Boots

[LadyFireKissed]

Hello everybody, I am looking into getting some boots to go with my garb, and so I thought that I might get some opinions here.  I need to get some but I have some requierments. I have a bad ankle that I have been working on getting stronger, so I need a boot that is good and sturdy.  By that same token, I am currently am wearing a brace so it has to have a little bit more room for that also consedering that I cant flex my foot a whole lot to slide it in. I also need one with a good sole and a fairly low, wide heel.  The problem I seem to find is that the shoes I find dont seem to be of good quality or the heel is to small and an un-co-ordinated person such as myself would topple over.  So anybody out there have any good ideas?

[isabelladangelo]

A few questions first: 
What is your budget like?  There are several good custom boot makers out there but they cost $$$.

Are you looking for a fantastical or period style boot?

Are you "just boots" or open to other shoe suggestions?

[Master James]

Agreed with isabelladangelo, many types of boots and costs.  One boot maker that isn't horrible on price and is GREAT on the product and probably will have what you are talking about is Son of Sandler Boots.  Their boots run in the $150-$400 range depending on what you want and are very good boots.  They also guarantee them.  My wife has a pair and sometimes wears them instead of her regular shoes for daily use!  Good luck.

[Var Greyshadow]

Sandlar has good soles, and if you get them a bit too big, you can put insoles in to help your ankle (I have bad ankles and wear Superfeet in my Sandlars).  However, I would say that if you're having trouble flexing, the tall boots would not be a good choice.  I find mine a bit tight to get on sometimes.

[LadyFireKissed]

A few questions first: 
What is your budget like?  There are several good custom boot makers out there but they cost $$$.

Are you looking for a fantastical or period style boot?

Are you "just boots" or open to other shoe suggestions?

Quite frankly, while I know that truly good shoes cost money, about the most I can do right now is about $150 at the most.

As far as type I am not terribly picky, I prefer them somewhat plain but nice looking, I am trying to get a character down, right now my basic outfit is a ankle-length skirt with a hankerchief cut one over that, and a bodice, so I am looking for something that I have be "multiple use" and not just fitting to one character.  Does that awnser your question?

I am not "just boots"  but that is just what I was thinking,  ALWAYS open to Ideas.

Thanks for the ideas!  Master James or Var Greyshadow, do you have a website for Sandler?  I will look meanwhile.

[NoBill Lurker]

Son Of Sandler

I have a pair of these boots and I LOVE them! 

But if you have a problem flexing your foot, then all of the tall boots would not be a good idea, as they are rather tight to get on as Var has already pointed out.

[Eric the Ugly]

Agreed on Son of Sandlar. Outstanding boots! I can't say enough good about both the boots and Eric and his father. Great products, great people!

I can dig that they seem expensive and I know that money is tight for many folks now and that you mentioned that you're budget can't handle that much, but allow me to say that I wish I could take back all of the many, many cheaper (and some not so cheap at all) boots I bought over the years because I couldn't "afford" Son of Sandlar boots. I would be out just $400, instead of $50 + $60 + $75 + $90 + $300.....as well as the $400 for the Sandlars.
Buy the better boots from the 'get go' and save yourself lots of money, time, heartache and footache.

[jcbanner]

The more expensive boots are definitely worth the price they ask, but you can still find descent boots for cheaper.

Renfaire type boots have always seemed over priced to me. In the mundane world, a $120 pair of heavy work boots are really good work boots, they are durable, and they will last a long time. Yet with faire boots, a pair of boots in the $100-150 range are the cheap boots? (not even looking at the under $50 boots since they are about the quality of a child's superhero costume)

I don't even bother with faire boots any more, I just wear my work boots.  I need to have the heavy sole under my foot, and I need the extra ankle support, neither of which I get from the faire boots.   I cant afford the $300+ for the "good" faire boots, so I stick with my $80 pair of heavy leather work boots.

untill your ankle no longer needs that brace, I would recommend going to a boot shop, or a camping store or farm store that has a decent shoe selection and finding a comfortable pair of brown leather work boots or hiking boots that don't have an overly noticeable sole on them.

[Eric the Ugly]

Renfaire type boots have always seemed over priced to me. In the mundane world, a $120 pair of heavy work boots are really good work boots, they are durable, and they will last a long time. Yet with faire boots, a pair of boots in the $100-150 range are the cheap boots? (not even looking at the under $50 boots since they are about the quality of a child's superhero costume)

While there is truth to that, consider:
Work boots of good quality are mass produced. Ren-type/period boots of really good quality are, by and large, not mass-produced and the few that are, are not produced anywhere close to the same quantity. Also, not only is the method of production different, but so are the amounts of material used. Plus, the markets aren't similar. There's a very different demand for the period boots. Supply and demand have a very strong effect on price (as it should be). 

[LadyFireKissed]

Well guys thanks for the advise.  Unfortunatly, even though many people are trying to talk me into the sandler's I dont think I will, firstly, I truly cannot afford them right now. Secondly, truthfully, I just dont see much I like other than maybe one, and It dosen't look like it has the support that I need.  I do realise that Renfaire type shoes are going to be more pricy.  Jc, I have been looking around a bit where I live and have not found anything yet, but living in Colorado, I should be able to think of many more places to look.  Any other sugestions guys?

[Elennare]

Well, if you're going to need space to get a foot that won't really flex into the boot, and you want to adjust the space in the ankle, you will need laces.  If you don't want laces, have you thought about taping your ankle instead of wearing a brace?  That will give you more room in the shoe and still give you lots of support.

Try the normal shoe store, or a thrift store.  Tall boots are in fashing right now, so you can probably find something for relatively cheap that will look close enough and hold up fairly well.  Maybe get something with a zipper, so you don't have to flex your foot so much to get it on?  Not period, but it will be less noticable than laces and still allow you to put the boot on.

Hope that helps!

[gypsylakat]

if it has a zipper you could attempt to make it look more period by using long leather strips to criss cross the outside...  (think "goddes sandals" the ones that go all the way up your legs)

[jcbanner]

Renfaire type boots have always seemed over priced to me. In the mundane world, a $120 pair of heavy work boots are really good work boots, they are durable, and they will last a long time. Yet with faire boots, a pair of boots in the $100-150 range are the cheap boots? (not even looking at the under $50 boots since they are about the quality of a child's superhero costume)

While there is truth to that, consider:
Work boots of good quality are mass produced. Ren-type/period boots of really good quality are, by and large, not mass-produced and the few that are, are not produced anywhere close to the same quantity. Also, not only is the method of production different, but so are the amounts of material used. Plus, the markets aren't similar. There's a very different demand for the period boots. Supply and demand have a very strong effect on price (as it should be). 

Thats certainly true enough.  I'm not trying to be overly critical of faire type boots, its just on my budget, I cant afford them, so I posted about the alternative I sometimes go with.

[LadyDracolich]

May I suggest you get a pair of paddock boots that we use for riding?  That is, unless you want a tall boot.  Which, if you do, you can always buy a pair of half chaps to wear with them.  I prefer the Ariat paddock  boots as they have good arch support.  And, if you get the ones w/ a zipper, they'll be easy to get on and off.  Not to mention, most paddock boots come w/ elastic at the ankles, so your brace should be accommodated.  I've tried many different brands of paddock boots, and the Ariats are by far the best for your money.  They run about $100, but sometimes you can catch them on sale.  I haven't been able to wear a pair out yet.. but then I have several pair that I cycle through.  The shoes I wear w/ my 'noble' garb are Ariat paddock boots.. w/ a zipper!  LOL, not H/A, but I'm about a pair of shoes I can walk in all day that don't hurt my feet.  Most people don't notice the zipper if your skirt is long enough.  No one has ever commented.  The soles are rubber w/ a decent tread, so no slipping in the mud.  Also, the Mountain Horse paddock boots are supposed to be pretty comfy, but I haven't tried them.  They only come in whole sizes.

Here's a link:  http://www.doversaddlery.com/ariat-heritage-ii-zip-paddock-boots/p/X1-38343/cn/11/

Good luck in what ever you choose!!

[LadyFireKissed]

OOOh!  Lasy Dracolich I think that I have found the boots that I will wear(at least for now)  those look like they would be good and sturdy and very versitle and functional.  It will be awile before I order any and I still want to take JC's advise and go look around town first(maybe this weekend).  Thank you!

[LadyDracolich]

I'm happy to help!   I should mention that Ariats run pretty true to size.  So you shouldn't have a problem there, and Dover has an excellent exchange/return policy.  I spend about as much money with them as I do on my garb! LOL