Frustration trying to find boots

[Jeriatric]

Red Wing?

Leather Motorcycle Boots - Red Wing Shoes

 

[GOZFST]

Try Cruiser Works Boots, I've had a pair for 15 years, just had them resoled last year. American made and waterproof, plus very comfortable.
https://www.cruiserworks.com/Products/Footwear/CruiserWorks-Men-s-Side-Zip-Boots.aspx

 

[DJFaninTN]

Danner Boots and can be ordered on line and easily shipped back if they don't work for you.

 

[robmorg]

EXACTLY!

What footwear do you normally wear? Since the three wheeler has different requirements for your foot usage, I don't think you need the same type protection that you need with a motorcycle. But that's just my opinion. I do think it's something to consider. I would say 99% of your riding is going to be on paved surfaces, you aren't going to have to put your foot down to support your weight, or motorcycle when falling, or worry about the Spyder falling over on your leg. Things like that. If your normal foot wear is comfortable I would say just go ahead and wear that.

David

Well said, David. :thumbup:

I wear 13 EEE, and I couldn't find boots that fit either. In my cruiser days, I used to ride with a nice pair of Corbin boots that I loved. Just like a Corbin seat, they felt better, year after year, the longer I wore them. But, unfortunately, they have gotten too narrow now.

After going through what IdahoMtnSpder is currently going through (I tried most of the brands mentioned in this thread), I came to the same conclusion as you just said. At some point I simply asked myself, "Do I REALLY need boots to ride my Spyder?" And the little guy who often speaks to me from somewhere inside my head replied, "No, you fool. It's a Spyder!"

So now I wear a heavy pair of casual shoes with synthetic leather uppers and thick rubber soles. I treated them with some kind of waterproofing stuff that contains bees wax or something. They do just fine, and they are COMFORTABLE. :clap:

 

[Bob Denman]

As long as you've got some decent ankle support in them: :thumbup:

 

[Mazo EMS2]

Well, if you're willing to order shoes online, check out The Shoe Box, http://www.theshoebox.com/

They're in Black Earth WI. I and most of my co-workers get boots for work there, along with other shoes. The owner is pretty darn good at what he does. People from all over come to Black Earth for shoes.....it's crazy. But I guess when you find what you want, you get it. Check em out. Heck I could even pick them up for you and bring em to Spyderfest for ya.

Rick

 

[Wreckluse]

Canada

With the Cdn dollar in the tank, these guys are more economical..........plus they make great boots, with free shipping!
http://www.daytonboots.com

 

[robmorg]

With the Cdn dollar in the tank, these guys are more economical..........plus they make great boots, with free shipping!
http://www.daytonboots.com

Those look like a VERY good bet - made to order and the price is right. :thumbup: I especially like the Low Riders.

 

[ataDude]

It's time for a rant...

Do a search on Sidi motorcycle boots. When I rode, those were the boots. :thumbup:

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Leather Motorcycle Boots - Red Wing Shoes

EE width only, no EEE. The local store was no help.

 

[pegasus1300]

We have a world class boot maker right here in Spring City UT. He makes boots to order and has clients all over the world.
Give him a call and tell him Paul DeGrey sent you. He may not remember my name but I live just down the street from him and visit him from time to time.

Don Walker
435 462 3330

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Have you considered checking out an orthopedic surgeon? They probably know folks that can custom-make shoes and boots for you. :thumbup:
I've got a "Charcot foot". (The left one...). Basically; the foot has turned itself into a balled-up mass of bone, with some toes sticking out of the far end of it... nojoke
I can still fit into a regularly-shaped boot with some orthotic wizardry, but I did investigate the other options when this first occurred.

The local ortho shoe supplier has their own shoe making operation. The guy who runs it makes boots, and would for me also, but lace up only. No pull-ons. I want a pull-on. I don't like messing with laces! :sour:

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Victor is (literally) old world shoe maker. He and family immigrated here a couple decades ago from Latvia (sp). But you will need to come to Chelan as he will measure and measure and remeasure . His work is superior. So if you choose to do that...I have an extra bedroom ....:thumbup:

We need to encourage kids coming up through high school to go into boot making. The local guy in Ontario is much the same, but lead time is 6 months. I would be surprised if your local guy wouldn't also be 4 to 6 months lead time. A boot maker in Pendleton won't do pull-ons.

 

[sandeejs]

I don't like messing with laces!

I sometime set up an elastic "no-tie lace" for my riding shoes. I have to get boots and/or shoes with steel toes, Otherwise I get this awful pain in my toes.
Such is life.
~Sandee~
:trike:

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

There's a shoe store in St. Paul Minn. that has a website: XL FEET.com
They specialize in W I D E widths. They sell Thorogood, Carolina, work one, all made in the U.S.A. Also Keen, Magnum Stealth, Hi Tec, and Propet Preferred (waterproof). I like the looks of the Propet Preferred boots. Also have dress shoes, walking shoes, casual, etc.
Prices are very good.
I don't know about the high arch, so I'd suggest a custom orthotic made to fit the boots.
Check them out.....you might find it worth your while.

There's a very interesting comment on the page for a Thorogood pull-on boot.

Due to the enormously high return rate and customer dissatisfaction with leather pull on boots for wide width feet, this boot has been locked. It can only be ordered by phone or email request, and the customer is responsible for all shipping charges both ways. We strongly recommend against pull-on leather boots for wide feet. Nearly 100% of men with wide feet ended up returning the boots based on fit, and either exchanged for a comfortable fit in a lace-up boot, or returned for a refund. This style of leather boot is just not friendly to wide feet, and we prefer that if a customer is going to have negative experience, they have it with a different company.

That's the main reason I'm looking so seriously at custom fit boots. I wonder how many wide feet are high arch feet also. They should say, "This style of mass produced leather boot..." I just talked to a rep at Wesco boots in OR and he mentioned the issue of tight fit across the top of the foot. I suggested sending a side photo of my foot up against a grid paper so they could see just high high my foot is. He said great idea, it'll help a lot!

If you go to the Weinbrenner website, maker of Thorogood, you'll see where their boots are only about 65% American content. The US definition of "Made in the USA" allows the inclusion of a significant proportion of foreign sourced components. The local ortho shoe maker said almost all of the uppers for Whites' boots are from China, but they still are allowed to call them "Made in the USA" because they sew the uppers to the soles in Spokane.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Try Cruiser Works Boots, I've had a pair for 15 years, just had them resoled last year. American made and waterproof, plus very comfortable.
https://www.cruiserworks.com/Products/Footwear/CruiserWorks-Men-s-Side-Zip-Boots.aspx

Medium (D) and Wide (E or EE) only, no Extra Wide which is the same as EEE.

 

[SpyderAnn01]

Danner Boots. USA MAde..See if they can help.. The quality is outstanding..

That was going to be my suggestion too. Joe wears them for teaching motorcycle safety and he loves them.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Danner Boots. USA MAde..See if they can help.. The quality is outstanding..

Very few pull-on available, and none of them are EEE.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

At some point I simply asked myself, "Do I REALLY need boots to ride my Spyder?" And the little guy who often speaks to me from somewhere inside my head replied, "No, you fool. It's a Spyder!"

So now I wear a heavy pair of casual shoes with synthetic leather uppers and thick rubber soles. I treated them with some kind of waterproofing stuff that contains bees wax or something. They do just fine, and they are COMFORTABLE. :clap:

Maybe I'm just old school, but I'm not ready to risk sliding down the asphalt at 70 mph, or more likely even at 35 mph, without some good leather around my feet! :thumbup: I have found leather to be the most comfortable on my feet and I plan to wear these for a lot more than just Spyder riding!

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Well, if you're willing to order shoes online, check out The Shoe Box, http://www.theshoebox.com/

They're in Black Earth WI. I and most of my co-workers get boots for work there, along with other shoes. The owner is pretty darn good at what he does. People from all over come to Black Earth for shoes.....it's crazy. But I guess when you find what you want, you get it. Check em out. Heck I could even pick them up for you and bring em to Spyderfest for ya.

Rick

Big inventory looks like. Wonder if he has EEEs in stock like practically every other retailer does not. With a retailer I would have to go to the store and try them on. Otherwise I fear I would end up wasting a lot of time ordering and returning.

The only retailer I've contacted that is at all promising so far is Boot Barn. He suggested a couple of Boulet boots out of a list of seven I asked about that would maybe work for high arch, but they're special order from Canada with 4 - 6 weeks ship time. I can get the custom fit one's from Wesco in close to that same time frame and be 95% sure they'll fit right!