BS: Boots: Need Some, but Where?

Subject: BS: Boots: Need Some, but Where?
From: saulgoldie
Date: 12 Oct 05 - 03:51 PM

When I think of my "folksinger's outfit" boots are on my feet. They are slip-on, they are mid-calf in height, and they have relatively low heels, like the heel height on dress shoes, and rounded (normal) toes.

I have a pair of these from eons ago that need to be repaired by a very talented boot-smith. I would pay dearly to have this done if I knew where to send them.

I have another pair that I got a while back before I stopped shopping at MalWart, but the soles have worn down and I am not sure they are worth repairing--they are not nearly as well made as the first pair.

My problem in buying boots is that I take about a 6.5 size, wide. Most sellers don't carry smaller than 8, or sometimes 7.5, and usually not in wide sizes. Special orders are normally non-refundable. Furthermore, most of the boots available have very high heels and pointed toes. And I would prefer them a little taller than is usually offered even at specialized boot stores.

Do I just need to have a custom pair made for like several hundred dollars? Any suggestions? Thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: Boots: Need Some, but Where?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Oct 05 - 03:58 PM

Where are you?

Subject: RE: BS: Boots: Need Some, but Where?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 12 Oct 05 - 04:04 PM

I have a friend with small feet who buys her shoes and boots in the children's department. Have you looked there? Maybe in high-end shoe departments they'll have kids shoes that work fine for an adult.

I asked about your location as far as any recommendations for sending boot for repair or to a shoe maker to have another pair made.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Boots: Need Some, but Where?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 12 Oct 05 - 04:10 PM

google for Boulet... DAMN good boots.. lots of different selection...

Subject: RE: BS: Boots: Need Some, but Where?
From: Wesley S
Date: 12 Oct 05 - 04:19 PM

Justin Boots are located here in Ft Worth Texas. Their website www.justinboots.com has a link to folks who sell on the web. I have several that I bought locally and I like them. I suspect that here in Texas the boots you described would most likely be called "ropers".

Subject: RE: BS: Boots: Need Some, but Where?
From: kendall
Date: 12 Oct 05 - 04:21 PM

Anything but Dexter. They used to make great boots here in Maine. Now they are trash made out of the country.

Subject: RE: BS: Boots: Need Some, but Where?
From: gnu
Date: 12 Oct 05 - 04:33 PM

You got that right Kendall. Big seller here next door to Maine... and we had local companies making shoes too. Now, Walmart sells Chinese made shoes for $20. Nice shoes for $20. Buddy, can ya spare a dime? For some of that Asian fish they are selling at the grocery... twenty kms from the salt water here?

Subject: RE: BS: Boots: Need Some, but Where?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 12 Oct 05 - 05:38 PM

I second Wesley S. on ropers, not just Justin, but Boulet (recommended by Clinton Hammond, above) and others. Can be had with squared, rounded or pointy toes (not all makers have them all). Some are made with rough calf outside leather. See the plain brown smooth calf (Boulet # 2703 on their website). Don't know the 'look' you are after. Ropers of high quality, slight seconds(?), often appear on EBay.
I have a pair of Boulet and a couple of Luechese I wear because they keep out that short dry grass common in this area.

Subject: RE: BS: Boots: Need Some, but Where?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 12 Oct 05 - 09:39 PM

YES - this company specializes in hard to fit feet - they will find you a local fitter.

Pay the several hundred (400 US) for a grand pair that will make you stand tall....or if you sit....place the frets within your finger-tips.

BEST BOOT EVER - (I have owned two pairs - current pair have been rebuilt twice) is handmade by the Otto White Boot Company. (Given current world conditions: the heel and the steal shank make them akward for public air-travel unless you bring a blue-print of the specs....govt travel knows the boot.)

Whites have made a name for themselves with calked boots, smokejumpers and the packers. The leather boots with block heel have always been popular with loggers, firefighters and Forest Service workers.

I have seen thousands upon thousands of boots - I am cheap & buy bargains but when it comes to foot comfort - these are top of the line - and you will get every penny's worth - they appear pricey but are VERY WELL worth it...

A first pair will last a life-time - except for the fool-hearty, that take them into infernos, floods, and scree slopes.

You should contact the company, with your address, to find someone local that can correctly fit your foot. After that, your measurments are permantly recorded in their card-catalogue. They are tailor-made and suitable for orthopedic foot formations.

In my opinion - and these boots have treked years and years of every major mountain range except the Asian Hymlaya's....Otto White's boots are the best in the world.

http://www.whitesboots.com/

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

However, in this thread we are probably talking to buskers, travelers, wannbe performers - with more show than go....in the "real world" "for authenticity" the first thing real-folk look at is the feet....and Tony Lama's is for sheep fucking mamas.

YOU NEVER want a steal toed boot.

When a REALLY heavy object falls on your toe - the doctors have one H--l of a time keeping your pinched toes intact.

Subject: RE: BS: Boots: Need Some, but Where?
From: Rapparee
Date: 12 Oct 05 - 10:03 PM

Check the web. Fugawee, Fall Creek Sutler and others. You'll pay about two hundred US dollars (and, of course, UP).

Subject: RE: BS: Boots: Need Some, but Where?
From: open mike
Date: 12 Oct 05 - 10:38 PM

zappos.com has a huge selection
http://www.zappos.com/welcome2.zhtml?1012

Subject: RE: BS: Boots: Need Some, but Where?
From: number 6
Date: 13 Oct 05 - 12:17 AM

Frye boots.

http://www.fryeboots.com/subpages/our-heritage.html

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: Boots: Need Some, but Where?
From: Metchosin
Date: 13 Oct 05 - 02:57 AM

Frye makes great boots and so does Viberg in a huge range of sizes and widths.

Sounds as if you want something similar to 80/90.

Subject: RE: BS: Boots: Need Some, but Where?
From: saulgoldie
Date: 14 Oct 05 - 05:11 PM

SRS,
Thanks for the response; sorry for the delay. I have been away from the puter. I am in Maryland, near DC.

Others: Thanks for the leads. I will check them out.

Subject: RE: BS: Boots: Need Some, but Where?
From: Dave Swan
Date: 15 Oct 05 - 12:10 PM

D. W. Frommer II can make anything you want. His materials and craftsmanship are of the highest quality. I've been his student and I wear his boots. None better.

D

Subject: RE: BS: Boots: Need Some, but Where?
From: DougR
Date: 15 Oct 05 - 02:48 PM

Gargoyle: you disappoint me. Tony Llamas ...er...Lama makes great boots! I've got two pair. One of them I have had for forty years or so. Of course I don't wear boots much though.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Boots: Need Some, but Where?
From: dianavan
Date: 15 Oct 05 - 03:26 PM

I want these!

http://www.fryeboots.com/subpages/catalog-detail.asp?sn=77690&fcp=catalog.asp?cat=WESTERN@sty=@gen=0@goToPage=1

Subject: RE: BS: Boots: Need Some, but Where?
From: GUEST,trailcrawler
Date: 14 Nov 09 - 06:57 PM

Bought a pair of Whites smoke jumper boots and a pair of packers in the 60's. Still got em, still wear em. Been resoled a few times. They were expensive then and still are. But if comfort, durability and safety count for anything, they are a bargain. Always have been. Buy cheap, get cheap, put up with cheap and in a few decades your feet are ruined.

Subject: RE: BS: Boots: Need Some, but Where?
From: catspaw49
Date: 14 Nov 09 - 07:24 PM

First time I ever saw this old thread and my only comment is...........

SIZE 6.5???

What are you, a midget? The last time I wore that size I was probably 6 years old!!!

Spaw (size 13)

Subject: RE: BS: Boots: Need Some, but Where?
From: Rapparee
Date: 14 Nov 09 - 09:07 PM

Wide, extra wide, or eight E?

Subject: RE: BS: Boots: Need Some, but Where?
From: kendall
Date: 15 Nov 09 - 03:50 PM

L.L. Bean