[Daffynition]

Maybe consider, the next boots you get, would be from a manufacturer, who will repair them for you. I've been at the customer service dept. at Double L in Freeport, Maine, when a lady in front of me was bringing in her gum-bottoms to be repaired...she didn't want to let them go....it was charming...it was like she was saying good-bye to a family member.

Technically speaking, for hiking the classic Bean boots are nothing to brag about...but are great for sloshing-around conditions...but Double L does a nice /reasonably priced job with repairs. I like the fact that they are still made in Maine.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Clarify my memory here, if you can.

I think the US government had a policy that they wanted to have a factory within the US that could manufacture each major necessity (shoes, pants, shirts, jackets, etc.).

I thought Bass Shoe or some other shop in Maine was THE last major shoe manufactory in the US that could meet those requirements and that they shifted their manufacturing overseas, so that there is no longer a single manufacturing facility that could supply the US with shoes during a major international issue (e.g., war).

Does that ring a bell or am I completely off on that? Do you know anything about that?