everyday boots

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murderedsongbird

Joined
Apr 12, 2006
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i know this will probably get moved but i need to finish the christmas list tonight and you guys are the only ones i really trust to help me make a decision. i really like this style boot for everyday outdoor and casual wear but i am looking more in the $100-$120 range. money is tight right now for my dad, but he's insistent on me getting something i really want. here are the boots: http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/st...1&langId=-1&categoryId=49464&productId=848549

also if that much money is going to be spent, i'd rather it not be LL Bean. just went out to Enchanted Rock in TX yesterday. i will post pics later tonight. thanks for your help guys.
 
I have those exact boots, wear them every day, and I love them. Very comfortable. The laces that come with them didn't last long, but meh. They're built on a Muson last. Wide up front, narrow in the heel, in the shape of a real foot, making them perfect for me since I have real feet. They have a goodyear welt, so they're resolable. I generally wear a 10EE or thereabouts, and their size was right on for me (for this shoe... I just got some Chippewa loggers in the same size, but not made on a Munson last, that are quite narrow in comparison). They are not waterproof, insulated, or otherwise lined with any fru-fraw.

However, I understand your desire to keep cost down. Unfortunately, I haven't been able find the exact boots outside of LL Bean. Chippewa does show a similar boot with a lugged sole in their Engineer line for less money.

If you decide on these boots at a later date, keep in mind that they're made in the USA by Chippewa, and LL Bean will back them 100% at any time with their no BS return policy. I was wary of dropping $160 myself, but in the end, I think it was worth it.

My homage to US craftsmanship:
usa01a.jpg
 
TXBulldawg said:
I have those exact boots, wear them every day, and I love them. Very comfortable. The laces that come with them didn't last long, but meh. They're built on a Muson last. Wide up front, narrow in the heel, in the shape of a real foot, making them perfect for me since I have real feet. They have a goodyear welt, so they're resolable. I generally wear a 10EE or thereabouts, and their size was right on for me (for this shoe... I just got some Chippewa loggers in the same size, but not made on a Munson last, that are quite narrow in comparison). They are not waterproof, insulated, or otherwise lined with any fru-fraw.

However, I understand your desire to keep cost down. Unfortunately, I haven't been able find the exact boots outside of LL Bean. Chippewa does show a similar boot with a lugged sole in their Engineer line for less money.

If you decide on these boots at a later date, keep in mind that they're made in the USA by Chippewa, and LL Bean will back them 100% at any time with their no BS return policy. I was wary of dropping $160 myself, but in the end, I think it was worth it.

My homage to US craftsmanship:
usa01a.jpg
Click to expand...

made in the US is good enough for me to consider paying the difference. they look sharp sharp sharp in that pic too!!! anything i should know? do they run large? small?
 
I don't know about those boots ( I've never had any although they do look like nice boots) but I do know that for the same money or less you can get a real good pair of Ariat boots. Now, I know a lot of folks don't know Ariats as they have always been primarily an English style (horse) riding boot maker but in the last few years they have been making some really good ( and good looking) work/hiking boots. I just got my third pair of boots from them ( these are called work hogs-8" high lacer) and these are the most expensive so far ( 140 ish after taxes) but they are really good boots too. You can get their boots insulated or not and waterproof or not ( though the one pair I have that aren't waterproof actually are pretty water proof).

The thing that sold me on this company's boots is that the metal support in the sole of the boot ( all good boots have one) is shaped like a Y and is designed to prevent rolling your ankles. Personally, I need the extra support because I have very bad ankles due to an accident when I was in the Marine Corps. I have had my right ankle rebuilt twice and my left rebuilt once and am prone to constantly rolling my ankles, however I haven't rolled one in the last two years ( since I started wearing Ariats) even when I wear the pull on boots I have. Now, you ask "If the boots are so good why buy 3 pairs in 2 years?" Well, I have a pair of pull on boots for horseback riding and a pair of lacers for everyday wear, and the new ones are lacers because...My wife gave my older pair of lace up boots to her dad so she would have an excuse to buy me new boots for Christmas this year. Also, I work in an office environment so I need my boots to be "presentable" according to her.

Hope this helps ( or at least gives you another option to consider)
David
 
I love my Merrell's http://www.merrell.com/US/en-us/Pro...ry-Root/Men/Footwear/Filters/Mens/Encore-Trek You can shop around and find these for less than the price from Merrell here though.

By the way these fit even better and step up in comfort a whole lot if you add these Ugs Insole replacement pads to them right after getting them. I use them in all my Merrell boots and shoes and they fit every bit as well as they do in the Ug shoes and boots!

http://www.zappos.com/n/p/dp/11856475/c/14.html

STR
 
I will echo Echo4v's statement on Ariat's. Good boots all around. I have a couple of pairs and really enjoy them.

However, for me, the end all, be all with regard to a penultimate boot maker is Danner.

I have a pair of GTX hikers that get a lot of use. These are their made in China line but have so far stood up to anything that has been thrown to them in the last three years I have owned them.

Setting that aside, their made in the USA stuff is even better. I bought a pair of Desert Acadia's a year ago based upon the performance of the GTX's. I am impressed.

If you go to their site, you can differentiate between made in USA and made in China lines. You literally cannot go wrong with any boot they make. Long lasting, hard use and exceedingly comfortable.

My two...
 
The best everyday boots IMO (and I have tried a lot of boots) are Dr. Marten's 6 eye. I have had a pair for 6 years now they are broken in but still look perfectly new. I don't use them for work I have steel toes for that so I pretty much just walk in them.
shoes_iaec1152528.jpg
 
I have a pair of Sketchers that looks about like that set of Doc Martins. If lace up is what you want I can also say those are wonderfully comfortable boots to wear all day. I have Ariat and Wolverine and also some older Tony Lama Ostrich boots but quite honestly by the end of the day my feet are very glad to get out of all of these and they are broke in. http://www.amazon.com/Skechers-Mens-Cool-Bully-Boots/dp/B000E4ZSWW

These Sketchers are certainly priced right for what you get.

STR
 
I have a pair of the LL Bean engineer boots as well. I paid even more for the ones with Gore-Tex. I wore them every day last winter and into the spring, through the snow and the slush and the mud. They kept my feet warm and dry and they look even better broken in. I've always had good luck with Bean, both the quality and the customer service. I've returned stuff after well over a year and never had a problem. Just curious, why are you reluctant to spend money at Bean?
 
The sketchers that STR linked to are comfortable, however, I found that I was underwhelmed by how long they lasted- only about 2 years of edc casual wear. I don't think that you can go wrong with anything by merrell- I'm wearing a pair of merrell chameleon shoes right now- or danner. I have narrow feet (13B), so it is hard for me to find boots that fit well. All you 10D guys really screwed that up for me, thanks. Danners are some of the only boots that come in widths, and lace to the toe. My danner acadias are by far my favorite pair of boots. The ones that I have are about worn out (10+ years of mud and brambles) so it is time for a new pair. I won't hesitate to drop the ~$200 on them again.
 
i edw (everyday wear?) a pair of harley harness boots. cannot beat them. i would like a pair of danner or something like that but between these and my dads 30yr old python cowboy boots, im pretty GTG
 
hlee said:
The sketchers that STR linked to are comfortable, however, I found that I was underwhelmed by how long they lasted- only about 2 years of edc casual wear. I don't think that you can go wrong with anything by merrell- I'm wearing a pair of merrell chameleon shoes right now- or danner. I have narrow feet (13B), so it is hard for me to find boots that fit well. All you 10D guys really screwed that up for me, thanks. Danners are some of the only boots that come in widths, and lace to the toe. My danner acadias are by far my favorite pair of boots. The ones that I have are about worn out (10+ years of mud and brambles) so it is time for a new pair. I won't hesitate to drop the ~$200 on them again.
Click to expand...

I also have narrow feet 11 B. I looked at Danner and Merrell and could not find narrow sizes.
 
I get very annoyed while shopping for boots. I haven't found a single manufacturer who provides sufficient technical information about the boot's construction. All I can find is a bunch of ® ™ marketing non-sense.
 
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Ritt said:
I have a pair of the LL Bean engineer boots as well. I paid even more for the ones with Gore-Tex. I wore them every day last winter and into the spring, through the snow and the slush and the mud. They kept my feet warm and dry and they look even better broken in. I've always had good luck with Bean, both the quality and the customer service. I've returned stuff after well over a year and never had a problem. Just curious, why are you reluctant to spend money at Bean?
Click to expand...

that's my fault man. i didn't realize that they were made in the US. with a lot of companies you get things that are made overseas. it was my fault to assume otherwise.
 
murderedsongbird said:
that's my fault man. i didn't realize that they were made in the US. with a lot of companies you get things that are made overseas. it was my fault to assume otherwise.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately it's a pretty safe assumption these days.
 
I was working a job that required walking 15 miles per day on concrete. After trying several pairs of boots I already, and not working out, I bought a pair of 5.11's. Great boots. By far the most comfortable boot I have ever used are the 1st gen adidas GSG9. I have not tried the second gen. Recently, I shelled out the $ more a 100% custom built Vibergs. This was the first pair of boots I have had built to my measurements. Absolutely amazing! Some of these fall ouside of your price range, but just thought I would pass on the info. BTY, the 5.11's I bought cost around $70.
 
my CDN Forces combats are like a pair of moccasins they are so well broken in. I can wear them for a week straight on a hike and not have stinkfoot. No plumbers tape "goretex", no crap insulation that holds moisture, just plain ol leather, treated with Obenuafs LP.
 
If you are looking for ultra light weight boots, try the OTB jungle boots. Jeff doesn't like 'em but I think they are Grand.
 
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