Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => The Knowledge => OT Knowledge => Topic started by: Wowbagger on 17 November, 2019, 11:17:01 am
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In the spring of last year I bought some Meindl walking shoes from Open Air in Cambridge. My feet demand size 13 so choice is often limited.
I noticed yesterday that the sole of the left shoe had worn through where there's a sort of decorative line of plastic. To be fair the rest of the sole is getting pretty thin as well. At £160 these shoes weren't cheap at all and I'm disappointed that they haven't lasted rather longer, although I have worn them pretty well every day. I reckon £8 a month or so is rather a lot to pay for footwear.
I have just ordered a replacement from Amaz*n - Merrell Moab low-rise boot for £73. If they last a year they will have been better value for money than the Meindl.
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Soles wear out, and to cater for the current fashion for lightweight everything they are probably thinner than they used to be.
A quick google shows plenty of places offering resoles & refurbishment for Meindl footwear. Or you can return them to the manufacturer.
Edit: https://www.alpinetrek.co.uk/base-camp/resoling-service/
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More useful to measure distance than time. How far have you walked in them?
Maybe 1000 miles would be decent for a pair of boots. Though depends on the terrain, some rocks can cause more wear. And your weight, and walking style.
If the soles are some sort of sticky rubber, that could wear out faster.
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My record for a pair of walking shoes/boots is around six weeks. I was not pleased and have not bought a Mountain Warehouse shoe since.
Threw out a pair of hi-tecs a last week that lasted just over a year which is typical for me. (I used to cycle everywhere, since I retired I walk everywhere).
They are just not built to last anymore.
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The army tends to do a bit of mileage.
https://www.altberg.co.uk/product/mens-defender-combat-boot-mod-brown-uk-military-issue-boot/ (https://www.altberg.co.uk/product/mens-defender-combat-boot-mod-brown-uk-military-issue-boot/)
Size 13 £90 on ebay.
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I have a very nice pair of Altberg boots but they are not for every day. It was after I went to Richmond to be measured for them that I used the same dimensions to order the Meindls.
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I normally use Merrell (shoes, not boots) for everyday walking, and they tend to last about a year.
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The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money.
Take boots, for example. He earned thirty-eight dollars a month plus allowances. A really good pair of leather boots cost fifty dollars. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about ten dollars. Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell where he was in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles.
But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford fifty dollars had a pair of boots that'd still be keeping his feet dry in ten years' time, while the poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet.
This was the Captain Samuel Vimes 'Boots' theory of socioeconomic unfairness.
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I have a pair of Rockport smart-er boots that I wear for work pretty much every week if I'm going to clients or the office. They've lasted at least 3 years so far and still have plenty of wear. The soles are pretty hard rubber on them though, but still give very good grip.
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The Vimes theory is broadly correct but does not allow for ponce factor, which unfortunately affects many items made for a specific purpose, particularly where that purpose is perceived, rightly or wrongly, as leisure. Cycling and walking are both badly affected by ponce factor.
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The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money.
Take boots, for example. He earned thirty-eight dollars a month plus allowances. A really good pair of leather boots cost fifty dollars. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about ten dollars. Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell where he was in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles.
But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford fifty dollars had a pair of boots that'd still be keeping his feet dry in ten years' time, while the poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet.
This was the Captain Samuel Vimes 'Boots' theory of socioeconomic unfairness.
We had that conversation in the pub last week. One friend was wearing a pair of shoes he had bought in the sale for £10 and opined that he couldn't understand why anyone would pay for expensive shoes. Another friend admitted that the handmade leather soled brogues he was wearing cost nearly £200 when he bought them several years ago but as he pointed out he would never need to buy another pair of brogues ever.
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Lancashire Shoe Repairs (https://lancashiresportsrepairs.co.uk/) offer an excellent service ime.
Merrell Moabs I find to be very soft on the sole and wear rate is fast. Also, I have wider than average feet and the sides of the toe box came away from the sole fairly quickly.
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As I've said before, the great thing about using a bike [for journeys you'd otherwise walk] is that you wear easily-replaced cleats and pedals, rather than expensive and hard to replace shoes.
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I don't think Merrell (approach shoes, at least) are as good as they used to be. The last pair I had got uncomfortable to wear before they were properly worn out looking and I have given up on them in disgust. I'm now buying slightly cheaper shoes I have lower expectations of rather than spending lots and being disappointed.
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Don't expensive shoes end up a bit trigger's broom? Because they were expensive and are comfortable, you have high expectations of them. Therefore, when the soles get a bit worn, it's worth having them resoled (and they're probably made in a way that makes this possible). Then it's a bit of upper, and so on.
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I'm now buying slightly cheaper shoes I have lower expectations of rather than spending lots and being disappointed.
Mrs Pingu's corollary to Captain Vimes' boots theory.
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Don't expensive shoes end up a bit trigger's broom? Because they were expensive and are comfortable, you have high expectations of them. Therefore, when the soles get a bit worn, it's worth having them resoled (and they're probably made in a way that makes this possible). Then it's a bit of upper, and so on.
When the soles don't look at all worn I've assumed it's the inner structure that is knackered and causing the discomfort.
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I have found that, if you possess 40-50 (ICBA to count) pairs of shoes/sandals/boots/etc., then they tend to last quite a long time. Although I've discovered that it is possible for them to deteriorate without being worn. I dug a pair of walking boots out of the back of the cupboard a few years ago after not wearing them for quite a while. After about a mile the sole of one of them detached itself. "Oh bugger", thought I and turned for home. After a couple of hundred yards the other one fell off. I thought that was rather remarkable coordination of failure.
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Depends on the use to which you put them. I tend to wear Aussie Elastic sided boots (stockboots) for general wear. So they get worn walking around town, around the farm where I live, walking in fields; I just washed the car in them.
The pair of Redbacks I'm wearing now are about 3 years old and cost me £110. No particular signs of wear on the soles.
I expect them to last another 3-5 years and will be disappointed if they don't. Usually the leather breaks up.
My previous pair (of a cheaper brand), lasted about 5 years of daily wear before the leather became very cracked and they were relegated to gardening wear only.
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I had some North Face Hedgehogs that lasted 3 years, probably wore them every day. I was so impressed I bought a second pair when they wore out - they lasted about 9 months. Shop told me that was average.
Just bought a second pair of Magnum boots (http://www.magnumboots.com/uk/viper-pro-8-0-leather-waterproof-black-mens-womens-boot.html) today - my last pair lasted more than 2 years of daily use dog walking. Hope these perform better than the Hedgehogs.
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I had a similar experience with North Face Hedgehogs. Clearly they made a 'mistake' with the earlier version. Still a very comfy shoe and I can just about eek 12 months out of a pair.
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The Redback boots recommended by mrcharly are available at this place, which was recommended last week by Regulator. https://www.bushgear.co.uk/collections/redback-boots Size 13 for Wow available.
TK Maxx are sometimes OK for decent shoes. I'm currently wearing a pair of commando soled Cheaneys (seconds) which I got for £99 reduced from £375! I expect them to last a long time & they can be sent off for a full refurbishment when they need it.
My US Redwing chukkas are very comfortable, but the cream coloured sole gets filthy & is hard to clean. Starting to pong a bit as well..
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I have a pair similar to those redbacks, preferring ankle boots to shoes for work as well. They look comfy, but the soles look quite soft? I'd say the same of my rockports as well though, so looks can be deceiving
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I have found that, if you possess 40-50 (ICBA to count) pairs of shoes/sandals/boots/etc., then they tend to last quite a long time. Although I've discovered that it is possible for them to deteriorate without being worn. I dug a pair of walking boots out of the back of the cupboard a few years ago after not wearing them for quite a while. After about a mile the sole of one of them detached itself. "Oh bugger", thought I and turned for home. After a couple of hundred yards the other one fell off. I thought that was rather remarkable coordination of failure.
This happened to Miss von Brandenburg about halfway between the car park and the cliffs next to the Old Man of Hoy last year; fortunately she was able to effect a temporary repair with tape blagged off some passing climbers ;D
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The real problem with any type of shoes is size. My precise foot measures as 24.5 cm UK 5 1/2. They are also wider than typical. I buy UK size 7 which typically are the smallest size found in many shops and am careful about the width of the toe box. Manufactures say they make size 6 and 6 1/2 but shops just do not stock them.
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Bought Timberlands in Banff Canada a few years ago for walking in the ROckies. Still in fantastic condition and really comfortable. They are or were cheaper in Canada than the UK.
I had some Italian walking boots for 20 years, bomb proof but not water proof.
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I am still wearing shoes I bought in 1986. Mostly though my shoes last only about 20 years. I have rubber outer soles put on immediately when I buy them, and replace the rubber whenever it wears out - eventually the uppers split though.
There is something lovely about wearing really old shoes I think.
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My OP was really about trainery-type shoes, as that's what I wear nearly all the time.
I have a pair of Doc Martins that I have had for lots of years that I wore when I was teaching, so a few days a week in term time only. I wore them to the last demo I went on, thinking they would be ideal for a day in London spent on my feet, but they weren't. They fit OK. It's just that the "air wear" sole seems rather harsher to my feet than my normal walking trainers.
The Merrells I have bought recently as a replacement for the Meindls have a Vibram sole, which I know is very resilient. I doubt very much that I will wear through that in 18 months. I have had boots with Vibram soles before and then it was the uppers that wore out after lots of years. Probably if I had been a bit more generous with the Nikwax they might have lasted longer still.
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Out of interest, what type of Meindl walking shoes did you buy from Open Air in Cambridge? I ask because (a) I have a pair of Meindl walking shoes myself, and (b) I bought a pair of Meindl boots from Open Air in Cambridge today.
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Currently using these as my walking shoes, https://www.decathlon.co.uk/nh100-mens-walking-shoes-black-id_8354268.html comfortable for all day walking around, other aches stop the walking rather than the feet hurting. For £10 these are great.
I wear the outside edge of my heal of my shoes, and am starting to get knee pain and swelling, so maybe time for a shoe purge. Am thinking this as I looked at my nh100 and my right shoe is excessively worn compared to my left. So wonder if that maybe causing issues.
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The real problem with any type of shoes is size. My precise foot measures as 24.5 cm UK 5 1/2. They are also wider than typical. I buy UK size 7 which typically are the smallest size found in many shops and am careful about the width of the toe box. Manufactures say they make size 6 and 6 1/2 but shops just do not stock them.
Indeed. At size 5 I find that for some reason shoe manufacturers think I want either "School" shoes or something that will cripple my knees aka "women's shoes", anything practical is limited (mainly 'sports'/hiking etc). I'm probably looking in the wrong places
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Out of interest, what type of Meindl walking shoes did you buy from Open Air in Cambridge? I ask because (a) I have a pair of Meindl walking shoes myself, and (b) I bought a pair of Meindl boots from Open Air in Cambridge today.
https://www.openair.co.uk//footwear-c6/mens-c124/shoes-c131/meindl-rapide-gtx-shoes-large-sizes-13uk-p151/s1090
Out of stock and £170.
Having found the email they sent me when I bought them, I've replied to ask about a guarantee period and whether in their view 20 months is a reasonable life for such expensive shoes (I paid £159.90) bearing in mind that it wasn't the main part of the sole that wore through, but a totally unnecessary strip of decoration.
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Having found the email they sent me when I bought them, I've replied to ask about a guarantee period and whether in their view 20 months is a reasonable life for such expensive shoes (I paid £159.90) bearing in mind that it wasn't the main part of the sole that wore through, but a totally unnecessary strip of decoration.
I have the Respond model, which is at a slightly lower price point (not purchased from Open Air). The problem that I have is that they allow the wet to get in. I mentioned this in the course of buying my boots, and the Open Air salesman suggested that I check to see if I’d worn a hole in the goretex lining of the toe box. When I got home I checked, and I think he’s right, I have. The shoes are about 5 years old, however, and have had a lot of wear, so I’m not complaining.