old-fashioned hiking boots

PADDY · Aug 9, 2011

H.Johnson said:
Excellent boots. I've used their lightweight 'desert boots' to good effect. Their shop is in Catterick - the professionals rely on them! I agree about the 'old fashioned quality' but they hardly have 'old-fashioned' styling. One could make the same comment about many of the boots in this post!

I'm going to whizz down to Catterick Garrison in the next few days I think. Also now that someone has mentioned 'oiled wool' in this thread, a visit to the Barbour Factory 'today' sounds like a good idea! Reading these threads can prove expensive chaps!!

PADDY · Aug 9, 2011

GT RedWings believe it or not..!
Got a comfy 20 mile hike along the coast with these little numbers and they have a classic vintage look to them. Leather soles with a commando rubber tread stitched on top.

PADDY · Aug 9, 2011

My 30-year-old Scarpa boots. Still going strong.

iPhone Comms

PADDY · Sep 18, 2011

Any luck with getting the boots you want..?

BrianS · Oct 15, 2011

Mountain boots

Hi Ladies and Gentlemen Who knows where i can purchase New vintage syle mountain boots.Thank you for your time. Brian

norton · Oct 15, 2011

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/archive/index.php/t-44538.html

I've been looking at this recently for hiking boots, not because of style but because of quality and fit. I think the older style is better made and I have a narrow fit that I can't find a modern narrow boot.

To summarize the above thread, I found two practical options, Mendl from Germany and Limmer in the U.S. Limmer is a custom boot maker in New Hampshire that also sells a line of ready made boots manufa ctured for them by Mendl in Germany. Cabela's sells some Mendls in the U.S., but they're not norwegian welted, like what you can get in Europe.

Also, an Italian company, Alico occaisionally has boots on STP.

Tony B · Oct 15, 2011

If you mean full on bergstiefel with all the cleats etc try this fella
http://www.koutny-cz.eu/produkty/boty/

And if you just ignore all the nazi side of things this site will give you a good insight into the making of them...a true craftsman http://www.panzergrenadier.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=12332&start=90 I have seen his work for myself and they are very good things so next year I will be trying to get heim to make me a do nazified "civvie" version of the side lace jump boots in brown with commando soles, if you dont want to pay that price have a look round for ex swiss army mountain boots.

Regards Tony

EmergencyIan · Oct 15, 2011

Does anyone remember those popular hiking boots from the 1970's with the red laces? What was that style called and which companies manufactured them?

- Ian

Jan · Oct 15, 2011

Danner?

kaiser · Oct 15, 2011

I have bought a pair of Meindl boots last year. They are more or less old school, and cost about 200 Euros. I have worn them for one Winter and are very satisfied with them.

Here is a link to their site, and the boots that I bought.

http://www.meindl.de/english/index.html

Tomasso · Oct 15, 2011

EmergencyIan said:
Does anyone remember those popular hiking boots from the 1970's with the red laces? What was that style called and which companies manufactured them?

Actually, it was popular to switch-out the factory laces for red laces in the 70s. Sporting good stores would have a rack of red laces in the boot department.

J.W. · Oct 15, 2011

Kaiser, your link only sends us to the Meindl startpage. Which boots did you get? Meindl is one of the go-to companies for hikers in Germany, so it's not a bad choice. I've never owned any of their boots, but many friends of mine have. The hold up pretty well and according to what I've been told, they are quite comfortable, too.
Maybe the TO could elaborate a bit more on the style he is looking for? Maybe the Timberland Eurohiker might be sth. for you?

kaiser · Oct 16, 2011

J.W. said:
Kaiser, your link only sends us to the Meindl startpage. Which boots did you get? Meindl is one of the go-to companies for hikers in Germany, so it's not a bad choice. I've never owned any of their boots, but many friends of mine have. The hold up pretty well and according to what I've been told, they are quite comfortable, too.
Maybe the TO could elaborate a bit more on the style he is looking for? Maybe the Timberland Eurohiker might be sth. for you?

Sorry about that, I got the Meindl Ortlers. They are listed in the models section under double stitched. There are other double stitched boots there as well.

bburtner@moran · Oct 17, 2011

Have a look at the Merrell`s,they are still made and they are a great classic mountain boot,made in Italy,Norweigen welt not high priced either.

Cashmere · Oct 25, 2011

EmergencyIan said:
Does anyone remember those popular hiking boots from the 1970's with the red laces? What was that style called and which companies manufactured them?

- Ian

You might be thinking of the Vasque Hiker II.

Earl Needham · Oct 26, 2011

EmergencyIan said:
Does anyone remember those popular hiking boots from the 1970's with the red laces? What was that style called and which companies manufactured them?

- Ian

Perhaps Reichle? (Did I spell that right???)

Sadly, that company has been bought by someone else (Mammut?), and is no longer the same.

Cashmere · Oct 26, 2011

Yeah, Raichles usually had red laces, and they were a popular top brand hiking boot back then. That's probably it.

Vasques usually had red and black laces, as I recall.

Brian, I'm not 100% sure what you mean by "new vintage style mountain boots". To me, that means no injection molding (welt construction instead) and no GoreTex. And -- I hope you'll pardon my prejudice -- not made in China.

If by "vintage style" you mean like people wore in the 1950's and earlier, it would be a high top.

Chippewa makes excellent boots, and they have models that fit these criteria. Carolina might be another brand to look at.

Merrell, as has been mentioned, makes conventional height hiking boots that fit the criteria. I've never owned them, but I worked for various outfitters for most of the 80's, and we handled Merrell. I was very impressed with their quality.

About welt construction... The Norwegian welt (two or three visible seams) is good... very tough. The Littleway welt (no visible seams) is also good, especially for climbing, or for not-climbing scenarios that involve lots of steep rock. The Goodyear welt (one visible seam) is theoretically not quite as rugged as the Norwegian, and doesn't give you the same nimble foot placement the Littleway does, but in general it works just fine.

I was looking for the same sort of thing recently, being all misty eyed over my long-lost Danner Hood Rivers. I happened to run across some Timberland Trail Seekers, though... Injection molding and made in China, but they were sooo inexpensive ($64) and sooo comfortable I picked them up anyway. I wear them all the time and they fit my needs perfectly. I believe they've recently been replaced by the Timberland White Ledge. So, not "vintage style", but a really good boot and a really good value.

PADDY · Oct 26, 2011

*Admin Notice* Threads Merged - Paddy.

Doublegun · Oct 26, 2011

If anyone is interested I have an old pair of Vasque boots purchased in 1978 (with the original red laces) that I no longer wear and would sell. I believe they are 11-1/2 or 12. Send me a PM if interested.

JDG

Dinerman · Oct 27, 2011

I just scored these.

old-fashioned hiking boots

I'll Lock Up

I'll Lock Up

I'll Lock Up

I'll Lock Up

New in Town

One of the Regulars

One of the Regulars

Practically Family

One of the Regulars

A-List Customer

Incurably Addicted

A-List Customer

A-List Customer

Banned

New in Town

Familiar Face

New in Town

I'll Lock Up

Practically Family

Super Moderator

Log in

Forum statistics