Boots

[Priest]

I have a combination of boots I wear depending on the occasion. Most of the time I'm in my utilities so I wear biker style boots with socks pulled up. With the more formal stuff I have a very nice set of renissance style calf highs I wear with hose pulled up and rolled for flashes. If in a competition I wear my army pattern kilt that I made with my combat boots and Army green socks.

[OC Richard]

Thought I'd add some vintage kilt photos to this thread...

[Shuteye]

I'm a real fan of these Red Wing Iron Rangers. They are pricey but will last forever. Not meant for icy, snowy weather because of the smooth sole which will put you on your butt in a heartbeat ... but for California winters the soles are great for conditions where you will track mud or leaves into the house as there are no lugs to trap debris when you wipe your feet, later scattering it about the house as it dries (BIG trouble with the wife). They run large, so must be ordered a full size smaller US or 1.5 smaller EU. My socks are snowboarding socks, scrunched.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/6322664...57631508461059

http://www.redwingamsterdam.com/red-...ss/ws-pr/pr116

http://www.zappos.com/red-wing-heritage-6-iron-ranger

[Mel1721L]

I'm a real fan of these Red Wing Iron Rangers. They are pricey but will last forever. Not meant for icy, snowy weather because of the smooth sole which will put you on your butt in a heartbeat ... but for California winters the soles are great for conditions where you will track mud or leaves into the house as there are no lugs to trap debris when you wipe your feet, later scattering it about the house as it dries (BIG trouble with the wife). They run large, so must be ordered a full size smaller US or 1.5 smaller EU. My socks are snowboarding socks, scrunched.

www.flickr.com/photos/63226642@N08/11692780104/in/set-72157631508461059

http://www.redwingamsterdam.com/red-...ss/ws-pr/pr116


http://www.zappos.com/red-wing-heritage-6-iron-ranger

Wow,they aren't cheap!

[Livonian]

And what if I told you that they were at the lower end of what one can expect to pay for quality shoes?

[Mel1721L]

And what if I told you that they were at the lower end of what one can expect to pay for quality shoes?

That I don't have any quality shoes.

[bwat]

And what if I told you that they were at the lower end of what one can expect to pay for quality shoes?

These are the cheapest good-quality shoes I've bought:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1708973407...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
The black version (with grain):
http://www.sanders-uk.com/shop/product/braemar-5597b

IMHO Sanders make good quality shoes which are good value for money. I also have these:
http://www.sanders-uk.com/shop/product/london-8468b
The first pair are much cheaper and feel exactly the same and an added plus is that they have the metal sole protectors.

[Mel1721L]

These are the cheapest good-quality shoes I've bought:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1708973407...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
The black version (with grain):
http://www.sanders-uk.com/shop/product/braemar-5597b

IMHO Sanders make good quality shoes which are good value for money. I also have these:
http://www.sanders-uk.com/shop/product/london-8468b
The first pair are much cheaper and feel exactly the same and an added plus is that they have the metal sole protectors.

Most of the time I'm barefoot or in sandals. I couldn't justify spending a lot of money on shoes.

[Livonian]

Typically, you'll hear Allen Edmonds quoted as the least expensive quality shoe in the US... XMarkers in the UK and Europe still have good shoemakers who don't price-gouge just for being good. Problem here in the US is that once an easier method is available, the company will price-gouge the good stuff (which typically has a lower profit margin) to make higher margins and greater sales volume on the cheap stuff. Bad in the long run, but it's what the bean-counters have dictated.

There are still family-owned companies making good shoes overseas, keeping quality from slipping too far and price from skyrocketing.

[Mel1721L]

Typically, you'll hear Allen Edmonds quoted as the least expensive quality shoe in the US... XMarkers in the UK and Europe still have good shoemakers who don't price-gouge just for being good. Problem here in the US is that once an easier method is available, the company will price-gouge the good stuff (which typically has a lower profit margin) to make higher margins and greater sales volume on the cheap stuff. Bad in the long run, but it's what the bean-counters have dictated.

There are still family-owned companies making good shoes overseas, keeping quality from slipping too far and price from skyrocketing.

I had a pair of honailed boots made for me in the Uk. I think they were £99, but I hardly ever wear them.