17 Years with the Same Boots
Published · 8:26 · 1,748 views
About This Video
Van used to wear flip-flops in New York until September 11, 2001. Then he started wearing boots. He bought Swiss Army surplus boots, probably from the 1970s or 1980s, for the Respectability Tour in 2006. Over 17 years with the same boots. Red laces because Max Fischer wore red laces in Rushmore. A guy in the East Village tried to buy them off his feet once and was incensed when Van refused. Resoled and repaired many times, in New York, in Mexico, in Los Angeles. They have been restitched so many times the perforations have ground the leather into pulp. Time to retire them. That is hard to do.
Transcript
I used to wear flip-flops in New York until September 11th
2011 then I started wearing boots and I'm pretty sure I bought these
boots for the respectability tour it says 2006 on the van and this is
the earliest record I have of these boots December 2006 I've had them for over 17 years
now they're Swiss Army Surplus boots and you can still find them I believe they're from the 70s or 80s and they're
an insanely good value one of the boots has the word
manura stamped into it and minurva was the goddess of wisdom and the
crafts I have three pairs red laces because Max fiser wore red laces in his Rod
lers here are the originals with the original Souls a guy in the East Village tried to
buy them off my feet once and he was incensed when I refused even though I told him where he could buy
some these other two pairs I resold multiple times and I've been alternating them for
probably the last 15 or 16 years when people ask me why do I always wear boots I say you never know when you have to
kick in a door in 2011 I got the electricians union logo
lasered into the ankle at the Nike headquarters of all places
in their design kitchen I'm not in the electricians union but I like their logo I've resold and repaired them many
many times in New York in Mexico in Los Angeles 17 or so years of
[Music] repairs [Music] focus [Music] focus they've been restitched so many times now that the perforations from the sewing needle have basically ground the
leather into pulp making the boots practically irreparable
[Music] and now alas it's time to retire my Swiss boots and start from scratch that is a great little churs they take their Steeples seriously out here yeah your destination is on the
left oh my God look at how old this facility is and there's nobody here I was expecting lines out the door and
like a special like they get you have to get a ticket and everything what do you think that big it says carbon dioxide Refrigeration liquid I can honestly say
I came from California to get a pair of boots here this is a perfect shop look at all the
boots have the names and sizes on them even the used ones
are is this goat skin uh that's cowhide cide okay all of it is co it's just one
big piece y wow that's show you so we take it and these two holes overlap like so oh and that's the boot God that's amazing this is how they used to size you in boot and shoe stores I don't know
if they still do this cuz I haven't bought boots in 16 years get it how long is the waiting list usually for these or
for custom for the for custom it's about three years right now you're on the list it this year right I put it on like two
months ago or so yeah so boots here for 3 to four months okay 30 times as expensive as the Swiss boots they'll replace and these are the cheap ones I am on the waiting list for the custom
made in Intervale New Hampshire Peter limmer and Suns hiking boots the world's
finest folks travel from the Bavarian Alps and the French Alps and the Swiss
Alps to New Hampshire to buy themselves a pair of limmer boots and when I reach
the front of the waiting list I will need to return to Intervale new Hampshire to get custom lasts made lasts
are like foot molds Peter limmer and Sons will then make a custom pair of hiking boots that they tell me will
resemble my naked feet the waiting list is 3 years long 2 years left for
me for these non-custom boots the fast and cheap limmer boots I've got to wait
3 to 4 months months while they're made to order in Germany that's right the cheap ones are
made in Germany they're just using those boots to size me I ain't walking out of there with those on my feet they look
cool they're really great yeah yeah so I guess we go with this for the off the
shelves okay so now I'm just going to give you some money I'm going to buy some socks
guess what I got no yeah they made it they made it by Christmas before
Christmas oh my gosh there's like a letter that's signed and everything thank you for your your purchase of handmade Peter limmer and
Sons boots and welcome to the limmer boots family we highly suggest that you follow the guidelines and recommendations found on the limmer boot
care and break-in period cards that were supplied traditional leather boots can start stiff and feel awkward but they
will soften over time and Contour to the shape of your feet breaking in the boots is part of the process of making them
yours once the initial shiny finish coat has dulled we suggest limmer boots grease boot grease to condition and
waterproof the leather please stay away from wax-based waterproofing as this will stop the leather from breathing make sure your boots are dry clean and
greased before extended periods of storage we do recommend the use of good fitting shoe trees if your boots will
not be worn for long periods of time they will not be not worn for long periods of time as this will represent
your foot in the boot and prevent shrinking make sure the shoe trees fit properly enjoy the boots and the places
they take you thank you very much Adam the limers are waterproof so we're doing a river
crossing bone dry are we even allowed to go this way right here thank you we are allowed to go this way there's a trail let's go
Products & Tools Mentioned
- Swiss Army Surplus boots essential — 17+ years of wear, 1970s/80s vintage, three pairs
- Limmer Boots essential — Peter Limmer and Sons, custom hiking boots from Intervale NH, 3-year waiting lis
- Vibram soles uses — resoling material for boots
- Nike mentions — headquarters where electricians union logo was lasered into boot
People Referenced
Max Fischer, Adam Limmer
Films & Media Referenced
- Max Fischer character, red laces