Affordable and long-wearing shoes/boots

[BigMoaner]

i was up late dealing with this dilema!
i found a pair of etienes skate shoes, smart all black with thick soles for £40 on sale, better for summer and look solid - i need something immdeiately as mine are collapsing..... but in the meantime im going to go out and try out some proper boots with proper soles and all the rest of it - as pinkmonkey says maybe will catch a bargain
never set foot in a clarks, ecco or a blundy before, and might give merrell another chance. id be happy to find one shoe and stick with it for life...

good shit

 

[pogofish]

Anyone ever worn Eccos? Supposedly good for flat feet which is what i haves

well supposedly according to their own website

Yes - I've had a pair for work for about the last 9 months.

Dunno about flat feet but they have been good for my post-surgery foot and there was only slight sole wear apparent when I was cleaning them on Sunday. Sole is very creditably non-slip.

Also got a pair of Hotter boots in Jan last year when I came off the crutches/medical boot - good sole and finish, lightweight but not really for any heavy boot stuff. They are very comfortable and well supported. Just what I needed. Also got a pair of Rockport boots for around fifty quid at the same as the Hotters time and although they were smart and fine for work, they did become painful after a while and fell to bits pretty fast.

Neither are cheap though. OTOH I was about £125 for the Hotters and £90-odd for the Eccos.

 

[ringo]

There is a Clarkes sale factory outlet place just off Holloway Road, it's great!

There's one in Peckham too, on Rye Lane. I keep meaning to get down there to see if they have any Wallabees

 

[ska invita]

There's one in Peckham too, on Rye Lane. I keep meaning to get down there to see if they have any Wallabees

any idea where on rye lane? ive never seen it....

 

[ringo]

any idea where on rye lane? ive never seen it....

61-63 Rye Lane, London, Peckham, Greater London SE15 5EX
020 7732 2530

 

[ringo]

I bet the Wallabees are still not cheap though!

 

[ska invita]

looks like a normal clarkes shop but supposedly is a factory outlet! Will pop in

 

[ska invita]

I bet the Wallabees are still not cheap though!

do you reckon those kind of shoes last at all, or are they more for special occasions?

 

[Treacle Toes]

61-63 Rye Lane, London, Peckham, Greater London SE15 5EX
020 7732 2530

OMFG I did not know this! Thank you. I have been putting off trekking over to Holloway Road and now I don't have to!

 

[ringo]

do you reckon those kind of shoes last at all, or are they more for special occasions?

Dunno. I'm wearing some leather Wallabee rip offs today that I got in TKMaxx a couple of years ago and they haven't worn down at all. I don't know if real Wallabees have the same soles or not, I think it's Gregory Isaacs in the Clarks And Jamaica book who talks about them being burglar shoes 'cos the soles are so soft you can sneak into peoples houses wearing them without waking anyone up!

 

[ska invita]

Whatever you decide Ska make sure you go to somewhere like Sportsworld afterwards and get yourself a second cheaper pair or walking shoes or boots (they always have loads of Karrimor at sale prices) so that you are not stuck with one pair and wearing them to death.

good advice...atm ive got my trusty old merrels for that - they deserve a photo!

will upgrade one day when cash flow allows...had these for getting close on 10 years i reckon...they look fucked but are so comfy!! great for a walk in the woods

 

[BigMoaner]

there used to be a clarks discount shop thing in elephant. haven't been there in years tho

 

[Treacle Toes]

good advice...atm ive got my trusty old merrels for that - they deserve a photo!
View attachment 68712
will upgrade one day when cash flow allows...had these for getting close on 10 years i reckon...they look fucked but are so comfy!! great for a walk in the woods

Talking of walking... Maggot and I are planning one at the end of the month, are you interested in joining us? Will be up his way near Hayes.

 

[ska invita]

Talking of walking... Maggot and I are planning one at the end of the month, are you interested in joining us? Will be up his way near Hayes.

def yes depending on the date
i cant do sundays though

 

[Treacle Toes]

def yes depending on the date
i cant do sundays though

Can you do a Friday?

 

[ska invita]

Can you do a Friday?

yes - ideal in fact - pm me

 

[monsterbunny]

After reading every post I have to endorse the Blundstone recommendation. I've had a pair for over 20 years and only now is the elastic beginning to slacken. I'm always hard on soles, even Vibrams, but the Blunnies have seen some mileage. They're worn and trashed and only fit for gardening now but worth every penny in terms of durability.

Second had German army paraboots are good for knocking about in the woods or fishing. Comfy and robust but not for long walks. Clarks desert boots are good too, but the traditional four hole lacing system does me no favours.

I like Wolverines, Red Wings, Wescos, Whites and the like. Long lasting but I fear they may be out of your preferred price range.

 

[mr steev]

Whatever you decide Ska make sure you go to somewhere like Sportsworld afterwards and get yourself a second cheaper pair or walking shoes or boots (they always have loads of Karrimor at sale prices) so that you are not stuck with one pair and wearing them to death.

Every single pair of trainers and a pair of walking boots I've bought from sportsworld/sports direct have been absolutely shite. Not waterproof, paper thin/split soles within weeks and falling apart. And these have been named brands I'd expect more from (Airwalk, Vans, DCs). I think they leave them in a warehouse to perish for months before they sell them

 

[ska invita]

Every single pair of trainers and a pair of walking boots I've bought from sportsworld/sports direct have been absolutely shite. Not waterproof, paper thin/split soles within weeks and falling apart. And these have been named brands I'd expect more from (Airwalk, Vans, DCs). I think they leave them in a warehouse to perish for months before they sell them

yes! thats where i bought the 2nd pair of shit merrells - they were really shit (but cheap)

 

[ska invita]

I like Wolverines, Red Wings, Wescos, Whites and the like. Long lasting but I fear they may be out of your preferred price range.

im going to look into them though - im up for saving up and buying a pair of boots that last

*i like the look of the redwings especially...

 

[mr steev]

yes! thats where i bought the 2nd pair of shit merrells - they were really shit (but cheap)

Yeah. They may be half price, but they don't even last half the time you'd expect them too.

 

[Treacle Toes]

Every single pair of trainers and a pair of walking boots I've bought from sportsworld/sports direct have been absolutely shite. Not waterproof, paper thin/split soles within weeks and falling apart. And these have been named brands I'd expect more from (Airwalk, Vans, DCs). I think they leave them in a warehouse to perish for months before they sell them

I haven't had that experience at all. I go back year after year and am satisfied with them which is what takes me back for my walking shoe/boot need.

 

[mr steev]

I haven't had that experience at all. I go back year after year and am satisfied with them which is what takes me back for my walking shoe/boot need.

Maybe it's the store I use? I've always got them from the same place, but they have been consistantly terrible and I refuse to get any more from there. I may give their online shop a go next then, as the price is good.

 

[Puddy_Tat]

I wear Clarks shoes for work. Comfortable and hard wearing, cost about £60

likewise

also as they do an extra wide fit which i need.

although i don't think they are as good as they used to be. (i've got one pair that must be 15 years old that i've had re-soled twice)

worth keeping an eye on their website / shops - they tend to have shortish sales fairly frequently

 

[monsterbunny]

Another VGFM alternative are Swedish army boots. You can get them unissued for about a tenner. They're tough to break in and they're heavy too but they provide good ankle support and can cope with rain, mud, ice and snow. They've got a welted rubber sole as you can see. I wear them for night fishing or when I'm lamping and I can easily tear through bramble and rough ground at night. Treat them regularly with beeswax and they'll keep shedding water. Good all rounders.

They might be a decent stopgap until you save up enough wedge to spunk on a pair of ridiculously priced daisy roots like those brands I mentioned earlier.

 

[ska invita]

where did you pick those up?

 

[Fez909]

Another VGFM alternative are Swedish army boots. You can get them unissued for about a tenner. They're tough to break in and they're heavy too but they provide good ankle support and can cope with rain, mud, ice and snow. They've got a welted rubber sole as you can see. I wear them for night fishing or when I'm lamping and I can easily tear through bramble and rough ground at night. Treat them regularly with beeswax and they'll keep shedding water. Good all rounders.

They might be a decent stopgap until you save up enough wedge to spunk on a pair of ridiculously priced daisy roots like those brands I mentioned earlier.
View attachment 68747

Nice boots, but I'm struggling to appreciate your lacing style -is they're even a pattern? It seems almost random!

 

[Fez909]

Nice boots, but I'm struggling to appreciate your lacing style -is there even a pattern? It seems almost random!

 

[Fez909]

Fuck. Too drunk to edit

 

[Kuso]

Wtf do you people do in your shoes? I've a pair of timberlands I actually got off the recycle your stuff forum not long after I joined so maybe 8-9 years so. I wear them all of winter, they've even been to a few fests, and they're still holding up fine.

My Nike Jordan's I get at least 18 months from, raving in warehouses n shit in em too. They usually only get replaced for aesthetic reasons. What do you get up to that you wreck your footwear so easily??