Meindl boot mid sole decay

[ledders666]

It seems the quality of these boots has dropped a lot. They just don't last as long now

[Tom morrison]

Thx for the post leaders, I agree. If we all raise our disapproval and find better alternatives = Haix, Meindl might listen. Meindl are a really nice boot, but their durability has dropped massively.

[Old WoodChip]

Exactly what happened to my Haix, and in a very short time! I have had these a while but so far was great boots very comfortable until one day! they were fine and a few hours later I took them off and the sole was ok but under that was just crumbling, you couldnt even repair it.  Contacted Haix and the message back was post them to germany and you will be sent a price for repair? very open ended that! And knowing a german importer of unrelated products who has since stopped sending to uk because its so much hassle I'm thinking if I had them repaired and have to pay more to get them back I may as well but new. NO WAY

I will never buy Haix again, I did try others but same size in Arbotec and they are like a size smaller. 

Yet again we are all paying for over priced crap and everyone accepts it, sign of the times i'm afraid and also guilty. But Haix will never see my money again. To me a good pair of boots should last a lot longer than a few months, I expect years or they are not fit for purpose (to me)

Years ago I had a good pair of chainsaw forestry boots from Michel Richman and they lasted years, and I mean years, no fancy stuff just padded ankle steel toe covered in rubber & the usual chain stop stuff,  just good leather made in uk! 

Them were the days 😇

[Stere]

Quote

“The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money.

Take boots, for example. He earned thirty-eight dollars a month plus allowances. 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. Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell where he was in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles.

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 the 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 socioeconomic unfairness.”

 

Not true for most expensive boots nowadays. 😏

 

Have a pair of theese Gronell D-678 steel toe work boots  that have lasted ages though:

 

 

 

[Tom morrison]

Thx for the post Old Woodchip, appreciate your experience of Haix. Sounds like they have gone the same way as Meindl, and a real shame. Will have to look and see what else is on the market, preferably with vibram soles 

[Macpherson]

36 minutes ago, Stere said:

 

Not true for most expensive boots nowadays. 😏

 

Have a pair of theese Gronell D-678 steel toe work boots  that have lasted ages though:

 

 

 

 

Aye, they look great and I can tell straight away with a quick glance that these don't have the Achilles heel of the polyurethane mid sole, I've an old style pair of Scarpa's just like them.

 

Boots like these are what I also like for working in, there's quite often a bargain to be had with s/h mostly unused old school hiking boots that really take a beating and last for ages.. though no toe cap.

 

 

 

[Canal Navvy]

I'm now on my fifth pair of Arbortec fellhunters and so far they have remained usable to the bitter end, start off as best boots and end up being beaten to death in the workshop. Used to wear Haix but found the soles parted company and the steel toe caps fell out.

 

My other half is a keen trail runner and recently had her favourite pair of shoes resoled in Vibram by Cheshire Shoe Repairs mail order service ..... very impressed with their workmanship 🙂

[Dan Maynard]

I have just bought a pair of Haix as an alternative to Airstream so will see how that works out. Now I look at it, these ones don't have Vibram soles but the more expensive Haix boots do.

 

Think the Pfanner Tirol are the most old school around.

Edited February 12, 2022 by Dan Maynard

[Tom morrison]

10 hours ago, Dan Maynard said:

I have just bought a pair of Haix as an alternative to Airstream so will see how that works out. Now I look at it, these ones don't have Vibram soles but the more expensive Haix boots do.

 

Think the Pfanner Tirol are the most old school around.

Thanks for the post Dan.

[departed]

I'm now on my fifth pair of Arbortec fellhunters and so far they have remained usable to the bitter end, start off as best boots and end up being beaten to death in the workshop. Used to wear Haix but found the soles parted company and the steel toe caps fell out.
 
My other half is a keen trail runner and recently had her favourite pair of shoes resoled in Vibram by Cheshire Shoe Repairs mail order service ..... very impressed with their workmanship [emoji846]

How do Arborec fellhunters fit compared to meindl or haix?
I usually wear meindl wood walkers but they don’t stay waterproof for very long and I like the look of the fellhunters’ extra height for ankle support.
Thanks.