If you are near New England, the Double L factory stores have 10" for $99., catalog, or in the store, I think they are $129.
Posted on 03/29/2016 11:03:43 AM PDT by C19fan
Come close. They won't bite though some have been gnawed upon, chewed, and bitten themselves (mostly by labs and golden retrievers, if social media is the source). Weirdly, the weathered boots piled into a bin, located in a far-off corner of the factory, don't smell so bad either. It's hard not to want to touch them, to trace their wrinkles. Each boot carries its own landscape of dings and dust, faded in its own peculiar shade, with its own particular history.
(Excerpt) Read more at popularmechanics.com ...
I’ll usually go with a thicker wool blend sock in warmer weather for the padding effect.
In colder weather I’ll use the wool or wool blend socks with a polypropylene “wicking” sock under them.
I wore them for many years in another life as a meter reader for the local electric company. Nothing could beat them for the dewy grass in the morning though they could be slippery on those slate walkways. (grin)
Also use them for fishing on the aluminum rowboat.
They have their place but there are also better options these days.
Back in the day, I went to a camp up in Minnesota, and a counselor there had a custom pair of Bean Boots. Had the uppers replaced with a set that went up to the knee.
Great counselor too. He even wintered up there sometimes, and knew all the shortcuts, bypassing the grueling portages.
I was loyal to Red Wing until they discontinued the boot I liked. Leather boot with vibram (sp) sole that was replaceable. They had something close that they offered and told me they could change the soles to my liking. I passed on ripping the soles off a new pair $200 boots.
My latest pair are from Caterpillar. Pass on them; very comfortable but the 100% waterproof not so much. I don’t think a sponge could absorb anymore water.
I really thinking hard about trying hiking boots next, neighbor in the nursery business swears by Osolo boots; pricey.
I’m currently wearing Chaco Brios. A hybrid boot with a soft rubber soul and leather uppers.
Incredibly comfortable but I see the durability is not going to be there for the price I paid.
For straight walking moderate hiking boot and a step up from a shoe or sneaker however, I think you would be satisfied with them. I’m using them as a work shoe with a lot of squatting and its causing the front portion of the souls to separate from the leather.
The soul is very flexible and durable with a good lug pattern that isn’t too deep. I had to replace the useless laces with some KIWI nylon boot laces after about 3 months. Far more durable.
Chaco also makes two other boot designs that might interest you. American made.
http://www.chacos.com/US/en/mens-boots/
I have a pair on right now here at the office. Up here, we wear them to court, to church, most anywhere. I’ve been wearing :Maine Hunting Shoes” for close to fifty years. They’re great boots.
I must say I get a kick out of watching city types from away wearing them as a “fashion statement”.
When I was wearing the steel toed versions I tried to have a pair for inclement weather and pair for dryer days. Then I would make it a point to alternate them. I have some I have had for almost ten years that way.
That being said, the only place I had a pair give out in two years was here in the Phoenix valley even when not worn every day. The heat can kill them.
I love Red Wing socks as well — wool blend, great wicking action for sweat.
Ah, the steel toes. Had plenty of fun with those.
Only type of those I can wear is called an “oblique” toe. They look like the old “earth shoes” toe.
Had a pair from Georgia boot many years ago that fit like a glove. Can’t wear the standard steel toe boots. Murder on the sides where the steel toe meets the leather.
Red Wings are great boots. Just can’t justify the price for them anymore and I rode it up through the +150 dollar stage for a number of years. It was a balancing act.
Interesting article but it’s a damn shame that a writer for a magazine about all things mechanical doesn’t know about vulcanizing rubber. I was waiting for him to use that old stand-by “for all intensive purposes” phrase as icing on his linguistically-challenged cake.
As long as I’m pounding this drum, I’ll point out for a couple of unnamed FReepers that shoes and boots have “soles,” not “souls.”
I have a pair of LL Bean duck boots. They are the kind that don’t have laces, with just a loop in the back to allow for easier entry. I don’t think that they make them any more. Mine are 25+ years old. I always wore them when we went fishing in Maine.
I’ll point out for a couple of unnamed FReepers that shoes and boots have “soles,” not “souls.”
That’s funny. I’m not saying some of boots have or don’t have a soul but most every pair (maybe pear or pare) definitely has a personality.
Personality, no doubt, but not an everlasting spiritual being.
I love mine, waiting till the kids get older so I can get them some! They have to stop growing!
I had some Osolo’s. They were great until the day they weren’t.
We were getting ready to head out camping and I was standing in a shallow puddle. The soles had cracked and the boots were sucking up water like a sponge. Fortunately, I was close enough to home to stop and gab another pair of Lowa boots. Those I swear by.
For Winter, I just bought a new pair of Sorel Conquest boots. They are great.
I’ve got more shoes than my wife.
Tennis shoes-1
dress shoes-1
Hiking shoes-1
hiking boots-1
work boots-2
road bike shoes-1
mountain bike shoes-1
paddling shoes-1
sandals-1
down booties-1
winter boots-1
crocs for camp shoes-1
One of the heiresses to the L.L. Bean fortune bought up a huge amount of Maine woods, and locked it up from hunting, snowmobiling and ATVs.
I get my boots from LaBonville's in Gorham, NH. They have their own boot factories in the USA and Canada.
Plus, in New Hampshire, there is no sales tax.
L. L. Bean boots, famous since forever and last as long.
Your information on the “heiress” to LL Bean is dead wrong. The only female Bean desendant is Linda Bean who has funded most of the right wing social causes in Maine. LL Bean’s grandson (and longtime CEO) Leon, who recently died, was a supporter of left causes. He also was a committee member of my boy scout troup and all of our camping equipment came from Bean’s in the 70s.
You may be thinking of Roxanne Quimby who built the Burt’s Bees empire. She has bought a large chunk of northern Maine in an effort to create a national park.
If you are near New England, the Double L factory stores have 10" for $99., catalog, or in the store, I think they are $129.
Thanks. Must be I was either told wrong, or read wrong, or somebody, even me perhaps, had gotten the 2 mixed up.
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