I'm actually quite amazed that this topic hasn't been covered more on youtube. Clearly an important issue dependent on what the purpose of the shoe is.
I have all kinds of boots including boots with the dainite and commando soles. But my absolute favorite Vibram soles over the years has become what Vibram describes as their "Gumlite" soles. For everyday wear or walking around town it is really the best option in terms of comfort (flexibility and weight) while still providing excellent grip. The downside is that they wear down a bit faster. I have gotten to the point that any resole is to Vibram gumlite.
A great idea, thanks for that. Very interesting. As someone who walks almost exclusively on city streets and indoors I prefer leather soles. I don’t like Dainite soles as they are so stiff and uncomfortable in the city, handy if you are walking on uneven ground but I think Vibram soles are more comfortable for the city if you want rubber soles. Small side note, I think you called rubber artificial, it’s actually natural. I photographed rubber factories and rubber plantations for a client of mine in Malaysia. It stinks like hell but it’s definitely natural.
In the video he clearly mentioned there are two kinds of rubber, the natural one like the one on Clark's, and the black soles that are synthetic. A quick Google search will tell you the same.
Very cool video and very informative. Hey Nick I think you should make a video or two about the boots and jeans that you keep why you keep them and the ones that you get rid off or don't use as much also. You try some many boots and jeans that that could very insightful.
While out on wet snow slushy streets, sidewalks, and even gravel and my Dainites seem great. Step into a building or home entrance with wet soles on Marble/Porcelain tiles and things get VERY slippery. Vibram Eton Soles can provide an alternative.
Omg, I love your videos! They are always so well done. Thank you very much for all your work. I know these aren’t boots, but could you do an episode on the Red Wing Style 3331 WEEKENDER CAMP MOC? Thanks!
How much more comfortable is something like the Cork Soles compared to the Dainite Soles. The cork cells seem very soft and cushiony. The daylights all seem very hard and stiff.
What a great overview! I am torn because I really want a pair of Grant Stone Diesels in veg tan, but the only sole currently offered for them is leather. It is dressy looking. But as an older guy living in hill country, I am so leery of leather. And I think a SLIGHTLY more rugged sole would really compliment the boot, such as nitrile cork, Dainite type, or several Vibrams. Cheers, Nick!
I'm actually a big fan of leather soles these days, I was too mean to them in the past. They're plenty grippy and flexible unless it's raining, I think!
What about having sole savers added to your leather soles? I'm looking at some Grant Stone Diesel boots, but the leather I want them in only comes with leather soles, so I'm considering having a rubber sole saver (or half sole) added. This seems like a really great option that would both add grip to the leather sole and extend the life of the sole because you just need to replace the sole saver every so often, which is way cheaper than getting a boot resoled. However, I don't hear a lot of people talking about this option.
I have 2 TBC Captain boots in the Classic Black and the Arizona Adobe and I love the fake dainite sole that TBC uses. I wouldn't mind using the AE's dainite sole just because I have never tried it but I'm confident that they are nice to walk on. My AA Captains are definitely more comfy than my Classic Black Captains because the AA has a leather insole and the Classics have DuraEVA which is not as well padded.
thanks Nick for the educational vid. you recently ventured out into other products, but i like when you come back to boots. it would be great to hear your thoughts on other classic european brands like Crockett & Jones or Ludwig Reiter from Austria.
Hey nick, what's your thoughts on allen edmonds dalton boot? I'm thinking about buying one but there's not a lot of detailed reviews about it. I hope you can review it in the future. Stay safe and hoping for more videos to come.
Well, for work boots of course the most probable sole would be the 100 lug vibram. Unfortunately boots with these soles must be left outside or in the garage/shed as it’s impossible to clean them easily. Hence, the mini vibram is the logical answer.
It's crazy how ubiquitas Dainite soles are when you consider how bad their wet surface traction is. Seriously the stuff performs terribly during and after a rain shower. I don't know if the manufacturer just has great relationships with boot makers or if Dainite soles are that much cheaper than Vibram, but the Vibram 430 mini lug performs much better.
Was about to ask whether or not you have any plans of resoling your Red Wing Moc Toe, but considering the amount of boots you have you probably wouldn't have to do any resoles in your lifetime haha kinda beats the purpose of having a resolable boot but we thank you for that!
Great information, as always. Love the videos. Have a question. I just got a pair Iron Rangers in charcoal rough and tough. I haven't seen very many videos regarding care/prep of this particular finish. Besides conditioning (I have Venetian, Bick 4 and Leather Honey (although that one ain't my favorite)), do you have any other tips? I have a pair of Frye harness boots in gaucho leather so the plan is to treat the IR's similarly, that is just condition them. Thanks in advance! Again, great channel! Cheers.
Nice round-up review Nick. Pretty soon I will need to replace the soles of my Red Wing 8119's, can't decide between the Mini-lug and the Nitrile Cork. Which is lighter? Which do you think is better. And when will we be seeing you in some movie role????
Stridewise I guess you only did cover stock options for boots, though. I know they’re on their Boondocker. Role Club offers cord for bespoke boots and resoles. Dr. Sole for resoling as well. Recycled tires during WWII essentially, though with modern tires being steel belted making cord soles isn’t recycling anymore
Guys, Wyatt and Dad featured an Iron Ranger rebuild using a corded rubber sole. Cobbler Tony put a double leather midsole, a storm welt, and a Vibram corded 427 on his own Iron Rangers: “We’ve had such great results with it with customers who say how durable it is.”
My Higgins Mills need resoling, should I stick with Dainite or do you think the minilugs would wear as well? I mostly wear them around town and general suburban use, never dress them up, jeans and chinos is about it.
How do you ensure that the heel doesn't wear down on the outside? I've go e three pairs of boots due to the heel wearing quickly on the outside when I step down. Maybe I walk wrong or the sole was just crap on my Timbs.
I usually buy either danite style or leather and simply put a "sole saver" on the leather outsole. While a lather outsole has a cool sound, it's not worth the hazard that comes with it's lack of grip in certain conditions.
mini lugs and commando soles......I need the traction!!! I bought some boots before and if the floor was the slightest bit wet I'd take a dive. they were dangerous to wear!! they went straight into the garbage as soon as I got another pair of boots I learned never to buy cheap boots ever again. when my iron rangers get worn down I'm getting commando soles put on them
I am very picky when it comes to boots....i don't buy boots where i have to replace the heel a few times during the year......they're just a waste of money......if it's not a one piece sole ....then i don't buy regardless of design.....i like Red Wing boots.....although a bitch to break in but they're durable....
I think my favorite is the Vibram Mini-lug. Stylish and grippy at the same time. I had that pattern on my Steve Madden Jeffrey combat boots for about a week, but the outsole is a thin film with lugs and it peeled off pretty quick. I just picked up a pair of size 45 Aldo side zip boots ($20 in the thrift store) that have flat soles with a surprising grip on wet sidewalks. I'd like to know what compound they use.
@@Stridewise They're either a modest company or confident that you now who they are. The only markings are "Aldo", "45" and "Made in Romania". The website says "rubber", but nothing more specific about the type of compound. For $140 I can get another pair of similar boots, but with the glued soles I'd probably pass. At least they seem fairly comfortable. I can't afford Alden. :)
I’m getting my Blacksmiths resoled with a Dr. Sole half and heel. Brian also uses them on his Role Club boots. Have you tried anything from Dr. Sole? Also, how do Role Clubs hold up to Nicks and Vibergs as a premium heritage boot?
Vibergs are overpriced but nicks it’s the best boot money can buy. Role clubs are kind of like pieces of art so that’s why they’re that much. I’d go with nicks. They are basically red wings on steroids.
Dr Sole, nice! I have some Indonesian boots with that sole. (stridewise.com/santalum-boot-review/) Viberg < Nicks < Role Club, in my opinion. Role Club, as Charles said below, is superior but unrealistically priced.
Role Club and Viberg are comparable as I see them as more heritage/fashion. Prices as such, too. Definitely well built and designed. Beautiful boots. Nick’s are pretty much all overbuilt, even their boots that aren’t specifically for linemen and firefighters. I feel like Nick’s are the better investment, but I haven’t yet made the trip up there to explore customization. Brian can accommodate almost any request for sure.
This may seem trivial, but what factors go into tying the laces around the back of the boot for you? Is just long laces, or to tighten the upper around your ankle?
People do that to better secure the boot around the ankle. I hate it though, the laces always slip into the boot. I don't know how people do it regularly
The rubber sole from RMW comfort craftsman wins! I swear there is witchcraft involved in the making of that thing, no other way it can be that grippy while looking that good
Thanks a lot! I have learned a lot from your videos. A thought, could you perhaps mention if you think the shoe you review could be used by women? If you have time of course. The irony is that although there are tons of shoes for women there aren't many high quality durable ones which you can take from the field to a (casual) party. As a horticultural student I've started to gravitate towards Blundstones and see more and more girls on campus wearing them and similar brands. Add a foot injury and all that's left which doesn't aggravate the damage seems to be men's, unisex or unstylish trainers.
Stridewise thank you, coz I was kinda struggling choosing to have the half sole done or not, as I have the original JR sole, and having that half sole actually cut a layer off the JR
Also, leather is biodegradable while synthetic rubber only starts to break down after 100+ years, so, so far all the rubber that has ever been made is still on earth somewhere.
The best and only positive about leather sole is that that look cool.... Before you wear them. I have a pair of Carmina dress boots. I had my shoe guy but a protective layer on it. Undetectable to anyone but me.
@davidcallan7844 Interesting point! What does one use? Looking at my box full of stuff, I'm stumped. I have Feibing's neatsfoot but imagine my Obenauf's oil followed by their HD Leather Preservative would be better so as not to soften too much!?
You seem to have a lack of understanding or misconception on a very fundamental subject here. Flat does not mean less grip. Quite the opposite actually. If you have the same material in 2 different confirmations(or more) the configuration that has more surface area will create more friction. In this case you are calling it grip, which is the correct term. A Formula 1 car for example uses what they call sleek tires, that are completely flat to create more contact area with the road. This becomes problematic when you introduce water or dirt. The reason work boots and road tires have treads are because of water displacement to avoid aqua planning, not for grip. Effectively, you are breaking through the surface of the water by having a smaller contact surface but you have less grip because of the smaller surface area. What produces the grip, in this case in boots, it’s the material. Leather has a smaller drag coefficient than rubber. It’s not the treats in a rubber boot that create the superior grip compared to a leather sole, but the material
@@Stridewise Yes. Of course I'm an American and those words are of French origin, but I'm pretty sure of it. I even remember Grace Kelly referencing crepe-soled shoes (pronounced with the long E) when her character was speaking to Cary Grant's character in To Catch A Thief.
@@janerkenbrack3373 Ah, see I pronounce the pancakes as 'crep' and always cringed when people said 'crape' because it's a French word and that's not how it's pronounced in French, they say crep. I guess I thought the root was the same for the rubber!
@@Stridewise Pancake, paper, or rubber it is all the same word. The long A sound is so common in English that I had no idea the French pronounced it differently.
Pale ankle....Clark's boots no socks......I can't take it anymore. You will find me in the yard wearing Chinese knockoff Birkenstocks and pecking at the trash in the yard. "Crepe' Crepe' Crepe' they say is the death call of the dad who gave up but still knows stupid facts about rubber.
✪ Also, see my list of the 10 BEST BOOTS you can buy! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-9kuHyyefNGE.html ✪ Plus, reviews of all the boots I mention in this video, in order: Leather Soles Carmina Chelsea: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-9FISKTXcDyM.html Wolverine 1000 Mile: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-NAmSrCuX-tA.html Frye Jones: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-zjyCbPgy6Io.html Leather/Rubber Soles Thursday Cavalier Chelsea: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-XUoA-azUMWY.html Helm Zind: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-oxHmOyfMjaY.html Sutro Alder: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nz2_IctkMHA.html Nitrile Cork Soles Alden Indy: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-KgSRBDjFKIQ.html Red Wing Iron Ranger: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-amleWqDrCf8.html Dainite Viberg Service Boot: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-CC3bQ_zEdQc.html Parkhurst Delaware: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-aDmY2MgwIJY.html Dainite-like Soles Grant Stone Chelsea: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dfCmAsCiRbA.html Thursday Captain: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-FLCi8dk7sgg.html Ridgeway Taft Dragon: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-NXlW0WQ7n0o.html Vibram Mini Lug Taylor Stitch Ranch: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-xC2aYiBjj_M.html Red Wing Blacksmith: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-tvWqzAD00Ec.html Commando Soles Tricker's Stow: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_7KJljt38Sg.html Wedge Soles - Polyurethane Thorogood Moc Toe: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-s3zKnerJTFk.html Crepe Soles Red Wing Moc Toe: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-BY2o8UMf8c0.html Clarks Desert Boot: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-6EnjjH_ILSM.html
Hello and sorry for the irrelevant comment. Are the Truman boot sole reliable or the stiches will come off? Also in terms of durability and waterproofing White's or Truman?
@@Stridewise You can use the 430 on every shoe/boot. It has grip and you can't see the lugs. Also it takes forever to wear out which extends the life of the shoe/boot. It has more grip than Danite or leather. I have it on shell cordovan boots as well as cap toe loafers. So agin Vibram 430 or GTFO
Off the bat, the boots in this video are the ugliest boots I've seen, lol. But spending several years in the military, one of the points of boots is traction! If you are wearing a boot with no traction, you're a hipster and probably sporting a man bun. Vibram soles are the best on the market by far. There's a reason all branches of the military use them on all Berry Compliant boots. The Vibram Sierra outer sole is the most commonly used, for example.
