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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 :/

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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...

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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 ?

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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.

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Firestar_ OP t1_j00pma8 wrote

And how long could a sole last, on average ?

I'm sorry if I post dumb questions..

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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.

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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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