A boots thread

[AstroTurf]

a lil tid bit...

Why a Munson Army Last?
The Munson Army Last has been around since 1912. -Named after its inventor, Edward Luman Munson, A.M., -M.D., Lt. Col. Medial Corps, United States Army, the Munson Army Last was adopted by the U.S. Army to enhance the fit and comfort of military boots issued to soldiers. The Munson Army Last was and is one of the few lasts that ever approached normal feet shape and contour.

It was the view and understanding of Dr. Munson, way back then, that "Weakening of the foot muscles is one of the penalties of civilization, as walking is less and less a factor in locomotion....the introduction of railroads, street cars and automobiles, has materially interfered with foot development."

In 1912, Dr. Munson wrote, "The construction of shoes for civilians is influenced almost wholly by considerations of fashion and style...the lasts are devised by persons grossly ignorant of, and quite indifferent to, the structure of the human foot and its physiological requirements as a covering." He went on to say, "The perfect, undeformed foot is found only in children and among savage, non-shoe wearing peoples." His book, THE SOLDIERS FOOT AND THE MILITARY SHOE, is available on line at http://www.archive.org/stream/soldiersfootmili00munsrich_djvu.txt.

 

[AstroTurf]

not my pair, but it gives a view of the munson lasted boots foot print.

 

[AstroTurf]

my pair...

Red Wing 4597

 

[AstroTurf]

another pic after cleaning the scuff from the right boot toe area...

 

[bykfixer]

After two days of curing the results are in

Before camp dry

After camp dry

I'd say overall it did not stain the leather.

But did add a layer of water repellency

 

[chip100t]

I use nikwax on mine and I find with tan it darkens it ever so slightly.

 

[Chauncey Gardiner]

After two days of curing the results are in

View attachment 27455
Before camp dry


After camp dry

I'd say overall it did not stain the leather.

But did add a layer of water repellency

DAMN! bykfixer. You be looking as sexy as Raylan Givens! 🤠

 

[bykfixer]

Holy crap! They're Raylan boots

When AZ said the jury is still out he was right. But aside from a couple of minor rub issues so far it appears they may end up 'not guilty' of being uncomfortable.

 

[Chauncey Gardiner]

I knew a guy that went to a Goodwill store and purchased the largest size work boots they had. He then smeared the nasties stuff he could think of all over the boots. He'd leave them on his front porch whenever he wasn't home. Told me no one would break into a house where the owner of those boots lived.

Why smear them with nasty? So they wouldn't get stolen.

 

[bykfixer]

I have 3 small windows on my front door so that would be burglars can be introduced to the hounds before deciding to proceed. If they make the mistake of trying to get past the hounds they will encounter an African gray parrot who haaaaaates everybody (including me).

Got dem Thorogood's

The safety store finally got some and the ocd voices gave the owner my number to call when they arrived.

4 wheel drive soles.
Model 803-3239 are close to wearing lace up boots. Imagine lace up boots untied regarding how tight they fit but won't fling off when goose stepping.

 

[AstroTurf]

dem nice!!!

 

[bykfixer]

They are stated to be made of a leather called crazy horse, which is apparently a more durable cowhide due to less processing. Not sure if it's a marketing thing like buying jeans with holes is better type thing…
Either way it seems crazy horse leather seems to require more care than top grain. Stains easier, that sort of thing. I'll rub some leather conditioner on them from time to time but no camp dry.

Got some Carolina insoles called AG8 for the double H boots since the front of the insoles had already blown out. It seems AG8 is the new improved AG7. Found a note from the double H QC inspector when removing the stock insole. I thought that was pretty cool.

 

[Chauncey Gardiner]

They are stated to be made of a leather called crazy horse, which is apparently a more durable cowhide due to less processing. Not sure if it's a marketing thing like buying jeans with holes is better type thing…
Either way it seems crazy horse leather seems to require more care than top grain. Stains easier, that sort of thing. I'll rub some leather conditioner on them from time to time but no camp dry.

Got some Carolina insoles called AG8 for the double H boots since the front of the insoles had already blown out. It seems AG8 is the new improved AG7. Found a note from the double H QC inspector when removing the stock insole. I thought that was pretty cool.

"Already blown out" How long did that take? 🤨

 

[bykfixer]

Lifespan was measured in hours CG. The front end was like a memory foam that forgot to rebound. My foot had a groove the shape of my toes after the first day. The back half was fine but the AG8 insoles are a bit thicker rebound better.

The boots have a slightly raised heel that causes more weight to be added to the front while standing and my job requires a lot of standing. So it wasn't that the double H insoles are bad, they just weren't up to the task I needed them to be up to. They were made for people who walk a lot or perhaps sit in the saddle a lot.

The Thorogood boots I just bought keep you level while standing so the insoles should last longer.

 

[AstroTurf]

the product i use on my boots...

 

[bykfixer]

I bought a trial size bottle of that AT. Was going to try it this weekend.
Got any tips on using it?

 

[AstroTurf]

brush off boot, and apply with a barber soap shave brush.

put it on thick, really work it in until it disappears, let dry and buff with shoe brush.

thats how i do it...

PS Caution, test in a small spot to check color change first. it may appear to darken boot/shoe until it dries.

 

[bykfixer]

I'll do the pull straps first AT.

One time I had my favorite dark brick red RedWings resoled. Now they had never been treated at all unless you consider rain, mud, concrete and asphalt as treatment. The guy at the store said they needed to be restored and offered to do it at no cost. When I got them back the oil product they used turned them dark brown. Can't say I was happy but afterall they did a bunch of work at no charge so I didn't complain.

The Thorogood pull up boots I just bought have a band around the top of the shaft sewing the waterproof liner to the leather shoe. The seam irritates my tender skin along my calf. I could do like I did in the 80's and wear socks up to my knees and pull up on them all day or…

Build a band out of medical tape.
It worked on the pull straps of my double H boots. So hopefully this will work.
I considered mole skin but had a roll of this stuff left from a wound on my shin last summer.

 

[AstroTurf]

I'll do the pull straps first AT.

One time I had my favorite dark brick red RedWings resoled. Now they had never been treated at all unless you consider rain, mud, concrete and asphalt as treatment. The guy at the store said they needed to be restored and offered to do it at no cost. When I got them back the oil product they used turned them dark brown. Can't say I was happy but afterall they did a bunch of work at no charge so I didn't complain.

The Thorogood pull up boots I just bought have a band around the top of the shaft sewing the waterproof liner to the leather shoe. The seam irritates my tender skin along my calf. I could do like I did in the 80's and wear socks up to my knees and pull up on them all day or…
View attachment 27599
Build a band out of medical tape.
It worked on the pull straps of my double H boots. So hopefully this will work.
I considered mole skin but had a roll of this stuff left from a wound on my shin last summer.

Great Idea!!!

 

[bykfixer]

Day 3 of the Thorogood resulted in 3 days of the most comfortable pull on boots I've ever owned… by far. After the medical tape was applied around the rim any tender skin issue was gone. The last two days were in the field all day.