To hike you need a dedicated boot. My Vasques are ancient and have taken me over most of the AT. Although they are *retired*, I can't part with them. Yet. They're a part of my life.
Posted on 12/08/2016 10:24:34 AM PST by Daffynition
A old article, I know. But we can't cite AP, USA today, so this is the best I could do.
If this is a problem for you. Move on.
You probably noticed a lot of brown and tan rubber-bottomed foul weather shoes this season. Most likely, it's L.L. Bean's Bean Boot, which has undergone a popularity spike.
But they're not trendy on purpose. In fact, the boot has been in production — largely unmodified apart from slight changes for new technology — for more than 100 years.
Their popularity has waxed and waned during this time, but they've always endured. They're the unofficial mascot of L.L. Bean. But now, they're really thriving.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
To hike you need a dedicated boot. My Vasques are ancient and have taken me over most of the AT. Although they are *retired*, I can't part with them. Yet. They're a part of my life.
The good news is if hipsters are buying them, they will suddenly cost two or three times more than they did before, and they will probably make improvements like making them biodegradable so they crumble to dust if you actually use them
Had ‘em for years, but I’m spoiled now by ceramic.
I stopped buying Vasques when they went to the more athletic shoe look. They might be better for hiking and more comfortable, but if I’m wearing a hiking boot I have old school expectations. I still have my old pair of clunky Frankenstein-shoe looking Vasques with the steel toe and massive lug sole. Love them. Every bit as durable as the LL Bean duck boot.
I love that Lodge is still making their wares in TN. Good for them! I hear they are expanding. Great news. Go USA.
Great cast iron cookware. Got to season them right though, a lot of people don’t understand that. Maybe they’re pretreated somehow now.
Boots, maybe....
But I see in their catalogue that now most of their stuff is imported and I’m not paying their prices for imported stuff.
Sorel are excellent.
Not sure if they are still made in Canada; now owned by Columbia.
Visited the place one time but they don't offer tours so that was disappointing. They make up for it with a great factory store, though!
As far as the shirts...look for *Pima cotton*, I think it wears better.
Ex Officio makes good long-lasting cargos, longs and shorts.
That’s a brand name I haven’t heard in a while, I’ll check it out. Thanks!
Layered with wool for 60 years. No frostbite.
Love LL Bean footwear, but living in Upstate NY, the traditional Bean Boot never had enough traction on ice for my tastes. I much prefer some of their newer models for winter.
I love LL Bean.
I bought my two oldest backpacks in middle school, they used them all thru college, and still have them.
Double LL sells, the. Depends on what you need them for; e.g. all cotton, quick dry [nylon synthetic, my fave], etc.
REI sells a variety of brands.
I haven’t bought much new since 2008, frankly. Not so much a buycott as being on something of an austerity budget. Hopefully that’s about to change.
Strange how those from Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire can be so conservative in their lives yet vote so liberal.
I have Pajar Trooper boots. They are made in Canada and the best winter boot I’ve ever owned. They are very light for a winter boot and good in sub zero weather. They are leather with ties and a side zipper. The also have a decent arch. As my feet get older, I need more frills in a boot.
They’re largely pro-2A at least.
All that *tech* styling turns me off too. That’s why I can’t part with mine.
RE: Your cargoes: I just thought about Patagonia, North Face brands. More pricey, excellent quality. Sometimes you can find them on sale, at a season’s end.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.