If you had to wear just 1 pair of boots for the rest of your life, what would they be?

[RDS]

Well That's a new one for me !

The "barstewards" kept that one quiet, but after a wee bit of wet weather googling you are correct Sir.

Just when I have a new pair of Rossi 4046 full grain Tan leather Ripple Sole lace up desert boots arriving on Wednesday, direct from the Rossi Australia website.

So I now have a "blown out" black suede gardening pair, MADE IN AUSTRALIA,
A newish black suede pair MADE IN AUSTRALIA perhaps bought from eBay 2 or 3 years back
AND this latest Kip leather pair, made ****** knows where !
When these wear out, 2 or 3 years , I will be Dr Effing Google before I order any other "Australian" boots.

Of course Blundstone are far from being alone, however all the same it’s still pretty ironic that as a brand they make a big play on being Australian yet have actually moved the production of their boots out of the country to the Far East. I’d also imagine that most of their wearers don’t realise, and probably don’t really care either.
It’s a shame that Rossi have found it necessary to follow suit, although similar boots from others such as Mongrel, Baxter, R. M. Williams and the aforementioned Redback are still manufactured in Australia, or at least are at the time of writing.

 

[Bawheid]

This is the " recent new " pair maybe 3 years old.
100% '"Made in Australia"
I wonder what it's going to have/say on this newly to arrive pair.

 

[r.biker]

Probably not my "1 pair of boots for life" but did just manage to get a pair of these low Chippewa engineer boots that are no longer made! Made in USA, soft toe, not sure of the leather (?) But looking forward to seeing how these wear, there's not much info online really.

Actually pretty pleased with them, a bit of heel slip but im hoping that'll go away with wear.

These are my first pair of engineer boots and i was looking for a low cost way to try them, also was initially unsure about getting low height ones but when your jeans are on you obviously can't tell they're low, and actually as someone who's got bigger calves and is always feeling the heat, maybe the low ones are a better option for me anyway!

Well, I dont think these are the ones for me sadly. Worn a couple of times and they just aren't quite what I want, back to the drawing board. If anyone is interested in purchasing or knows someone who might be, I'm sticking them up for sale.

 

[RDS]

This is the " recent new " pair maybe 3 years old.
100% '"Made in Australia"
I wonder what it's going to have/say on this newly to arrive pair.

Possibly something like this. Also, I’ve noticed there’s no info about the country of manufacture anywhere on the Rossi boxes or the accompanying leaflets now.

 

[Bawheid]

Barstewards to coin a phrase ! They did keep that quiet (as they would).

It may be possible to buy new old stock (NOS) pairs of Rossi boots from country WA farmer store type retailers.
I am occasionally out east on country runs and will make that my mission.

I remember 10+ years ago doing that for NOS original Tasmanian made heavy sole Blundstone boots, plus haunting the internet. No sign on ebay of Aussie made Blundstones for years.

The black Ripple sole boots in the last post will last 3 years on a regular roster so I have time......

I do have a pair of RM Williams elastic sided slip ons, but they are "kept for posh", weddings and the like.
They are NOT as comfortable as Rossi or Blundstone, being harder old school traditional welted construction.
That plus they arenow as dear as poison, too much so to get scuffed up on the motorcycle !

 

[Bawheid]

Proof positive. These Ripple soles made in Indonesia. Lesson learned.
Any product retailed in Australia HAS to have a "MADE IN ..." label.
I will see how they wear.
Willing to bet they won't last as long as the Aussie made originals.
Just a feeling.
Now to haunt for NOS Australian production pairs.

 

[whitetail_country]

I will take a different approach and say something cheap so that it could be easily replaced economically.

 

[Solstice 62]

Buy cheap, buy twice!

 

[RDS]

Buy cheap, buy twice!

Yep ! Buy something of quality and it probably won’t need replacing, (or at least not as often as something cheap)

 

[MrProper]

Buy cheap, buy twice!

In my case, I often buy (at least) twice, even if it's not cheap. LOL

 

[raf]

I'm not sure what I'd buy, but before I did, I would carefully study RoseAnvil YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RoseAnvil

 

[jchance]

Buy cheap, buy twice!

Buy used, resole.

 

[whitetail_country]

Buy cheap, buy twice!

Say you have the choice of buying one pair of $1000 boots versus 10 $100 boots. Will the $1000 boots really outlast the 10 pairs of $100 boots?

 

[rogueclimber]

Will the $1000 boots really outlast the 10 pairs of $100 boots?

You ask the wrong question...

Will your feet be happier in the $1000 boot vs a cheaply made boot?

 

[r.biker]

Happy to see this is still fuelling some discussion and ideas... and im still yet to pull the plug on a pair...

Narrowed down to Redwing beckmans or beckman flatboxes...

 

[Soleamp]

Happy to see this is still fuelling some discussion and ideas... and im still yet to pull the plug on a pair...

Narrowed down to Redwing beckmans or beckman flatboxes...

The flatboxes are great if you can find a pair with nice clicking. Some of them have some really terrible grain.

 

[r.biker]

The flatboxes are great if you can find a pair with nice clicking. Some of them have some really terrible grain.

Oh really!? I have to order these online so will maybe reconsider.

The other thing i hadnt realised was they've changed quite a bit about the beckman by the looks of it. They aren't the same shape / last now as they were previously

 

[MrX94]

Another vote for slip on Chelseas. I like my John Lofgren Chromexcel teacore Chelsea's. I do pretty much everything in them: work, grocery getting, dates, disc golf, etc. Pretty comfy and looks good in pants or shorts.

 

[Rakusak]

Newer to boot making world, 'Saddleback Leather' is making 100 year warranty boots. Lots of knowledge going into their boots, but in short, you dont want to skimp on boot quality... the cost savings now will be overshadowed by feet, and body issues down the road at an older age. That said, my current one pair pick is Viberg 2020 last 6" boot in deerskin. Fits a like a quality handshake.

 

[Edward]

Well, I dont think these are the ones for me sadly. Worn a couple of times and they just aren't quite what I want, back to the drawing board. If anyone is interested in purchasing or knows someone who might be, I'm sticking them up for sale.

Pity. I picked up a black cherry pair of these just before lockdown, and love them. They were quite the challenge to get on and off to begin with (as compared to my regular Chips, which weren't so challenging), but I think that's the nature of the shorter boot need to be cut a bit neater to fit and stay on right. Very fond of mine, shame they've ended that line but I guess there just wasn't the market for them.