Boot Vendor

[Jon Foster]

Who is a good boot vendor to do business with at the Holly grounds? I need some boots but don't know who to buy from. If I can't find something decent locally I'll probably get something from the SCABoots site.

Jon.

[Zaubon]

I just got my moccasins from Catskill Mountain. I love them, they fit like gloves and are extremely comfortable. They did take five and a half months to make and deliver them though, so that is a major consideration.

[max and kate]

Son Of Sandlar, great fit, very comfortable, good looks, they take a beating and no waiting.

[L Dale Walter]

My boots get a lot of pounding, working professionally and doing stage combat.  I have a pair of Son of Sandlars that I have used since 2000.  I had them resoled a couple of years back (NOTE:  NEVER send them back to Sandlar for this, you will never see them again!!!) and they still work great.

I have a pair of Bald Mountains I hate.  They rolled over on me, and I was told "You must have been lacing them wrong..."  RIIIIIGHT.  However, many performers swear by them. 

www.caboots.com makes great pirate/musketeer boots.  My Porthos II boots were from there.  The Porthos I boots came from www.blockaderunner.com  They are the JEB Stuart boots.  I also have the Cav officer ones.  Both are very sturdy, and like $175.  They do have cavalry heels (steel inserts) so those will have to go if you ever plan on standing on anything but dirt.  Don't try them on a tile floor.  It will go badly.  Trust me.

www.renboots.com hold up quite well for the price, if you don't wear them too much.  One of our women got 2 season out of them.  They are kind of slick soled, so plan on a $20 resole.

BTW:  For all boot work I recommend "Tony" at Tony's shoe repair at 4454 Dixie Hwy
Waterford, MI 48329.  He has NEVER let me down on any repair, is always on time, and does great work.  I put "Tony" in quotes because he is a tiny Chinese man who's real name obviously isn't "Tony".

Remember, boots are the most expensive part of your outfit, and if your feet are not happy, you will not be happy.

Hope that helps,

L. Dale Walter

[Jon Foster]

Thanks for the replies (especially from L. Dale Walter). I was going to take a serious look at the boots today but the heavy rain has changed my plans. Maybe tomorrow the rain will lighten up a bit and I'll head to the Holly grounds.

Thanks for the tip about the boot repair too. We live next to Waterford and I've been looking for a good show/boot repair shop for a while.

Jon.

[max and kate]

If you went to MIRF today you know how muddy it was, with nonstop rain, our Son of Sandlar boots are dry after eleven hours. they are worth the money, this is not the first time this has happened and they clean up to look new.

[Eric of Lyon]

Son of Sandlar. Purchased a pair on Sunday the 14th during the Hollygrove Mud Bowl event.  Very comfortable and I think very well priced.  These are my first pair from Sandlar, so I have no experience with them long term.  However, they seem very durable and they were very nice people to purchase from.

I like the fact that they had stock right there where you can go, try on, purchase and walk out with your boots.  They keep your feet dry, as well.

(The boots I've been wearing are nearly 30 years old.  Purchased at a Sibley store in a mall circa 1981.  Black high tops (remember Adam Ant). Back during the Punk era when you find stuff like this at the malls.  I would of never believed they would last this long!  If I get 30 years out of the Sandlar boots, I'm all set!)

[Jon Foster]

Graphicknight, what type of boots did you get and how much did you spend?

Jon.

[Eric of Lyon]

I purchased a black pair of the "Four Button Boots".  They were $240.  Above ankle, below calve in height. I wanted a lower boot due to the style of breeches I have. The boots are bull hide leather. Rubber sole.  They swap out the buttons if you like.  The pair I purchased had the Celtic design on them and I wanted the Tree of Life, so they swapped them out while I waited.  Very pleasant purchasing experience with them.  Very happy with the boots thus far. I suspect they should wear well. 

(They also have a low Merchant Boot for $190 that is a slip on with a single buckle.)

[Carl]

I have been wearing the Sandlar boots for three years and they are worth their weight in gold my feet never hurt after a full day of fair.

[BLAKDUKE]

I have purchased 2 pair of footwear from Armstreet.   I have yet to get them but they are coming according to the last e-mail.  They are physically in the Ukrane,  yes think Russia.  I went that route because their prices were great and they had a couple of designs that I thought were great.  As far as the other stuff I will have to wait and see.  the current boots that I have are at least 15 years old.  They are engineer boots that I had flaps made for and attached by a local shoe maker.  I then trimmed them myself.  However I am now well into my sixties and my knees and ankles are beginning to rebel everytime I put these on and try to lace them so I thought I would try something different.   I will report on my new purchases when I get them.  BTW
Armstreet has posted out here someplace so you should be able to find their site and look at their stuff. 

[Lord Virgil]

I have been wearing the Sandlar boots for three years and they are worth their weight in gold my feet never hurt after a full day of fair.

I have been kicking around (pun intended) buying a pair of Sandlar boots for a couple of years now.  Carl's a friend of mine and his boots are very sharp (as a Pirate I would have stole them, but his foot is bigger than mine,  ), so if they are as comfortable as they are awesome looking, I may just have to fork over the $$$ for a pair.

[Carl]

Lord Virgil  you will not be disappointed with the boots. It pays to listen to your wife when she says "go ahead and buy them I don't care what they cost they look great" So what can a guy do but make the Misses happy.

[PurpleDragon]

I have been kicking around (pun intended) buying a pair of Sandlar boots for a couple of years now.  Carl's a friend of mine and his boots are very sharp (as a Pirate I would have stole them, but his foot is bigger than mine,  ), so if they are as comfortable as they are awesome looking, I may just have to fork over the $$$ for a pair.

I have a pair of Sandlars that I bought in the fall of 2001, opening weekend of TRF that  year.  They have served me well, and continue to do so as I have had no issues with them at all.  They fit wonderfully, and they are comfortable once you have them "broken in" to your own feet.

I also own a pair of Renboots for my Pirate costume and they have served me well since 2003.  same thing, no major issues and any issue I did have was handled quickly and satisfactorily by management.

[Jon Foster]

I was "going over" our finances and came to realize I'm pretty much broke. So in an attempt to save the day I ordered the Robin boots from SCABoots.com. I won't have them this weekend but I should have them for next weekend. Which should also give me enough time to either make or buy some new pants...