Durable Boots: the saga continues!

Bitstring <[email hidden]>, from the wonderful person
Andy Crawford <[email hidden]> said

Quoted message said:

I bought a new pair of Brasher Hillmaster GTX 6 days short of 1 year ago
and had occasion to return them last August with cracks appearing round the
rands. They replaced them.

Seems as if they've gone away from the old genuine rubber rands and are now
using an inferior 'plasticised' material as, last Monday, the replacements
had to be sent back with the same defect! A letter from them today
apologises for the problem and says they will send replacements!

At this rate I may never have to buy another pair of Brasher Hillmaster GTX!
On the other hand, I am now seriously considering changing to another brand.

Yes, replacements are all very well (and better than nothing) but what
about the 'pain and suffering' associated with getting the damn things
broken in. I mean people spend £50 re-soling a £80 pair of boots just to
avoid having to break in a new pair.

--
GSV Three Minds in a Can
SC recommends the use of Firefox; Get smart, or get assimilated.

GSV Three Minds in a Can said:

Yes, replacements are all very well (and better than nothing) but what
about the 'pain and suffering' associated with getting the damn things
broken in. I mean people spend £50 re-soling a £80 pair of boots just to
avoid having to break in a new pair.

"Breaking in" is largely only a requirement of boots that are basically
the wrong shape for the wearer's foot. If you've got something that is
the right shape to start with then there really isn't much to do with
the leathers now supplied in boots as they're quite supple out of the box.

The real problem with indefinite replacements is that in the week's
turnaround while awaiting your new pair you're /bound/ to want them, and
on the last trip before returning them they won't be working properly
having just failed...

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

In a recent message <[email hidden]>, Andy Crawford
<[email hidden]> wrote.

Quoted message said:

I bought a new pair of Brasher Hillmaster GTX 6 days short of 1 year ago
and had occasion to return them last August with cracks appearing round the
rands. They replaced them.

[...]

Sorry Andy, what's a 'rand'? My Hillmaster Classics are something over a
year old and they are cracking very badly over the part where the toe
cap meets the boot. I've only ever looked after these boots and have
kept them clean and well treated with Brasher conditioning cream, all as
recommended. Should this be happening? I suppose I've done the
equivalent of about eighty 25km walks in them, mainly on local
footpaths.

Regards,
Nick.
--
Nick Hopton and Anne Hopton
Caversham, Reading, England
<[email hidden]>

Nick Hopton said:

Sorry Andy, what's a 'rand'?

A rand is a strip of material around the base of the upper, usually
about an inch or so wide to cover the section immediately above the sole
as that's the bit that takes the worst of the mud and water. They're
usually rubber or rubbery plastic.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Bitstring <[email hidden]>, from the wonderful person
Peter Clinch <[email hidden]> said

Quoted message said:

GSV Three Minds in a Can said:

Yes, replacements are all very well (and better than nothing) but
what about the 'pain and suffering' associated with getting the damn
things broken in. I mean people spend £50 re-soling a £80 pair of
boots just to avoid having to break in a new pair.

"Breaking in" is largely only a requirement of boots that are basically
the wrong shape for the wearer's foot. If you've got something that is
the right shape to start with then there really isn't much to do with
the leathers now supplied in boots as they're quite supple out of the box.

You're lucky then, it always takes me about 100km to get the bendy bits
bending in the right places (toe creases, and especially the ankle
cuffs). The only thing I can go walk 20 miles in 'out of the box' is
(usually) low trainers.

--
GSV Three Minds in a Can
SC recommends the use of Firefox; Get smart, or get assimilated.

Yes, replacements are all very well (and better than nothing) but what about
the 'pain and suffering' associated with getting the damn things broken in
....

Can't say I've ever had any problems 'breaking in' Brasher boots. The pair
that I have just sent back came out of the box and onto a 12 miler ... an'
nae a blister tae be seen!

I only hope the new ones arrive in time for a planned trip from Newton
Bridge on Saturday otherwise it's back to a vintage pair (circa. 1998) with
worn treads and cracked leather uppers that are plastered with Nikwax and
not worth repairing! At least the rands on them are still in one piece tho'!
:-)
--
Andy Crawford
www.chiadfhear.co.uk

Remove "my boots" to e-mail me

GSV Three Minds in a Can said:

You're lucky then, it always takes me about 100km to get the bendy bits
bending in the right places (toe creases, and especially the ankle
cuffs).

I am lucky in that my feet appear to be cast from Scarpa's Size 43 Last.
I just put them on, and off I go. Including rigid plastic climbing
boots and telemark boots. Other boots have been less comfortable, it's
all about fit.

Also, I usually only bother with the ankle cuffs for steep climbs (or
steep descents on the skis), because they just don't really help much
anywhere else. In fact by reducing the mobility of your ankles they
make life actively /less/ comfortable.

Quoted message said:

The only thing I can go walk 20 miles in 'out of the box' is
(usually) low trainers.

I'd use them a bit more if I were you, in that case!

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/