I like light colored boots because I really do think it makes a difference in how hot my feet get. Not so much for hiking but definitely when I'm on the horses. Having black boots just hanging in the sun can get really bad. You being in Cali I'd suspect you'll spend more time trying to keep feet cool rather than warm.
Sole choice depends on use. My sole choice will also be influenced by the fact that at least some of the time mine will end up being worn when riding (horses). If I was only going to be using them for hiking and camping it would be different. However, my hiking and camping seems to have a lot of crossover that involves our horses. So I'll be looking for a sole that does both well rather than excelling at either.
For socks I've never liked wearing more than a lightweight performance sock. You just want to make sure that your boot fitter does a good job of not ending up with the boots too small. As you are aware, so for the benefit of others who might be reading, in good leather boots like this if the boot ends up a little small your feet will freeze in cold weather. You need room for that air boundary. So if you try to stuff thicker socks into boots that were fit with regular socks you crush your air boundary and your feet freeze rather than staying warmer. I've spent a lot of time in very cold weather wearing nothing but my Justins and a lightweight smartwool ski sock (thinner than your average pair of Hanes) and my feet do just fine. That said a good leather boot will feel slightly small right at first. It's all about having the right footbed dimensions to start with rather than the leather feeling right.
Anyway, have fun tomorrow, I might be more jealous about the White's than the GS.
...dude you ride an offroad bike with slicks, 1/2 the weight of a GS, double the suspension, with a browning 50 cal going off 32" from your skull as a daily freaking driver - I'd expect anything except a nitro dragbike to be bland by comparison - SSG
Socks, I like using polypro liners, so probably liners and stick with medium weight Smartwool which I like for impact absorption. He had a couple other brands I'll look at though.
Height, I've had 6 and 8" boots in the past, and like the protection and lower liklihood of rocks in the boot with 8", but the 6" is definitely more comfortable for "chafing". I'm guessing he'll advise me to get 8" and not lace the top 2 eyes if I choose.
For horses, I'd get a Mini Vibram sole, but since I never ride horses, I was thinking full Vibram. He said it grips better, and is more shock absorbant. Heavier, especially in mud though. We're on granite out here a bunch, so impact absorption always has to be watched...
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in coveralls and looks like work.-Thomas Edison
Got as far as driving by the boot shop...just spending too much cash on the house right now. But someday, I'll break down. Been wearing my Catapillars doing yard work, but the steel toe is a bit clunky.
He actually said for a 6 footer 10" provides optimal protection in brush and such (which is why that is the std height for smokejumper boots) and was selling it pretty hard to me, but as the majority of my hiking is done on piste, I went 8".
Got the done at the counter, now I can't wait to get them.
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in coveralls and looks like work.-Thomas Edison
He actually said for a 6 footer 10" provides optimal protection in brush and such (which is why that is the std height for smokejumper boots) and was selling it pretty hard to me, but as the majority of my hiking is done on piste, I went 8".
Got the done at the counter, now I can't wait to get them.
Pure coolness. How long do you have to wait?
I'll probably end up either 8" or 10" due to the horses again.
...dude you ride an offroad bike with slicks, 1/2 the weight of a GS, double the suspension, with a browning 50 cal going off 32" from your skull as a daily freaking driver - I'd expect anything except a nitro dragbike to be bland by comparison - SSG
...dude you ride an offroad bike with slicks, 1/2 the weight of a GS, double the suspension, with a browning 50 cal going off 32" from your skull as a daily freaking driver - I'd expect anything except a nitro dragbike to be bland by comparison - SSG
I had to walk about 2 miles in them this morning to go get my truck...they were definitely feeling different towards the end as the footbed molded.
I've had some interesting comments on them here in the office.
Well, I don't really need pictures. I know what White's look like. I wouldn't have told you about them if I didn't. I maintain that there isn't even a close second out there when it comes to boots.
...dude you ride an offroad bike with slicks, 1/2 the weight of a GS, double the suspension, with a browning 50 cal going off 32" from your skull as a daily freaking driver - I'd expect anything except a nitro dragbike to be bland by comparison - SSG
I always use medium Smartwool and polypro liners in boots like this.
I wore them about an hour the day I picked them up, and then for a full day at the office to see how much breaking in they'd need. Absolutely no hot spots, blisters, etc etc.
Well then, let's see how it goes.
Week before last I did a 6 mile hike and no trouble with "break-in". I did the same hike again today, and similar performance. It's a fairly steep trail, some loose areas, a bit of rock hopping along with lots of concrete-hard packed dirt, some sectitons with loose gravel on top.
So, the good:
Killer construction
Great fit/comfort, no pinching, chafing or any of that anywhere inside the boot
Amazing traction/stability
Absolutely NO toe slam (first boot ever I can say that about)
Despite my best efforts, no foot damage during break-in period (though they do get better with some miles)
The bad:
Cost.
For hiking, you have to be strong for these guys, they're notably heavy.
Compared to running shoes, they don't have the shock absorption...but that's true of any heavy boot.
Overall I'd say very happy with the purchase, best boot I've owned, and worth the money if you want a heavy duty boot.
Last edited by luvtolean; 05-28-2009 at 03:26 PM.
Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in coveralls and looks like work.-Thomas Edison
I'm ready for new riding (horse)/everyday wear boots since my Justin's finally blew out on the side (8 years old). Unfortunately the closest White's dealer is 2.5 hours away from me. I'll probably end up with a pair of H&H's since they're built similarly, in the US, and I can get them locally ...and they're about half the price of White's. I'll still have a pair of White's eventually.
...dude you ride an offroad bike with slicks, 1/2 the weight of a GS, double the suspension, with a browning 50 cal going off 32" from your skull as a daily freaking driver - I'd expect anything except a nitro dragbike to be bland by comparison - SSG
reminds me I gotta call and see if my boots are done at the cobbler. said he could only replace the back half of the soles. guess I'll see how good they came out when I pick them up, probably gonna suck but whatever.
I'm ready for new riding (horse)/everyday wear boots since my Justin's finally blew out on the side (8 years old). Unfortunately the closest White's dealer is 2.5 hours away from me. I'll probably end up with a pair of H&H's since they're built similarly, in the US, and I can get them locally ...and they're about half the price of White's. I'll still have a pair of White's eventually.
Agreed on that. I've owned two pairs of HH's. The first pair has been great, but the heel cup(?) broke down as I think they are made of plastic.
Otherwise, they've been great! My latest pair is bomber.
Today's public figures can no longer write their own speeches or books, and there is some evidence that they can't read them either.
- Gore Vidal
I've been looking at the lace-up packer style. The heel appears to be all leather with rubber sole.
I like the convenience of pull-on for just running out the trash, things like that, but I think this pair will cross over to the bike at times so I'll go lace up.
...dude you ride an offroad bike with slicks, 1/2 the weight of a GS, double the suspension, with a browning 50 cal going off 32" from your skull as a daily freaking driver - I'd expect anything except a nitro dragbike to be bland by comparison - SSG
a couple months ago I took my boots to the cobbler to get resoled. first guy said he couldn't do them because of the little carbon fiber part in the middle. Second place was someone garage's next to their house with a for sale sign and no business sign, pass on that one. Third place didn't do them on site so I left them and he called me back and said he can't do the front. Guess he just meant the rubber piece that's sewn onto the front of the boot. I wasn't really paying attention when I picked the sole, would have liked one with a heel but they came out pretty good. wore them to work a couple days so far and the Vibram soles are nice. a little harder than the originals but the grip is nice, just have to see how long it takes to wear them out. If they aren't completely destroyed in 6 months like the old ones I'll be happy.
I have Vibram soles on my combat boots. The soles grip well like you said. They seem to react to temperatures; harder in cold weather, softer in warm weather.
They're the best wearing boots I've had so far. No noticeable wear on the soles on 9 months.
For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return.
---Leonardo Da Vinci
I have some vibram soles on my heavy leather boots. They have worn extremely well. They're almost 5 years old at this point including a lot of time running a shovel which is really hard on soles. That said I agree with Seamus that they are hard in the cold, to the point of being fairly slippery sometimes.
...dude you ride an offroad bike with slicks, 1/2 the weight of a GS, double the suspension, with a browning 50 cal going off 32" from your skull as a daily freaking driver - I'd expect anything except a nitro dragbike to be bland by comparison - SSG
I have some vibram soles on my heavy leather boots. They have worn extremely well. They're almost 5 years old at this point including a lot of time running a shovel which is really hard on soles. That said I agree with Seamus that they are hard in the cold, to the point of being fairly slippery sometimes.
yeah its probably the cold as to why they feel a touch hard but also because the old soles were really soft. they aren't bad in that department though, no foot complaints. only slippage I had last night was one little spot in my trailer that's probably just still a little wet or icy from being washed Sunday. They do such a shitty cleaning job it could be some milk.cream residue stil there making it slippery too.
now I just gotta find some motorcycle boots from somewhere with an inconspicuous receipt so that I work will pay for them. only have $70 to spend this year.
I immediately ruled out the Justin's and Ariat's since both are now made in China. These are H&H's, made in the USA. The 'Gel Ice' model. I had planned on getting their lace up packer style since I have bad ankles but finally decided on these instead.
...and yes they are my "work" boots. I'm not going to be changing my socks because they are soaked with amniotic fluid.
...dude you ride an offroad bike with slicks, 1/2 the weight of a GS, double the suspension, with a browning 50 cal going off 32" from your skull as a daily freaking driver - I'd expect anything except a nitro dragbike to be bland by comparison - SSG
Ha, nice! I think I have those same boots. Crazy. You'll love 'em! They are very waterproof and hold up for years. My only nitpick with them is that the heel cup is plastic and finally broke down on me. But don't worry, I bought a another pair of Double H square toes.
Nice work.
Today's public figures can no longer write their own speeches or books, and there is some evidence that they can't read them either.
- Gore Vidal
I already coated the lower section in a nice layer of Obenauf's so they should be ready for fluids of all sorts.
The plastic heel cup was one thing that bugged me. That's why I was looking at the H&H packer that had a nice full leather heel cup. I spent probably an 1.5 hours going back and forth between the two trying to decide which would be the most comfortable for all day wear. If I was home in Idaho and still spending lot's of time on the horse it would have been an easy decision and definitely would have gone with the lace-ups. I also looked at the H&H square toe style but they didn't give me a good fit at all so were ruled out immediately.
...dude you ride an offroad bike with slicks, 1/2 the weight of a GS, double the suspension, with a browning 50 cal going off 32" from your skull as a daily freaking driver - I'd expect anything except a nitro dragbike to be bland by comparison - SSG
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done at the counter, now I can't wait to get them. 
Originally Posted by luvtolean
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