What's the deal with boots

[GreyCoyote]

BBadger: I wore a much-cherished pair of Lowa boots on the playa for over a decade and they finally died like yours did. A friend (former old-school Marine Corps D.I) told me I could bring them back to life with a can of original Sno-Seal and a heat gun set on low. Told me to heat them up in an oven at 175-200F first, and then to melt-in layer after layer of Sno-Seal with the heat gun until the boots wouldnt take any more. After that, bake again for a half hour and put them in ziplock bags for a few weeks. It worked. The boots came out supple and felt great. They didnt breath very well for a month or two, but after a few miles this too fixed itself. Best boots I have ever owned were made better after "death ". FWIW.

[knowmad]

My advice is to Bring Socks; Loads of them, go all Simon of the Playa on that. But Really Socks socks and more socks. And as soon you get there find the nearest DPW/GPE/or Major Art crew member and give them a pair, hell give 'em Two pairs. by the time you see them, some have been out there for 3 weeks already. The best Gift I ever received on playa was a pair of socks wrapped around a 1/2 pint of Jamison with a few wet-naps and a small thing of bee's balm. At that moment I felt so appreciated and loved.

[Savannah]

BBadger: I wore a much-cherished pair of Lowa boots on the playa for over a decade and they finally died like yours did. A friend (former old-school Marine Corps D.I) told me I could bring them back to life with a can of original Sno-Seal and a heat gun set on low. Told me to heat them up in an oven at 175-200F first, and then to melt-in layer after layer of Sno-Seal with the heat gun until the boots wouldnt take any more. After that, bake again for a half hour and put them in ziplock bags for a few weeks. It worked. The boots came out supple and felt great. They didnt breath very well for a month or two, but after a few miles this too fixed itself. Best boots I have ever owned were made better after "death ". FWIW.

That's so cool, Grey Coyote!

. . . I have some tan leather boots that I love, sort of a riding boot/cowboy boot hybrid. I bought them in '08 & reserve them almost exclusively for the playa. When I get home I hold 'em upside down in the lukewarm shower, let dry, generous vinegar rub, maybe another rinse (can't remember) and then rub mink oil into every centimeter. It's kind of meditative.

[BBadger]

BBadger: I wore a much-cherished pair of Lowa boots on the playa for over a decade and they finally died like yours did. A friend (former old-school Marine Corps D.I) told me I could bring them back to life with a can of original Sno-Seal and a heat gun set on low. Told me to heat them up in an oven at 175-200F first, and then to melt-in layer after layer of Sno-Seal with the heat gun until the boots wouldnt take any more. After that, bake again for a half hour and put them in ziplock bags for a few weeks. It worked. The boots came out supple and felt great. They didnt breath very well for a month or two, but after a few miles this too fixed itself. Best boots I have ever owned were made better after "death ". FWIW.

That is definitely a good work-over to give your boots, especially when you first buy them. The leather should change from tan/brown to dark brown/black with all that sno-seal, and you should be able to walk through water at that point without getting wet.

I had actually given my boots a good treatment like that when I first got them. Unfortunately, the 5-6 years of constant use of those boots -- practically my sole pair of footwear for all seasons -- took their toll. It wasn't that the leather became brittle and dry, but rather the boots had some "crumple zones" that fatigued the leather at those points. While the boots are still, even now, very comfortable to wear, they now have some holes at certain fatigue points. Also the tread had worn down dramatically on one side from the way I walk. I probably would've replaced them after that year anyway, even if I hadn't worn them on the playa. I think that coating of dust really just accentuated their age.

Despite the damage to the boots, they work great for the playa. I don't need a great tread, and it's not like I'm walking through puddles. The boots still have their good support and the leather is still very comfortable. It's probably good to have a dedicated pair for the playa, given what a pain it is to get that dust out of the cracks.

[strange love]

I always wear my high top chuck taylor's but I'm thinking about getting some silver doc martens..

[dragonpilot]

Lurvs my Frye high-top harness boots for night time excursions...daytime usually wear my Caterpillar steely toes with light wool socks. I spray my feet with spray-on antiperspirant, throw on some Dr Bronners talc before donning the socks. Surprisingly, the wool doesn't get hot...very absorbent and seems to insulate even during the hot days...and provides excellent cushioning while you're out there traipsing around all day.

[The Rod]

I wear cowboy boots at night. Daytime is flip flops, I love having my toes free. The lady and I have a ritual of washing and lemon juicing each others feet when the sun goes down and we put on our boots.

I wear the same boots on playa and in defaultia, I use Lexol leather cleaner when I get home followed by Obenhaufs leather oil. I usually clean and oil them once or twice throughout the year as well, because I love my boots and I want them to live a long happy life.

[dragonpilot]

OMG! Did anyone mention Uggs? Very playa friendly!

[neXXtro]

because with the right stockings... boots are sexy!

[theCryptofishist]

It's all about grinding the savages under our heels...

Boots

(Infantry Columns)

WE’RE foot—slog—slog—slog—sloggin’ over Africa!
Foot—foot—foot—foot—sloggin’ over Africa—
(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin’ up and down again!)
There’s no discharge in the war!

Seven—six—eleven—five—nine-an’-twenty mile to-day—
Four—eleven—seventeen—thirty-two the day before—
(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin’ up and down again!)
There’s no discharge in the war!

Don’t—don’t—don’t—don’t—look at what’s in front of you.
(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin’ up an’ down again!)
Men—men—men—men—men go mad with watchin’ ’em,
And there’s no discharge in the war!

Try—try—try—try—to think o’ something different—
Oh—my—God—keep—me from goin’ lunatic!
(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin’ up an’ down again!)
There’s no discharge in the war!

Count—count—count—count—the bullets in the bandoliers.
If—your—eyes—drop—they will get atop o’ you
(Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin’ up and down again!)
There’s no discharge in the war!

We—can—stick—out—’unger, thirst, an’ weariness,
But—not—not—not—not the chronic sight of ’em—
Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin’ up an’ down again!
An’ there’s no discharge in the war!

’Tain’t—so—bad—by—day because o’ company,
But—night—brings—long—strings—o’ forty thousand million
Boots—boots—boots—boots—movin’ up an’ down again.
There’s no discharge in the war!

I—’ave—marched—six—weeks in ’Ell an’ certify
It—is—not—fire—devils—dark or anything,
But boots—boots—boots—boots—movin’ up an’ down again,
An’ there’s no discharge in the war!

[tatonka]

[ACfromSAC]

I've never worn a single shoe other than checkered slip on vans. They've always worked fine. Wear comfortable shoes, avoid sandals.

[moonwookie]

With all the steampunk fashion, what about spats? I always did like the look, too. If you play them right, they cover laces. They should be tighter on top than this pair, but...

[Savannah]

With all the steampunk fashion, what about spats? I always did like the look, too. If you play them right, they cover laces. They should be tighter on top than this pair, but...

Those are gaiters! I *heart* gaiters.

Spats don't come up as high. [/geekery]

[moonwookie]

Y'know, you're right....

Spats, while not being as practical, certainly have their charm...

[Savannah]

Pretty!

[moonwookie]

Or these.

I am still very ignorant when it comes to clothes (comes from dressing to be invisible for 45 years), but one thing I have learned since deciding to go to Burning Man is that accessories can expand your horizons by many miles...

[Savannah]

Those are awesome!

. . . How are you doing on your sartorial evolution? Are you in a good place? Branching out comfortably? Feel like you deserve to be seen?

[moonwookie]

I am currently working on three outfits, with a bunch more that are really just, as the Monty Python show said, "Putting one thing on top of another thing." When I went to the thrift stores, I didn't think "outfits", I thought either "plain and ready to be decorated" or "zoWEE, that's awesome!" Those bright blue pants, that brilliant red shirt, that neon yellow women's shirt that was way too small but goes great around the neck...

And there's these pinstripe pants I'm making cuts in up to the knee and inserting tulle pieces, under which I'll wear lights.

[Savannah]

Fantastic!

[moonwookie]

Yup, now if I can just cook up something to go along with these brilliant purple velour pants...

(if you listen carefully you can hear Zapp Brannigan murmuring "mmmmm...velour"....)

[Savannah]

Yup, now if I can just cook up something to go along with these brilliant purple velour pants...

(if you listen carefully you can hear Zapp Brannigan murmuring "mmmmm...velour"....)

One of my favorite Zap Brannigan quotes is said while he's wiggling around on his back, hanging his head off of his ridiculous pink circular bed.

"It's velour, Leela . . . just let yourself GO."

[pink]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that hates laces. The feeling of playa on my hands coupled with shoelaces just makes my skin crawl. Ugh!

I've been looking for the perfect pair of playa boots for years. Found a pair, and then the zipper broke. As did my heart. Replaced them, but the Steve Maddens I got have a bunch of buckles & trim that will be hell to get the dust out of. Ah well, my employee is also a bootblack, so I think I'll give her all my leather gear to work on when I get back. On the clock.

Sometimes I love being an employer!

[knowmad]

Yup, now if I can just cook up something to go along with these brilliant purple velour pants...

(if you listen carefully you can hear Zapp Brannigan murmuring "mmmmm...velour"....)

One of my favorite Zap Brannigan quotes is said while he's wiggling around on his back, hanging his head off of his ridiculous pink circular bed.

"It's velour, Leela . . . just let yourself GO."

my fav.
[having just encountered Leela, who is pretending to be a male soldier]
Captain Zapp Brannigan: That young man fills me with hope. Plus some other emotions which are weird and deeply confusing.

but to be on topic:
Leela has some pretty kick ass boots.
Hiyah!!

[MyDearFriend]

I need these shoes.

Oh and PINK I have pull-on biker-type boots, Doc Martens, have worn the same pair year-round for years & years and I love them. No laces no zippers just boots.

[Drawingablank]

If you have a pair of lace up boots that you like and are comfortable but you find lacing on the playa a hassle, consider adding a lace in zipper.



These are mostly available in sizes to fit combat / swat / firefighter boots but could probably be adapted to most boots (I rarely loosen the laces all the way down).

I used an inexpensive pair on my jungle boots and they outlasted the boots.

[Elorrum]

an awesome item, DAB!

[Drawingablank]

Yah, they work pretty well. You lace them in loosely, then put the boots on and snug up the laces for a perfect fit.

Edit: These will not work well on boots whwere the laciing eyelets are too close together.

[Zhust]

I never noticed issues with Playa-foot, so last year I did an experiment and spent most of a day barefoot. And I had no issues. This isn't true for everyone, obviously, but it may be an option. I had a higher level of confidence because I've been running barefoot for about 5 years (and by that, I mean without any footwear, despite what shoe-company doublespeak would have you believe). Aside from that, I bring as many ankle-high socks as I own and use slip-on shoes. I'll probably spend more time without shoes each year until it becomes a problem.

[Savannah]

I never noticed issues with Playa-foot, so last year I did an experiment and spent most of a day barefoot. And I had no issues. This isn't true for everyone, obviously, but it may be an option. I had a higher level of confidence because I've been running barefoot for about 5 years (and by that, I mean without any footwear, despite what shoe-company doublespeak would have you believe). Aside from that, I bring as many ankle-high socks as I own and use slip-on shoes. I'll probably spend more time without shoes each year until it becomes a problem.

I too go increasingly barefoot, or in flip-flops--carefully. And I cannot (truly) recommend it to anyone else. But I have found that the only year I started to get playa foot was when I was wearing "fashionable" snug flip-flops that allowed sweat and dust to get trapped behind my toes. Cleaned up, lemoned, lotioned, neosporined, wore my boots the rest of the week whenever I wasn't sleeping.

Any time I've had loose sandals where the dust could come and go and my feet did not get sweaty, I've been able to go hours with no problem, followed by thorough cleaning, lotioning and covering up for 8 or 12 hours. But I still check my feet (the backs of my toes especially) at least twice a day, no matter what I'm doing.