*
I had my favorite boots resoled. They were never the same. {sob}
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Listeners write in about haunted pipes and building-science tomes, and they ask questions about roof venting and roof leaks.
Featured Video
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
*
Anyone looking for a good pr of wk boots might check sierra trading post I just bought a pr of Justin steel-toed boots #62426 $69.99 every bit as good as my wolverines-1-800-713-4534. when resoleing boots it pays to get original soles from manufacturer recommended dealer.
*
Jon,
I, too, have a pair of Redwings... first pair of boots I ever had that were comfortable out of the box. After 12 months of service, they needed resoling, so I took them back to the Redwing dealer & they resoled them, one job later (2 weeks) the sole was separating from the subsole (?), right at the stiching at the toe. Again, back to Redwing, the guy pulled up my name on the computer, went into the stock room and gave me a new pair of boots!!! $188 pair of Redwings, man, I never expected that! I'll never buy anything but Redwings now. BTW, the replacement pair is about 1-1/2 yrs old and still going strong.
*I thought I was buying good boots. The leather always falls apart before the soles are gone. Maybe I just walk hard.
*Red Wing has a factory resole/repair service ......ditto Chuck M's comments .....wouldn't wear anything else. Keep 'em clean and oiled or else the uppers will not last as long as the soles.
*Buy Sears Die-Hards. If the uppers are in good shape you can keep taking them back for replacement when the soles wear out. (lifetime guarantee) I had a pair for three years when the stitching at the toe let go. The uppers were still in good shape so I brought them back. Salesman started to give me some shit about expecting a replacement, so I asked if they indeed had a lifetime guarantee? He said yes, of course they had a lifetime guarantee. Then I asked whose lifetime; his or mine? Walked out with new boots. Got to love Sears . . .
*Speakin' of resoling boots, what do you all use for grease/oil? In the past I've used oils of one sort or another but quit and changed to Snow Seal. It just seemed as if the oil was softening the boots a little too much for my likes; the snow seal [seems] to allow the boots to retain their shape and such but still have some flexibility. Any thoughts, opinions etc? Sam
*I use Red Wing boot oil ......figure they ought to know what to put on their boots. Used to do a lot of trompin' around in mud, water, and concrete ......the leather getting too soft was the least of my worries. I do know some that use Snow Seal with good results. The main thing is to just do it .....I once lost a set of boots 'cause the leather dried and split for the lack of a little oil.
*Chuck, Did you have to pay for the resoling? I had a similar replacement experience with the insoles. The cloth lining was nearly gone, I took them back to where I got them, and the salesman handed me a brand new pair of inserts, no questions asked. Jon
*I only wear Chippewa boots which I order from Just Justins in Dallas. The leather holds up very well and style I wear ( Arroyos) have a wedge sole which is made by Viram, but is much softer and with a less agressive tread than the lug soles. Anyway a local shoe repair in my area replaces the soles with originals, oils 'em up and adds a new set of laces for about 35.00. That's a bargain as far as I'm concerned.I had one pair resoled twice and the leather was still good. Well worth the 130.00 purchase price.Don
*Ryan,When using the third tree from the left, you are supposed to aim away from your feet...
*
After reading the recent discussion on work boots for framers, and noticing that my boots are on the way out, I was wondering what you all do for soles. I have red wings, and the leather has lasted me for 3 years (lots of hard use). I resolved them after less than a year with vibram lugged soles. The lugged part is starting to separate from the main body of the sole, so the soles also are getting near the end. What do you do when your leather is still good, but the sole is worn?
Jon Blakemore
*You take 'em to a shoe repair shop. They'll probably restitch the last, or replace if it's bad enough. What do you do to get three years out of a boot, bring the coffee?
*Rich, First off, I bought the best boots I could find. Then I take the best care of them that I can. I try to clean the off with a little water every night after work, especially if I have alot of drywall or masonry dust on them. This may seem like a lot, you know cause they are work boots after all, but I have a utility sink right next to where I keep my shoes, so it takes less than 2 minutes a day. Then, mink oil when the need (around once a week or so). So far, this has done a pretty good job, as three years would attest. But still, I'm cheap, so I want to get every last bit for my money.Jon
*Do you iron your underwear and arrange the celery in the crisper according to length as well ?LOL: )
*That's impressive Jon. I am far too lazy to take the time to maintain my boots like you do, although I did learn in the service that daily maintainance is the key. I'm usually good for two soles, and maybe a restiching here or there, then the leather is shot. The stitching sure seems to get damaged quick on those Irish Setters I used to wear though.
*Jon, don't take it so hard, that little quip about the coffee came right of the top 'o me head and sounded like the thing to say.Taking care of your boots like that remind me of...well, me back when I spit shined the old man's boots every day. He had 4 or 5 pair so different day, different pair.And never mind what that 9 yr old punk ex-deputy Luka says. ;)Anyway, good for you, Jon.
*I had my favorite boots resoled. They were never the same. {sob}
*Roger, I second your comment. My Redwing soles were very comfortable and had good grip, but when they went bad I had the replaced with Vibram lugged soles. I told the shoe man to resole them, and when I returned to pick them up, I thought I had mountain climbing shoes. These new soles are not flexible at all, and add a good amount of weight. He claimed they'll last for ten years, but 18 months is all I've gotten out of them. Luka, I don't eat celery, and who said anything about underwear? Jon
*LOLJon, It was just a good-natured jab at your pickyness about cleaning your boots every day.I made one of those boot cleaners from 4 stiff-bristle brushes. Kicking through it a few times on each foot is about as much cleaning as my boots normaly get in a week.: )
*
I brought mine to the local Red WIng dealer and he had them re-soled. Turned out great.