of that when I heard what became of the A&F name.

These boots are not really that old only about 8 years, I had another pair of the same boots for nearly 20 years they were resoled twice but the uppers finally disintegrated so I bought another pair of the same. They were hard to find as they stopped making them years before. The boot is a Carolina 709 Logger, fully leather lined and insulated.

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

These are new, but they are elephant, so ask me in a 50 years when they are broken in

My ghost will pay you a visit in 2065.

Until then...

I never liked pull on type boots until I saw these Chippewas in the 70% off rack at Big R abut 5 years ago. They fit perfectly and I wear them almost every day.

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Rule of law, not a man.

Wow. I brought the same subject up on another forum. you can guess by the picture here. My sister went halves on me for these Tony Lamas in 1990 for a wedding present to me. I insisted I split it with here. They are still my all time favorites.

I bought a pair of Herman's survivor boots for hunting back in '77 I retired them early 1996. New york,Pennsylvania and I don't know how many day at work. Started using them about 1994 at work cause we worked 24/7/365 and the boots that were for sale from the company just were not getting it done. Literally covered in sno-seal to keep the water out. Got chewed out many times as wearing non approved foot wear. Was supposed to be wearing steel toed boots. My feets would take a beating climbing ladders on the fuel oil tanks,climbing over oil lines and just working outside in the rain and snow.Yeah I think I got my money's worth. Frank

I can't show a picture of my favorite old boots. I spent about 10 years with a pair of my military issue boots getting them well broken in. Most comfortable pair of footwear I ever owned. No holes in the uppers and I still had tread on the soles. My wife , who is not trainable, took it upon herself to dispose of them and a number of other items while I was gone one day. Bear in mind I married a widow that I later found should have known better as my stepson tells me that he and his father both had explained the concept of well broken in shoes and clothing to her in no uncertain terms. Seems she did this to them also.