Minnetonka Moccasins

[Muffin]

Hi Everyone!

I normally wear goddess sandals, but these last few years with fest now running into the first week of October it has been too cold, and well wearing socks with the sandals just looks silly...  So I am thinking about purchasing a pair of the Minnetonka Moccasin tall boots with the hard sole to wear on the cold and muddy days at MNRF.. *planning to cut the fringe off the top*

http://www.moccasinsales.com/minnetonka_womens_front_lace_boot.htm


Has anyone had any experience with wearing these? Are they comfortable? I am normally on my feet at least 6-8 hours of the faire day. How do the sizes run? I normally wear a 7-7 1/2 depending on the shoe, but since they do not seem to have half sizes I was thinking of ordering an 8, since I would rather go too big than too small and have squished toes, I am just not sure if that will run way too big..

Or does anyone have any other suggestions in roughly the same price range? $75-85.. I don't really want to spend a great deal of money since I will probably only wear them a few times a season..

Thanks!!! 

[gem]

Milord wore them for several years. You will definitely want a very nice insole (which will help with the sizing issue, as well).

I will say that KCRF is a very rocky/lumpy fairground--we're constantly walking on mulch, and unless you have thick, sturdy soles you feel *everything*--but if your fair has better paths or is mostly grass YMMV.

FWIW, when I'm not wearing sandals or boots, I wear a nice pair of mundane Mary Janes. For years and years I wore Dexters, but they went out of business (sob!). The last few years I've worn a pair from Travel Smith that look almost exactly like the ones in this painting. They're not the most attractive shoes (I shudder to imagine how they'd look with mundane clothes!), but they have very sturdy soles and excellent support and hold up very well to a full day of walking on iffy terrain.  ...And give lots of opportunity for Sock Fun, as the painting indicates! 

[Muffin]

Thanks Gem!

I did have a pair of Mary Janes that I wore at faire on the rainy days when I didn't want to wear sandals, but the darn things would come undone and slip off/get stuck in the mud.. Every few steps my Capt. would have to stoop down and re-do my shoe, ha! It was so frustrating that I threw them away!

[Hoowil]

I've been wearing a pair of their knee high moccasins (pretty much the exact same boot, without the fringe) for years. Mine don't have the hard sole (just double thick heavy grain leather) They are very comfortable, but even with the heavy sole I can feel large rocks, but most graveled paths are fine. You might want to check if any place near home carries the boots, at least to try on. Of all places I found a trading post about 45 miles from home that carries some of Minnetonka's stuff (they're even willing to special order kids' sizes). It would be the best way to figure out the sizing. But my first thought would be, go larger if you want an extra insole, or smaller otherwise. Leather has some stretch to it. It'll be tight the first few times, but will stretch to fit, and you can lace a little loose until it forms. Otherwise you might find yourself slipping about in the boot (blisters gallore). I generally wear a half size, extra wide, but went the smaller route. I've had the boots for going on 14 years. I don't wear them as much as some, but they've got me through probably 100-120 days or wear, if not more, without any problem.

[Muffin]

Thank you!!

I was going to check out a few places around here, since at this very moment I am sitting in Minnetonka, MN..  They have to sell them somewhere! I'd really like to try them on before ordering on line...

[ArielCallista]

Famous Footwear carries them. I used to work there. Sometimes with the leather styles its better to go down a half size since the leather will stretch, but trying them on would be best. They are incredibly comfortable tho. The sole is thin enough where you can sort of feel the ground. If its really rocky you can feel lumpyness through the soles...however its not like the rocks stab at you...its just, lumpy. Its quite similar to what it feels like when you wear medieval moccasins or converse.

[Ser Niall]

I have the men's Minnetonka Moccassin boots.  I think they're very comfortable, and it looks like they're very similar in construction to the female version.  I wear a size 9 - 9.5 shoe, and I bought the size 9 boot.  Its comfy, and roomy enough to put a Dr. Scholl's in if you need it.  Like others have said above, they'll stretch a bit after breaking them in.

[Muffin]

Thanks everyone!!

I emailed the website and they sent me a list of stores in the metro area that may carry the boots..  Yay!!

[Sitara]

I wore them for a couple years with no problems until I let someone borrow them.  They removed the heel cup insoles I had inside of them and completely crushed the back making them unwearable for me. I miss them. If you get some, do several layers of waterproofing as they are suede.

[Gauwyn of Bracknell]

Thanks everyone!!

I emailed the website and they sent me a list of stores in the metro area that may carry the boots..  Yay!!

I have seen them a Mall of America (although I am sure at a healthy price).

[Amras Elfwine]

I've had 8 good years out of a pair of the side-lace, knee-high ones (no fringe)...they work well.
I was disappointed to see that Minnetonka has stopped making the side-lace version, though.