A question about boots

[Allen-native]

So i'm looking for a good pair of boot's this year, nothing with a heel just something comfortable

Would I be able to find anything like this at the festival?

http://www.museumreplicas.com/popup.aspx?src=images/PRODUCT/large/397.jpg

if so, any idea of a price range?

Thank you! 

[Var Greyshadow]

Son of Sandlar, though not in brown.  (I wanted a brown pair and they don't have any this year.  You can special order.)  They run in the $300 range.  I have a black pair of their high boots with the turndown tops and I love them.  Comfortable, sturdy, and will last a long time (I know people who have had the same pair for over 10 years).

These are not exactly the same style as the Museum Replicas ones, but they do have crossed lacing.

[KiltedPrivateer]

Son of Sandlar makes a similar boot.  I have a pair.  I highly recommend them, however their boots start at around $300 to $400.  

Me personally, I'm saving my pennies in hopes that I can buy a new pair next year.  Mine are near 10 years old, and though they still look great the soles have finally worn down.  Perhaps I'll ask next weekend if they are able to resole them.  That would be a helluva lot cheaper for me (o:

Ha - 32 seconds later

[Allen-native]

gasp! well I am but a lad and that price range is a bit steep for me, is this my only bet or should i craft my own?

[SirRichardBear]

Son of Sandlar have about the best prices I've seen around.  I have two pair a black and a brown.  The black pair are 9 years old I had to have them resoled after Scarby this season.  They do have the advantage of being almost totally water proof.  I've worn mine through the monsoon at Scarby and went home with dry feet.

[will paisley]

gasp! well I am but a lad and that price range is a bit steep for me, is this my only bet or should i craft my own?

If you're serious about faire and spend a lot of time in your garb, the best bet is to bite the bullet and spend the money on quality footwear.  You can spend half the price on other boots, but they'll end up wearing out in a few years, and by the second or third purchase, you'll be spending more than you would've for a quality pair of boots in the first place.

Son of Sandlar have some other "models", such as their peasant boots, which are not quite as expensive ($200-$250), so that might be an option.  Then again, if you only go to faire a few weekends a year, boots like these may be overkill.  I did the math one year and calculated that I spent at least 17 weekends a year in garb, so good boots were a good investment for me.

PS: I had a friend who got some of their boots.  After only owning them for a short time, they were lost in a boating accident in the Chesapeake Bay.  Even after sitting at the bottom of the bay for over a month, they were still wearable after they had dried out.

[Sir Martin]

Son of Sandlar makes some of the finest faire boots anywhere.  They cost more than some, but still less than Catskill/Bald Moutain Moccasins.  I wear my Sandlar boots several times each season (at multiple faires) and they are strong, handsome and comfortable.  One of the best purchases I have ever made because they last such a long time.

[Singed]

I bit the bullet this year and bought some boots from House of Andar to replace the Renboots I had the last couple seasons.  They are considerably cheaper than anything I've seen at Faire, and while the quality and ability to customize is not quite up to what you can find from a few of the boot / moccasin dealers up there, they are absolutely fine by my standards.  I've seen them in a couple of the shops and worn by a number of people, including vendors and a few on cast. 

http://www.houseofandar.com/

I do some leather craft, their product is OK, it definitely does not suck but it is nothing that will cause dancing in the streets.  Sandlar, and the other vendors have boots with far higher quality leather and better craftsmanship, however take that quality in light of price (around 200 bucks at Andar, vs upwards of 500 for 7 stud boots) and it is a definite win in my book.  My feet are still killing me by Sunday night after knocking around in the forge for 2 days on the flagstones but not nearly as bad as last year. 

I'd love to support the actual RF vendors and buy from them, but in this case, at this time, I simply cannot afford to. 

[KiltedPrivateer]

Don't forget Ebay - You might find a deal there if you're lucky and your timing is right.

[Yrose]

You can actually find House of Andar on E-bay at a really good price. Better than their website and they are good boots. My husband loves his.

[Reaper]

I have had my Sandlars for about 5 yrs now. I paid 225.00 for them back in 2004. One buckle has broken off and another is about to. The soles look like new. They have been the most durable boots I have ever worn.

Now with that being said, I am going to replace them with some from Native Earth. These boots are expensive but from the rave reviews from actual owners I tried on a pair last weekend.  All I can say is WOW! My feet hurt usually after about a half day at faire in my Sandlars but when I slipped my feet in those 8 button Native Earth boots I fell in love. See below pic..



Here's the website if you want to check them out. http://www.nativearth.net/index.html