If you had to wear just 1 pair of boots for the rest of your life, what would they be?

[The Lost kansan]

The Quality of Thorogoods is very good, very well constructed, good stitching. I'm UK also and have wide feet so it's always a bit of a gamle with sizing. Which was my main gripe with Red Wings, even after visiting the London store I struggled to find Iron rangers that either didn't slip or feel like they rubbed somewhat. Iron Rangers do have a very straight (flat) heel rise though. Im yet to own any Red wing MOCs or engineers so couldn't comment on those. I did try some mocs on instore which felt quite tough but I'd obviously need to see them through the break-in stage. Thorogoods leather is quite soft in comparison, especially around the heel.

For Thorogood I wear my normal size but their EE width. Redwing Mocs I sized up one size and then put in some insoles to get a better fit. That works for me to get the fit right but also because for me (and I know this is a bit of a controversial opinion) I don’t like leather footbeds on shoes/boots that have rubber soles… it just never feels right to me. I love my leather footbeds on my dress shoes and cowboy boots that have traditional leather soles but there’s something that just feels wrong walking on a hard leather footbed when the sole is rubber. So I fix that with insoles in my redwings

 

[Remedy]

Im simple for me is it the MocToe from redwing…. Yea not really Special but I love it confortable

 

[Budgewink]

Im simple for me is it the MocToe from redwing…. Yea not really Special but I love it confortable

Love the colour!

 

[Edward]

The Quality of Thorogoods is very good, very well constructed, good stitching. I'm UK also and have wide feet so it's always a bit of a gamle with sizing. Which was my main gripe with Red Wings, even after visiting the London store I struggled to find Iron rangers that either didn't slip or feel like they rubbed somewhat. Iron Rangers do have a very straight (flat) heel rise though. Im yet to own any Red wing MOCs or engineers so couldn't comment on those. I did try some mocs on instore which felt quite tough but I'd obviously need to see them through the break-in stage. Thorogoods leather is quite soft in comparison, especially around the heel.

I've long been keen on a pair of Thorogood roofer / monkey boots (lace to toe), but am wary of ordering a brand of which I have no experience online. Especially as most options for them these days seem to be US-based, and between the weak pound against the dollar of this last decade and the massive rise in US to UK postage charges in recent years, it's a very expensive mistake to make, with a complicated and very costly returns process. They're on my list, though, for some day in the future, likely five or six years' time, when I can afford to o a big holiday to the US and go shopping...

My Iron Rangers are now at least ten years old, and while I could probably get away with reheeling them, I think they would benefit in comfort from a full resole. That's not cheap exactly, but at a third of the cost of a new pair and if I get another ten years of hard wear out of them, well worth it. They blistered one of my heels badly the first two days I wore them (to work, all day; teaching days, so I was on my feet all day as well), but after a full week of wearing them everyday (maybe not the best idea, but a fast break-in anyhow), they became extremely comfortable. To contextualise, I've had maybe three pairs of leather shoes / boots in my lifetime that didn't rub a bit at least the first few wears. I'll go easier with them the next time I buy some RedWings, but they're worth a sensible break in for the long haul.

 

[TLW '90]

For me it would probably be my Thorogood 4364's ( not counting my 6201's I wear at work ).
They're nearing 6 years old now and still going strong.

They may not look too presentable right now, but I haven't given them a proper cleaning & conditioning in about 6 months.
Here's a pic I took after my 1st couple hours of wearing them.

And after a few months.

I wish they still looked like this, but their 6 years of good service are showing.

 

[r.biker]

For me it would probably be my Thorogood 4364's ( not counting my 6201's I wear at work ).
They're nearing 6 years old now and still going strong.
View attachment 708877
They may not look too presentable right now, but I haven't given them a proper cleaning & conditioning in about 6 months.
Here's a pic I took after my 1st couple hours of wearing them.
View attachment 708879
And after a few months.
View attachment 708880
I wish they still looked like this, but their 6 years of good service are showing.

These are v nice!

 

[bcboots]

Hi all,

I'm on the hunt for my next pair of boots. Currently have some cool chippewa monkey style boots that I've had for a long time with a nice wedge sole (will post some pics if anyones interested in seeing how they're aging..) I have had redwing in the past which I rate highly.

But I thought it would be interesting to hear thoughts on, if you could pick just one boot to wear for the rest of your life, what would it be?

(Apologies if this has already been asked elsewhere, couldn't find a thread)

Boulet 8280

 

[Turnip]

Here it would be Solovair Brogue Boots.

Stabile construction, very good manufacturing, comfortable and smooth like a sneaker, a very nice thick and comfortable sole. Easy to maintain as well.

 

[Bawheid]

I wore the original Dr Martens boots and shoes for work up until 1995.
That was in Europe.
Now I Australia I found them "too hot" for the climate most of the year.
Blundstone boots for many years here.
Now l am a committed Rossi fanboy both slip on elasticated sides and lace up. Best for Australian conditions.

 

[Peter Mackin]

For every day wear Trickers Stow,,for motorcycling Daytona roadstar gtx .

 

[r.biker]

Probably not my "1 pair of boots for life" but did just manage to get a pair of these low Chippewa engineer boots that are no longer made! Made in USA, soft toe, not sure of the leather (?) But looking forward to seeing how these wear, there's not much info online really.

Actually pretty pleased with them, a bit of heel slip but im hoping that'll go away with wear.

These are my first pair of engineer boots and i was looking for a low cost way to try them, also was initially unsure about getting low height ones but when your jeans are on you obviously can't tell they're low, and actually as someone who's got bigger calves and is always feeling the heat, maybe the low ones are a better option for me anyway!

 

[Zombie_61]

I wore the original Dr Martens boots and shoes for work up until 1995.
That was in Europe.
Now I Australia I found them "too hot" for the climate most of the year.
Blundstone boots for many years here.
Now l am a committed Rossi fanboy both slip on elasticated sides and lace up. Best for Australian conditions.

1995. That was about the time a co-worker introduced me to Dr. Martens boots. In this part of the U.S. the only people I ever saw wearing them were in the Punk Rock crowd, so I didn't give them much notice. But this co-worker wore a pair every day and spoke rather highly about them, so I thought I'd give them a try. At that time, they were the most comfortable boots I'd ever worn, so I went through a couple of pair before my lower back issues informed me that they weren't such a good idea after all.

That said, now I'd go with a pair of Wolverine's "Raider Durashocks Waterproof Carbonmax 6" Work Boots":

10 hours on the cement deck of a warehouse five days a week for seven months, and my feet never bothered me once. Waterproof, and available with steel toes. Truly the best pair of work boots I've ever owned, and if I had to I'm pretty sure I could wear them (replacing them when they got worn out, of course) for the rest of my days on this watery rock.

 

[Bfd70]

 

[Leathergato]

William lennon Canadian combat or 78 tc

How long did it take for your William Lennon boots to arrive once you ordered them? Was it pretty close to the 20 weeks like it says on their website?

 

[rotenone]

How long did it take for your William Lennon boots to arrive once you ordered them? Was it pretty close to the 20 weeks like it says on their website?

About 4.5 months yes

 

[morrison2951]

Still wearing them. 1970's black label Frye.

 

[Leathergato]

About 4.5 months yes

Thanks. I placed on order back in May so hopefully I will receive them by Halloween.

 

[RDS]

I wore the original Dr Martens boots and shoes for work up until 1995.
That was in Europe.
Now I Australia I found them "too hot" for the climate most of the year.
Blundstone boots for many years here.
Now l am a committed Rossi fanboy both slip on elasticated sides and lace up. Best for Australian conditions.

I also have a pair of Rossi Endura elastic sided boots to wear alongside my Redbacks.
In my opinion both are far more preferable to Blundstones, although it remains to be seen if the quality of Rossi boots drops off after they followed Blundstone by also moving their production from Australia (to India and Indonesia, I believe)

 

[MrProper]

I also have a pair of Rossi Endura elastic sided boots to wear alongside my Redbacks.
In my opinion both are far more preferable to Blundstones, although it remains to be seen if the quality of Rossi boots drops off after they followed Blundstone by also moving their production from Australia (to India and Indonesia, I believe)

When it comes to these Chelsea boots, I can definitely recommend the GEA Waldviertler Mustang. For me the most comfortable and coolest looking chelsea.
I've already tried a few others: Blundstone, Red Wing, Timberland and a few others whose names I can't remember. But something didn't work for me in the long run. Either the look or the comfort or both.

 

[Bawheid]

I also have a pair of Rossi Endura elastic sided boots to wear alongside my Redbacks.
In my opinion both are far more preferable to Blundstones, although it remains to be seen if the quality of Rossi boots drops off after they followed Blundstone by also moving their production from Australia (to India and Indonesia, I believe)

Well That's a new one for me !

The "barstewards" kept that one quiet, but after a wee bit of wet weather googling you are correct Sir.

Just when I have a new pair of Rossi 4046 full grain Tan leather Ripple Sole lace up desert boots arriving on Wednesday, direct from the Rossi Australia website.

So I now have a "blown out" black suede gardening pair, MADE IN AUSTRALIA,
A newish black suede pair MADE IN AUSTRALIA perhaps bought from eBay 2 or 3 years back
AND this latest Kip leather pair, made ****** knows where !
When these wear out, 2 or 3 years , I will be Dr Effing Google before I order any other "Australian" boots.