Posts Tagged ‘boots’
Boot Salvage
In April of 2023, I posted about new work boots I found on clearance that ended up working out pretty slick for my purposes. One thing that no boot seems to be able to do for me is last very long under my heavy use. These were a pair from Georgia Boot that were waterproof and had a steel toe, which helps reduce risk when I’m wandering around in close contact with the horses.
Much sooner than I was happy with, threads gave out on the side seams. I kept wearing them anyway, and soon, the waterproof feature was lost. I really don’t like leaky boots causing wet socks. I stopped wearing them after buying a pull-on waterproof alternative that has already lasted longer than I imagined possible. It’s got me starting to think about what I should do next.
The old Georgia Boot pair seemed to have a lot of life left in them if it weren’t for the sewed seams blowing out. I’ve decided to look into repair. First, I checked to see what a new pair would cost to help me decide if the expense of repair made sense.
I found a place just a half-hour away in Stillwater that had an online presence and invited requests for quotes. After filling out their form and attaching photos, I explained my situation and pointed out that the cost of a new pair was $99.99. In today’s economy, I have no idea how a pair of these boots can be made for less than a hundred bucks.
The response came back in only a couple of hours, “We should be able to sew them up.”
It’s kind of a vague quote, but I think I’m going to go for it. They did ask that I give them a quick scrub before bringing them in because the dirt gets into their sewing machine. I didn’t point out it was probably more manure than dirt.
The repairs won’t be able to reclaim the waterproof feature, but for now, I’ve still got the cheap ones for wet conditions. I’m thinking I can extend the life of both pairs if I alternate between the two depending on conditions. There is also a large dose of satisfaction for delaying the old boots entering the waste stream. I’ll have to decide what the dollar value of that benefit is worth to me.
I just hope the cost of repairs doesn’t approach $90. I’ll be seeking a more precise estimate when dropping the boots off and talking to someone in person. Of course, I will also feel good about contributing to a local small business, so that weighs in their favor in making my final decision.
When I checked on the cost of a new pair at the Georgia Boot website, I did notice my exact size wasn’t available, but a half-size larger was. I’m thinking I could make that work if I end up needing to resort to that.
Stay tuned. The resolution of this boot salvage drama will not be reached until the next time I’m headed toward the vicinity of Stillwater. Until then, the freshly scrubbed old boots are being stored in my car, awaiting the day.
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Boot Treatment
Last Christmas, Julian gave us a gift of a two-step “hydrophobic” water-proofing spray. I didn’t use it right away because I wanted to wait for warm weather before applying it on my boots. With the end of summer looming, I finally got around to treating my most oft-worn work boots.
The first-step spray made my freshly cleaned and dried boots look almost brand new. The second coat created a chalky, uneven finish. It was difficult to get an even coat without over-applying. The front edge was looking too wet with product, so I didn’t spray more, but after it dried a bit, there was little chalkiness there.
A day later, after just a short walk in the boots, it appeared the crease lines where the boot flexes became breaks in the new chalky coating. Luckily, that didn’t seem to make any difference in the hydrophobic properties of the new coating.
Certainly, the canvas portion of the boot was much more resistant to soaking up the moisture of dew when I walked through our grass in the morning, but the vinyl edges didn’t look all that much different.
I showed off the results in a snapshot and video for Julian and he asked how the new coating was handling mud and manure.
I think I’m going to need to apply another coat. That challenge with that will be getting the boots clean enough again to receive the application.
I realize now that the biggest cause of the delay in getting around to using this gift wasn’t the weather. It was finding a time when the boots would be clean and dry.
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Embarrassing Excess
I am developing a complex about the number of boots, jackets and gloves that I seem to need to keep handy at our doors. Occasionally, Cyndie will clear the excess and stow it in a closet. When this happens, I try to respect it for as long as possible, but inevitably my plethora of outerwear re-accumulates, filling our entrances with my clutter once again.
This time of year is particularly difficult, because the transition from winter to spring brings a wide variety of conditions. I seem to be putting on a different boot every other time I go out. For deep snow and/or extremely cold temperatures, I prefer my Steger mukluks. However, they have a soft leather sole, and I frequently want something more robust for tasks around the barn, or with our machines.
My other options include another pair of insulated winter boots –with a rubber sole; my ankle-high muck boots; and (not pictured) my calf-high, steel-toe slip-on boots for when I’m going to be near the horses.
I really do wear them all, and often in the span of a few days. Around here, it can be almost summer-like one day, and the next, you might receive a foot and a half of snow (as happened here last year on May 2nd!).
It’s the same thing with jackets. The hooks by the door make it look like we are having a party or something, but no, two of those are Cyndie’s and the rest are all mine.
I’ve got a heavy canvas coat for the colder days, a light winter shell, my raincoat, and my favorite light jacket from Wilkus Architects. By the other door is my Columbia fleece and shell combination that is so old I decided to have it become the winter work jacket, letting it get dusted and rubbed by enough grime that you can hardly tell what color it once was.
Could I get by with just one pair of boots and one jacket? Not one that works well for all situations, that’s for sure.
Then I look at Delilah, who doesn’t wear boots at all. She goes in and out of the house, and her furry paws work just fine for every condition. Sure, we have to pull ice out from between her toes sometimes, and wipe her down with a towel when she comes in, but she makes those paws do.
I aspire to become as efficient as she is.
Although, I’ve got her beat on one thing. Her collection of chew toys and gnawed bones, antlers, and stuffed critters is ten times the clutter of anything of mine piled up around the inside of our house.
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Relative Something 