chapotraphouse

I think an important place to start when trying to pick out a shoe or boot is considering what you're going to do in them.

Are you going hiking? In what kind of environment? Desert? Fording rivers and streams? Mud? Are these work boots? Do you need a steel toe? Do you need lineman's boots? Are these just going to be worn indoors?

There is no one boot to rule them all. They're a tool, you need the right one for the job.

Those soles are glued on so they aren’t getting resoled. Depending on the age of the boots the glue could be breaking down already - go for a trek, lift a foot and the sole comes loose from the upper.

They’re surplus so they’re cheap. Nothing ‘military grade’ is quality, usually. Because they’re military they’re probably waterproof. Vibram rubber soles are good. I think They have good energy return, good durability, etc. My old White’s boots had Vibram soles. My current Nicks and Thorogoods have Vibram soles. The gold standard as far as American work boots go, at any rate.

good lord this is the second time i've asked you all for surplus recommendations and i'm realizing that i might sound like a fed. so for clarification purposes, i'm just looking for some good boots, any kind, because every pair of shoes i've owned seems to fall apart fast, specially boots.

A vague jerking-off gesture about Vibram, Belleville this, Rocky that.

I'm from the part of Ohio where Rocky started – my sisters worked at the factory before NAFTA and the Brooks Family's greed shut it down.

They used to have a stellar reputation, but afaik, all the old hunter dudes have cooled off on them. Now they're known for being overpriced and "not like they used to be," from the bitching I've heard.

I wouldn't take the Rocky name being associated with a thing as any sign of quality.

The one time I was issued DCU boots, the soles melted off when I was in Iraq.

I don't mean "they wore out really really fast" or "they melted... ha ha" I mean literally, walking around in hot sand and on metal equipment that had been soaking up sun all day caused the soles to literally melt off.

I didn't find them any cooler than wearing my basic black leather combat boots when in a desert. Did notice that they wicked sweat away from feet in ways that the basic leather can't... so that could be a plus.

Do you have any local shops that do boot/leather repair? You'll need to call them to figure out what can and can't have their soles replaced. An actual boot shop, a boot/shoe repair shop (harder to find), equestrian tack shops might have some ideas where you can take boots in to have soles repaired and maybe even have the panels restitched.

If they're dirt cheap (including shipping) go for it. Elsewise, go bargain shopping at junk stores, consignment shops, and Pawn/Army & Navy Surplus shops (especially near National Guard armories and Active Military Bases/Posts.

Belleville makes very good quality boots imo, and they are quite durable. If they are in decent condition I would absolutely get them. They should be reasonably comfortable, but you can also buy padded insoles if you need more cushion.

These fuckin things