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when i retired earlier this year, the lads i work with had a whip round, and gave me a envelope. i told them i wouldnt open it until i needed something.
i have decided i need so good quality good at everything leather boots.
they need to be warm, ok to ride the bike in with flats, ok to wipe clean and go to the boozer in.
a proper all round pair of boots.
any idea's greatly welcomed.
oh and there was £200 from the 3 lads i worked with. i was quite emotional as i opened the envelope.
I have a pair of these. If buying again maybe with a different sole as the leather one is a bit slippy in the wet. Otherwise maybe altberg but may be over budget.
De Walt Sharpsburg safety boots will save your toes and £150 of your £200. They can last for a while if polished now and again, comfy and warm . I don't feel the extra weight as I'm so used to safety boots. Metal midsole I'd imagine too
The tan waxy boots above look great but expensive and too good for mud or cycling
Out at the moment sporting a nice pair of Birkenstock Jacksons.
Wolverine 1000 Mile. I have a pair, recommended!
When the sales kick in at the end of this week, have a look out for Loake Bedale or Sedburgh, they normally run at £270ish. If you find big reductions then Trickers Stow or Ellis might be in reach, but full prices are £350+. All the above are country boots like the William Lennon, but with a bit posher design and finish. The Lennon are great boots too. The Whitby Cobbler and Shoe Healer in Doncaster are two websites to keep an eye on, both usually do good sales.
Not sure if it's the direction you want to go in but I bought my wife so Dubarry boots years ago and they are still good as new.
Expensive but worth it according to her.
Depending on what you’re after consider taking a look at what altberg sell. They have a fairly big range of superbly made boots for lots of activities.
Might not be niche enough for STW, but I reckon a pair of Blundstones would see you right. Unless you need/want laces...
Easy. Lowa Elite Lite. I wear mine daily and they’re like slippers. Full leather including up the sides of the tongue so are pretty much waterproof. They’re also lightweight and non-bulky so look ok with a pair of jeans / in the pub. I’ve had several pairs of Altberg sneekers and whilst they’re a great boot, the Lowa is better in just about every way for me.
warm, ok to ride the bike in with flats, ok to wipe clean and go to the boozer in.
For that I’d be looking at some moc toe style, probably Red Wing or similar , sized for and combined with Merino walking socks
Red Wings you’d need to add considerably to your budget. Thorogood American Heritage can be had for your budget. Some say Thorogood are more comfortable and have better features including replaceable insoles (that’s a biggie for me). Both seem hardwearing and resole-able. My Clarks GTX moc-toes have just finally given up the ghost after 6-7 years of hard wear and are now discontinued, so am looking at Thorogood + socks for the next pair of all-purpose jobs. I’m not a big fan of GTX for all year use tbh, can get overheated. ymmv
Unless you’re looking for more of a walking boot? For that I use Lowa Renegade GTX mids and they do go in the pub (and on the bike but the tread isn’t ideal on a pedal, I would imagine that no decent walking boot is)
If you fancy a deep dive you can watch this chap cut boots in half and talk endlessly about them:
Im a fan of M.O.D issue boots had a few different makes.
Altberg soles don’t last long enough to justify their price and as nice as haix boots are I much prefer these atm…
These always looked nice and obviously designed with cycling in mind so stiff in the right places. Cutting out the spd section is optional.
https://www.saltdogcycling.com/lake-mxz200-winter-cycling-boots/
Otherwise maybe altberg but may be over budget.
Altberg would be great in terms of range of lasts they work from meaning you can get a really well-fitting boot, especially for Ton as its not a massive trip to their factory to get a fitting. (one of the limiting factors in the range of fittings they have is its not really feasible for any shops that stock their boots to have the 8 different last shapes available to try on in every size) But they are are very much hiking boots, rather than do anything 'boots'
Might not be niche enough for STW, but I reckon a pair of Blundstones would see you right. Unless you need/want laces…
they do lace up boots as well
Hill and dale have some Zamberlans on offer.
De Walt Sharpsburg safety boots will save your toes and £150 of your £200
Dewalt sizes won't stretch to Ton sized feet I suspect. I'm not as big as Ton and they dont sell anything that would fit me. Buckler boots are available in larger sizes but I think all but one style are steel toe-capped
I have nothing but love for Palladium boots.
https://palladiumboots.co.uk/collections/mens?_=pf&pf_pt_product_type=FOOTWEAR&pf_t_material=LEATHER&pf_t_gender=MENS&pf_t_features=HIGH%20TOP
However in your position I'd get these and chip in a bit more. https://www.greenshoes.co.uk/shop/p/men/shoes/dartmoor-boot/3/0/12
I bought myself some Loakes a few months ago. Disappointingly they don't really fit right, felt fine in the shop but as soon as I started using them in anger the left one, my foot sort of slips backwards as I push off with it.
I'm going to have a go at some of those Lennon's, but was quoted 20 weeks manufacturing time!
colournoise
Might not be niche enough for STW, but I reckon a pair of Blundstones would see you right. Unless you need/want laces…
I have the laced version... & wish I hadn't (& went for the nonlaced instead)
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Hebtroco.
Not that I have any of their boots. I have a 10 year old pair of Loake and 5 year old pair of Grenson Veldtschoen boots.
For that budget, +1 on Blundstones. Robust, good quality. I've got Trickers and Cheaney brogue boots, which are great but cost more. In my experience Grenson and Loake no longer offer quality.
been on a shoe buying mission in leeds.
tried on the following.
church brogue boot. too narrow even in wide.
grenson brady boot. awesome, but £400 and a bit too high up the leg.
cheaney wingcp boot. £400 and too heavy.
DM dealer boot. comfiest i tried but i dont want DM again.
Barbour hill dealer boots. awesome but i cant find a 12. these are what i would have got.
i have a pair of trickers i cant wear now. my foot is too wide for em since surgery.
oh i tried some Redwing moc boots on. i looked and felt like Frankensteins monster in them.
the search goes on.
DM dealer boot. comfiest i tried but i dont want DM again.
How about Solovair? DM made in the U.K. by the original factory.
‘Grenson Brady Boot - awesome’
Well, if you’re happy with those soles on flat pedals then the world is your oyster!
HebTroCo boots are made by Lennon's, may as well go direct. And you send them an outline of your foot with measurements marked on, so they should fit right no matter what size.
Skip the Blundstones and go for Rossi instead. Cheaper, better made.
I'm guessing a hiker is probably a bit too utilitarian looking for you? If not, I've had a pair of Alico and they were very good. Weren't insanely expensive then but come form Italy so....
Lots of good suggestions up there. I've not purchased any myself yet as i have no need for more shoes at the moment (I don't bloody go anywhere any more) but i intend to try these folks next
https://lanxshoes.com/pages/shop
So many nice boots! 🙂
My recent impulse buy was a pair of LOAKE McCauley Brown Oiled Nubuck Chelsea Boot.
It looks like I will just have to buy more boots in future ....
I have no idea how much Blundstones cost these days, but the quality is just fine. I'm now wearing mine for a sixth winter - I reckon I've had my moneys worth.
I hesitated to mention DM (too mainstream?).
But my current pair of 2976s have lasted me in daily wear (in school, so 190 days a year) for about 5 years now. Soles are on their last legs but uppers pretty much as good as new. Not sure how they'd hold up to flat pedal pins though...
TBH though, probably going to go back to Blundstones for my next work boots in the new year.
Have a trip over to Lancashire and visit Whalley Warm And Dry.
Just bought a pair of Altberg Tetheras from them. Mine were extra wide and they're the only boots I've ever tried that look like they might be capable of year long, comfortable use in a variety of conditions.
If you just want something for lighter use, Keen Pyrenees are a good bet but they don't last long and aren't really up for big hills.
Iron Rangers
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Some of the suggestions need some serious break in time (Iron Ranger's for sure)
Tempted with a pair of Wolverine Jenson GTX but shop prices here are silly and I'm not wanting to order a pair w/o trying them on. I'm going to assume the Wolverines run a size larger similar to Redwing boots?
Altberg Tethera
As a cyclist who has always used big chunky-heeled Vibram-soled walking boots for a lot of walking - I feel qualified to warn of possibly injurious repercussions if using them for pedalling a bicycle. That, and it feels like the worst kind of weird.
Not to say that they can’t be used on pedals. Just to say that
Although, tbh I never remember overthinking bike/pub footwear so much, but I’m a bit rural and utilitarian in tastes. Our local pubs normally seems very happy to have all manner of footwear from wellies to trainers. This means I can get in there whether cycling there or walking there. And (best of all), I don’t have to wear walking boots (or dress-shoes) if on the bike, so can enjoy a ride and a pint equally well - no compromise.
I’ve got a couple pairs that I really love.
Danner Bull Run are my main day to day boot and would definitely recommend.
Red Wing Iron Rangers. Great boots, but took a bit of fiddling with insoles / socks to get the right fit.
Don’t buy boots at lunchtime and then spend an afternoon walking around London before dancing all night at a gig. By 1am and walking back to the hotel I was convinced they were trying to kill me!
Possible PSA - Lowa Elite lite (and a few other Lowa boots) are nearly £100 off sale. Cheaper than used boots from Ebay.
I haven't bought any (yet) so cannot comment further.
https://www.lowamilitaryboots.com/lowa-task-force-military-boots/brown-lowa-military-boots
Vivo do a 100-day returnable trial on their Barefoot boots. They’re also the opposite to ‘Frankenstein’s monster’- styling
Tracker II FG?
I had a pair of blundstones and the sole disintegrated after a walk to work on gritted pavements.
I would say whatever Alexandera Houchin wears.
If they are good enough to wear on a Tour Divide singlespeed win then I think they’d probably be up to the job.