Zip boots

[sonofmt]

Occasionally I get a wild hair for a pair of zipper boots. The ankle height medial side zip kind everywhere in the 70s.
Problem is I have a long high arch, so in non lace boots I usually need a narrow (B) width.
I see addict boots make a zip boot, but they say they’re a low arch, and I wouldn’t have an easy way to try and return as I’m in the US.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Many thanks.

 

[Pandemic]

Brisselblack MTO

 

[sonofmt]

Thanks very much—just messaged them via their website.

 

[Oil Tanned]

Wesco used to make them and stopped. IIRC they said that zippers on boots eventually became reliably unreliable. Not sure how they might have been bad on boots but fine on jackets but I do know they used to but don't anymore.

 

[dgbrt]

Wesco used to make them and stopped. IIRC they said that zippers on boots eventually became reliably unreliable. Not sure how they might have been bad on boots but fine on jackets but I do know they used to but don't anymore.

Most of my boots are zippered, and every time I hear this argument about reliability, I gesticulate wildly towards a closet full of zippered jackets.

Back on topic, have had my eyes on a few different zippered pairs from Rolling Dub Trio (the Casper and the Gleaners) but I never seem to find them in stock when I'm on the hunt.

 

[AeroFan_07]

I "Just do not do" Zippered Boots.

 

[Edward]

View attachment 818806

Brisselblack MTO

Lovely shape to those. Remind me a little of the Lynott last from Jeffrey West. If they ever brng those ack round with a buckle at the ankle, I might well succumb.

I "Just do not do" Zippered Boots.

It's not an aesthetic for everyone, no. I'm not a fan of boots that try to hide a zipper behind fake buckles or laces. If anything I prefer the zip be a feature. I do have a couple of pairs of Lewis Aviakit boots with the usual Clix zippers down the back, the British MC equivalent to the American engineer boot. The Motorways are somewhat long if you prefer to wear your boots up inside your trousers as I do, but the 10" Westways are perfect. The zip allows for a snugger fit which, much as I love my engineers, is sometimes nice to have.

Where I really started to consider something like the above, though, is for the practical purpose of travel security. Most airports I pas through now let you keep shoes on and have a separate shoe-scanner if needsbe, which is handy (I live for the day they do the same with belts!), but anything much taller than the ankle has to be removed. I've long worn loafers for convenience in airports (a hangover from a decade ago when they made everyone take shoes off at all times, though also convenient when flying long hall as I like to kick my shoes off in my seat there). Where loafers fall down is when travelling in colder months. Fine in airports / on the plane, but typically necessitate a warmer set of footwear be packed for use at destination. A zippered boot has the ideal combination of ankle warmth and convenience if they have to be removed on the go....

 

[Edward]

Most of my boots are zippered, and every time I hear this argument about reliability, I gesticulate wildly towards a closet full of zippered jackets.

Back on topic, have had my eyes on a few different zippered pairs from Rolling Dub Trio (the Casper and the Gleaners) but I never seem to find them in stock when I'm on the hunt.

Yes, as long as it's a decent quality zip, I don't see a problem. A lot of places I'm aware of do offer to repair / replace zips on motorcycle boots, but in truth having handled a lot of well used Lewis boots going back to the 60s, it's a rare one that doesn't actually have its original zips still in situ. I suspect all done and said like anything else it comes down to the overall quality of the boot and build to begin with. An awful lot of people tend to confuse quality of execution and design when it comes to flaws, in my experience.

 

[sonofmt]

I had a pair of Allen Edmonds Chelsea boots that were great for quick on and off like at the airport, but I’ve pretty much worn them out.

A new chelsea boot might be replacing them, but I’ve been considering a zip as an alternative. Nick’s makes a chelsea boot, but I’d be looking for something sleeker than theirs. Suggestions you all have provided are most appreciated.

 

[sonofmt]

And does anyone have experience ordering from Briselblack? Their boots look great, but I’m a bit nervous about a made to order boot from overseas with no way to test drive the fit or an easy return.