Boots

This is the place to talk about news, TV, music and other hobbies
Post Reply
jim@NAL
Driver
Driver
Posts: 1115
Joined: Sun Sep 23, 2012 11:01 am
Location: haverhill suffok

Boots

Post by jim@NAL » Tue May 01, 2018 11:10 pm

Boots what do you where on your feet. So from the age of 15 ish the only boots iv ever worn on my feet are the great British doctor Martin's these most wonderful hard wearing boots with there bouching solos the boots that don't wear out they wear in .they have been a big part if my life iv had them on my feet for nearly 20 years iv been to see bands been to music festivals gigs walked miles in the snow sun snow and rain.even got married in a pair. Iv got books on the history of my favarate boot .books on people wearing them etc rec. Iv had a lot of pairs of these boots. They do take a little geting used to a new pair will hurt your feet to start with untill there a ĺittle worn in .great for work too thought and hard wearing. But sadly in recent years my love for my favarate boot has started to wane. They are now made in Thailand if you want british made ones you have to pay a lot more iv done this and sadly the quality doesent seam to be any better.the leather is a lot less thick than it used to be .I wear a pair for work now these used to last me about a year and a harf the last 2 pairs I bought have lasted 8 mouths .sadly my love affair with my favarate boot is coming to a end I will pack up my last pair I wore for work and send them back to doctor Martin's

User avatar
Peter Butler
Driver
Driver
Posts: 5219
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2012 10:33 pm
Location: West Wales

Re: Boots

Post by Peter Butler » Wed May 02, 2018 12:17 am

That's an interesting question Jim, not one I might expect on the Forum but well worth following.
For your kind of work you have every reason to use your favourite Doc. Martens; I'm sure they are comfortable and protect your feet, and you should certainly think long-term about that! Personally I wouldn't be seen dead in them, but I have never needed that kind of footwear for my career, nor have I seen them as attractive fashion items.
I am not one who follows fashion trends but I do like shoes which make feet inconspicuous, something less 'clumpy'. I have quite small feet, size 7, so I had a phase
when I wore soft leather boots with Cuban heels (I'm not a large man), which gave me extra height without making me look as though I was standing on blocks.
More recently I spend more time in wellies (You have to in Wales!) and less time in shoes, but I still like to keep to slim fitting and light tan colours for the few occasions I go out socialising.
Thank goodness we are all different..... how boring life would be otherwise?
The best things in life are free.... so why am I doing this?

User avatar
tom_tom_go
Driver
Driver
Posts: 4824
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:08 am
Location: Kent, UK
Contact:

Re: Boots

Post by tom_tom_go » Wed May 02, 2018 6:47 am

I have had to wear steel top capped footwear for various jobs over the years but prefer now to wear trainer style steel top capped shoes as they are more comfortable and your feet don't overheat in the summer!

User avatar
ge_rik
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 6497
Joined: Sun Oct 25, 2009 10:20 pm
Location: Cheshire
Contact:

Re: Boots

Post by ge_rik » Wed May 02, 2018 6:56 am

Fascinating. I gave up wearing shoes (and hence boots) about 25 years ago. My feet have never been happy being wrapped up in leather. Since then I have worn open toed sandals (yes and socks) at all times of the year. In the summer I discard the socks and go commando (on the feet that is!). It's not a fashion statement; my feet get incredibly hot. Even in the depths of winter, I sleep with the window open and have to stick my feet out of the covers to keep cool.

My feet even get hot in sandals. If I go to the theatre or cinema, the sandals have to come off (and sometimes the socks too). I sometimes hold up the queue of people waiting to get out of my row as I search for a sandal or sock at the end of the film/play. Very occasionally, if snow is deeper than six inches, I will deign to wear wellies. But under protest. And when out walking the hills, I will sometimes wear walking boots - especially if it's wet and/or muddy. But they have to come off as soon as we get back to the car.

Rik
------------------------
Peckforton Light Railway - Blog Facebook Youtube

bazzer42
Driver
Driver
Posts: 1215
Joined: Sun Nov 25, 2012 1:37 pm
Location: Forest of Dean

Re: Boots

Post by bazzer42 » Wed May 02, 2018 7:29 am

Flowery Doc Martens is a favourite of Mrs B and my wallet got nervous in the DM shop in Cambden Lock recently :roll: To be fair there were some nice ones there including some with extracts from a Turner painting. The ones featuring the Japanese erotic print were a step too far :lol:

Me, I'm a shoe man, sensible lace ups with longs, deck shoes with shorts. Do love a slipper though, old ones for bridge building and modelling and my bestest ones for watching Roma v Liverpool on TV

As an aside I never wear a vest...

Big Jim
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 2694
Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2013 5:28 pm
Location: Near Llanelli

Re: Boots

Post by Big Jim » Wed May 02, 2018 8:36 am

DM's are no longer made in the UK and as a result no longer seem to last. I used to get years out of a pair of 8 eyelet boots and about 3 years out of a pair of DM steel toe cap boots. But my last pair lasted 6 months.

Army Issue combat boots are now my choice of footwear, although event these are getting hard to find. They last, they are comfy and come in different width fittings. I can get a nice bulled shine on them and they are quite water-proof which is handy for soggy churchyards.

I do have a pair of what the army called Ammo Boots, last forever and tough as old boots (sorry) These are brilliant if a bit heavy. The only downside is the hob-nailed sole that can be very slippy on tiled floors and no one wants to see a Cleric sliding up the aisle of the church, looking like a bad audition for dancing on ice. Although the sparks you can make on a stone floor are quite entertaining.

I learnt many years ago that good footwear is a must if you spend any time on your feet. I think my back problems probably come from many years in my late teens wearing a pair of badly fitting cowboy boots or company issue toe-caps.
If at first you don't succeed, use a bigger hammer!

invicta280
Trainee Driver
Trainee Driver
Posts: 664
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2011 9:24 pm
Location: kent england

Re: Boots

Post by invicta280 » Wed May 02, 2018 8:51 am

Sad to hear that DM's are not what they were. Probably the result of them becoming trendy and the need to cater to the fashion market. An 18 year old Goth girl may love her DM's but she is probably not needing them to be hard wearing.
I switched to Meindl army boots years back and am now on my 4th or 5th pair. Unloading removal vans involves covering a few miles in a day. Light and comfortable with good ankle support. My present pair are worn through at the heels and this has reminded me to order more.

Big Jim
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 2694
Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2013 5:28 pm
Location: Near Llanelli

Re: Boots

Post by Big Jim » Wed May 02, 2018 8:57 am

Can't you get them repaired? It saves having to break a new pair in.
If at first you don't succeed, use a bigger hammer!

User avatar
Lonsdaler
Driver
Driver
Posts: 1226
Joined: Tue May 20, 2014 9:50 am
Location: North Yorkshire

Re: Boots

Post by Lonsdaler » Wed May 02, 2018 9:41 am

Big Jim wrote: Wed May 02, 2018 8:57 am Can't you get them repaired? It saves having to break a new pair in.
You can. I extended the life of a favourite pair of boots by having them resoled twice. http://lancashiresportsrepairs.co.uk/
Sadly my feet seem to have changed shape over the years, so I have changed boots.
I have never been able to get on with Meindl boots - lovely construction, but the footbed is all wrong for my feet. :roll:
Phil

Sporadic Garden Railer who's inconsistencies know no bounds

My Line - https://gardenrails.org/forum/viewtopic ... 41&t=11077

User avatar
Peter Butler
Driver
Driver
Posts: 5219
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2012 10:33 pm
Location: West Wales

Re: Boots

Post by Peter Butler » Wed May 02, 2018 10:18 am

tom_tom_go wrote: Wed May 02, 2018 6:47 am now wear trainer style steel top capped shoes as they are more comfortable and your feet don't overheat in the summer!
Are these required to fix your computers Tom?
The best things in life are free.... so why am I doing this?

User avatar
tom_tom_go
Driver
Driver
Posts: 4824
Joined: Wed Feb 23, 2011 3:08 am
Location: Kent, UK
Contact:

Re: Boots

Post by tom_tom_go » Wed May 02, 2018 6:22 pm

Peter Butler wrote: Wed May 02, 2018 10:18 am
tom_tom_go wrote: Wed May 02, 2018 6:47 am now wear trainer style steel top capped shoes as they are more comfortable and your feet don't overheat in the summer!
Are these required to fix your computers Tom?
H&S require you to wear these in data centres for various reasons but I will list a few as you asked:
  • Heavy floor tiles used in raised floors will slice toes off
  • Servers and UPS systems can crush your feet due to their weight when being handled
  • When working with or escorting plant equipment (cherry picker or scissor lift) as if these vehicles roll over your feet they are gone

User avatar
Peter Butler
Driver
Driver
Posts: 5219
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2012 10:33 pm
Location: West Wales

Re: Boots

Post by Peter Butler » Wed May 02, 2018 6:41 pm

Cheers Tom, somehow I visualised your work with more domestic equipment, not the large industrial stuff. H&S do seem to go overboard in some instances but it is essential to follow the rules as the consequences can be severe, both physically and financially.
The best things in life are free.... so why am I doing this?

User avatar
Soar Valley Light
Driver
Driver
Posts: 1451
Joined: Sun Dec 08, 2013 5:18 pm
Location: North West Leicestershire

Re: Boots

Post by Soar Valley Light » Wed May 02, 2018 6:50 pm

I've lived in boots most of my life - to the extent that wearing shoes now runs the serious risk of me turning an ankle! The latest work issue (Stevanger Gore) are some of the best I've ever worn and rarely need any breaking in. I cannot wear wellies due to them giving me foot rot! When I worked for the Coal Board my work really called for wellies but their use wasn't that common. Pit boots were quite adequate - and waterproof - provided they were liberally coated in boot grease at the start of every shift. This oily green product was provided in vats at the exit from the baths. Applied with a brush, if you covered your boots and gave the bottom of your overalls a good covering too, you could stand in water without getting your feet wet! :shock: Pit boots could be cruel on the feet, some of the old army tricks worked! If you got a good pair thought they were like slippers, I still wear a pair with my uniform when working on Heritage railways, they are now over thirty years old and still going strong!

Andrew
"Smith! Why do you only come to work four days a week?
"'cause I can't manage on three gaffer!"

Big Jim
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 2694
Joined: Sat Jul 06, 2013 5:28 pm
Location: Near Llanelli

Re: Boots

Post by Big Jim » Wed May 02, 2018 9:59 pm

The best old army trick for softening leather makes them too smelly to wear :D
If at first you don't succeed, use a bigger hammer!

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests