Morning all,
In the market for some new casual boots to replace a pair of Crazy Horse DMs and have seen a pair of Timberland Rugged 6inch which I quite like the look of.
Before I go hitting the big buy button, is there anything else around at a similar price/style that's worth a look?
TIA 🙂
I bought some Timberland boots for a similar price in a sale. They were perfectly comfy however they are not a top quality product.
You can tell they are mass produced in China or where ever and over time they just feel a bit cheap. Maybe they do still do a premium range but mine certainly were not (if they had been RRP)
At Christmas I bought some Lanx boots. Completely different ball game. Ooze build quality although I’m still bedding them in !
A British company, some ranges made in the UK. IMO worth the investment
Buy quality buy less often solovair for me. 3 years and still bang on.
I used to buy a pair of boots every year for work. Found a nice priced pair of Timberland boots and wished I'd bought 9 pairs to do me to retirement. 1 pair a year.
Bought solovair pair in a sale, they'll do at least another year and maybe need resoled. Then they will have earned their retirement with me in just under 4 years time.
Instead of 8 pairs I bought 1 pair which may need a resole.
- The Poor Person's Purchase: A person with limited funds buys a $10 pair of boots that fall apart in a few months, forcing them to buy new ones constantly. Over ten years, they may spend $100 and still have wet feet.
- The Rich Person's Purchase: A wealthier person buys a high-quality, durable pair of boots for $50 that lasts ten years. They spend less overall ($50 vs. $100) and have dry feet.
- The Conclusion: The inability to pay a higher upfront cost for durability leads to higher long-term expenses, trapping people in a cycle of poverty.
Not Timberlands. Today’s Timberlands are not like the 1980s made in the USA boots. Go to a store and handle some and you’ll likely feel the same. I was shocked by their cheap feel when I was considering some earlier this year. Reminded me of the Timberland knock-off boots in discount shoe shops of the 90s.
William Lennon make boots in Stoney Middleton. Not cheap. You have to wait a while to get them. But they’re well made and very repairable.
I’d go along with Solovairs. Lots of styles available. i won’t be buying their Derby boot again though. Mine had the problem of the crease near the toe box wearing through after a couple of years. Soles still had some tread left, unlike some Made in England Docs I had whose soles were bald and whose leather was cracked through after just over a year. They were very disappointing.
Lanx boots look good in their store in Manchester.
Goral if you’ve the cash to splash?
Unlike your dms the timberlands will be lined with whatever plastic shit they could find laying around.
Why companies take a perfectly good breathable leather boot and then line them I don’t know.
Vivobarefoot even boast the lining is made from recycled plastic bottles. Why not just buy a pair of wellies for that ultimate sweaty boot experience?
CAT boots? Always my go to when I used to wear them.
My default to this sort of question is Doc Martens, but having recently been in to a DM shop I'm not so sure anymore. The quality seems to have taken a bit of a dive whilst the prices have gone in the opposite direction quite significantly so I'm struggling with ideas for replacements myself.
That boots theory falls flat here. Redwing boots last six months before they need a new sole, which costs £125. Dr Martens I can get at least 12 months use out of before binning them for a new pair. Neither, however, are that impressive as tough boots.
I can highly recommend Panama jacks - made in Spain, nice quality and a touch cheaper than the likes of Lanx etc.
My current waterproof (leather) boots are on their way out; the waterproofing's kinda gone, despite redoing the dubbin etc; so I looked at Timberlands as an option. And like everyone else, I was surprised (but kinda not - see enshittification) how cheaply made they felt.
I kinda want a do it all boot though - hardwearing, waterproof, but also can wear them to the pub in winter. Will check out some of these suggestions above
I love my moto boots from HebtroCo
I have had a pair of Redwing Moc-Toes for 18 months and I'm probably a good 2 years away from needing a resole if not longer.
Usage being occasional trips to the office, going out for dinner, walking round cities on holidays/day trips and then walking the dog for an hour a day (circa 8000 steps) the cold/wet winter months on pavement.
If you're not wearing them all day every day sole wear is a non-issue and the rest of the boot will last for aaaaages.
But they aren't something I would be comfortable buying off the internet. The RW store in that there London Village are great though.
I’ve bought 3 sets of Timberlands in the past 6 months. Why 3? Because they’re bloody awesome! I’ve not had a set (or several) which have been oh so bloody comfy for a long time. Great comfort, great grip, awesome support and look excellent. Only downside now we’re in spring is they’re VERY warm. What will I do for the warmer months?
I was also going to suggest looking at Rose Anvil's site. He gives a good insight into many brands. I bought some RedWing Chelsea boots last year to replace some Blundstones, they've been brilliant. Well constructed and the leather uppers are thick leather. If you polish them well they don't half shine!! Got them from Legend Footwear, which were by far the cheapest I could find them.
I love my moto boots from HebtroCo
Manufactured by this lot who are worth a look https://williamlennon.co.uk/
The OP boots look very, very similar to a pair of Levi boots that I have. They are comfortable enough, and a bit of dubbin brings them up looking great, but the lighter thin layer with the fancy stitching around the base of the shoe that appears to hold the sole on – it's just decorative rubbish that keeps coming away.
I paid £40 for mine (TK Maxx special), so I'm not bothered, but I wouldn't be happy had I spent >£100 on them.
RW from their London store. Worn every day, had them just over two years, about to be on my fifth sole, so looking at over £600 wear and tear. Prob average 12,000 steps a day. Unimpressed with them. Oh and they let water in pretty much instantly, but to their credit dry equally as fast. If you don't wear them every day, they will last, but why wouldn't you wear a pair of expensive boots every day? Looking online, sole wear is an issue - wish I had known that before.
@stayhigh you've not said what's failed on your DMs. The leather and linings of a pair of leather boots really should last a good number of years. The sole on *some* DMs is replaceable.
I've just got back a pair of Blundstone's resoled by https://bootrepaircompany.co.uk/ and they seem to have done a good job. They're more comfortable and have a lot more character than a new pair.
Solovair are resoleable. Lanx are supposed to be as well (though their 'dealer' boot style looks a less 'workboot' than DM equivalent.
That boots theory falls flat here. Redwing boots last six months before they need a new sole, which costs £125. Dr Martens I can get at least 12 months use out of before binning them for a new pair. Neither, however, are that impressive as tough boots.
So you throw away a pair of boots as soon as the sole wears out, and spend the same amount again, every year, but resent getting new soles put on an otherwise good pair of boots, that will probably last years with a better sole?
If those Redwing soles are the white ones, then yes, they’re softer and will wear quicker, but a good shoe repair shop will put better quality soles on and charge £50, or thereabouts, and you’ll get a couple of years before needing new soles.
Out of interest, what the actual heck are you doing to wear a boot sole out in a year? I wear Meindle Desert Fox boots, ex-Army issue, that I get off eBay. I’ve never paid more than £40 for a pair of boots that retail for £170, I wear them all the time, I’ve had two pairs resoled twice, over the course of ten years, but the foam midsole has collapsed now. All four pairs I bought were in almost new condition, one pair even had the special cleaning brush and two pairs of spare laces.
I had the two other pairs ready to go, unworn, but the midsole has disintegrated on those as well, so I had one pair completely resoled by FeetFirst, and I reckon they’re good for at least another ten years, with just the sole replaced, and I’ll get the second pair done later this year, the cost was £90, so I’ve got a brilliant, comfy pair of boots that still cost less than they would retail.
Just to add, I think Meindle have revised the sole structure of their desert boots, I managed to find a pair of the latest issue boots, which are a dark, tobacco brown suede finish instead of the pale sand colour, for £30, and the midsole isn’t foam, so shouldn’t disintegrate after eight or nine years, like my original ones did.
But on the negative side you do look like you might be thinking about storming the capital..
I can highly recommend Panama jacks - made in Spain, nice quality and a touch cheaper than the likes of Lanx etc.
i’d forgotten about Panama Jacks. Good call.
I had a couple of pairs of those when I previously gave up on Timberlands. if I remember correctly they both emerged at about the same point in time with similar style but Panama Jacks stayed truer to their origins. I stopped getting them because their soft soles wore out faster than I wanted and they’re effectively unrepairable.
Count Zero. Thanks for the needlessly aggressive reply. You did not read my post at all. Do not see the need to defend myself, or explain what I do. £50? No chance of that for RW boots. Mine wear out, so I said so. The end. You are so dull.
I’ve bought 3 sets of Timberlands in the past 6 months. Why 3? Because they’re bloody awesome! I’ve not had a set (or several) which have been oh so bloody comfy for a long time. Great comfort, great grip, awesome support and look excellent. Only downside now we’re in spring is they’re VERY warm. What will I do for the warmer months?
Yep,I’ve been living in my Timberlands (eurohiker), they are really comfortable.
I probably wouldn’t use them for a real hike (not saying they wouldn’t work well dry weather ) but around town absolutely comfy.
(Ive actually bought a pair from veepee for €51 euros which should turn up next month)
I was looking at the Panama jacks - them being Spanish an all and will get some as they look pretty good.
Solovair have an outlet section on their site where they often have factory seconds available for about what the OP is looking to pay. if your budget's around £100 I'd look there. I have a pair of their Chelsea boots that have been probably my most worn shoes over the last 18 months and they still look nearly new, love 'em.
And yeah, the crepe soles on Red Wing moc-toes aren't the most durable things on earth but the uppers on mine are a decade old, still rock solid and a local place can resole them for £80 so....
the crepe soles on Red Wing moc-toes aren't the most durable things
Absolute dealbreaker for me. Hardwearing, throw anything at them, boot for life... with a sole made of crushed up toilet paper, gone inside a year. Just why?!
See also Clarks
Hardwearing, throw anything at them, boot for life
It's William Lennon you want for that.
Yup, but that same soft squishyness that makes them wear out so fast also makes them them sooo comfy, especially if you're standing on hard floors all day.
I have a set of decade old RW Beckmans that I think I just may be buried in, proper old school clodhoppers, incredibly sturdy and durable. They fit beautifully but even so I can't wear them all day if I know I'm going to be on my feet, the soles just have zero give.
My Moc-toes however, super comfy no matter what i'm doing. Ironically this is probably a contributing factor at to why I wear the soles out, they just so damn nice to wear so I'm always in them.
Moc toe are comfy no matter what, will allow that. And they give fair warning of being worn out as they get all slippery in the rain. Just my observation that 6 months use is shocking before they need a new sole, and that such is an investment as RW control official supply. Surprised that even mentioning it caused such offence on here. It's just a boot. But then it is STW.
I do like my Lanxs and customer service is top notch
Yup, but that same soft squishyness that makes them wear out so fast also makes them them sooo comfy, especially if you're standing on hard floors all day.
I have a set of decade old RW Beckmans that I think I just may be buried in, proper old school clodhoppers, incredibly sturdy and durable. They fit beautifully but even so I can't wear them all day if I know I'm going to be on my feet, the soles just have zero give.
Fair point!
i’d forgotten about Panama Jacks. Good call.
I had a couple of pairs of those when I previously gave up on Timberlands. if I remember correctly they both emerged at about the same point in time with similar style but Panama Jacks stayed truer to their origins. I stopped getting them because their soft soles wore out faster than I wanted and they’re effectively unrepairable.
Mine are 18 months old and no appreciable wear on the 'Commando' soles. However, I only weigh 10st. and skip lightly along ....
