$200 logger boot shootout

[davidwyby]

I have had boots resoled for $75

 

[RCBS]

You are going to end up with some stout leg muscles!!!


I have not, the tread on mine are a bit slick on the bottom, ready for new ones, but yeah going to be a few $$.

I've seen people say they've had their 're-crafted' for anywhere inbetween $140 & $250 depending on model and wear with apporximate 1 month turnaround. I investigated some time ago a little because I was trying to figure out how to make the initial purchase price work for me.

 

[Dub11]

I've seen people say they've had their 're-crafted' for anywhere inbetween $140 & $250 depending on model and wear with apporximate 1 month turnaround. I investigated some time ago a little because I was trying to figure out how to make the initial purchase price work for me.

Have you looked around for a local cobbler? The one close to me is around $100 for a new unit sole.

 

[mainer_in_ak]

Update on the boots:
Ended up doing a supplies run and a visit with the forester on my timber sale. So I've done 2 full days in the georgia low heel loggers. Could run a dmn marathon in these georgia boots. I dont want to take them off!

But reluctantly, time to switch to the raw dog redwings which are 1 lb heavier per boot.

1100 carbides: It's like taking the rakers down for yer boots. GOOD fkn BITE. Don't really need corks up here in interior AK, but no rubber compound will save yah from slipping off slimy roots. Last season during the heavy rains, slipped off a birch onto another. T-boned my ribs. Took 8 months fully to heal. The older we get, the less forgiving fall injuries can be.

I'll run carbides in in all but the georgia boots. The georgias will be spared becuase I'll wear them driving the wood truck or going inside buildings.

Studded throgoods:

 

[mainer_in_ak]

Redwings:

Factory did sht job tapering down/flushing up the heel. They overheated the rubber and didn't clear out all the melted rubbed slag.

Tallest boot so far. Lumps n bumps under the foot bed. They jam into the outsides my foot. Tallest heel I've ever seen on a logger boot. Foot bed is starting to settle 4 hrs in. No spring in my step like the Georgia's. HEAVY!

This giant Alaska Birch gonna make a gorgeous counter top. Swallows a 32" bar. This is as big as they get end of the North American treeline. Mad respect that a birch could grow this big in this frigid sht hole. Just a few hrs north to the Brooks range, tundra, no more trees.

Redwings true to size, a great boot. No heel rub!

 

[mainer_in_ak]

Back in the thorogoods today scouting for birch saw logs. Almost took em off 2 hrs in and just walked back in socks. Miserable PAIN!

Finally at the 4 hrs mark, the heel counter is starting to soften on the back of my heels. Applied the danner boot grease to the heel counter couple days ago.

There's hope! Was seriously thinking about dropping a rounded dowel in the heel and hammering them out with a 3 lb sledge.

Anyhow, found another giant Alaska Birch saw log that swallows a 32 inch bar.

 

[Dustin4185]

I just ordered a pair of boots from these guys. Not this particular model, but this seemed closest to a $200 logger style boot. https://jimgreenfootwear.com/store/african-ranger-8-inch-brown/

I haven't gotten my new pair yet, but I did try on a pair last year and from what I could tell the quality was really high for the money. Personally I'm tired of stiff boots with narrow toe boxes, so I won't be buying any more redwings. I ordered veg tanned barefoot ranger boots this time and I'm excited to have room for my toes to spread out.

Been wearing these off and on for a year. I normally wear US MADE Danners. Explorers, Acadia, Ft Lewis. The Jim Green’s look like clown shoes in my size, but the feel good!

 

[Catbuster]

I have had boots resoled for $75

The Danner loggers are a stitchdown boot, which can make resoling a little more difficult than a Goodyear welt most other boots in this price range to resole.

Personally, I like the US made Danner product line, I think the Quarry is the best boot on the market at its price point, even after the $50 price hike after keeping it the same for close to 10 years.

With all of that said, my favorite pair of boots I’ve ever owned are a pair of Frank’s Ground Pounders followed by my very first pair of Nicks. Yup, they’re expensive. They’re not for everybody, but for some people and lines of work, they’re absolutely worth the money.

 

[mainer_in_ak]

Danner super rainforest composite toe arrived. Washed em out with soapy water. And coated em with nikwax. 4 hours in them so far.

Foot beds were cheap/thin garbage with no arch support. Set ah powerstep orthodics fixed everything:

https://powerstep.com/collections/shop-orthotic-insoles/products/pinnacle-work-insoles.

Vibram tread is absurdly hard, launched off a slimy root headed to the outhouse. Traction studs fixed that too.

Leather is MUCH thicker than the paper thin leather on the quarry. So should offer ankle support beyond 1 season.

Heel counter is comfortable. As all Danners are. Nothing fits my foot better than a Danner. True to size. Insanely thick false tongue.

Exactly 3 lbs per boot.

I fkn despise you Danner. And I luv u at the same time. Crazy expensive btches........

 

[hacskaroly]

Foot beds were cheap/thin garbage with no arch support. Set ah powerstep orthodics fixed everything:

I had the same issue, when I first tried mine on, felt like I was walking on 2x4s, put in the insoles and all was better!

 

[mainer_in_ak]

I had the same issue, when I first tried mine on, felt like I was walking on 2x4s, put in the insoles and all was better!

EH inscribed on the heel. So if I was ever swimming in the amazon, I could kick an electric eel right aszhole, and not get electrocuted.

 

[mainer_in_ak]

Anybody tried these socks?

 

[Woodtroll]

EH inscribed on the heel. So if I was ever swimming in the amazon, I could kick an electric eel right aszhole, and not get electrocuted.

Only on a chainsaw forum would you learn about electric eels while reading a boot thread. Just giving you a hard time - I'm enjoying your reviews and comments very much.

 

[Farmchuck]

The Danner loggers are a stitchdown boot, which can make resoling a little more difficult than a Goodyear welt most other boots in this price range to resole.

Personally, I like the US made Danner product line, I think the Quarry is the best boot on the market at its price point, even after the $50 price hike after keeping it the same for close to 10 years.

With all of that said, my favorite pair of boots I’ve ever owned are a pair of Frank’s Ground Pounders followed by my very first pair of Nicks. Yup, they’re expensive. They’re not for everybody, but for some people and lines of work, they’re absolutely worth the money.

I bought a pair of Nicks builder pros back in 2020. Traced my foot did the whole fitting protocol and to this day I still can't wear them all day without some level of discomfort/pain. I have tried every recommendation they have suggested to no avail. I love everything about these boot but I just can't seem to make them work unfortunately.

 

[Catbuster]

Anybody tried these socks?

I have not, but one of the guys I cut with says they are very similar to the Smartwool PhD Outdoor line. Which was a really good sock while they were being made.

@Farmchuck What last? I can’t wear an HNW last boot without some cushion. What’s bothering you? I’m not here to defend Nicks or anything else, but I’ve broken in and worn those style boots for a long time and might be able to point you to something.

 

[davidwyby]

Regarding fit, I recently discovered a high logger heel kills the whole back side of me from my heels up my legs and back. I expect/hope I can only wear my Carolinas in soft mountain dirt. Might try lowering them.

 

[jakethesnake]

Subbed I wear moc toe boots. But still. Interesting

 

[Stump Shot]

Last pair of loggers I bought were Carolina's that were made in the good ol' USA. I see they still have options. Nice boot for the $$$
https://www.carolinashoe.com/en/mens-loggers/?page=all

 

[JeffWischer]

Have any of you had Danners rebuilt? I know they used to offer the service. I've never been able to cough up the treasure needed to buy any.

Yes. A few years ago. Don't know the model name- they were the traditional-looking black as pictured here. With the Gore-tex that I never really liked. Anyway paid more than the boots cost new about 20 years earlier (in 2002-ish), and about what they wanted new then (2022-ish). But requested the non-Gore-tex lining, and they were still broken in to my foot, and had some sentimental value. And looked like new other than the obvious little scrapes and scratches. I'm happy. But NOT because I got a "new" pair of Danners for 50 cents on the dollar. If you can adopt the be-American-buy-American mindset and get satisfaction from NOT throwing something out that still has life left in it, then I say go for it. But- pardon the repetition- it's a Big-Picture-Concept "thing", not a Bang-For-the-Buck proposition.

 

[Farmchuck]

I have not, but one of the guys I cut with says they are very similar to the Smartwool PhD Outdoor line. Which was a really good sock while they were being made.

@Farmchuck What last? I can’t wear an HNW last boot without some cushion. What’s bothering you? I’m not here to defend Nicks or anything else, but I’ve broken in and worn those style boots for a long time and might be able to point you to something.

Hey Catbuster. No need to defend Nicks I love the boots and the company. I'm not sure what its called but it is the lowest heel they had without going to a wedge sole. I tried insoles ( even the thinnest ones I could find) but they make the boots to tight on my feet, even with thin socks on. I ordered the boots with the Speeco insoles Nicks sells hoping to use them but they were to tight as well. Unfortunately I just can't seem to make them work for me.