In the mid-1970s, my dad gifted me a pair of expensive boots. I think he may have felt guilty for allowing my mother to toss out my greasy calfskin engineer boots. Mom was into Marie Condo sort of things before there was a Marie Condo, and while I was in the Navy, tossed all the stuff I had stored with them, except my guitar. When I emerged from my indentured servitude, I had to replace everything.
By the time I received the boots, I was in college and no longer doing my Pius Itinerant routine of picking up and traveling whenever and wherever. However, I was hiking and climbing extensively, so I guess I still had an itch to explore.
Almost every weekend, I was on a trail exploring state parks, conservation areas, and suburban trails within Boston’s reach. The gift boots replaced the Fabiano climbing boots a local outfitter had sold me for big bucks. I have very flat feet, and finding shoes and boots that fit well and comfortably has always been a problem.
The greasy calfskin, D ring, engineer boots had been a practical solution to needing a boot that was a combination work boot, walking shoe, and stomping boot. Stomping boot? Yes. With those hefty clunkers, I could stomp out a rhythm or deter a bar assault with a kick or step. Some places I performed were beyond tacky, disepitomable, trashy, or downright disgusting. Guitars are not made for defense against lurching drunks, but a good pair of stomping boots are.
I no longer needed the heft of the engineer boot. The hiking boots were so comfortable that they became daily-use boots if I did not have to look particularly presentable. Unlike the trash getting sold today, those old boots were capable of being re-soled and heeled until they began to fall apart.
In recent years, I made do with a succession of wear ’em and toss ’em shoes. The last shoe repair shop anywhere close to me closed up a few years ago, and I need a new pair of shoes. I have decided to really put some time in shopping for a quality pair of shoes or boots that are repairable and that fit my poor flat feet.
Have you noticed that shoe repair shops and actual shoe stores have ceased to exist? Big box stores where you self-serve, cheap, poorly made trash are all that remain in my area. I need an actual purveyor of shoes. A Merchant of footwear.
I’ve started hunting out the remaining shoe stores within a twenty-mile radius of where I live. It’s like being on a quest, an Odyssey. All of a sudden, I am reminded of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Discover more from Louis N. Carreras, Woodcarver
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I didn’t know we shared flat feet. Try Ecco or (if you really want to spend) Mephisto. I wish I could count the pairs of shoes I’ve donated to Goodwill after long walks.
Thanks for the tip!
We have one shop in town that I used for years. I loved that he called himself a cobbler. Everyone went to him. This post had me checking to see if he was still in business. Yup. Still there.
You are fortunate.
I’m kind of relieved to hear we are not the only place in the country that doesn’t have a cobbler. I had thought it was just an Alaskan thing. I’m a tightwad, but the one thing I will spend for is good quality shoes. Excellent post.
Cobblers are becoming scarcer then the proverbial hens teeth.
It’s very difficult to find Norwegian welt hiking boots now. The last pair I had were resoled at least five times until there wasn’t enough leather in the toe to do it again. I’ve found Merrell Moabs to be good friends. Here are my boots when I had to say good bye to them. I left them in Switzerland and came home with a pair of Asolos that never became true friends.
https://marthakennedy.blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/old-boots-on-pietros-steps.png
Hmmmm…I had a pair of Moabs. I’ll have to try some on and see. Thanks, Martha!
I really like mine. 😀
My old leather Merrells are my favourites and I cannot find new leather ones from Merrell. So I am still wearing them, though they are beat to pieces.
I got some leather Merrells a couple of years ago very like my old boots. I sold them on eBay, nearly new so you might want to look there. They were great but for the walking I do now? Overkill and I figured someone else could take them on my appropriate adventures.
What a great idea, Martha. Thank you.
Shoe repair shops and shoe stores were part of the community. I worked at a shoe store for one week in high school. That was back in the day. I had to measure the customers foot and slide the shoe on with the shoe horn. It was not for me, so I quit.
I have flat feet too! Like flippers, with no arch whatsoever. And you are right about shoe repairs not being a thing anymore. There’s just far too much money to be made in shitty, disposable shoes!
Great post Lou! I used to take my boots and shoes to a cobbler for repairs, but as you said they are hard to find anymore. I knew of one here in Portland when I first arrived, but that location is now closed.