Buy it for Life

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Long lasting boots? Opinions on Solovair ones? (lemmy.dbzer0.com)

submitted 6 months ago by alsaaas@lemmy.dbzer0.com to c/buyitforlife@slrpnk.net

9 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I'm currently looking for new (or 2nd hand) boots to get and was wondering whether anyone here had experience with Solovair in particular or could recommend other ones available in the EU.

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[–] Noit@lemm.ee 2 points 5 months ago

Bit late to the party, but something to be aware of if you're buying Solovair. I have a pair of astronaut boots, had them for about 20 months, worn them almost daily and I need to get them resoled now. I went to my local cobblers and they said they don't do Solovair, they just do glue jobs. I went to Solovair (I'm local to their factory) and they said that they're currently doing so much business that they're not able to offer resoling. They provided details of two webshops (keycobbler.co.uk and bootrepaircompany.co.uk) who do offer this service, but that involves sending them off for weeks and weeks. So I'm going to need to buy a second pair of boots to wear while my first pair are out for repair. And the resole is a significant chunk of the original boot cost: I spent under £170 on the boots, and they're going to cost £70 to resole plus shipping.

I'm still going to do it, I love them and I'd have spent a similar amount on trainers in the same period just through wear and tear, but it's not particularly a money saver or a convenience.

I guess that when I do have two pairs I'll be able to rotate them daily so this will be something that comes up every four years rather than every two.

[–] Cuttlefish1111@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Redwings, had a pair last 5+ years of 16 hr days. Re-soled and wore them another 5 years before throwing them out

[–] Gladaed@feddit.de 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Boots, like tires and lightbulbs, are consumables.

[–] alsaaas@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

agree, but some parts last longer than others and I'd prefer to be able to replace the soles for example or for them to hold as long as possible

[–] Gladaed@feddit.de 1 points 6 months ago

I'd you have a local cobbler/shoemaker you might want to ask them. I would expect them to be able to tell you what to get if you want them to repair it.

[–] PrunesMakeYouPoop@kbin.social 1 points 4 months ago

I love my redwings.

[–] thisbenzingring@lemmy.sdf.org 0 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

I've had a few pairs of Solovair boots. Good quality and durable. My only complaint is it takes a while to work them in. I absolutely love their leather insoles. I'd buy another pair without much consideration, when I need my next pair.

[–] alsaaas@lemmy.dbzer0.com 0 points 6 months ago (1 children)

thx for the insight, I was thinking about getting a proper lineup of shoes for day to day life and Solovair is pretty high up the list for me

[–] thisbenzingring@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

I've easily walked a couple 100 miles in the Seattle weather with the 8 holes. They have stood up really well. I wear the 3 holes mostly these days. I don't bus commute and walk as much.