Submitted by Firestar_ t3_zii6bj in BuyItForLife
Ill-ConceivedVenture t1_izrb708 wrote
There are no BIFL shoes, and if there were, they certainly wouldn't be Solovair.
The closest you'll get to BIFL is looking over at r/goodyearwelt and finding some quality boots you like that can be resoled.
Firestar_ OP t1_izrlpio wrote
The thing is, Solovair are goodyear welted and offer resoles.
Ill-ConceivedVenture t1_izrmauy wrote
It sounds like you want the Solovairs. Just get the Solovairs.
Firestar_ OP t1_izs7p51 wrote
I mean, I want them, but I also don't want to spend 200 bucks + shipping for a pair of shoes that wouldn't last me at least 10 - 20 years :/
mikeTastic23 t1_izstpt6 wrote
No footwear is going to last you that long. Especially without maintenance and resoling which will roughly cost the same as the price of the shoes each go around. $200 is relatively cheap for a pair of Goodyear welt shoes. But as others have pointed, r/goodyearwelt has a lot better options than solovair. You’ll get higher quality stitching, leathers, and craftsmanship that will go further in your 10-20 year wish, but again, maintenance is key to that.
Firestar_ OP t1_izstwhu wrote
I'll go and look around there
Bin_Liver t1_izsb27h wrote
I'm considering boots from blkbrd. But there are many resolable leather boots out there. Stridewise on youtube may be worth looking at to help your research.
this_for_loona t1_izsem7m wrote
Also check out Rose Anvil.
F-21 t1_izwe6yv wrote
Depends on how much you'll wear them. Solovair are nice but you pay a lot for uk labour and for the iconic style. They're not the best boot you can get out of 200$.
To ask for 10 years out of daily worn boots is a lot, but 20 years is twice as much!
Ultimately, that's less than the cost of two "higher end" pairs of sneakers. Those won't last a year of daily wear without at least getting the heel torn up. The Solovairs will last longer, especially with some upkeep. These kinds of boots aren't indestructible, but if e.g. the heel cover tears up a cobbler can cheaply sew on another one, or if the sole wears out it can be replaced...
BTW I think Solovair offers free or very affordable shipping.
If you want the most out of your money, check out Jim Green. They're better boots than the Docs/Solovairs for less money. They're definitely not as stylish though.
Someone mentioned Redwings. The heritage redwing boots are really nice - Redwing Moc Toes or the Iron Rangers... Proper boots, made as they used to be made before fast fashion.
Firestar_ OP t1_izwwjtx wrote
I've researched Jim Green shoes like you told me, and the AR8 seems pretty good. How long can it last, given proper upkeep ? Can it be resoled ?
As for Redwings...they're sadly out of my budget :/
F-21 t1_izx352i wrote
Yeah the AR8 is their top of the line model (besides the razorback). In comparison to the Solovairs, the AR8 is basically twice as thick - it is a fully leather lined boot, two layers of leather everywhere... Besides that, it has a third reinforcement leather layer around the heel, and an extra leather heel counter cover inside.
And stitchdown construction. This (and the fact that it's fully lined) means these boots are quite water resistant, and can be resoled multiple times.
They have the whole production process filmed here. You can see exactly how much work goes into making a pair.
Tbh from a functional perspective, I can't think of one thing that would be better with the Docs/Solovair style. The soles are much more durable on the jim greens, they use a proper steel shank, lots of space inside for insoles double lined... Solovairs are goodyear welted which isn't necessarily better or worse than stitchdown (the most expensive boots in the world like Whites or Nicks are usually stitchdown). Maybe the goodyear welt makes you a bit more isolated from the ground (more material between the outsole and insole), but they're less water resistant (stitchdown is very resistant, like a storm-welt). And if you use thick insoles, the jim greens are probably warmer.
Here's a cool resoling video. It's for the rezorback boots, but tbh while the upper part has a different design, the resoling process is entirely the same for all of their boots - they're all stitchdown construction...
Firestar_ OP t1_j00k6dn wrote
How long do you think they'd last, for daily wear in a city, and hiking/airsoft every now and then ? How many resoles do you think they could sustain before not being repairable anymore ?
F-21 t1_j00njgu wrote
Obviously hard to say.... I think you can fully wear the soles out twice or three times, perhaps even more. Ma big difference if you e.g. clean them up every month or two months and apply some oil on them now and then.
Firestar_ OP t1_j00pma8 wrote
And how long could a sole last, on average ?
I'm sorry if I post dumb questions..
F-21 t1_j00q2ko wrote
Depends on the person. If you drag your feet it can wear out twice or three times as fast... Also, how much do you walk?
For me it lasts two to three years if I wear them a lot, but typically over 5 years. I put on work-issued shoes or clogs in the office, so I mainly wear them on my short commute or if I go on a trip. If you walk a lot, obviously it'll wear out way faster.
Firestar_ OP t1_j00wfff wrote
I walk pretty much every day, at least a kilometer or two. I don't drag my feet.
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