I would love to see second hand posts. I think we should initially believe in the community to not make brag posts.
If we start seeing brag posts, we can add a rule that posts about items no longer under production must have a link to a reasonably priced used seller of said item.
Not OP, but thanks for the suggestion, seems like they might be a good choice for wide fitting walking boots and the like, and they've got plenty of outdoor shops listed in the UK as stockists
On the made in the UK note though, seems like many of their boots are manufactured in a factory in Italy?
Yeah it would be nice if it were organised to some extent, like crossposting everything between the two for redundancy since each node would have different lifetimes, but get people to comment in just one. Though the rules are different. The German one bans all advertising.
My mom bought me this Kelty backpack 28 years ago and I use it all the time. It has no rips, tears, and if I throw it in the washing machine once a year, looks brand new.kelty
I mostly walk in the peaks and lakes so waterproof is a big plus! Ankle support is very useful too and ideally a brand with a wide range of sole shapes and sizes so I can fit them to my sole shape.
The worst boots I've had had virtually no arch support and we're really loose around the sole and hurt like hell to wear!
I dont have a specific brand in mind per se mostly because in my experience the same brand will have several different boots with wildly different constructions and quality over even a years worth of manufacturing. There are brands that are more consistent than others but it pays to not buy strictly because of the name.
I'll be speaking mostly in terms of longevity but this can come with some tradeoffs that'll I'll get into in a second. Like I said above repairablity is really what will get you the longest wear out of your boots along with regular maintenance. The most repairable construction method will be a Goodyear-welted method this is where a strip of leather is sewn directly to both the insole and the upper where then a sole or midsole is glued and sewn to the bottom. All of those pieces can be replaced as long as the upper isn't too worn out. Tradeoff to a goodyear welt is that it can make the sole bulkier and heavier due to the extra architecture. Glued or differently sewn boot soles can be just fine for some folks but many of those boots severely limit what cobblers can do to bring the boots back.
To address your specific concerns, it doesn't seems like a fully waterproof boot is necessary just one that has a little bit of treatment. Well conditioned and waxed leather will be almost completely waterproof to begin with but you can go even further with things like silicone weatherproofing sprays which will also work fo synthetic materials. Ankle support will be provided by most boots that lace tigher above the ankle.
As for the fit, have you had someone fit a pair of boots to you before or has it been diy so far?
Thanks for your detailed reply! I've never actually had a fitting done which I do fully intend to do for my next pair.
I agree with what you're saying about waterproofing when I think what I really meant was weatherproofing!
I'll definitely be looking to pick up some good repairable boots, probably leather and/or fabric blend.
I appreciate your input on materials as that was the main thing I wasn't sure on seeing as my previous pairs have all fallen apart in one way or another or simply become too worn to provide support
I'll be sure to keep that all in mind when I go for my new boots! Cheers!
And if you're interested in a dramatized version of the story about how hard companies fought to cover up their own findings on these chemicals: https://www.netflix.com/title/81192027
Project Farm had a recent video on non-stick pans. If you're not familiar with his channel, he does great reviews and tries to set up some objective tests for how well products perform.
I got a handle on amazon and it came with blades. You don't need anything special, I literally just bought the cheapest ones, but I have found it helpful to change disposable blades just about every time I shave. Maybe there expensive ones that I could use for longer, but at this point I already have enough blades to last me about 5 years.
I actually now use a cheap straight razor that takes disposable blades, and the shave is noticeably the best I've ever had. It is time consumung, though.
I went with Trash Bags when picking a new bag about 6 years ago. No complaints. It's one of the best things I own. I've ordered other small stuff from them and it's always been superb quality.
I'd you have a local cobbler/shoemaker you might want to ask them. I would expect them to be able to tell you what to get if you want them to repair it.
My experience has been you have to cycle through several pairs to make them last
I have some from scotch and soda that have lasted me around 10 years, but I don't wear them that much. Honestly I wear them more for bed because they're comfortable and kinda loud
Buy it for Life
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