Traditional Knives and GYW Footwear

[abbydaddy]

I had some light walking/hiking to do for a couple archaeological surveys (six miles on Friday, nine on Monday), so I took my Lambsfoot and Danner Bull Run Lux boots. Most archaeological survey is bushwhacking, and takes a sturdier boot, but ever since I had these ones resoled and the left lifted, they are some of my most comfortable boots for walking long distances or standing on hard surfaces. Usually they look a little prettier, but I liked how they looked with a little dust on them.

Technically, they are stitchdown, not GYW, but I trust I can be pardoned. These boots were the ones that convinced me to stick to buying resolable boots so that I can get the left boots lifted. The difference in back pain after walking five or more miles is just night and day. Up until I reached my early-mid 30s, my back never complained about any distance I hiked, but around age 34 my lower back informed me that it was done quietly accepting my mismatched leg lengths. I eventually figured out that I could get a hard orthotic insert for the left foot, and at the end of the day my back would be much happier. But the hard rubber/plastic that did enough to compensate for the mismatched length really left my heel and ankle unhappy at the end of the day. Getting the lift put under the midsole makes it so once again I can hike long distances and really not suffer much, which is pretty important for me since my job can routinely call for me to hike more than 10 miles in a day.

I got the Bull Run Lux boots in the Sterling colorway, based purely on looks, but they have proved sturdy enough that I don't mind using them for the lighter duty work (they wouldn't stand up to excavation, and the christy soles just don't cut it for bushwhacking). I like how the leather has aged and changed with treatment and waterproofing (I've included a phot of them a little cleaner below, along with my other favorite boots, so you can actually see how they look when not so dusty). They are a pair of boots that I bought purely as fashion boots, but they have turned into a real go-to pair for me.

 

[Side O'Beef]

View attachment 1927157

I own 2 pairs of these Galibier boots. Made in France for over 60 years. No modern waterproof fabric is used in the making, only 1/8 inch thick leather and rubber. Gooyear sewing. Each boot weights 2 pounds. Hard use boots for working, hiking and hunting. I wear them about 300 days a year. I never have wet feet.

Dan.

Wow. Just wow.

 

[abbydaddy]

This is probably my oldest pair of boots, but I have no idea how old they actually are. They are an old pair of Frye boots that belonged to my friend's grandfather. His grandfather was a bit of a hoarder, but he hoarded really nice things. I don't wear these all that often, since they are very old, but I decided to take them out today so I could post 'em here. They are paired with my Beer Scout that I got in a GAW here some years back (I apologize, I have forgotten who gave it to me ).

 

[brownshoe]

Frye boots were hot in the 70s

 

[Frank.K]

Buck 110 with some Redwing 2233’s size 16 on plant duty today.

 

[eveled]

I'd wear them if I was a roofer.
They are still available many places, and surprisingly some places still have the tomahawks in stock as well.

Ever watch mythbusters?
The thorogood " monkey boots " are Jayme Hynemans boot of choice, his hat is dumb but at least he wears real boots.
Adam savage wears some crappy disposable bloodstone Chelsea boots.

I just bought a pair of the new Thorogood Roofer boots. They are not as ugly as the old ones, but do not have the reinforced double layer sides. Still nice boots.

I have a pair of American made Chipewa boots I can’t wear to work because I know they can’t be replaced.

I may order a pair of Redwing Iron Rangers if the Roofers don’t work out.

 

[Hickory n steel]

I just bought a pair of the new Thorogood Roofer boots. They are not as ugly as the old ones, but do not have the reinforced double layer sides. Still nice boots.

I have a pair of American made Chipewa boots I can’t wear to work because I know they can’t be replaced.

I may order a pair of Redwing Iron Rangers if the Roofers don’t work out.

I have a pair of Chippewas that I resoled myself, and I almost never wear them because the toe box is quite narrow and uncomfortable.
quality seemed fine enough for the money though, a little higher quality than the Justin conductor lace ups that used to be my choice for work.
They are a heritage type model however, and I wouldn't be surprised if the more work oriented models had the same kind of compromise materials as the Justin's since they're owned by the same company.
I don't think Chippwa has generally been too well regarded on quality in recent years so I personally wouldn't be too sparing with them myself, unless these are an older higher quality pair.

 

[eveled]

They are probably 20 years old American made. I trash my boots but always held this pair aside. They just don’t make them the same anymore.

Still silly to save them, I just don’t want to waste them.

 

[Hickory n steel]

Last year I gave up sneakers for these Jim green Vellie chukkas as my go to warm weather beaters and never looked back, they're way more durable better looking and the wide toe box is significantly more comfortable.
They started as a natural Khaki colored rough out.


They looked great but I decided that dubbing them with beeswax and obenaufs would improve their tough utilitarian capabilities.


They can take a beating without looking too ugly, but I have been wanting another pair that I can keep a nicer for times where I want to look a bit more presentable
Jim Green recently launched their custom shop allowing me to upgrade and change a couple things , so I have a custom pair of JG vellies on order.
This time I went with their standard tobacco brown looking grain out leather, but upgraded to a leather midsole and swapped to a wedge outsole among a couple other minor changes.

because they're made in south Africa with locally sourced materials and the favorable exchange rates their boots are an incredible value, plus I love how they're entirely domestic, and donate boots to conservation rangers too. The Vellies are already basically the best thing you can get for $130 or $99 when commonly on sale, but at $230 shipped for an upgraded custom pair the value goes off the charts.