On 8/7/2014 5:46 PM, Donald Chester wrote:
Most of the boot stores that claim to carry work boots seem primarily concerned with
fashion statements, like fancy cowboy boots and other footwear, crap that would be
useless for serious "work".
I went through a similar exercise nearly two decades ago. We live in a
world where much of what we can buy is an imitation of the real thing.
As recently as 25 years ago, I could buy quality shoes in narrow widths
to match my narrow feet, and even dress shoes with a steel shank were
easy to find. Two major changes -- manufacturing moving off shore, even
outsourced to unrelated companies, and corporate acquisitions. For many
years, my everyday shoes were hiking boots. I found boots I liked, wore
them every day, and by the time I needed to replace them, the mfr either
no longer existed, had been acquired, or had gone into the imitation of
a boot business.
The last time few times I bought boots from Zappos, carefully studying
the online data, ordering 3 different pairs at a time, sending those
back and trying again. Last time around, it took 9 pairs to find
something that was no better than adequate. And this was after visiting
at least a half dozen stores that SPECIALIZED in boots. If I had found
what I wanted, I would have bought from them.
In my retirement, I've been wearing New Balance, which still comes in
widths. But no steel shank. :)
73, Jim K9YC
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