Grandpa's Boots
 

My Grandfather is in his late 80's and for as long as I can remember he only wore Red Wing Steel Toe Boots. I remember as a young teen showing my Grandfather my new Nikes or whatever shoe I had and he would always say "you need some Redwings". Needless to say he was unimpressed by my 80 dollar Nikes that would last me 2 months. He could get his steel toes resoled for 40 dollars and that would last him years.

Fast forward 20 years later and I'm thinking of taking his advice. Curious how many of you keep a pair of redwings or similar boot in your cache of survival gear?


http://www.meredithtradingpost.com/bigpics/2228_big.jpg

Re: Grandpa's Boots
 

I've had my steel toe and shank Red Wing Loggers for over 12 years. They saw hard daily use for about the first 8 years. Now that I'm in an office they only get weekend use. I've repaired 2 eyelets that started cutting laces in that entire time. Greatest boots on the plantet. Even with abuse and neglect they have survived.

Re: Grandpa's Boots
 

It depends on where you are. In the desert you wear the lightest, cheapest sneakers you can find. The Apaches only stopped murdering tourists when they discovered they preferred sneakers to their traditional moccasins. They didn't want to upset their suppliers.

Re: Grandpa's Boots
 

White's are good and they are custom fit and have a life-time warranty.

http://www.whitesoutdoor.com/store/s...7CWhites+Boots

http://www.whitesoutdoor.com/assets/...ries/boots.jpg

A bit pricey but I know guys that have had theirs for more than 40 years and just send them in to be reconditioned or rebuilt as necessary.

http://www.schnees.com/catalog/powde...e-s-boots.html


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Re: Grandpa's Boots
 

I don't much wear boots but I have a good pair of Goretex winter ones that I've had and cared for 13 years now. Good as new.
They are as good as gold when the weather warrants, can't imagine doing without quality boots when the need arises.
I don't wear suits, but I have a pair of J&M wingtip dress shoes that my father wore for 35 years before I 'inherited' them for the odd occasion I have to wear a monkey suit. (fond memories of the smell when he used to shine them with his little shoshine kit at nights).They've been resoled maybe 3 times, and look like brand new.
We actually have a cobbler in the town where he lives, and where I grew up. Don't see them too often any more.
I buy sneakers in bulk now. Last time I bought was at Costco- running type trail shoes, Avia, $19.99. I grabbed 8 or so pairs. Figure it'll last me 15 years. On my third pair now, and rotate the old ones for garden work etc.
Like everything else, they ain't gonna get cheaper.
The Red Wings look like a damn fine boot, but I go 2-3 days at a time now though without wearing socks , never mind actual shoes.
Good shoes/boots, if you need them for something, would be one of the things I'd spend the extra frn's on.

Re: Grandpa's Boots
 

A good pair of boots and a .45, the two most important things to have on when you walk out the front door.

Re: Grandpa's Boots
 

I'm actually in the market for some steel toed Redwings. My next job is going to require a good boot so these are going to be them. I currently wear a pair of Redwing shoes for work and they are about 4 years old. Besides replacing the pad inside they are in perfect shape still.

Re: Grandpa's Boots
 

I'm currently wearing a pair of georgia boots. They're pretty nice for $120. hydraulic oil tends to eat up the soles pretty good and crawiling around wears out the toes so I don't think I'd spend much more than that for a pair of work boots.

Re: Grandpa's Boots
 

HAHAHA you beat me to it ....... I have a pair of the Whites packers 10" tall (hide side out) with mule ears, they are 27 yrs. old. I sent them in for rebuild 6 yrs. ago and bought a new pair of the farmer/rancher 10'' tall with mule ears.

When I first started my trade I wore Redwing Irish setters with the creepe soles....the boot of choice for sheet metal workers in those days.

I have a pair of Danners around here somewhere....good boots but not quite a White.

Re: Grandpa's Boots
 

I've found that they (Georgia) don't last long in a mine, The leather isn't as good and the seams break out. Wolverines use a dye that bleeds into your socks and turns your whites pink.

In my line of work the boots get soaked with mud, the mud dries and sucks the oil out, sharp rock, and you have all of the lubricants. I imagine there are tougher environments but for my money I stick with the Red Wings. I would like to find a full service Whites dealer and try out the custom boots mentioned above though.

Re: Grandpa's Boots
 

Order direct from Whites....they tell/show you how to measure your foot for correct fit