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old-fashioned hiking boots

PADDY

I'll Lock Up
Bartender
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Excellent boots. I've used their lightweight 'desert boots' to good effect. Their shop is in Catterick - the professionals rely on them! I agree about the 'old fashioned quality' but they hardly have 'old-fashioned' styling. One could make the same comment about many of the boots in this post!

I'm going to whizz down to Catterick Garrison in the next few days I think. Also now that someone has mentioned 'oiled wool' in this thread, a visit to the Barbour Factory 'today' sounds like a good idea! Reading these threads can prove expensive chaps!!
 

PADDY

I'll Lock Up
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847c5531.jpg


GT RedWings believe it or not..!
Got a comfy 20 mile hike along the coast with these little numbers and they have a classic vintage look to them. Leather soles with a commando rubber tread stitched on top.
 
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norton

One of the Regulars
Messages
151
Location
Illinois
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/archive/index.php/t-44538.html

I've been looking at this recently for hiking boots, not because of style but because of quality and fit. I think the older style is better made and I have a narrow fit that I can't find a modern narrow boot.

To summarize the above thread, I found two practical options, Mendl from Germany and Limmer in the U.S. Limmer is a custom boot maker in New Hampshire that also sells a line of ready made boots manufa ctured for them by Mendl in Germany. Cabela's sells some Mendls in the U.S., but they're not norwegian welted, like what you can get in Europe.

Also, an Italian company, Alico occaisionally has boots on STP.
 

Tony B

One of the Regulars
Messages
207
Location
Dorset
If you mean full on bergstiefel with all the cleats etc try this fella
http://www.koutny-cz.eu/produkty/boty/

And if you just ignore all the nazi side of things this site will give you a good insight into the making of them...a true craftsman http://www.panzergrenadier.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=12332&start=90 I have seen his work for myself and they are very good things so next year I will be trying to get heim to make me a do nazified "civvie" version of the side lace jump boots in brown with commando soles, if you dont want to pay that price have a look round for ex swiss army mountain boots.

Regards Tony
 
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EmergencyIan

Practically Family
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918
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New York, NY
Does anyone remember those popular hiking boots from the 1970's with the red laces? What was that style called and which companies manufactured them?

- Ian
 

Tomasso

Incurably Addicted
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13,719
Location
USA
Does anyone remember those popular hiking boots from the 1970's with the red laces? What was that style called and which companies manufactured them?
Actually, it was popular to switch-out the factory laces for red laces in the 70s. Sporting good stores would have a rack of red laces in the boot department.
 

J.W.

A-List Customer
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312
Location
Southern tip of northern Germany
Kaiser, your link only sends us to the Meindl startpage. Which boots did you get? Meindl is one of the go-to companies for hikers in Germany, so it's not a bad choice. I've never owned any of their boots, but many friends of mine have. The hold up pretty well and according to what I've been told, they are quite comfortable, too.
Maybe the TO could elaborate a bit more on the style he is looking for? Maybe the Timberland Eurohiker might be sth. for you?
 

kaiser

A-List Customer
Messages
402
Location
Germany, NRW, HSK
Kaiser, your link only sends us to the Meindl startpage. Which boots did you get? Meindl is one of the go-to companies for hikers in Germany, so it's not a bad choice. I've never owned any of their boots, but many friends of mine have. The hold up pretty well and according to what I've been told, they are quite comfortable, too.
Maybe the TO could elaborate a bit more on the style he is looking for? Maybe the Timberland Eurohiker might be sth. for you?

Sorry about that, I got the Meindl Ortlers. They are listed in the models section under double stitched. There are other double stitched boots there as well.
 

Earl Needham

Familiar Face
Messages
92
Location
Clovis, NM
Does anyone remember those popular hiking boots from the 1970's with the red laces? What was that style called and which companies manufactured them?

- Ian

Perhaps Reichle? (Did I spell that right???)

Sadly, that company has been bought by someone else (Mammut?), and is no longer the same.
 

Cashmere

New in Town
Messages
22
Location
Dahlonega, GA USA
Yeah, Raichles usually had red laces, and they were a popular top brand hiking boot back then. That's probably it.

Vasques usually had red and black laces, as I recall.

Brian, I'm not 100% sure what you mean by "new vintage style mountain boots". To me, that means no injection molding (welt construction instead) and no GoreTex. And -- I hope you'll pardon my prejudice -- not made in China.

If by "vintage style" you mean like people wore in the 1950's and earlier, it would be a high top.

Chippewa makes excellent boots, and they have models that fit these criteria. Carolina might be another brand to look at.

Merrell, as has been mentioned, makes conventional height hiking boots that fit the criteria. I've never owned them, but I worked for various outfitters for most of the 80's, and we handled Merrell. I was very impressed with their quality.

About welt construction... The Norwegian welt (two or three visible seams) is good... very tough. The Littleway welt (no visible seams) is also good, especially for climbing, or for not-climbing scenarios that involve lots of steep rock. The Goodyear welt (one visible seam) is theoretically not quite as rugged as the Norwegian, and doesn't give you the same nimble foot placement the Littleway does, but in general it works just fine.

I was looking for the same sort of thing recently, being all misty eyed over my long-lost Danner Hood Rivers. I happened to run across some Timberland Trail Seekers, though... Injection molding and made in China, but they were sooo inexpensive ($64) and sooo comfortable I picked them up anyway. I wear them all the time and they fit my needs perfectly. I believe they've recently been replaced by the Timberland White Ledge. So, not "vintage style", but a really good boot and a really good value.
 
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Doublegun

Practically Family
Messages
773
Location
Michigan
If anyone is interested I have an old pair of Vasque boots purchased in 1978 (with the original red laces) that I no longer wear and would sell. I believe they are 11-1/2 or 12. Send me a PM if interested.

JDG
 

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