And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
I've worn quite a few like these, and have moved away from them. The soles are just glued on, and they always either separate - or crack. Norwegian welts and Vibram lugs for me, thanks. And waterproofing just makes them hot - they're only 4" high, for crissakes. If it's raining, I'm in rubber Wellies.
Hah, that's almost the comment I was going to make. Even if they don't peel loose, the soles will eventually get sticky or crumble as the plasticizers in the (not rubber) sole degrade. This usually happens right around 5 years, whether you wear them or not. The uppers will have lots of life left, but the soles will make them only fit for the trashcan.
I've got 20 and 30 yo boots that are perfectly wearable because they are all leather with rubber vibram soles. They can be re-heeled and re-soled almost indefinitely if I take care of the rest of the boot. More than one pair outlived their original owner and are still going strong.
There used to be a guy named Eddie Fabiano in South Boston, a 2nd or 3rd generation bootmaker from an immigrant family. He made Fabiano mountain boots, tough leather outside, calfskin inside, vibram lug soles that were scewed on, not nailed on. And a Norwegian welt, naturally. You could get them in the outdoor stores that sold climbing equipment and hiking stuff. I had a set in High Schoolthat I lived in , 1970's, when I was stupid and rock climbing a lot. That set was re-soled twice, literally wore the 3 sets of waffle-stomper soles out. I have a second set in the closet, hardly used, that I bought when I heard they were losing their Italian boot maker that made them. They had 2 normal eyelets at the toe, for the laces, and then speed laces all the way up to the top - you could tie them one-handed, fast and tight. Best boots I ever had, built to take a beating. You see them used on eBay now, for almost as much as they sold for new - and they haven't been made for 25 years.
I've worn quite a few like these, and have moved away from them. The soles are just glued on, and they always either separate - or crack. Norwegian welts and Vibram lugs for me, thanks. And waterproofing just makes them hot - they're only 4" high, for crissakes. If it's raining, I'm in rubber Wellies.
ReplyDeleteHah, that's almost the comment I was going to make. Even if they don't peel loose, the soles will eventually get sticky or crumble as the plasticizers in the (not rubber) sole degrade. This usually happens right around 5 years, whether you wear them or not. The uppers will have lots of life left, but the soles will make them only fit for the trashcan.
ReplyDeleteI've got 20 and 30 yo boots that are perfectly wearable because they are all leather with rubber vibram soles. They can be re-heeled and re-soled almost indefinitely if I take care of the rest of the boot. More than one pair outlived their original owner and are still going strong.
nick
There used to be a guy named Eddie Fabiano in South Boston, a 2nd or 3rd generation bootmaker from an immigrant family. He made Fabiano mountain boots, tough leather outside, calfskin inside, vibram lug soles that were scewed on, not nailed on. And a Norwegian welt, naturally. You could get them in the outdoor stores that sold climbing equipment and hiking stuff. I had a set in High Schoolthat I lived in , 1970's, when I was stupid and rock climbing a lot. That set was re-soled twice, literally wore the 3 sets of waffle-stomper soles out. I have a second set in the closet, hardly used, that I bought when I heard they were losing their Italian boot maker that made them. They had 2 normal eyelets at the toe, for the laces, and then speed laces all the way up to the top - you could tie them one-handed, fast and tight. Best boots I ever had, built to take a beating. You see them used on eBay now, for almost as much as they sold for new - and they haven't been made for 25 years.
ReplyDeleteMade in the USA ? ( like danner used to be )
ReplyDelete