The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money. Take boots, for example. … A really good pair of leather boots cost fifty dollars. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about ten dollars. … But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford fifty dollars had a pair of boots that’d still be keeping his feet dry in ten years’ time, while a poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet.
This was the Captain Samuel Vimes ‘Boots’ theory of socio-economic unfairness.
Its just a microcosm of how being poor is really expensive, while there are tons of ways to save money while wealthy. That doesn’t end up being the cause of wealth inequality but it does give a certain inertia to those class positions.
Edit: because I misremembered the quote and vimes does present it that way.
Is “replacing the sole” still a thing we can do with some boots? I keep replacing my boots because the sole is worn down, but the rest of the boot is still good, and I’d love to have the option of just replacing the sole. Are there companies that make boots where this is possible? Or do I need to find some local shoemaker?
Jim Green is another brand that makes relatively affordable, easily resoleable boots. Some of their styles have eyelet panels which are designed to be replaceable as well. I quite like mine.
If you’re not spending more than 200 for your boots, probably not. The lowest price boot I know that is Goodyear welt (replaceable sole) is Thursday Boot Company. The big names are Redwing and Wolverine, and even some Wolverine aren’t meant to replace the sole.
Especially given that their product doesn’t last all that long, most can’t even replace the sole because they glue instead of stitch or welt.
This was the Captain Samuel Vimes ‘Boots’ theory of socio-economic unfairness.
-Terry Pratchett “Men at Arms”
There’s some truth here but it’s definitely not THE reason the rich are rich, not even close.
Its just a microcosm of how being poor is really expensive, while there are tons of ways to save money while wealthy. That doesn’t end up being the cause of wealth inequality but it does give a certain inertia to those class positions.
Edit: because I misremembered the quote and vimes does present it that way.
Unless boots were something that makes money.
Is “replacing the sole” still a thing we can do with some boots? I keep replacing my boots because the sole is worn down, but the rest of the boot is still good, and I’d love to have the option of just replacing the sole. Are there companies that make boots where this is possible? Or do I need to find some local shoemaker?
Jim Green is another brand that makes relatively affordable, easily resoleable boots. Some of their styles have eyelet panels which are designed to be replaceable as well. I quite like mine.
If you’re not spending more than 200 for your boots, probably not. The lowest price boot I know that is Goodyear welt (replaceable sole) is Thursday Boot Company. The big names are Redwing and Wolverine, and even some Wolverine aren’t meant to replace the sole.
Absolutely. As long as the boots are made properly and the sole isn’t just glued on. I think a lot of Danner and Redwing boots are resolable.
I’ve got a pair of Danner’s that I really like.
Red wings offers this for their boots.
About half. If it’s glued like a sneaker it can’t be done, but a (real) stitch or welt can be done.
Some brands glue and stitch, so it looks doable but isn’t (most timberlands)
If you need to worry about electrical insulation just get new boots, if not shoe glue will give life for a a bit longer.