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Steamcon/pants
Steamcon was this weekend, which I enjoyed more than I had expected. Oddly enough my electro-mechanical goggles didn't get a single comment. Sensory overload, I get that, but still. Working gears, people!
But more importantly, I discovered the best pants I have ever bought. I don't think I can inline this image, and I can't stick it up on my own server at the moment, so you'll just have to click. They're really sturdy and fun and omg comfortable. The same people make cargo hakama which will be mine. Oh yes. That can wait until slightly warmer weather, though. These have all immediately jumped up to favorite lower-body covering status, up there with my Utilikilts. They should be equally awesome for Burning Man. (They also carry a vest I really want. And the prototypes on their flickr feed, I want all of it. I want to do awesome things while wearing all of it.)
As you can see, though, these are pants that really demand big, awesome, stompy boots. And I'm finding my lifelong rejection of fashion a bit of a hinderance here -- REI doesn't carry what I want, so I'm helpless. Where does one go to get big awesome boots? That one can do a lot of walking in? I've had the Fluevog store recommended, any others in town? Can you really mail order footwear? My feet are a more standard aspect ratio than they were as a kid, but surely you still need to try on shoes before you buy them? Help!
But more importantly, I discovered the best pants I have ever bought. I don't think I can inline this image, and I can't stick it up on my own server at the moment, so you'll just have to click. They're really sturdy and fun and omg comfortable. The same people make cargo hakama which will be mine. Oh yes. That can wait until slightly warmer weather, though. These have all immediately jumped up to favorite lower-body covering status, up there with my Utilikilts. They should be equally awesome for Burning Man. (They also carry a vest I really want. And the prototypes on their flickr feed, I want all of it. I want to do awesome things while wearing all of it.)
As you can see, though, these are pants that really demand big, awesome, stompy boots. And I'm finding my lifelong rejection of fashion a bit of a hinderance here -- REI doesn't carry what I want, so I'm helpless. Where does one go to get big awesome boots? That one can do a lot of walking in? I've had the Fluevog store recommended, any others in town? Can you really mail order footwear? My feet are a more standard aspect ratio than they were as a kid, but surely you still need to try on shoes before you buy them? Help!
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Apropos of nothing, hee hee hee, you can buy Fluevogs in Iceland, where they are sold at... A CHEESECAKE STORE. http://www.fluevog.com/files_2/jf_stores.html
You should totally email Joe for advice. He's a shopping champion. He has FASHION MAGAZINES in his room now. (Although one of them he just bought to show me an article on ridiculous socks.) I have married outside of my fashion caste. Anyway, he owns a crap-ton of awesome stompy boots, and his feet are a weird size (12 triple wide?) so he probably has good advice.
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You win this time, Reykjavic.
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Getting gothier, Demonia hangs around the same price range. They make a lot of platforms and flamboyant metal/goth boots. Check out the Metro clothing store on Cap Hill for sizing and selection, as well as other manufacturers.
Fluevogs may be closer to your chosen aesthetic. They're very high-quality and long-lasting, and those who own them swear by them. They're a bit more "flowy" lines and mod-inspired. There used to be a dealer in the U-District, but I think they recently closed. According to Google, there's a dealer downtown. Prices range from $200 to $400+.
My stompy goth boots are made by New Rock. They make a pretty wide variety of high-quality stompery, mostly sticking to a goth/industrial aesthetic, but also trending into cowboy and clubwear. There isn't really a dealer in town with a decent selection, but the Utilikilts store has a few models in the shop if you want to stop by for sizing. They encourage this, as I found out when I was shopping for boots recently. Prices range from $200 to $400+.
As for a style, I would suggest looking for "engineer" style boots. The look fits well with a variety of aesthetics, and is made by many manufacturers.
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The other place, not too far from that, is the surplus store on Lander between First and Alaskan. More stuff of a military variety, but....
Third option, you'll pay a bunch but they'll be GOOD boots, Whistle Workwear, behind Caspers and Shari's just south of 155th and Aurora.
But I think Experience first. just in my.... experience.
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They're a medium-weight canvas, a bit lighter than a workman's utilikilt. I suspect they have as much abrasion protective qualities as denim. That is, none to speak of. They'd be fine for most other industrial applications, though, as long as getting caught in spinning things isn't a concern.
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Buying shoes from Zappos has been the best online retail experiences I've ever had. They are my benchmark for how online retail *should* work. Not as much selection on the more exotic shoes/boots of course.
-B.
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I got a decade out of these:
http://www.corcoranandmatterhorn.com/ItemDisplay.asp?Style=1949&CategoryID=33
through 5 years of year round motorcycling in NY, various hundreds of miles in non trailed woods, and various things involving barbed wire and other things mean to leather.
Currently sporting these:
http://www.georgiaboot.com/products/9166/1600G8010/Georgia-Waterproof-Low-Heel-Logger/
which are about the same, just non-insulated. They'll not be nearly as abused as the Matterhorns. Nice thing is there's a shop up in Everett so you can try on different options.
I like Fluevogs as well, but only as fashion, not durable wear. Corcoran/Matterhorn on the other hand...